PREPARING FOR BATTLE Ephesians 6:12-18

Transcription

1 PREPARING FOR BATTLE Ephesians 6:12-18 A Christian who no longer has to struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil is a Christian who has fallen either into sin or into complacency. A Christian who has no conflict is a Christian who has retreated from the front lines of service. (MacArthur) Last Sunday OUR LIVING HOPE Jeremiah 3:12 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: 'Return, backsliding Israel,' says the LORD ; 'I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,' says the LORD ; 'I will not remain angry forever. Lamentations 3:22-24 (NASB) The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" I Peter 1:3 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living (lively) hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Acts 26:18 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may

2 #8 PREPARED FOR BATTLE Page 2 of 7 receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' Colossians 1: He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14 Delivered ruomai, which means "to draw to oneself," or "to rescue." God drew us out of Satan's kingdom to Himself. That event was the new birth. We are not gradually, progressively delivered from Satan's power. When we placed our faith in Christ, we were instantly delivered. "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Believers do not need deliverance from the dominion of sin and Satan; they need to act as those who have been delivered (cf. Romans 6:2,7,11). The word rendered here "translated" conveyed is often used in the sense of removing a people from one country to another;...christians have been transferred from one kingdom to another, as if a people were thus removed. They become subjects of a new kingdom, are under different laws, and belong to a different community. This change is made in regeneration, by which we pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from the empire of sin, ignorance, and misery, to one of holiness, knowledge, and happiness. No change, therefore, in a man's life is so important as this; and no words can suitably express the gratitude which they should feel who are thus transferred from the empire of darkness to that of light. (Barnes' Notes) Those who receive the Lord Jesus Christ have been rescued from the domain of darkness Exousias (domain) could be

3 #8 PREPARED FOR BATTLE Page 3 of 7 translated "power," "jurisdiction," or "authority." (from The MacArthur) Luke 1:79 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace." 1 Peter 2:9 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; As one commentator put it... If we are walking worthy of our calling, in humility rather than pride, in unity rather than divisiveness, in the new self rather than the old, in love rather than lust, in light rather than darkness, in wisdom rather than foolishness, in the fullness of the Spirit rather than the drunkenness of wine, and in mutual submission rather than self-serving independence, then we can be absolutely certain we will have opposition and conflict. Jesus' ministry began in a great battle with Satan that lasted forty days and ended by Satan besieging Him in the Garden of Gethsemane with such force that He sweat great drops of blood. This is God s own Son. Then what would make you and me think that Satan would not also attack us? Ephesians 6: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, * against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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.

4 #8 PREPARED FOR BATTLE Page 4 of 7 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints THE MESSAGE: Ephesians 6: And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. 11 So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. 12 This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-ordeath fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. 13 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Ephesians 6:10-13

5 #8 PREPARED FOR BATTLE Page 5 of 7 I. THE PRODUCT 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 1. THE MAKE 11 whole armor 2. THE MANUFACTURER v. 11 of God Ephesians 6:11 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. v. 13 of God Ephesians 6:13 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. v. 17 of God Ephesians 6:17 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; II. THE POTENTIAL STRONG Ephesians 6: be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. WITHSTAND - - to CAUSE to stand v that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

6 #8 PREPARED FOR BATTLE Page 6 of 7 STAND that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. III. THE PREPARATION PERSONAL Ephesians 6: my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 (YOU IS UNDERSTOOD) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, * against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore (YOU IS UNDERSTOOD) take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. PRIORITY Ephesians 6:10 In conclusion v. 10 Finally v. 12 INVISIBLE- 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, * against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. v. 18 INTERCESSION Ephesians 6:18 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

7 #8 PREPARED FOR BATTLE Page 7 of 7 We may think that we are really doing okay but I want to again read the quote I started with in the introduction. A Christian who no longer has to struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil is a Christian who has fallen either into sin or into complacency. A Christian who has no conflict is a Christian who has retreated from the front lines of service. James 3: But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 2 Timothy 3:2-7 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. PREPARING FOR BATTLE FILE: SERMONS/SPIRITUAL WARFARE/#8 PREPARING FOR BATTLE/