There's A Battle Over You Series

There’s A Battle Over You

Series: Becoming Who We Are (Engaging Ephesians)

Brad Bailey - March 30, 2014

Intro

This season I have been getting a review of history… one of my High School sons has a World History class and we have a ritual going over his notes a few times each week before a test. I’ve been struck by the extent of wars… sobered by the loss of lives…1,000 here…10,000….often a million lives…and some even the tens of millions. At root most often was the desire to take control over certain territories. [1]

Today: God wants us to understand something…the ultimate war is over YOU.

Whole of Ephesians is to declare God’s plan… who you are and can now become. But now the climatic truth of what is at hand must be raised: there is a war over you.

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NLT)

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Paul’s final words are a wakeup call.

Often heard as a call to spiritual war… and the nature of spiritual warfare.

Every one of us is like a soldier who has been given a post to guard….and our lives are like a post…we have to guard…and we need to help guard that of others. A soldier needs to hold his post.

Paul understands that it is hard to stay strong…. Our spirits rise up to more than we may see physically….so regardless of our physical strength… it can be hard to keep our spirits intent and upright.

I think many of us know how spiritually worn down we can feel at times…choosing to go in a direction that is often against the current.

You may share the feeling that: I had a moment of realizing what is true… a moment of connection with God… a moment of surrender…when I knew who I was and how my life should be…but it’s been hard to stay in that place.

So his final word is about how to be strong…and it really is about “who” more than “how.”

> Be strong “in the Lord”…in “His mighty power”. [2]

The first and central point in being prepared to stand, is that….

1. Our strength lies in God.

Ephesians 6:10 (NLT)

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

It may sound like a basic idea…but it defies how we often operate. So often we think of OUR strength…and we may feel strong in mind, heart, body…and feel strong…or we may feel weak in mind, heart, and body and feel weak. The point we need to grasp is that our own strength or lack of is not what matters. We need a strength and power that lies in God.

This becomes clearer when you know what you are actually up against.

Do you know who is trying to destroy you?

We need to know that it’s not just us and God. There’s a third variable that we absolutely have to factor into everything, and that is an adversarial force in the spiritual realm… referred to as “the devil” as in this translation…as well as other terms such as Satan.

Ephesians 6:12

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.