How to Win Your War

Introduction/Attention:

Sunlight begins to break through the darkened room of the jail cell. Light pours through the bars on the windows to reveal a man hunched over a small writing table scribbling feverishly on a roll of paper that was given him. Scratching fills the room as the candles flicker around him. Chains are on both of his wrists and ankles as he picks them up and lays them in his lap so that he can more slack in his chains to continue his writing.

As the light slowly but steadily fills the room, we see that this man is not alone. Instead of being chained to the wall or the floor or to the door, we see that the Apostle Paul is chained to a Roman soldier who is carefully watching what he is writing.

As Paul finished his letter to the Ephesian believers, he looks over at this Roman solider. Examining him from head to toe, taking an inventory of his clothing and armor. Paul then, begins to equate what this soldier is wearing to what all believers for all times need from God in order to defend and defeat their Enemy: Satan and his kingdom of darkness.

Need:

You might not realize it, but you and I are in a spiritual war. We don’t see it with our eyes, we don’t hear it with our ears, and we may not even sense it in our hearts or souls; but there is a war being waged in the spirit realm that you have been enlisted in, whether you realize it or not.

The things you do. The things you say. The motivations, temptations, thoughts, prayers, and attitudes that you have all contribute to this battle between good and evil; God and Satan.

This war that is being waged is for your very heart and mind. Your Enemy, Satan, is fighting to keep you enslaved to sin that entered into the world because of him.

Textual Statement: Paul is encouraging believers to fight against evil by putting on the armor of God and standing our ground against our Enemy: Satan.

Sermon Statement: God wants you to put on his armor and stand your ground against your Enemy: Satan.

Transition: How do you do that? How do you actually win the war you are in?

In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul actually gives us our battle plan for defending ourselves and defeating our Enemy, Satan.

He should us in these verses, that we need to know the reason we fight, the weapons we fight with, and the mission we fighting to advance.

Transition: First, Paul gives us the reason for this war.

1. Our Reason for War (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Read Ephesians 6:10-12

Ephesians 6:10–12 (ESV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Explanation: verse 12 - Satan, our enemy and his evil forces

The reason we are at war is because we have a spiritual enemy that is trying to control us and keep us from the freedom, purpose, and adventurous, abundant life that God offers all of us.

Who is Satan?

His name literally means ‘adversary,’ because he is God’s enemy.

Created by God, for good, to bring glory to God - Ezekiel 28:12-15

Fallen angel that became the first sinner because of Pride - Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:17

The accuser of God’s people - Rev. 12:7-11

The Tempter - Matthew 4:3

The Evil one - Matt. 13:19

A thief, killer, and destroyer - John 10:10

A murderer and liar - John 8:44

The ruler of the world - John 12:31

A roaring lion - 1 Peter 5:8

The god of this age - 2 Cor. 4:4

Angel of light - 2 Cor. 11:13-15

Created being (not all-knowing, not all-powerful, and not everywhere at once, but has help)

Eph. 6:12 shows us that we are not just fighting against Satan, but against the kingdom of darkness.

Revelation 12:4 shows us that 1/3 of the angels that God had created were deceived by Satan and followed him.

Daniel 10:13-20 shows us that angels and demons are actively fighting against one another and the tangible fulfillment to the answers of our prayers can be delayed because of these battles.

What does he want?

He wants you to doubt God’s goodness. - Genesis 3:1, 4-5

He wants to steal from you, kill you, and destroy you. - John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8

He wants you to worship him. - Matthew 4:8-9

How does he fight?

Because of how Satan fights, Paul tells us to defend ourselves against his schemes.

The noun methodeia in Ephesians 6:10 refers to the intentional schemes of the devil designed to tear down believers.

Paul encourages the Corinthians, in 2 Cor. 2:11, to understand the schemes and methods that Satan uses against believers.

This is why in 1 John, he tells us:

1 John 2:15–17 (NIV)

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Satan also uses his forces to fight against you.

