LIFE IS WAR PART TWO

 

Eph 6:18-24

Who is our greatest enemy? The answer is Satan, which means “accuser”, His other name: Lucifer, which means “star of the morning” Who is his primary target? Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Why? Because the divine plan of redeeming sinners was through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, the God man. We see this truth when the Hebrew writer penned these words “….What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Behold, I and the children God has given me." Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Heb 2:5-15

Satan even tried, but unsuccessfully, failed at trying to destroy the Messianic line of Christ. In Matthew’s gospel we read “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.” Matt 2:16

And when that didn’t work he tried to destroy Christ in the wilderness. In Matthew’s gospel we read “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 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.' "Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.' "Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 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.' "Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.” Matt 4:1-11

At the cross maybe Satan thought he finally one and defeated Christ. We read in Peter’s epistle “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,” 1 Peter 3:18-19

Since he was unsuccessful in his attempts to destroy Christ, he goes the ends of the world to oppose everything Jesus does.

Example:

Where Christ reveals truth “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

Satan tries to hid and conceals the truth “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

Christ Jesus gives life “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

Satan loves to take life “…He was a murderer from the beginning...” John 8:44

Christ Jesus produces spiritual healthy fruit “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23

Satan loves worldly fruit “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal 5:19-21

Christ Jesus permits tests and trails in our lives to help us grow spiritually “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:2-5

Satan loves to lure us with temptation to destroy us. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 peter 5:8

Christ Jesus sets the captives free "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

Satan enslaves the lost “…they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” 2 Tim 2:26

Christ Jesus defends believers “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1

Satan accuses them “…for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” Rev 12:10

Paul’s closing remarks is reminding us and preparing us for war. We are reminded of who we are fighting against, and whose armor we are to be wear daily. But! There is something else we must constantly do daily as we remind ourselves who we are at war with, and whose armor we are wearing. The answer to that can be found in the verses that follow. (v18-v24)

  

Christian, be devoted to constant prayer (v18)

Be devoted to prayer as you fight the good fight of faith for the sake of the gospel and lost souls. Paul doesn’t just say “please pray in the Spirit” No, he says “have preserving prayer life in the Spirit” (v18) We need to understand that prayer is not a piece of armor that we put on. It’s so much more than that.  It’s not something we tack on when something important is happening or something tragic or critical is happening. It’s not something we do before we eat a meal or go to bed. It’s not something we do at the beginning of worship service to make ourselves feel good, or to look good, towards one another. It’s not something we are to take for granted or say, “Why bother”, because we don’t see results. John MacArthur said in his commentary referring this chapter “Prayer is not merely another godly weapon, as important as those weapons are (referring to the armor of God). All the while that we are fighting in the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, we are to be in prayer. Prayer is the very spiritual air that the soldier of Christ’s breathes. It is the all-pervasive strategy in which warfare is fought.”

See…… Prayer is vital in times of tragedy, calamities, trials and critical moments, because we desperately need Him. Prayer is important to acknowledge who gives us food and shelter and supplies our every need, not our wants. Prayer is important when we go to bed and rise up every morning, because we are acknowledging the sovereign God who is in control over my life. Prayer is something we do at the beginning of the worship service as we acknowledge Him by humbling ourselves under the weight of His glory, as the glorious King we serve and worship. Prayer isn’t something that we take for granted when we don’t see results, because the results are there, you are seeking Christ who is strong and mighty through the privilege and power of prayer.

Jesus knew of the importance of prayer that why we see Him urge his disciples to pray. “And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18:1. This was an unjust judge; but God is a righteous Judge. The judge did this for a stranger; God’s people are his own elect and He knows how important prayer is for His children.

Jesus knew how important prayer was, He always reminded the disciples  to pray. And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Luke 22:39-46

Jesus knows that when the battle gets hard soldiers easily become, weak, tired, and discouraged. This is why Paul says “Pray at all times” This is persevering prayer! Paul knows the struggles are real and at times there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel as we fight this good fight of faith. But! Paul is saying despite how things look right now, do not stop, or cease, from praying. Why? It’s our spiritual breathe in times of battle, and in times of peace. Prayer helps us to remind ourselves that the battle has been won and we are victorious and we need not fear what man can do. Remember what Jesus said “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt 10:28. We forget……. who is over all things, and all people, for all time! We, like the church of Ephesus, need to remind ourselves what Paul originally said at the start of his letter…….“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Eph 1:1-6

Do not lose sight of this truth, when it comes to the matter of prayer in your life. Do not lose sight of His goodness and grace; we are His beloved, He is the One who secures us, in His sovereign arms of grace. Prayer is our very breath of life that sustains us for life and for the battle over my heart, and especially the gospel truth. The Psalmist said “I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2

  

“Praying all the time” is a God consciousness.

