Get Fit! | Ephesians 6:10–20

Title: Get Fit!

Text: Ephesians 6:10-20

Series: Strength in Spiritual Warfare

Date: 10/17/21

Introduction:

Image:

Warfare: it was encouraging to see the GBC response to Christians in Afghanistan. It revealed a view of spiritual warfare and not merely material considerations.

Subject:

Strength for spiritual warfare is needed.

Need:

Ephesians 1:3, we are introduced to the heavenlies

Ephesians 1:10, we begin to see disharmony and disunity implied

Ephesians 1:18-20, we are introduced to immeasurable power necessary for union

Ephesians 1:21, we find confirmation through clear evidence that there is a war

There is indeed a cosmic war in which God’s people are engaged.

The great misdirect. The great misdirect is the strength of magical illusions. While you are watching one hand, there are other things happening to make the trick a success. Quarter on elbow trick...

Unbeliever, this will misdirect you to an eternal destiny apart from the LORD.

Senior Saint, this will lead you to pursue the comfort of retirement rather than exploits for Christ’s Kingdom.

Young Adult, this will lead you to unwise self-centered decisions at the expense of denying self, taking up your cross and following Jesus.

Husband/Wife, this will lead you to human strategies for marriage rather than spiritual realities.

Students — the plague as the undisciplined mind.

Text

Ephesians 6:10-12

Existential Question:

Are we getting fit in the Lord?

Preview

(1) Getting fit means collective progress - Be strong

(2) Getting fit means faith in position - in the Lord

(3) Getting fit means practice - and in the power of his might

(4) Getting fit means having faith perspective - For we wrestle not with flesh

Body:

(1) Getting fit means collective progress [intentionality] - Be strong

Statement of Idea:

Getting fit means that you must be intentionally progressing in the Christ-enabled life within the church.

Illustration:

Quote: “…it’s important to remember that spiritual warfare is done together, as the body of Christ.” - David Powlison [Safe & Sound, p. 21]

Explanation:

Be strong is a command that is given to the community. Both the word brethren in this verse and ye in the subsequent verses are plural words.

Be strong is a present, passive command. This means two things: (1) it is ongoing progress, so it would be appropriate to say, “continue growing strong”. It is a word that indicates progress. Perfection is not the immediate goal; rather, progress is the goal intended.

(2) Secondly, it is passive which means that the subject is receiving that action done upon it. The subject is the brethren. The action is growth. In other words, it would be appropriate to say, “Continue being enabled in the Lord”. The strength is not something the brethren have in themselves.

Application:

Are you intentionally pursuing unity with others in the church?

What do your daily functions reveal that you are trusting for strength?

Where then does this enablement come from?

(2) Getting fit means faith in position [identity] - in the Lord

Statement of Idea:

Your positional identity must be in lost in Jesus Christ.

Illustration:

One of the beautiful truths about biblical marriage is that of oneness. This past June, we had many weddings from those among the body of Christ here. In each one of them, there were several phrases, verse citations, and customs that pointed to the union of the two individuals. Rings were exchanged, vows were spoken, and unity ceremonies took place. All of these various things serve to say, “If you see one of these individuals, then you are seeing the other.” There is a union that has taken place, and though they are physically distinct individuals, they no longer identify this way.

When you see this phrase in the Lord…

Explanation:

This is a statement of position or identity. If we were to break down the book of Ephesians, you could say that Ephesians 1-3 deals with the position of the believer and Ephesians 4 - 6 deals with the practice of the believer. Belief/Behavior; Principle/Practice…Who are we? What do we do?

To be in Christ is to be in union with Him by faith. It is to have a relationship with God, by God, and for the purposes of God — in Christ.

To be in Christ means that all of the blessings of Jesus Christ become my blessings. Ephesians 1:3. To be in Christ is to inherit eternal life and the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14.

Why does this have to do with position?

Being in Jesus is important because this passage is first about how the LORD put on the armor.

Isaiah 11:5

Isaiah 49:2

Isaiah 52:7

Isaiah 59:17

Psalm 18:2

This passage must first be understood as describing the LORD who entered into battle with darkness and principalities and came out victorious. We must be in the LORD in order to war as this passage commands us to do.

Application:

Are you in the LORD?

Christian, are you functioning daily by faith in this position?

