LIFE IS WAR PART ONE

Eph 6:10-19

In Bryan Chapell’s commentary on Ephesians he starts this section with this very important story in history.

He says “Visitors can see the wall where the ink stained. A spattered shadow still appears where Martin Luther is reputed to have thrown his inkwell at the Devil because the Reformer so vividly perceived the presence of Satan. The story is famous for its dramatic features but important to us for its reflection of spiritual warfare we may face. Luther was not running from God or pursuing an evil path when the powerful temptation confronted him. The spiritual assault came when Luther was translating the New Testament into common language of his people. After enduring great personal sacrifice and while engaging in a religious effort that would change the face of the Western world, Luther’s faith was severely tested. The attack of spiritual enemy was intense despite Luther’s noble activity. At time of great spiritual endeavor, Satan never seemed more real.” Brian Chapell goes on to say “Luther’s experience teaches us that we are not immune to spiritual assaults even when we have personally sacrificed and deeply immersed ourselves in noble spiritual endeavor.”

I would say and agree with Bryan Chapell “It’s in these moments where we might have the most intense spiritual battles in the Christian life.” The more you grow the more real, and present, they seem to be in our lives. Our homes or our church walls don’t shield us from Satan’s threats. As Christians, we are in a spiritual battle of some sort on a daily basis. In Christian warfare, battles are fought on different fronts, for different reasons, and with varying degrees of intensity. Our spiritual battles and warfare are real, even though we cannot physically see the attacker. The one thing we are to do is educate ourselves on how the battles are fought and how they impact our lives on a daily basis. Believers are called to stand firm in the midst of spiritual warfare by God’s power, with God’s armor, through the means of constant prayer.

  

The language that Paul uses here in this text would have been influenced by the majestic warfare imagery of the Old Testament. The Old Testament often refers to God, and to Jesus, as “a Warrior” and God’s children as “troops” who desperately need His strength to endure the battlefield. For example: “The LORD is a Warrior; Yahweh is His name.” Exo 15:3. “The LORD goes out like a mighty man (warrior), like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.” Isaiah 42:13

  

We even see this significance of this passage before us this morning where God is our strength and hope in time of battle. “Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Isaiah 11:5. “He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.” Isaiah 49:2. By Paul speaking this way would have resonated with the people of the church in Ephesus, because of the historical truth revealed in the providence of God for the nation of Israel. The main point to this passage is to remind the believer that it isn’t about us winning the battle, but it’s the Lord, strong and mighty who has won it on the Cross. It’s not thinking! What would Jesus do, but rather What Jesus has done. 

This is what this letter has been talking about from chapter one to chapter six. 

God’s divine power (Eph 1:19) 

The conquering Christ who has triumphant over darkness and sin. (Eph 1:20-2; 3:16,20) 

The promise of the new birth and the freedom we have in the gospel confession. (Eph 2:2) 

We get to taste the full fruit of Christ’s victory to stand as we fight the good fight of faith (Eph 3:12; 5:1-2) all for the glory of His Name.

Your spiritual battle still rages on, because you woke up this morning! As we approach this text may we humbly and joyfully remind ourselves! The battle has already been won, Christ is Lord, and we are hidden and secured in Him, through the redemption that is found in Christ alone. (Eph 2:1-10) It’s through this promise that we live consistently with that identity with the spiritual resources that are ours. This is why we can have confidence and say “Bring it on; our hope is in the greatest and mightiest warrior that has conquered sin and death.” How do we do that? In this passage Paul exhorts the people of the church to stand firm by God’s strength, in God’s armor, as you face spiritual warfare.

Three imperatives (essentials) are used in this passage “Be strengthened”, “Put on the full armor of God”, and “stand”.

We find strength in His mighty hand. (v10) 

This strength is demonstrated in the full armor of God. (v11) 

God’s armor is necessary so that we/you, can stand against the tactics of the Devil. (v14)

We absolutely need God’s strength and armor, so that we can stand and resist the Devil’s temptations. James 4:7 reminds us this truth “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The verses that come before this are in opposition to this verse, written in James letter. We think! I’ve been a Christian for twenty plus years, and attended church faithfully that I’m strong and I handle myself. But what did James say? “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6. It the idea of having one foot in the world, and the other in Christ, thinking you have both without falling to sin and temptation. This thinking only comes from a proud heart, and God opposes that because it comes from the Devil, not God. Resistance is a must in the Christian life, as we fight the battle over our hearts desires. We do this by standing in His strength, with His armor as we go through spiritual war, against opposing forces that are not seen. It’s resisting by taking a firm stand “I will not yield to your temptation. I will not listen to your lies. I will not budge.” Why? My greatest joy and rest is found in the person of Jesus Christ, our victorious warrior who has satisfied the Father’s wrath over sin.

