Title: How To Succeed In Spiritual Warfare
Text: Ephesians 6:10-20
Theme: The keys to winning spiritual battles.
Introduction: Resisting The Devil
Laurie Beth Jones tells this story in her book, Grow Something Besides Old. She talks about one Halloween night when she had underestimated the number of children who would come to the door to trick or treat, and she ran out of candy. In desperation, she began giving out quarters, nickels, and dimes.
One little girl about 5-years-old dressed as a fairy princess came to her door. She had the little crown and wand and everything. Jones dropped two quarters into the child’s sack, and said to her, “I’ve run out of candy, but tomorrow you can take these coins to the store and turn them into real candy.”
The little girl stepped back, looked up at her, and said, “Lady, this isn’t a real wand.” (SermonCentral.com.)
Some believers seem to have the same attitude when it comes to spiritual warfare. They believe it isn’t real. They don’t believe in demons; some don’t believe in Satan (and if they do they don’t think they have to worry about him); and they certainly don’t believe that we are fighting spiritual battles on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what the devil wants us to believe. If he can somehow get us to ignore the fact of spiritual warfare, he has succeeded.
Illustration: Believing The Devil
The New York Times reported a study about the diminishing belief in the devil among Americans. Two-thirds of Americans do not believe in the devil as a living entity. In a randomly selected survey of over 1,000 Americans, pollsters asked whether they agreed that Satan is "not a living being, but a symbol of evil." Sixty-two percent agreed with the statement. That means nearly 149 million Americans believe that Satan has no influence but that Satan is just a symbol of evil. We should know and understand that Satan is real and evil is real and that this is our number one enemy as believers in Jesus Christ. (Contributed by: Christopher Roberts. SermonCentral.com.)
Note: Every Christian who is living a faithful life, and every church that is faithful in its calling to win souls for Christ, is engaged in spiritual warfare. When we are faithful, God blesses. And when God blesses, Satan attacks.
Today, right now, at this very moment, our church is involved in a terrible and vicious battle with Satan because we have refocused our prayers and energies on the Great Commission. Every church that becomes a Great Commission church; every church that devotes itself to winning souls for Jesus Christ; will find itself in a spiritual conflict greater than anything that church has ever experienced. And at this very moment Satan is attacking this body of believers with an all-out assault such as we have not seen in some time.
Not only is he attacking the church body, he is also selectively attacking certain individuals among us, hoping to discourage us in this fight; desiring that we quit and refuse to fight.
And sadly, some he already has under his command. And he is using these individuals to spearhead his attack on us, with the intent of turning our focus away from the Great Commission. Presently, the attack on our church is centered on me as your pastor. Satan knows what all army commanders know, if you cut off the head, the snake will die. So it’s no surprise that I should become the personal manifestation of his assault. If he can destroy or even seriously wound God’s man in the pulpit, then he has succeeded in damaging the ministry of the church. And make no mistake about it; he does not want us to be a Great Commission church. He does not want to see even one more soul won to Christ through the ministry and witness of this church and its people.
So the issue before us today is not to question whether or not we are engaged in battle. We are. The issue before us is how do we fight that battle? How can we win over Satan and his evil schemes, especially when there are those among us who are aligning themselves on his side? The answers we find in Ephesians chapter 6.
Quote: The devil and me, we don’t agree; I hate him; and he hates me. – Salvation Army Hymn. (Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entries 2671.)
I. ENLIST IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD. (Ephesians 6:10)
Illustration: I’m On Your Side
There’s the story of the man who went to a fancy dress ball dressed as the devil. He parked his car and as he ran to the ball venue there was a sudden cloudburst. He ran into a nearby church for shelter and caused instant pandemonium amongst the evening worshipers.
In the stampede for the exits handbags, rosary beads, and personal belongings were left behind. The hasty departure of one lady came to a sudden halt when her coat got caught in one of the pews. She blurted out in a terrified voice, "Look Satan, I know I’ve been to Mass every morning for the past twenty years but I want you to know that during all that time I was really on your side!" (James A. Feehan, Story Power!, (San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, Inc, 1994) 50.)
A. The Lord Is Our Strength. (Ephesians 3:16)
1. Our strength is not human and not of the world.
2. Our strength and power is found only in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. There is no other source that can give us the strength to overcome this world with all its trials and temptations.
4. There is no other source that can give us the strength to overcome in the battle with Satan.
B. The Lord Is Our Courage. (2 Timothy 1:7)
C. The Lord Is Our Support. (Isaiah 41:10)
D. The Lord Is Our Guarantee. (Romans 8:31)
II. IDENTIFY THE STRATEGIES OF THE ENEMY. (Ephesians 6:11)
Quote: Our adversary is a master strategist, forever fogging up our minds with smokescreens. Charles R. Swindoll (1934- ) (Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry 2660.)