Barton QUOTE

Bruce Barton writes that, “Paul used the names of groups of evil powers not so much to establish classes or distinguish demonic powers as to show the full extent of Satan’s warfare. Here is a host of spiritual forces arrayed against us, requiring us to use God’s full armor. These are real and powerful beings, not mere fantasies. Believers must not underestimate them. The Ephesians had practiced magic and witchcraft (Acts 19:19), so they were well aware of the power of the darkness. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in Christ, the satanic beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from him and back to sin. Although believers are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns because Satan constantly battles against all who are on God’s side.”

(Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 832.)

This is why we wage war because, whether you realize it or not, we are in a hand-to-hand fight against spiritual forces of evil and not flesh and blood (v. 12).

Because of this, Paul commands us to be strong in the Lord and put on his armor.

Explanation: Be Strong in the Lord

The word Paul uses to tell the Ephesian believers to “be strong” is ἐνδυναμόω (endynamosusthe). This is a verb, present, passive, imperative, second person, plural.

So, Paul is commanding all of them (imperative, 2nd person, plural) to continually (present) be strong with the strength that comes from the Lord Jesus.

Paul is not just commanding us to be strong or make ourselves strong. He isn’t telling us to be the source of our strength. Instead, he is qualifying this command by telling us where our strength comes from and the type of strength that is available to us today. Our strength comes from the Lord and it is his might that can work in and through us to defend against and defeat the schemes of Satan.

Paul talks about how God gives us this strength in a passage that we probably can quote from memory - Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Explanation: What kind of strength is this?

1. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20 NLT)

2. It is the same power that brings people back to life when they were dead in their sins (Eph. 2:1-5 NLT)

3. It is an inward fortitude that keeps us rooted and established in God’s love (Eph. 3:16-17 NLT)

4. The strength that is needed to personally understand the indescribable love of God, so that we can become more and more like Him. (Eph. 3:18-19)

Transition: Paul has given us our reason to fight because we have an enemy that we need to stand against by the power of God. But Paul also shows us that God has provided us with protection by giving us his weapons.

2. Our Weapons of War (Ephesians 6:13-18)

Read Ephesians 6:13-18

Ephesians 6:13–18 (ESV)

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Explanation: What is the armor of God?

The armor of God is our personal protective equipment. It “is a complete outfit” that completely protects us. It is made up of several different pieces of armor that are used both defensively and offensively. It enables us to “stand” (stete, v. 13, 14) against Satan and his schemes and advance into enemy territory.

“‘Stand against’ was a military term meaning to resist the enemy, hold the position, and offer no surrender. The Devil will not fight fair; he uses subtle tricks and schemes. Our ability to stand firm depends on our use of the armor.”

(Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 832.)

Explanation: Belt of truth

All truth is God’s truth.

Most important piece of PPE because everything is built off of and connected to the truth.

The Roman soldiers armor was built off off the belt. It secured his breastplate, held his shape sword, and protected his thighs, while gathering the clothes underneath his armor.

“As the belt formed the foundation of the soldier’s armor, the truth is the foundation of the Christian life. When the enemy, the father of lies (John 8:44), attacks with his lies, half-truths, and distortions, we believers can stand firm in the truth.”

(Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 833.)

Explanation: Breastplate of Righteousness

“Next, the soldier must put on the body armor of God’s righteousness. The body armor was a large leather, bronze, or chain-mail piece that protected the body from the neck to the thighs. Protecting the vital organs, no soldier would go into battle without his body armor. Often this had a back piece too, protecting the body from hits from behind. Righteousness provides a significant defense; it gives the evidence that we have been made right with God and that this righteousness has been given us by the Holy Spirit. Satan seeks to thwart righteous living.”