What does that warrior look like? John penned these words in his last letter “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Rev 19:11-16

I want you to keep that imagery in your mind found in Revelation, as we approach this letter this morning! This is the conquering King who goes before us in battle, the One who waged war on sin, and defeated sin, and death, for you and me. So what I would like for us to concentrate on is three important things we read in this passage.

Christian, be aware of the battle.

Christian, be equipped with God’s armor

Christian, be devoted to constant prayer. (WE WILL LOOK AT NEXT WEEK)

1. Christian, Be aware of the battle.

Who exactly are we fighting?

Is it your agnostic neighbor, who finds hope in all religions and all things?

The atheist, at school who hates God and lives by their own rules?

The evolutionist, who tries to daily deny the Lord’s existence?

The religious person, who know enough to be extremely dangerous?

Nominal Christian, who are so complacent they act and smell like the world, but think their saved?

The false teacher distorting the Scriptures, behind the pulpit exporting the gospel as merchandise?

The world religions around the globe that seeks many ways to God or enlightenment that only leads to judgement and the wrath of God.

  

Don’t get me wrong! They are things that should concern us and we are to gently deal with these issues as the Lord presents them to us, but our greatest concern and battle is the tug of war for your heart. Let’s not lose focus of what Paul is clearly telling us, who our adversary is as Paul says here (v11) “Devil”. This battle we face is of a much higher power than anyone of us can defeat or handle. The Devil is so powerful; the only One who could and did defeat him, is God, Himself.

Understand! This is a created being that has been at war with God from the very beginning is the same one that has been given many names throughout the Scriptures.

The “serpent” (Gen3:1, 14; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 12:9).

“Beelzebub” (Matt 10:25; Matt 12:24-27; Luke 11:15).

The “ruler of the world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

The “god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4).

The ‘evil one” (Matt 13:19; 1 John 2:13).

The “dragon” (Rev 12:9)

What these names have in common is that Satan, the Devil, is wicked, powerful, dangerous and very cunning. Satan is powerfully and persistently influences the spheres at the cultural level, the family level, and the spiritual level. We need God’s strength and armor because we are up against a powerful being who hates God, and the only way we can stand is to understand who we are fighting against. Unfortunately we tend waste our time in battle with our neighbor, against one another, especially in the church by getting puffed up with pride. Why? Because, we want, what we want and when there is opposition we become proud and angry and will do anything or hurt anyone to get what we want.

Paul says we battle against what? We need to pay attention to the answer found in (v12)

“spiritual forces of evil”

This evil one has been gaining foothold in some people’s lives by tempting some in the church…. 

To speak falsehoods (Eph 4:25)

To have uncontrolled anger (Eph 4:26)

To steal (Eph 4:28)

To use unwholesome words (Eph 4:29)

When a child of God falls prey to the temptation, we succumb to sin that once held us captive to the bondage of sin and death. We need to understand Satan can make any sin look good and seems harmless. But! Sin has a devastating ripple effect, like a Tsunami raging against the shore of a coastal city. James said this “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.” James 1:13-16. This is the one who is battling over your heart, because he knows he has lost. We must understand that the Devil has been defeated and this is where our confidence begins and ends. So Satan, is going to do whatever he can, to make you doubt, ignore, and seek your hearts desires, over God’s. As Peter said “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 So now we know who our battle is truly with! What are we to do?

  

Christian, be equipped with God’s armor

Paul describes this armor is “of God”

The God, Isaiah 59:17 speaks of “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” As one theologian said “We don’t wear swimsuits or pajamas; we wear battle gear.” 

We are to put on the Lord’s armor……

The belts of truth….we are to be truth tellers, as we place this around our waist as we live in the truth and speak the truth. The Christian life is to be examples of the gospel that exemplifies truth despite the blow back or the hostility of others…including family! Preach the truth of the gospel to yourself, and go out speaking and living that truth in your life for His glory. Without truth we are lost and without hope and easily deceived. Without truth we reason everything by our own understanding and look to false truths.(Which are nothing less than Doctrines of Demons) See when we tighten, surround, saturate ourselves, in the truth of God's Word, we walk by faith and not in our own understanding. As Isaiah said “Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.” Isa 11:5

The breastplate of Righteousness….the child of God is to put on the virtues of Jesus our King. This is not the imputed righteousness, because that has been given to the child of God at conversion. Paul is speaking about practical righteousness. The fruits of your love for Christ because of what He has done positionally in our lives through the gospel. A life lived out in joyful obedience to God's commands. A life of Integrity, holiness, purity of life, a deep longing and desire to live for Christ. Paul said in Rom 13:12-14 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy (Don't go to wild parties or get drunk or be vulgar or indecent. Don't quarrel or be jealous.) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Let the Lord Jesus Christ be as near to you as the clothes you wear. Then you won't try to satisfy your selfish desires. Realize who you are and live out that new identity in righteous living and give no room for the Devil and his schemes. 