A. Satan Appeals To Our Carnal Desires. (1 John 2:15-16)
Illustration: Satan’s Two Big Lies
There are two big lies that Satan has been perpetrating ever since the Garden of Eden. The first is that God is mean, vindictive, a spoilsport whose main role in life is to keep us from being fulfilled and happy--when we step out of bounds, he takes delight in making us pay.
The second lie is that God really doesn’t care what we do--probably doesn’t know. And if He does, His business is to forgive us. He’ll always forgive no matter what, so it really doesn’t make much difference how we live and what we believe. (B. Clayton Bell, "Many Happy Returns," Preaching Today, Tape No. 135.)
Note: Satan will present something to the eyes that is so appealing, the believer is doomed unless he is clothed in the full armor of God. Satan will entice us with every strategy he can to appeal to the flesh and pride of the believer.
B. Satan Allures Through Our Conceited Intellect. (Matthew 24:24)
1. We must never forget that Satan is not a fiery red person with horns, a pointed tail, and a pitchfork in his hands.
2. He is a living being in the spiritual world that is capable of transforming himself into a messenger of light.
3. And he has ministers who walk about as ministers of righteousness, but they proclaim a false gospel and a false hope.
Question: How can you tell the difference? NO FRUIT!
4. Their message is that of self-righteousness, human goodness, and ego. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Romans 16:17-20)
III. ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY. (Ephesians 6:12)
Illustration: Watch The Ref
I heard about a fighter once who had only gone five rounds. He was already bloody and bruised. He fell into the ropes near his corner and the referee decided to give him a standing eight count.
Standing there he turned and said to his manager, "Please throw in the towel!"
And the manager said, "What do you mean throw in the towel? That guy hasn’t laid a glove on you!"
To which the fighter said, "Well, you need to start watching the referee because someone’s beating the daylights out of me!"
We Christians need to open our eyes to see who it is that is causing us such damage. Because Satan is really giving God’s people a difficult time. (Mike Minix.)
Note: In the word wrestle, Paul uses a Greek athletic term. Thayer defines as follows: ‘a contest between two in which each endeavors to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to press and hold down his prostate antagonist, namely, hold him down with his hand upon his neck.’ When we consider that the loser in a Greek wrestling contest had his eyes gouged out with resulting blindness for the rest of his days, we can form some conception of the Ephesian Greek’s reaction to Paul’s illustration. The Christian’s wrestling against the powers of darkness is no less desperate and fateful. (Wuest, Kenneth. Ephesians and Colossians, Vol. 1, p. 141.)
Illustration: Real Bravery
If there is one thing upon earth that mankind loves and admires better than another, it is a brave man--a man who dares look the devil in the face and tell him he is the devil. – James Garfield (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 127.)
This verse reveals some very clear things to us about the battle we are in.
A. The Forces Of Evil Are Powerful.
Note: This verse stresses the enormous power of evil forces that stand against the believer. But God is more powerful. (Colossians 2:13-15)
B. The Forces Of Evil Are Plentiful.
Note: Principalities, powers, rulers – all convey the idea of a large number of evil forces who are struggling against the believer. But God’s forces are more numerous. (Matthew 26:53)
Note: a full legion of Roman soldiers numbered 6,000.
C. The Forces Of Evil Are Prepared.
1. There is an apparent government or a hierarchy of evil.
2. This illustrates a ranking of spiritual forces with enormous authority, position, and rule.
Note: God’s authority is greater. (Matthew 28:18)
D. The Forces Of Evil Are Predatory. (1 Peter 5:8)
Quote: The devil comes to us in our hour of darkness, but we do not have to let him in. And we do not have to listen either. – Jewish Proverb (Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry 2674.)
IV. EQUIP YOURSELVES FOR A DECISIVE VICTORY. (Ephesians 6:13)
Ø Our duty is to take up the whole armor of God so that we may fight and fight well.
Ø Taking the whole armor of God shows that we have obeyed and prepared ourselves.
Of what does the whole armor of God consist?
A. The Belt Of Truth. (Ephesians 6:14)
Note: The belt was used to hold the soldier’s clothing next to his body. This kept his clothing from flapping about and allowed him freedom of movement. The belt was also used to strengthen and support the body. The sign of the Christian soldier is the belt of truth…
What is God’s truth that the believer is to put on?
1. The believer is to put on Christ. (John 14:6)
2. The believer is to put on the Word of God. (John 17:17)
3. The believer is to speak and live a life of truthfulness because anything else, no matter how good it may appear, is simply a lie that comes from the devil. (John 8:44)
Quote: Speak boldly, and speak truly. Shame the devil! John Fletcher (1579-1625). (Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry 2669.)