Where everything we see and experience becomes a kind of prayer lived in a deep awareness of our love for Christ. Prayer is demonstration of submission to His will over our lives and resting in His goodness to see us through whatever is before us. Prayer is an avenue to which we have and find a solid joy-filled communion with the Savior and Creator of the Universe. Prayer helps us as we fight the fight of faith, against the great evil deceiver. Prayer turns our eyes of self and to the body of Christ as we fight together in this spiritual warfare.

  

The reformer Charles Hodge said “The conflict which the apostle has been speaking about is not just a single battle between the individual Christian and Satan, but also a war between the people of God and the powers of darkness. No soldier entering battle prays for himself alone, but for all his fellow soldiers also. They form one army, and the success of one is the success of all. In a similar way Christians are united as one army and therefore have a common cause, and each must pray for everyone else. Such is the communion of saints, as set out in this letter and in other parts of Scripture, that they can no more fail to take this interest in each other’s welfare than the hand can fail to sympathize with the foot.”

Paul says “praying for all the saints” (v18b) not just the ones you like and get along with; but the ones whom you have daily conflict with, and don’t seem to get along with.

You cannot pick and choose, who you should, or, should not pray for. This truth forces you out of your Christian comfort zone to examine your heart as you pray for brothers and sisters you struggle with. Why? We are in this battle together whether you like it or not. Again our battle is not with one another, but with powers and things that are unseen. Prayer is powerful in the hands of a redeemed sinner. Satan knows this and he will do whatever he can to shut you up and to avoid this spiritual breath.

John Flavel said “The devil is aware that one hour of close, spiritual and hearty converse with God in prayer, is able to pull down what he hath been contriving and building many a year.”

Matthew Henry said “There is an inexhaustible fullness of grace and mercy in God, which the prayers of all the saints can never draw, dry.”

Persevering prayer is something we have to fight through and recognize that this is vital in our lives. Prayer isn’t a tag along or something we do when we feel like it. We do it because prayer is our spiritual breathe. Without prayer and recognizing its vital importance in the life of the child of God, only leads to much frustration and heartache that leads to weak walls for Satan and his fiery darts.

John Bunyan said “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.”

Satan doesn’t knock on the front door of your heart….he finds ways to breach the weak points of your Christian life. Paul said “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness….” 2 Cor 11:13-15 This is why… We need to be on guard watching and persevering in the Spirit, because Satan might appear as something good to eye, in order to trip you up into sins snare and bondage. This is why Paul says we are to pray for all the brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. The battle is too big for one man to handle we need one another to stand on the front line for the glory of His name and the gospel. This is why Paul is very specific in his supplications here for the saints to pray about. What’s interesting to note in Paul’s request here…. Paul did not plead and say “Pray on my behalf, in order that my ankles, raw and sore from these shackles, might be healed.” Paul didn’t say “Please pray that I might be freed from prison and this suffering” No, what was Paul’s prayer? (v19-v20). That he would have boldness to preach the gospel in the midst of his suffering and chains.

Paul was a man who did not shy away from suffering! “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Phil 3:10. Paul’s deepest concern was that God would give him the utterance, the boldness to proclaim the glorious gospel to lost sinners. Paul wanted his fellow brothers and sisters to pray for the victorious gospel as Paul, as we, continue in spiritual warfare. Paul knew who his enemy was and he also knew he was unable to win this battle left to his own resources and power. We need each other to encourage our passion for the gospel confession. Prayer is a vital weapon for the body of Christ and the furtherance of the gospel. The purpose of prayer is to take our eyes off of self and look to the conquering King to see the gospel penetrate sinner’s hearts, for the saints to grow and to encourage one another for the glory of God.

Let me ask you! Can you pray and ask for that prayer? The answer is yes, if you believe the Bible. After everything you know and heard in this letter, the child of God can only do one thing and that is to say “Amen to all of it!” They can say amen, because it comes from a right heart, as Paul expresses the genuine heart of the gospel as (v24) “incorruptible”. This love only belongs to the true believer who knows and savors the gospel confession. As Paul said “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Eph 3:14-21. A heart that has been transformed by Scripture alone, by faith alone, through Christ alone, by His grace alone, to God be the glory alone.

 What is the chief end of man? 

“To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”