Strong in His Might: The Whole armor of Christ Ephesians 6:11-13 Introduction I think my favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard. I know you probably

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1 Strong in His Might: The Whole armor of Christ Ephesians 6:11-13 Introduction I think my favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard. I know you probably forgot it as Christmas movie, but it is. Bruce Willis, playing John McLane, stops terrorist from taking over the Nakatomi Plaza. Now John McLane is a tough opponent for these awful Terrorist and in one important scene where they have John pinned down and they can t seem to kill him, when Hans Gruber calls out to the other Terrorist, Shoot the glass. Anyone remember why he had them do that? Main Point: That s right John McLane did not have any shoes on, and so he knew to escape he was going to have to walk bare foot through broken glass which of course he did with no problem. 1

2 The spiritual battle we fight, we have to put on the whole armor. Missing a piece of armor leaves us ill-equipped. Many of us are fighting this spiritual battle this way ill equipped. And I suggest to you we put on the Armor, which is putting on Christ) We are in the middle of a series called, Strong in His might. Which is a miniseries on the armor of God as Paul laid out for us in Ephesians 6. Today we are looking at verse 11 & 12 Ephesians 6:11-12 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. (ESV) I. The entire Armor. 2

3 Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand (ESV) A. Entire armor. 1. Permanently. 2. Continually B. Stand firm: Literally to hold a strategic position. 1. As you battle with your sin and pursue righteousness it is easy to grow weary. 2. But you are holding a strategic position. 3. It is not small thing to persevere in your journey with Christ, day in and day out for a life time. This is holding a strategic position. Transition: We put on the entire armor, to stand firm because we are fighting a. II. Spiritual battle. 3

4 Ephesians 6:11-12 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. (ESV) A. Schemes of the Devil: What are the schemes of the devil? 1. Seeks who he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (ESV) a. How does a lion hunt? b. Separates its prey from the pack and looks to pounce. c. This why Christian community is vitally important. 4

5 d. Connect, Grow, and serve all serve as a protection from the devil. Second thing we can see in scripture is the Devil tempts I think the temptations of Christ should help us see his schemes. 2. Temptation schemes of the devil. (Matthew 4:1-11) Temptation 1: The temptation to forsake the words of God and the plans of God. Matthew 4:3-4 And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. 4 But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (ESV) 1. Who lead Jesus into the wilderness Spirit of God did. 2. Just because it gets difficult doesn t mean God it s not God s plan. 5

6 3. Satan tempts Jesus to not take God at His word and His plan. 4. And how does Jesus combat the temptation Word of God. (Deuteronomy 8:3) Temptation 2: Temptation to be presumptuous on God s promises. Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, and On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said to him, Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. (ESV) 1. This is to misunderstand God s word, and the context of God s word. 2. To presume upon God and His character and His timing of things. 6

7 3. Once again Jesus combats by properly and appropriately using scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16) Temptation 3: Temptation to shortcircuit suffering as part of God s plan. Make it easy. Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me. 10 Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. (ESV) 1. Jesus is the ruler of all, but His heavenly father had a process of suffering for Him to go through first. 2. Our Father has a plan for each of that he graciously uses our lives to bring Him the greatest glory. (Jesus Quotes Deuteronomy 6:10-14) 7

8 3. It is not uncommon for that plan to include suffering. Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV) Transition: We are aware of the schemes of the devil, and we recognize that we fight a B. Spiritual Battle 3 enemies of this spiritual battle are: 1. World. 2. Flesh. 3. Devil. 4. Battle is not with your spouse, or your neighbor, or your kids, or the co-worker. 5. Our wrestle is not against flesh and blood it is one of these 3 enemies. 8

9 BTW: Let me chase 2 quick rabbit trails this morning. 1. A Christian cannot be demon possessed. Christ and Satan cannot occupy the same space. Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (ESV) 2. We are never told in scripture to fight with Satan, or demon, or powers and principalities we are told to put on the armor of God. (In fact in regards to evil we are told) Romans 16:19-20 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. (ESV) 9

10 Transition: Armor up. Why? Because III. This is not peace time. Ephesians 6:13 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. (ESV) A. We need to understand the days we are living in. B. Our hope for peace is the next life, heaven. Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (ESV) C. We as Christians get up every morning with the understanding that we are at war, the days are evil, the gospel is the hope of the world. 10

11 D. We fight for truth, we fight for the world that is tearing at the hearts and minds of our kids. E. We fight for our own thoughts to be fixated on Christ and His word. Conclusion I have told you all before may all-time favorite movie is Rocky 1. It is the classic inspirational movie about a down-and-out, mediocre boxer who seizes an incredible opportunity. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed's opponent is injured and cancels six weeks prior to their fight, Creed chooses a local fighter, Rocky, to box. It is an amateur's dream. During one promotional interview some time before the fight, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and a reporter stand in a large meat freezer with a long row of sides of beef behind them. The reporter asks him how he came to train inside an ice box. Rocky answers that his friend let him in, he hit the 11

12 beef, and he liked it and the owner doesn't mind. "Is this a common training method? I mean, do other fighters pound raw meat?" the reporter asks. "Naw. I think I invented it," Rocky replies. The reporter asks for a demonstration, and Rocky obliges her. He begins punching a side of beef. Meanwhile Apollo Creed's assistant is watching the interview on TV. Creed, unlike Rocky, isn't training but is rather engrossed with promotional details. He makes sure he flies his barber in to Philly, confirms ringside reservations, and sends the mayor's wife 200 roses (making sure the newspapers are there to take pictures). While Creed and the promoter briefly discuss tax breaks and advertising for the fight, the assistant, engrossed with Rocky on TV, leans forward. As Rocky ferociously 12

13 pounds the meat, the assistant says, "Hey, Champ. You got to come and look at this boy you're going to fight on TV. Looks like he means business." From the background Creed says, "Yeah, yeah, I mean business, too," and asks for coffee. The assistant has a worried look on his face as he watches Rocky continue his assault on the beef. Out of breath, Rocky stops, steps back to the reporter's side, and she ends her report. When it comes time for the match, although Rocky doesn't win the fight, he shocks Apollo Creed and the world by going 15 close, bloody rounds with the champion. Main Point: My hope for this morning is that we will wake up I think many of us are saying, Yeah, Yeah God I mean business too. While we are incredibly cavalier about our spiritual training. Armor less, not feasting daily on Jesus Christ. 13

14 We have an enemy that wants to wreck our lives, families, hope, purpose, churches, anything good which comes from Jesus Christ, and it is up to us to be aware and Be strong in the Lord and in the Strength of His Might. Pray 14