Read Romans 6:13

Romans 6:13 (NIV)

13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

Explanation: Battle Boots = Football Cleats

Roman soldiers had speciality made half-boots that protected their entire foot from anything that could potentially injure them or slow them down. These boots had dull spikes, like football cleats, on the soul of the boot so that the soldier could dig their foot into the earth or mud ensuring that they had a firm footing in which to fight their enemy. These shoes also made it easier for soldiers to march long distances, quicker. So, Roman soldiers used these specific boots to ensure that they quickly engaged the enemy while creating for themselves a firm foundation in which they could fight from.

Paul is using the imagery of these battle boots to show us that the firm foundation from which we wage war against our Enemy: Satan, is the Gospel of Peace.

We wage war in order to defeat darkness and sin in our lives and in the communities where we live.

But we also wage war to bring peace to those who are enslaved to darkness, like we once were. (Isaiah 52:7)

We wage war from this foundation and not another foundation because we aren’t fighting from our own strength, but instead with God’s strength, using God’s armor, in order to bring about God’s will in our lives and in the spheres of influence that we have.

These spiritual battle boots that are given to us by God have two uses:

Defensive - We will be able to stand firm against Satan and his schemes.

Offensive - We will be able to advance into enemy territory in order to attack the enemy and proclaim the good news of the gospel of peace that only comes from Jesus’ victory over Satan, sin, death, hell, and the grave!

Explanation: Shield of Faith = Living Faith

“Thyreon is derived from thyra (a door) and refers to the large oblong or oval scutum the Roman soldier held in front of him for protection. It consisted of two layers of wood glued together, covered with linen and hide, and bound with iron. Soldiers often fought side by side with a solid wall (testudo) of shields. But even a single-handed combatant found himself sufficiently protected. After the siege of Dyrachium, Sceva counted no less than 220 darts sticking into his shield.

“The edges of these shields were so constructed that an entire line of soldiers could interlock shields and march into the enemy like a solid wall. This suggests that we Christians are not in the battle alone. The “faith” mentioned here is not saving faith, but rather living faith, a trust in the promises and the power of God. Faith is a defensive weapon which protects us from Satan’s fiery darts.”

(A. Skevington Wood, “Ephesians,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981), 88.)

Explanation: Helmet of Salvation

This helmet of salvation is not initial salvation. Paul is writing too believers of Christ. They have already been saved by Jesus because they have put their faith in Jesus and been baptized into Jesus. Additionally, Paul talks about this helmet in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Again too believers saved by grace through faith. Lastly, God wears this same helmet in Isaiah 59:17. Therefore, this helmet of Salvation that Paul is referring too accomplishes several things:

Provides protection for the believer

The helmet of Salvation protects our minds from Satan. When Satan tempted Eve, he attacked her mind and deceived her into thinking that God was withholding good things from her life (Gen 3:1, 4-5).

Read 2 Corinthians 11:3 NLT

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)

3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

God’s helmet of Salvation helps us win the battle of minds and submits our thoughts to God’s control.

“When God controls the mind, Satan cannot lead the believer astray.”

Taught the truth (Eph. 4:21)

Grow in the truth (2 Peter 3:18)

Continually think about the truth (Philippians 4:8)

Set your mind on God (Col. 3:2)

2. Produces assurance for the believer

The helmet of Salvation should produce assurance within us that we are protected from Satan, who is an accuser of God’s people. When we entering into and accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation, that meant that we were robbing Satan of any accusation that could throw in our faces, because we have submitted our sinfulness to Jesus and recieved his forgiveness and freedom from sin.

3. Promotes praise from the believer

During Paul’s day and to some extent our day, helmets were also used to proclaim victory and celebrate victory.

Therefore, the helmet of Salvation should produce praise within the believer because we know that the battle belongs to the Lord and that Jesus has won the war! So, we take up the helmet of Salvation and victoriously engage the enemy on his territory and advance the Kingdom of God into the darkness freeing those who have been enslaves by it.