(3) Getting fit means practice (investment) - and in the power of his might

Statement of Idea:

If being strong in the Lord has to do with identity, the phrase power of his might has to do with living out that identity.

Illustration:

It is not enough to become one in marriage in word only. Each individual must proactively live out this union.

Explanation:

The power of his might is a reference to the power manifested in Christ’s resurrection and glorification. See Ephesians 1:19-20.

The power of his might is something that established Jesus’ authority over all. See Ephesians 1:21.

The power of his might is something that is presently to be on display in his body. See Ephesians 1:22-23.

How are we to grow in the power of his might?

Ephesians 1:15-18. There is to be a seeking prayer, and there is to be an increase in knowledge. Living out our identity in warfare requires prayer and an increasing knowledge of Jesus Christ.

How else might we practice the power of his might?

#1 - (*) Ephesians 6:11. The practice of weaponizing - Put on the whole armor of God

This is full weaponry for offensive purposes.

(-) Weaponizing for victorious standing - that ye may be able to stand

(*) Victorious standing against the deceptive devil

Jesus has conquered Satan and his forces.

Illustration: In the book Hitler’s Last Days, Bill O’Reilly recounts Hitler’s final moments in the bunker as the Allied Forces were closing in on him. He was unwilling to leave the bunker though he had sent many out already.

J.I. Packer says, “Like Hitler in his bunker, Satan cannot now bring himself to believe that he has lost the war, and cannot now win.”

In spite of this reality, the devil is actively at war to cause the body of Jesus Christ to fall.

Regarding Satan’s craftiness: Joel Beeke quotes Puritan Williams Jenkyn (1613-1685)

“He has an apple for Eve, a grape for Noah, a change of raiment for Gehazi, and a bag for Judas.”

Spurstowe [Ibid]:

Satan leads men from lesser sins to greater.

The devil persistently urges men to a particular sin.

Satan makes a strategic retreat for a time to draw us out of our position of strength.

Satan clothes evil with false appearances.

Charnock said, “Satan paints God with his own colours, represents him as envious and malicious as himself.”

[Beeke, Joel. Puritan Theology. p. 194]

Application:

Are you praying that you and others might grow in the knowledge of Jesus and the power of his might?

How are you actively weaponizing yourself for an increased knowledge of Jesus Christ?

(4) Getting fit means having faith perspective (intuition- direction perception of truth) - For we wrestle not with flesh

Statement of Idea:

Our life — our war — is by faith.

Illustration:

Years ago, I was listening to a sermon by Titus Green, and he gave an illustration that has stuck with me until today. I am sure the illustration was not new to him, but he is where I first heard it.

Have you ever walked through a spider web that you did not previously see? What do you do?

Now, consider if there is someone across the street observing you. They see you, but they don’t see the spider web. They might think that you are crazy as they see you flailing your hands at something invisible.

In many ways, spiritual warfare leads you to patterns and behaviors that may appear crazy to observers, but which are battling a very real problem.

The entire Christian life is one of faith, and spiritual warfare is not against flesh and blood.

Explanation:

principalities - evil spiritual powers

rulers - world ruler of the sphere of darkness

Seems to be a connection with pagan mythology and astrology

Ill: Movie, Lion King. Simba’s Father: “Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down upon us. So, ....just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you...”

wickedness - maliciousness, perverting moral principles.

high places - heavenlies

Application:

Have you considered that the most important responses are faith responses? (i.e. salvation, living the Christian life…)

Bridge to Conclusion:

Are we getting fit in the Lord?

(1) Intentionality: Getting fit means collective progress - Be strong

(2) Identity: Getting fit means faith in position - in the Lord

(3) Investment: Getting fit means practice - and in the power of his might

(4) Intuition: Getting fit means having faith perspective - For we wrestle not with flesh

Conclusion:

Get Fit!

Illustration:

I Samuel 30:6 This is the story of David.

It was the ancestor of David who entered into the ultimate war, and as Christians we get the opportunity to take part in Christ’s victory.

“Spiritual warfare is our participation in the Lord’s cosmic war with darkness.” - Powlison [Ibid]

Positive/Negative Example:

This means saying yes to community and no to seclusion.

This means saying yes to prayer in the Spirit and no to self-dependency.

This means saying yes to putting on and no to status quo.

This means saying yes to faith and no to pure materialism.

Final Statement:

Are we getting fit in the Lord?