The Gospel shoes…. This peace is in the heart, but shows itself in the readiness of the feet. This readiness, this peace, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. As Peter said “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15. This is the gospel of eternal life and eternal hope for sinners. How wonderful are those who obey God's precious Words through the gospel confession. Let me ask you! Does a runner trains with work boots on?  Does a hockey player us roller skates on the ice?  The same goes for us today. We must always be prepared. Have you begun this day and every day prepared with the word of God? We are to put on the shoes of the Preparation, training our bodies and minds with the Gospel of Peace. Jesus is our peace and conquering King who defeated death for us through the gospel. (Eph 2:14). Jesus also proclaimed the gospel of peace as well. (Eph 2:17-19). We must always wear the shoes of the gospel of peace and let it rule our hearts. 

The shield of faith…. The shield of Faith is a trusting completely and unconditionally in the Lord Jesus Christ with our marriages, children, church family, and our future. We trust Him with our lives for salvation! But, we have a tendency to forget that we are to trust Him with everything else as well. John said “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4. We have a shield from the enemies’ darts, when we put on Christ, believing the promises of God. 

The helmet of salvation….our victorious warrior has given us the strength through Him, to give us hope as we resist the Devil. It all begins here! Satan’s battle begins with the believer’s security and assurance in Christ. Satan's battle and fiery darts are purposed to bring about doubt and to discourage us …… By pointing out our failures in life. Pointing our sins out and saying “God could never forgive you” Our unresolved problems. Our poor health to show God doesn’t love you. Why does he do this? He hates anything any anyone attached to the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why we cannot face the day without putting on our helmet of salvation. Our confidence is not in our abilities, but in the ability of our armor to withstand assaults. We do not put on the armor of God by trusting in our own strength, but by relying on God’s provisions for our protection. A prime example of this is found in Job “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.” Job 13:15 We need to remind ourselves daily! That I ‘am alive in Christ, and seated with Christ. Jesus saved me from my sin’s penalty and now I am free in Christ, my conquering Savior and King.

The Sword of the Spirit…. This is the most powerful weapon and the only offensive Armor we have in the Christian life!

This is the Divine Sword “the Word of God"

Infallible breathed Word of God. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

The Oracles of God  (Rom 3:2)

The record of divine prophecies  (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Authoritative  (Isa 1:2)

Effective  (Isa 55:11)

Its truthful and pure (John 17)

The word that is complete for every generation and culture. (Isa 40:6-8)

Isa 40:8 says “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." We have been given a wonderful and powerful sword, a sword that Jesus Himself used against the darts of the evil one. (Luke 4:1-13). This is the only weapon that is able to defeat the blows of Satan.

Satan hates the Word with a passion, and hates its divine power. He wants nothing more than to distort the truth in every generation.

  

It’s the believer’s weapon to use it and be equipped with it. 

We are not to SHARPEN IT OR ADJUST IT.

We are to just USE IT.

God's word will do the work and defeat the enemy. 

Charles Spurgeon said “Defend the Bible? I would as soon defend a lion! Unchain it and it will defend itself.” 

So powerful! The Hebrew writer said “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerned of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb 4:12. Without this defensive weapon we’re helpless against Satan and his fallen angels. We, without reasoning or compromising, need His precious Word to survive this battle of the heart.

Lewis Allen said in his book “The Preacher’s Catechism” “Complacency is the Devil’s work. Satan tempts all of us to believe that we are safe apart from relying on God’s grace alone.”

John Piper said in a sermon from 1982 “Satan devotes himself 168 hours a week trying to deceive you and fill your mind with junk. He has seen to it that you are surrounded almost entirely by a Christless culture whose mood, and entertainment, and advertising, and recreation, and politics are shot through with lies about what you should feel and think and do. Do you think that in this atmosphere you can maintain a vigorous, powerful, free, renewed mind with a ten-minute glance at God’s book once a day? The reason there are church people who are basically secular like everyone else except with a religious veneer is that they devote 99% of their time to absorbing the trajectories of the world and 1% of their time to absorbing the trajectories of God’s word.”

That’s a great question! Do you think that in this atmosphere you can maintain a vigorous, powerful, free, renewed mind with a ten-minute glance at God’s book once a day? The answer is NO! Paul is telling us, our strength in war comes though the finished work of Christ in the gospel confession, and saturating our lives in His Word. As we stand strong in His power, and finished work on the cross, as we put on His armor, recognizing who we are at war with.

My Sunday question is……Are you wearing His armor or your own?