B. The Breastplate Of Righteousness. (Ephesians 6:14)
1. The breastplate covered the body of the soldier from the neck to the thighs.
2. It was used to protect the heart.
3. The believer’s heart is focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness, and that focus must be protected. (2 Corinthians 5:21
C. The Sandals Of The Gospel. (Ephesians 6:15)
Note: Sandals are a sign of readiness. (1 Peter 3:15)
D. The Shield Of Faith. (Ephesians 6:16)
Note: (shield) – Roman soldiers used several kinds of shields, but two were the most common. The first was a rather small round shield, perhaps two feet in diameter, that was secured to the arm by two leather straps. It was relatively lightweight and was used to parry the sword blows of one’s opponent in hand-to-hand fighting.
The second kind was the thureos, to which Paul refers here. This shield was about two and half feet wide and four and a half feet high, designed to protect the entire body of the soldier--who was considerably smaller than the average man today. The shield was made of a solid piece of wood and was covered with metal or heavy oiled leather.
The soldiers who carried these shields were in the front lines of battle, and normally stood side by side with their shields together, forming a huge phalanx extending as long as a mile or more. The archers stood behind this protective wall of shields and shot their arrows as they advanced against the enemy. Anyone who stood or crouched behind such shields was protected from the barrage of enemy arrows and spears. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (c) Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2002.)
Note: (fiery darts) – In New Testament times the tips of arrows would often be wrapped in pieces of cloth that had been soaked in pitch. Just before the arrow was shot, the tip would be lighted and the [fiery dart] would be shot at the enemy troops. The pitch burned fiercely, and on impact it would spatter burning bits for several feet, igniting anything flammable it touched. In addition to piercing their bodies, it could inflict serious burns on enemy soldiers and destroy their clothing and gear. The most reliable protection against such [fiery darts] was the thureos shield, whose covering of metal or leather soaked in water would either deflect or extinguish them. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (c) Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2002.)
1. The spiritual fiery darts against which believers need protection would seem primarily to be temptations.
2. Satan continually bombards God’s children with temptations to immorality, hatred, envy, anger, covetousness, pride, doubt, fear, despair, distrust, and every other sin.
3. However, the sign of the Christian soldier is the shield of faith.
4. Faith in God is a complete and perfect trust that God will quench the darts of doubt and evil that attack him.
5. It is faith that God will help him control his mind and conquer the evil doubts and thoughts.
6. The Christian soldier’s consciousness of God’s presence is so great that God’s presence itself becomes his shield and defender. (Psalms 3:3-4)
E. The Helmet Of Salvation. (Ephesians 6:17)
Note: The helmet covered the head of the soldier and he would never go into battle without it. Symbolically, this refers to the mind. The soldier’s thinking ability was the most important factor in determining his victory or defeat.
1. The Christian soldier needs the helmet of salvation.
2. He must protect his mind and its thoughts, keeping all thoughts focused upon the Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
3. The carnal Christian sees nothing wrong with being his own person and doing his own thing.
4. His mind and thoughts are upon the earth; and the fiery darts of extravagance, indulgence, pleasure, self-centeredness, and worldliness are a part of his daily behavior.
5. But the Christian soldier, wearing the helmet of salvation, has his mind focused on Christ and his mission of sharing the gospel.
6. Because of this, Satan launches his fiery darts of temptation against the mind, trying to get our thoughts and attention off of Christ and the mission. (Romans 12:1-2)
F. The Sword Of The Spirit – The Word Of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
1. The sword was a weapon used for both offense and defense.
2. The sword was used both to protect and to fight off and slay the enemy.
3. The sign of the Christian soldier is his use of the Word of God.
4. By living in the Scriptures, he protects himself from the onslaught of the enemy; and he fights and wins battle after battle, day after day. (Hebrews 4:12)
V. ENERGIZE YOURSELVES THROUGH FERVENT PRAYER PRAYER. (Ephesians 6:18-20)
Note: Victory over Satan and his hosts in this great spiritual warfare in which we are engaged demands unceasing and diligent commitment to prayer. In prayer we show our complete and total dependence upon God.
A. A Soldier Who Is Not Praying Is Not Assured Of God’s Protection. (Matthew 7:7)
B. A Soldier Who Is Not Praying In The Spirit Has A Prayer Life That Is Useless And Empty. (Romans 8:26-27)
Conclusion: Footprints Of Satan
Max Lucado writes:
I was in an emergency room late one night last week. Victims of Satan filled the halls. A child - puffy, swollen eyes. Beaten by her father. A woman - bruised cheeks, bloody nose. "My boyfriend got drunk and hit me," she said, weeping. An old man - unconscious and drunk on a stretcher. He drooled blood in his sleep.
Jesus saw the victims of Satan, too.
He saw a leper one day…fingers gnarled…skin ulcerated…face disfigured. And he got indignant…angry. Not a selfish, violent anger. A holy anger…a controlled frustration…a compassionate disgust. And it moved him. It moved him to action.
I’m convinced that the same Satan stalks today, causing the hunger in Somalia…the confusion in the Middle East …the egotism on the movie screen…the apathy in Christ’s church.
And Satan giggles among the dying. (Source unknown.)
