Our Only Strength Series

Scripture

A few weeks ago we began a sermon series in Ephesians 6:10-24 that I am calling, “The Whole Armor of God.”

So far we have examined our spiritual warfare and our terrible enemy in this warfare. Today, I want to examine our only strength in this warfare.

So, let’s read about our only strength in Ephesians 6:13, although for the sake of context, I shall read verses 10-13:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. 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. (Ephesians 6:13)

Introduction

Winston Churchill became Lord of the Admiralty in Great Britain just before World War I. He immediately organized various aspects of the British Navy in anticipation of the looming war. In Parliament he secured funding by vivid, lucid descriptions of abstruse technical matters. Describing the impact of a shell upon a warship, he told the House: “If you want to make a true picture in your mind of a battle between two great modern iron-clad ships, you must not think of it as if it were two men in armor striking at each other with heavy swords. It is more like a battle between two egg-shells striking each other with hammers…really needs no clearer proof.”

As weaponry developed in the first part of the 20th century, there was a growing and powerful strength delivered by each of the various weapons.

Christians need to understand that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. Prior to becoming Christians we were, as it were, in Satan’s army. We belonged to him prior to salvation, but now we belong to Christ, and we are, as it were, in Christ’s army. Bryan Chapell has a nice summary of the differences in his commentary on Ephesians. He notes the differences between our past and our present:

Once We Were Now We Are

Dead (2:1) Alive (2:5)

Under the dominion of Satan (2:2) Seated in the heavenly realms (2:6)

Objects of wrath (2:3) His glorious inheritance (1:18)

Separate (2:12) Brought near (2:13)

Foreigners (2:19) Fellow citizens (2:19)

Aliens (2:19) Household members (2:19)

Denied gospel mystery (3:5) Understanding gospel mystery (3:4)

Infants (4:14) Maturing in Christ (4:15)

Old self (4:22) New self (4:24)

Darkness (5:8) Light (5:8)

Our terribly enemy in our spiritual warfare is the devil, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:11. He is a formidable foe but, as we noted previously, he is not omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient. Nevertheless, he is far more powerful than we are. So, if we are to achieve victory in our spiritual warfare against the devil and the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, it will be because of our only strength, which is the power and provision of God himself.

That is why James, the brother of our Lord himself, wrote, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). And it is also why Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:13, today’s text, “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.”

Lesson

Ephesians 6:13 teaches us that God is our only strength in our spiritual warfare.

Let’s use the following outline:?

1. The Clothing for Our Spiritual Warfare (6:13a)

2. The Conquest in Our Spiritual Warfare (6:13b)

3. The Calendar in Our Spiritual Warfare (6:13c)

4. The Conclusion in Our Spiritual Warfare (6:13d)

I. The Clothing for Our Spiritual Warfare (6:13a)

First, look at the clothing for our spiritual warfare.

Paul said in verse 13a, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God….” Earlier, Paul said in verse 11a, “Put on the whole armor of God….” And the reason for putting on the whole armor of God, Paul went on to say, is so “that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (6:11b).

John Stott makes the following comment, “The expression the whole armor of God translates the Greek word panoplia, which is ‘the full armor of a heavy-armed soldier,’ although ‘the divineness rather than the completeness of the outfit is emphasized.’ The point is that this equipment is ‘forged and furnished’ by God.”

John Macarthur says, “God gives no deferments or exemptions. His people are at war and will continue to be at war until he returns and takes charge of earth. But even the most willing and eager soldier of Christ is helpless without God’s provision. That is Paul’s point here: take up the whole armor of God. We have his provision in being his children, in having his Word, in possessing his indwelling Holy Spirit, of having every resource of our heavenly Father. God is our strength, but his strength is appropriated only through obedience; his mighty armor must be put on (v. 11) and taken up (v. 13).”