Sermon Notes-"Stand Strong" from Ephesians 6:10-12
Introduction: As I was thinking about what it means to stand strong, I was reminded of a movie I saw recently which most people saw months ago. It was Avengers: End Game. The scene that came to mind was the final battle scene where the Avengers with their specific gifts and powers come together and stand strong against Thanos. I could not find the exact image online, but the following picture illustrates my point. Just like the Avengers needed everyone to come together to win the battle, our passage from Ephesians is a reminder that the battle we are going to look at today is very real and is done not only individually but together as the church body. Let’s look at our verses for this morning.
Strong vs. 10
·
In the Lord
o
Greek
Word means to be or become rendered (more) capable or able for some task;
receive strength; be strengthen for service or action
§
You do not make
yourself strong but instead must be empowered.
This is a continual act.
§
We are made
strong in the Lord by what He has done, not our own power.
o
As members of the new family of God,
believers are to find their strength and leadership for this warfare in the
Lord Jesus Christ. By implication they are not to look for it in themselves, or
in their spirituality or their maturity, or in education, influence, position,
prestige, money, programs, personal rights, or other people. Their strength is
to be found solely in Christ [1]
o
This power is Christ’s and it becomes ours
by our union with Christ and by faith (not works).
§
Union With Christ means that you are in
Christ and Christ is in you. (Rankin Wilbourne)
·
In His power
o
Same word for power (dunamis-word we get
dynamite) used here is what Paul uses in Ephesians 1:19-same power that raised
Christ from the dead.
Stand vs. 11
·
Standing here involves “to face and withstand with courage”. Could also be translated as maintain, stay
put, remain firmly, continue to be. It
is not a passive but active verb. Similar to the idea of the hymns “Standing on
the Promises” or “I Stand Amazed in the Presence”
·
Put on
o To put on-to provide with clothes
or put clothes on another
o Similar idea that I preached on
earlier in the year from Ephesians 4 about “put off” and “put on” where I had
two different coats. If you remember,
the idea is of a coat bearer or someone putting on the royal robes on a
king. God is “putting on” this armor on
you. It’s all about Him!
o We
are not going to talk about the specific pieces of armor this morning. Join us
next week to hear more about the specific pieces of armor of God that provides. The focus here is “the full armor of God, by
which is meant not merely the armor that God gives but the armor God wears.”[2]
o We are never fighting alone. Some
things to rememeber:
§ God has already won the battle through Christ’s death on the
cross-Colossians 2:15-“And having
disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them,
triumphing over them by the cross.”
§
angels are fighting for us Psalm 91:11-“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (2/3 angels vs. 1/3 demons)
·
I pray for my
family and others in relation to this spiritual battle that the angels will be strengthened
and victorious in the battle in the heavenly realms.
§ God is fighting for us-2 Chronicles 20:15-“Do not be
afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours
but God’s.” And even one of God’s names is Yahweh Sabaoth which means the Lord
of Hosts (Lord of Angel Armies) used over 200 times in the Bible. The song we are going to sing at end of
service talks about this God of Angel Armies. Also, theme verse from Jr. High
Camp Jeremiah 20:11, “But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior;
·
Against Devil’s schemes
o C.S. Lewis Preface to Screwtape
Letters, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall
about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to
believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They
themselves are equally pleased by both errors…”
o Schemes is literally crafting,
scheming, or wiles of the devil; a deceptive way of doing something.
o Think about how Satan and demons
have worked in Scripture and in your own life.
It is usually done in a sneaky way.
Examples are Satan twisting God’s Words with Eve (Did God really say?) or
even Jesus temptation in the desert.
§
I was reminded of the sneaky ways that Satan works as I am preparing to preach
on spiritual battle, our network was down for a day and while Pastor Brad was
helping me work on slides, my computer started to download a bunch of unwanted files
that took time to remove from my computer.
§ Witherington
agrees by saying, “Evil rarely looks evil until it accomplishes its goal; it
gains entrance by appearing attractive, desirable, and perfectly legitimate. It
is a baited and camouflaged trap.”[4]
o 2 Corinthians 2:11 says “in order
that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes
o Satan’s D’s-Distraction, division,
deception, depression, doubt, death, destroy, despair, double-minded, dread,
darkness, disease
o Coach Bauerle scouting the opposing
team prior to the game on Friday night.
Struggle vs. 12
·
Not against flesh and blood
o
The enemies are not human (flesh and blood) although, of course,
the spiritual powers of evil may use human instruments.[5]
o
This reminds us that the battle is not
husband against wife, in-law against couple, parent against child, sibling against
sibling, friend against friend, boss against employee, pastor against
congregation, Christian against Christian, Christian against non-Christian
o
We battle in the spiritual through prayer,
worship and the Word of God.
o
As Pastor Brad has said, our battle is not
against people but for people.
·
Against
o
There is debate among the commentators as
to whether Paul is listing four levels of demonic activity or if the point is
that the enemy has a detailed and complete plan and strategy for how to battle
or fight against believers or God’s children. The important thing is not to get
bogged down in the details, but instead be aware of the battle and then stand
strong and fight.
o Since
he is a created being, and not eternal (as God is), he is limited in his
knowledge and activity. Unlike God, Satan is not all-knowing, all-powerful, or
everywhere-present.[6]
o
Each Christian is a target of Satan and
his angels, and this struggle goes on throughout one’s lifetime.[7]
o
Rulers
§
Same word used in Colossians 2:15. The word
describes a supernatural being other than God acting in a commanding or ruling
capacity whether good or evil.
o
Authorities
§
Same word used in Colossians 2:15
Exercises control over others as seen in God with humans, the government, and
the church.
o
Powers of the this Dark World-focus on natural realm
o
Spiritual forces of evil in Heavenly Realms-focus on the supernatural
realm
Closing: As I close, I want to encourage you to spend some time praying about the spiritual battle you are in. Ask God to reveal the ways you are being attacked. Pray and Ask God to battle on your behalf and that His angels would win the victory. You might also want to come and ask the prayer team or one of the pastors to pray for you as we sing our closing song of after the service. While you pray, I am going to have a song playing in the background called “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)” by Michael W. Smith.
[1]
Erickson, R. J. (1995). Ephesians. In Evangelical
Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 1032). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book
House.
[2] Witherington,
B., III. (2007). The letters to
Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians : a socio-rhetorical commentary on
the captivity Epistles (p. 349). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co.
[3]
Stott, J. R. W. (1979). God’s new society:
the message of Ephesians (p. 265). Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press.
[4]
Witherington, B., III. (2007). The letters to
Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians : a socio-rhetorical commentary on
the captivity Epistles (p. 349). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co.
[5]
Foulkes, F. (1989). Ephesians: an
introduction and commentary (Vol. 10, p. 177). Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press.
[6]
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible
exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 57). Wheaton, IL: Victor
Books.
[7]
Sproul, R. C. (1994). The Purpose of God:
Ephesians (p. 147). Scotland: Christian Focus Publications.
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