Ephesians – part 18:

“One Battle”

Ephesians 6:5-23

Introduction

• We’re going to talk about how our key weapon to win the battle against our enemy is prayer that expresses our dependency on God.

Verse 10

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

• The danger here is to know all that we know about the preceding instruction and then fail to carry it out.

• We have knowledge of righteousness, but we find ourselves powerless to overcome evil.

Tony Robbins

Self-Help Coach

Verse 10

• So we come up with self-help ideas.

• Instead of a reliance on the power of God, it has become more about what we can accomplish by following a few simple steps.

• This problem has surfaced because our perception of Biblical Christianity is wrong.

Verse 11

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

• Christianity is about an entrance into warfare.

• This is not the perception of many Christians.

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” by Martin Luther

A mighty fortress is our God,

A bulwark never failing;

Our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevaling.

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” by Martin Luther

Did we in our own strength confide,

Our striving would be losing,

Were not the right man on our side,

The man of God's own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is he;

Lord Sabaoth, his name,

From age to age the same,

And he must win the battle.

Verse 11

• The key to the warfare we are speaking of is to cease from relying on our strength.

• James 4:7-10: 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Verse 11

• The theology of the New Testament is a theology of sharing in the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

• “The soul that is lost in the life of God lives in the unlimited life of God. This is liberty, and this is prosperity. The more loss we suffer, the more prosperous our gain will be.” (Watchman Nee, The Spiritual Man, pg. 215)

Verse 11

• This passage should point the Christian to a place of greater dependency on the Lord.

• Notice that the armor Paul is referring to is “God’s armor.”

Isaiah 59:17- He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head…

Verse 12

• 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.

• We need to identify the enemy.

Verse 12

• First, he is a created being who is not omnipresent.

• Colossians 1:16-17: 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

• Second, he can’t just come to each person and tempt them. He has to use a variety of methods.

Verses 13-17

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. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Verses 13-17

• Paul makes very clear that this armor is spiritual armor and it is not found in the physical realm.

Verses 13-17

• The Belt of Truth

– To the Roman soldier, his belt gave him a feeling of fortitude when tightened.

– It is imperative that you learn and meditate on the Word of God.

Verses 13-17

• The Breastplate of Righteousness

– If we are to live holy lives, we must reach a state of dependency on God trusting Him for our righteousness.

– The problem is that there are too many seeking to establish their own righteousness.

Verses 13-17

Rom. 10:3- For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Verses 13-17

• The Shoes of Readiness to Share the Gospel

– Notice the emphasis here is not on the Gospel itself, but rather on the readiness to share the Gospel.

1 Peter 3:15a- 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…

Verses 13-17

• The Shield of Faith

– Faith is the key to victorious Christian living.

– We can march into battle knowing that as Jude says in verse 24 of his epistle, “He is able to keep you from falling…”

Verses 13-17

• The Helmet of Salvation

– 1 Thess. 5:8- But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

– This is in reference to our future salvation.

– This is why our dependence on Christ is so important.

Verses 13-17

• The Sword of the Spirit

– One of the typical schemes of Satan is his attempts to make us doubt the Word of God.

– The only way to defeat this is to use the Word of God itself.

Main Point

• We have seen here that for us to live in the manner prescribed in the Bible, we must deny ourselves and rely completely upon the power of God.

Verses 18-24

• 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Verses 18-24

• 21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Verse 18-24

• There is no better way for us to practice this dependence on God than through prayer.

• Prayerlessness is your declaration of independence from God.

Verses 18-24

• We are instructed to pray according to His will.

• 1 John 5:14- And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

• James 4:3- You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Verses 18-24

• We often see prayer as cosmic room service in which can order up what we want when we want it.

• The forgotten aspect of prayer:

Jude 20-21: 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Conclusion

My prayer is that we will see this great need, and come to God totally confessing our dependence on Him in every area of our lives realizing that the fight and the weapons all belong to the Lord.