Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

We live in a day when evil abounds at every turn in the road.

We have been lied to; our rights have been violated; truth has been mutilated or maligned, and we as men have been told, or at lest it has been inferred, that we are expandable or not essential as leaders, and so we might as well just go and hide in our man-caves and don’t come out.

We are made to believe that evil has won and righteous manly leadership is an archaic fossil that needs to be left buried as a dead fleeting enemy of our culture.

But is this so?

Can we stand against the cultural and have any affect on what has become the new norms of our day?

I believe the answer is yes, but we need a truth; an absolute truth that comes from outside of the dissenting rhetoric and relentless opinions of the myriad of experts of our age.

That absolute truth is the bible, inspired by the transcendent God, who has no rival, nor is He swayed by public opinion.

He not only thinks it’s possible to stand in these days, but commands us to do so.

This is what we will look at over the four quarters of this year during our men’s breakfasts, being steered and stirred by this absolute truth, the Word of God.

And with this Word of God we will find that as men who have been born from above, we are marked as such by standing in the midst of conflict, understanding as we do, the necessity, as we will see this morning, of why we need the armor of God.

Text: Ephesians 6:10-13

1.

The Commands (10-11)

Finally (loipos) - when all else has been said, henceforth, in the future, this is what must happen.

A. Be Strong in the Lord (10)

Strong (endynamoo) [pre, pass, imp] - become strong.

In other words, this strength is not already there, but is developed over time.

in (en - preposition of direction) the Lord - where strength comes from

in the strength of his might:

strength (kratos) - controlling power, power to direct

might (ischyos) - possession of the qualities required to do something

While strength is the power, might is the ability to use that power!

B. Put on the whole armor of God (11)

Put on (endyo) [aor, mid, imp] - to clothe; to dress

This command further identifies who we are and with what we will fight!

We have been outfitted by God himself

which further defines who we are

So why do we need to stand in God’s strength, and be outfitted by God’s armor?

It’s because we know...

So why do we need to stand in God’s strength, and be outfitted by God’s armor?

Purpose: in order to Stand against the Schemes of the Devil

Stand (histemi) - to face with courage

Schemes (methodia) - systematic deceptions

The only way to fight with this armor of God against the schemes of the devil, is to know...

2. The Enemy (12)

The only way to properly fight an enemy is to know who the enemy is.

First we see that he is...

A. Supernatural (12a)

Not flesh and blood

Rulers, authorities, cosmic powers of darkness

Spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places

B. Contemporary (12b)

this present darkness - the enemy is contemporary; he know what’s going on presently, and battles with contemporary temptations, cultural fantasies, modern masquerades.

this enemy has his scouts out watching us, listening to us, seeking to trick and trap us in our own vulnerabilities.

So, we are commanded to use God’s strength through his power, might, and armor, to be able to withstand the supernatural enemy, the devil.

But is there any hope that we will be able to succeed?

Yes, praise God, let’s look at...

3. The Result (13)

A. Stand Presently (13a)

withstand (anthistemi [aor, act, inf]) - oppose, resist

in the evil day - with strength of God, using the armor of God, we will be able to oppose the supernatural enemy of God whenever it is necessary; thus presently!

B. Stand Victoriously (13b)

having done all, to stand firm (histemi [aor, act, inf]) - victory is not only possible, it is inevitable!

both the Greek words for withstand and stand are infinitives, which are verbal nouns, which in essence is saying, "as you become a withstander against evil, you will be a stander".

Our families, church, society, nation, culture needs standers...we are the link to the truth of God and His good news!