1 Alderwood Community Church December 4, 2011 We Are At War! Ephesians 6:10-13 Intro: Perhaps his most subtle ploy, is that Satan would have you think that he doesn t even exist. Or certainly he would have you think incorrectly about him. He would have you to believe that he is a mythological man in a red suit with a pitch fork and a tail. Or he would have you to believe that he is the bad side of your conscience, much like the cartoons when a very small man in a red suit appears on your left shoulder to do something wrong, and a little angel appears on your right shoulder telling you to do the right thing. Another mistake Christians make is to have an obsessive preoccupation with Satan and to blame every bad action, every illness and every evil act in society on him. Let s read our text to learn from God s Word about the spiritual battle that all believers are engaged in and how we are to respond. Read Text: Ephesians 6:10-13 Big Idea: It is only by the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ that we will be able to stand against the temptation and deception of satanic forces. 1. Recognize The Nature Of Our Conflict. (Vrs. 11-12) Finally This word introduces the final portion of the letter. From (4:1 6:9) Paul gives practical applications for the believers concerning how to live out their new position in Christ before both believers and unbelievers. Now in his final section (6:10-20) he describes the continual warfare of wicked forces against believers and commands them to be strengthened in the Lord, so that they can stand against the wicked schemes of the devil. A. Our enemy (1) Satan (Vrs. 11) So that you can take your stand against the devil s schemes- Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 Scripture is clear about Satan s very real and personal existence. He was once the chief angel until he rebelled against his Creator and tried to usurp His power and glory (Isa. 14:12 17; Ezek. 28:1 10; Rev. 12:7 9). He first appears in Scripture in the form of a serpent, as he tempted Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1). Jesus not only spoke about Satan (Luke 10:18; John 8:44; 12:31) but spoke with him (Matt. 4:3 10). Paul, Peter, James, John, and the writer of Hebrews all speak of him as a personal being (Rom. 16:20; 2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Thess. 2:18; Heb. 2:14; James 4:7; 1 Pet.
2 5:8; Rev. 12:9). We see him opposing God s work (Zech. 3:1), perverting God s Word (Matt. 4:6), hindering God s servant (1 Thess. 2:18), hindering the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4), snaring the wicked (1 Tim. 3:7), appearing as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), and fighting with the archangel Michael (Jude 9). He brought sin into the world and the whole world now lies in his power (1 John 5:19). The Bible refers to the devil by such personal names and descriptions as the ruler of demons (Luke 11:15), the ruler of this world (John 16:11), the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2), and numerous others. He is identified as the great dragon, a roaring lion, the vile one, the tempter, the accuser, and the spirit working in the sons of disobedience. Fifty two times he is called Satan, which means adversary, and thirty five times the devil, which means slanderer. This fallen archangel and his fallen angels who became demons have been tempting and corrupting mankind since the Fall. They are an evil, formidable, cunning, powerful, and invisible foe against whom no human being in his own power and resources is a match. (John 8:44, 1 John 3:8, Rev. 12:9, 20:2) (2) Demons (Vrs. 12) (1 Tim. 4:1; Eph. 1:21, 3:10) For this conjunction tells us the reason why it is important to put on the full armor of God. Our struggle this word was used to describe a wrestling match, but here with the military motif is has the idea of hand-to-hand combat. Is not against flesh and blood meaning our battle is not against human adversaries, but rather supernatural, unseen beings. Evil spiritual powers of great authority. The supernatural, powerful, and cunning nature of the opposition makes the use of God s armor absolutely necessary. Rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil Rulers means leader, primacy in power which no doubts reflects a high order of demons. These four categories are not explained. They may describe the different strata and rankings of the demons that report to Satan, but any categorical attempts to rank them or to expand beyond what the scripture says here is speculation. Paul s purpose, however, is not to explain the details of the demonic hierarchy but to give us some idea of its sophistication and power. We are pitted against an incredibly evil and potent enemy. But our need is not to specifically recognize every feature of our adversary but to turn to God, who is our powerful and trustworthy source of protection and victory. The relationship of these powers to the devil is not specifically spelled out, but the context closely allies them with him: they belong to this darkness and are called spiritual forces of evil. They are under the power of the evil one and form a united front. In fact, v. 12 may be an expansion of the reference to the devil s schemes in v. 11. These spiritual authorities are not represented as acting independently of the devil, but as his agents they share with him common objectives and strategies.
