Sermon Tone Analysis

Nehemiah 4:7-9, 13; Ephesians 6:11-19

Introduction

When God’s people have a mind to work the devil’s crowd has a mind to wreck.

We are told to “watch and pray.”

If we pray without watching that is laziness.

If we watch without praying that is presumption.

Ephesians 6:11-19

If you are living for God, you have a battle on your hands.

The closer you stand to Jesus the more opposition you will face.

“A Christian that has no conflict is a Christian who has retreated from the front lines of service.”

(MacArthur, Ephesians, 332.)

How are we to prepare for the battle?

We must identify our enemy, then we are to put on our armor, and finally we must enter the battle.

1A.

Identify the Enemy (6:11-12)

1B.

He is subtle  (6:11)

“Schemes,” (methodia) means wiles or deceptive strategies.

The fall of the human race is hinged on two pivots, deception, and disobedience.

His nature is revealed by the various names he is given in Scripture.

The tempter

1 Thessalonians 3:5 (NIV)  "For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith.

I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless."

The evil one

Matthew 13:19 (NIV)  "When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

This is the seed sown along the path."

The prince of this world

John 12:31 (NIV)  "Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out."

The god of this age

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)  "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

The accuser of our brothers

Revelation 12:10 (NIV)  "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.

For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."

2B.

He is a spirit  (6:12a)

“Struggle” (pale) was used to describe hand to hand combat.

Our battle is not against “flesh and blood.”

Satan is a spirit being.

Our enemy is not man, but Satan.

1 John 4:1 (NIV)  "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

3B.

He is strong  (6:12b)

Do not underestimate Satan, he rules this world.

He controls a legion of demons, “rulers…powers…world forces….”

“His power and craft are great.”

(Martin Luther)

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Revelation 12:9 (NIV)  …  Satan, who leads the whole world astray.

He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

4B.

He is sinister  (6:12c)

We wrestle with “spiritual forces of wickedness.”

Satan’s real war is with God.

He attacks God’s people because God loves us.

If you cannot get to someone, get to someone they love.

2A.

Put on the Armor  (6:13-17)

1B.

The Belt of Truth  (6:14a)

What it was.

Wide leather belt that held the armor in place, it held everything together.

It gave a place to tuck the long tunic.

Girding the loins was a mark of preparedness.

We need the belt of truth because Satan will attack us with error.

What it represents

The “truth” (aletheia) of God holds everything together.

Ø      We are to know the “truth” (biblical content).

In order to defeat falsehood.

Ephesians 4:14-15 (NASB) 14As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

The Scripture clearly teaches that the closer we draw to the coming of Christ the more prevalent false teachers will become.

1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV)  "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

Jesus tells us that remaining faithful to the Bible is one mark of a true believer.

John 8:31-32 (NIV)  "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

{32} Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.""

Ø      We are to have an attitude of truthfulness - we are to be genuinely committed

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) 1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

The truth will cause us to remove sin and be genuinely committed to Christ.

Ø      We are to be self-disciplined

2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV)  "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer."

2B.

The Breastplate of Righteousness  (6:14b)

What it was.

The breastplate was a sleeveless piece of armor that covered the torso.

It was made of leather or heavy linen on which was sewn overlapping slices of animal hooves, horns or pieces of metal.

It was designed to protect the vital organs, the heart (mind & will), the bowels (emotions and feelings).

These are Satan’s primary targets.

Satan will attack us with impurity.

What it represents

Ø      This is not self-righteousness

Matthew 5:20 (NIV)  "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

Ø      This is not imputed righteousness

Imputed righteousness is the perfect righteousness of Christ given to believers at salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)  "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

We cannot put on what God has clothed us with already.

Ø      This is practical righteousness

 

The breastplate represents a pure life.

To put on the breastplate of righteousness is to live in daily obedience to God.

Colossians 3:9-10,12 (NIV)  "… since you have taken off your old self with its practices {10} and have put on the new self, …. {12} Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

What we must do.

Ø      We must keep our life pure and our sins confessed.