Explanation: Sword of the Spirit

God’s word is described as a sword in Hebrews 4:12

Read Hebrews 4:12 NIV

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God’s word always accomplishes God’s will Acts 2:37; Isaiah 55:11

Read Isaiah 55:11 NIV

Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)

11 It is the same with my word.

I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to,

and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Jesus uses the Word of God to defeat Satan (Luke 4:1-13 = “It is written” (v. 4, 8, 10, 12)

Satan can also use the Word of God, but can only twist and corrupt it. He cannot create life or freedom from it, because Satan cannot create anything, he can only corrupt what has been created by God.

Explanation: All-encompassing Prayer

“The weapons for warfare are spiritual because they are rooted in prayer, which is the Christian’s most powerful resource. Prayer is to permeate believers’ lives as a universal practice, as seen by the use of “all” four times in this verse: at all times … with all prayer … with all perseverance … for all the saints. Prayer in the Spirit is a form of worship (John 4:23–24) enabled by the Spirit of God, who intercedes on behalf of the person who prays (Rom. 8:26–27).” (Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2274.)

Roman soldiers fought together, linking shields together, and advancing against their enemy. This is what prayer is like. Always being ready to engage Satan through prayer by praying for needs as they arise, for others as they ask or you are guided by the Spirit.

Satan is crafty and continually scheming against us and the Church, therefore, we should always be ready to pray brief prayers and make it our habit to always response to every situation through prayer.

Prayer and God’s Word are your two weapons in which to fight against Satan’s schemes. This was Jesus’ pattern even.

Prayer (and Bible reading) should not be afterthoughts for believers. Sadly, recent research shows that this is exactly what is happening among God’s people. This study says that, 32% of Americans who “attend a Protestant church regularly say they read the Bible personally every day.” (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/bible-literacy-crisis/)

Paul tells us to wield prayer like a weapon in the following 6 ways:

1. Pray constantly (at all times; v. 18)

2. Pray in the Spirit

3. Pray diligently (“with all prayer and supplication”)

4. Pray with alertness (keep alert)

5. Pray persistently (with all perseverance)

6. Pray for others (for all the saints)

(Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 60.)

Transition: Paul has given us our reason to fight and shown us the weapons God has given us to fight with. Finally, Paul reminds us of our mission objectives in this fight.

3. Our Mission Objective (Ephesians 6:19-20)

Read Ephesians 6:19-20

Ephesians 6:19–20 (ESV)

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Explanation: Why does Paul want prayer?

Paul is asking them to pray for him so that he could boldly proclaim the Gospel to those who will be at his trial in Rome. He is not asking them to pray that he will be released from prison, but so that he would faithfully convey the gospel message, probably in the context of his trial as a prisoner of Rome.

Paul desired their protection, much like a Roman soldier would want the protection of his fellow battle buddies. Paul needed them to pray for him so that God’s strength would empower and embolden him to continue to preach the Gospel and share the good news of Jesus.

Explanation: What is an ambassador?

Paul is an official representative of God with the distinct commission of making known the mystery of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Read Ephesians 3:2 NIV

Ephesians 3:2 (NIV)

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

1. Being Ambassadors of Jesus (Ephesians 6:19-20)

2. Snatching others from the fire:

Read Jude 23

Jude 23 (NIV)

23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

3. Being disciples who make disciples:

Read Matthew 4:19

Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Transition: God is giving us our reason to fight today. He has given us weapons to use against our enemy. He has also given us our mission objectives.

Conclusion/Call-to-Action:

How to do you win the war you are in?

Ask God to make you strong and put his armor on you.

Use what God gives you to defend yourself from your enemy: Satan. Truth, right living, the gospel of peace, actively trusting in God, and leaning into your salvation to stand firm against Satan’s schemes.

Finally, defeat Satan like Jesus did by using God’s Word as a weapon to cut through Satans lies and your prayers to advance into the kingdom of Darkness to encourage and enlighten others.

So, join me in asking God to do that for you right now.

[PRAY]