3 Here is what we do know: (1) They are powerful (2) They are wicked (evil) (3) They are crafty. In the heavenly realms- In the OT God and Satan converse with one another in heaven (Job 1:6-12). The devil and his followers are also presently both on earth and in the heavenly realm. The devil is portrayed as the one who is the ruler of the realm of the air (2:2), the one who controls this evil world (1 John 5:19) and is called the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). The present battle is played out in the heavenly realm and on earth between those who align themselves with the devil and those who align themselves with Christ. Although Christ has won the victory at the cross, the reality of the conflict presently continues for believers until the subjugation of evil to Christ yet in the future. B. His strategies (Vrs. 11) so that you can take you stand against the devil s schemes. Schemes - from which comes the English method, carries the idea of craftiness, cunning, and deception. The term was often used of a wild animal who cunningly stalked and then unexpectedly pounced on its prey. Satan s evil schemes are built around stealth and deception. The devil is crafty and doesn t always attack through obvious head-on assaults but employs cunning strategies to catch believers unaware. Sometimes he roars like a lion (1 Peter 5:8) through open persecution, open temptation and fear. But more often he is subtle as a serpent. He prefers to seduce us into compromise and deceive us into error. Perhaps his most subtle play is persuading people he does not exist. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 1. By blinding the eyes of unbelievers and literally snatching the Word of God from them. 2. By casting doubt on God s character and to question God s goodness Just as he did with Adam and Eve, Because man s greatest strength is to trust God, Satan s objective is to make him distrust God. In countless variations Satan continues to tempt men to doubt God s will ( Indeed, has God said? ) and to doubt His motives ( For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, Gen.3:1,5) 3. By persecuting and causing troubles, tempting us to forsake obedience to God s standards and calling. (Illus: Job, Early Church) 4. By deceiving us (He is a liar) into believing lies. for there is no truth in him for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 5. By slandering us (his name devil means slanderer, accuser) to accuse us- He will tempt you to think you are beyond God s forgiveness. That you are unforgiveable. That you are not a child of God through persistent doubt.
4 6. By causing division - The enemy knows God cannot work effectively in or through a body of believers who will not work lovingly with each other. 7. By persuading believers to trust in themselves. 8. By fear: the future and death So that by his death [Christ] he might destroy him who holds the power of death- that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 9. By tempting believers with lust, greed and pride. Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world 1 John 2:15 16 Although we should be aware of these schemes, our defense against them is not simply our knowledge of them but rather our reliance on God s provision of strength to stand against them. 2. Rely On God s Power. (Vrs. 10-11a, 13) A. God s power. be strong in the Lord lit. be made strong or be strengthened. It is in the passive voice, indicating that this is something that we are to allow to happen to us. We are not to empower ourselves. Our strength comes from an external source. God will supply all the strength we need for our spiritual battle. In Eph. 1:18-20 Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers would experience this power, which is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead and is available to all believers right now. This is the very same power that defeated Satan and is now available in each of God s children. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16 Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us Ephesians 3:20 (Phil. 4:13)
5 But this paragraph does not foster an attitude of fear. The entire passage is suffused with a spirit of confidence and hope and the reader is left, not with a feeling of despair, but with the sense that Satan can be defeated. The fundamental reason for this confidence (though not presumption) is that the decisive victory over the powers has already been won by God in Christ (1:19 22; cf. 4:8). Not only has the authority of the powers been broken, but also their final defeat is imminent, and the very existence of the church, comprising Jews and Gentiles reconciled through the death of Christ to God and to one another in the same body, is evidence that the purposes of God are moving triumphantly to their climax (3:10). The powers cannot finally hinder the progress of the gospel, and all things will ultimately be subject to Christ. It is because of God s victory in his Son that believers are in the battle at all. We are not urged to win the victory; rather, to withstand the devil s insidious wiles and to stand firm, a posture that will involve both defensive and offensive positions. Believers live in the overlap of the ages, between the already and the not yet. Christ is already seated in the heavenly places far above every rule and authority; God has placed all things under his feet (1:21, 22), and we have been raised and made to sit with him (2:5, 6). But Christians need to appropriate what has been won for them, and in the present context this means putting on the armor of God and standing firm in the midst of the battle. (O Brien) B. How are we to be made strong? (1) We are to put on the full armor of God. (2) How are we to put on the full armor of God? (a) The battleground is in our mind. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (b) Putting on the armor is simply praying! (i) Prayer is a demonstration of our dependence on God. (ii) This prayer involves a plea for help. (iii) This prayer is a declaration of our faith.
6 Putting on the whole armor of God is both a request and a declaration of the truth of God s character and our union with him that results in our confident stand against Satan s temptations and deceptions. 3. Resist The Temptation And Deception Of Satan! Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith 1 Peter 5:8-9a Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10: 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14