Strength To Stand-2 Series

STRENGTH To STAND-II—Ephesians 6:10-20

Attention:

A Palm

It has strength to withstand hurricane force winds(145mph) & remain standing when all around it blows away.

How?...

1)It has a flexible trunk—it can bend 50° without snapping—It is composed of interlocking bundles of wood fibers built to bend & flex, unlike the majority of trees composed of stationary wood(built to bear tremendous weight from above).

2)It’s trunk is rounded—It produces less wind resistance.

3)It’s trunk is rarely branched—Wind resistance is minimized.

4)It’s leaves are flexible yet firmly attached—They fold up in a bundle in the wind, producing less wind resistance.

5)It grows from the apex only—Producing a smaller area of resistance.

6)It’s roots are somewhat short & multiplied around the entire compacted root ball—Makes the rootball essentially act as a bottom-heavy counterweight.

The storm does not negatively effect the palm’s integrity!

The Palm’s God-ordained design—Gives it strength to stand!

Likewise, God’s people need strength to stand in the storms of life!

Paul closes his revelation/direction to the Ephesian church by encouraging them to find their strength in the Lord by effectively arming themselves.

The church must acquire God’s strength to stand victorious.

Where is the church’s strength to stand victorious?

How can the church find strength to stand victorious?

12 distinctions of the Christian soldier’s strength for victory.

We have previously found that

1—God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious or acquire victory thru a distinct...

STRENGTH(:10)

2—God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious thru a distinct...

ENSEMBLE(:11)

Explanation:(:11)Clothing/Array/Dress

:11—“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

The Ephesian Christians are to access God’s strength(:10) thru actions(“put on”) which they take on voluntarily—by compulsion of the Spirit—in obedience to Him.

Christians will only be strong in the Lord when they “put on” specific “armor.”

*The entire array/ensemble of armor is to be “put on” in order for it to be effective.

Likewise, the entire array/ensemble of their “armor” is supplied by God.

The full(versus partial) “armor’s” purpose is that the man or woman of God should & will be enabled to “stand against” the trickeries/schemes/methods “of the devil.” These methods the devil ever employs in order to undo the Christian’s potential effectiveness. But with the same token, the armor of God never fails it’s bearer!

Thru using God’s “whole armor”, Christians are fully equipped & empowered(:10). They are equipped to put their limited strength—flesh only—into play by surrendering it to God in Christ. In our so doing...in our “putting on”, in our being equipped...so God is ‘freed’ from allowing the confines & limitations of disobedient physical flesh—which quenches the power of His might(:10).

In that newfound freedom & power of God’s might, the one thus protected(by God’s armor) is “enabled to stand.”

The Christian not only “stands” but “stands against” or opposed to something.

Every opposition is met with some type of friction(1Pet. 4:12-14):

1Pet. 4:12-14—“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory & of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”

The Christian & the Christian Church “stand against” any & every method of trickery(“wiles”) which “the devil” might attempt/employ.

Every moment of every day the Christian encounters some form of manifested wickedness/evil/worldliness, which MUST be countered, gone “against”, undermined, & overthrown by God working in the believer thru Christ.

God’s people absolutely must be found to “stand” firm in the face of subversive demonic activity & their deceptions.

Just because you do not have ‘poltergeists’ in your house does not mean that you have overcome the enemy! “The devil’s” primary work is thru subtlety. He masquerades as an angel of light(2Cor. 11:14), as do his ministers...

2Cor. 11:12-15—“But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves[outwardly] into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

“The devil’s” “wiles/schemes” are manifold but, “Satan’s evil schemes are built around stealth & deception.”—MNTC

There is no complete tabulation of the devil’s evil schemes, because it is ongoing & changes with each situation.

However:

The “devil” brings direct persecution. Hatred from others attempts to destroy the witness of God in the Christian. Such physical destruction & removal of lives removes a potential witness. However, mortal persecution also has a counter-result, in that it emboldens those of true faith to share more fervently. It offers a testimony to others of one’s overarching commitment to God. It proclaims the certainty of Jesus being the prophesied Messiah/Christ.