Jesus Sets You Free From Satan’s Schemes
Ephesians 6:10-20 (Message)
Several years ago I went on a Holy Land trip to Israel with stops in Cairo, Egypt and Athens, Greece. Our first night was in Israel. We landed in Tel-a-vive and took a bus along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Nahareyah near the boarder of Lebanon.
During the night I was awakened to the sound of helicopters and jets flying overhead. I looked out and saw sky flares lighting up the entire area. I went back to beg thinking the Israeli’s were practicing night training and went back to sleep. I felt very safe.
The next morning I looked out the Hotel windows and saw soldiers walking around and half-track tanks moving up and down the street. I decided to go down and find out what was going on. I found a group of soldiers talking and of one them spoke English. I asked what they were doing and he told me that during the night four Lebanese Commandos had come ashore in rubber rafts looking for tourists to take captive and use as hostages to get some of the prisoners out of jail in a trade.
They couldn’t find any American tourists so they kidnapped a father and two of his children. Two of the commandos were killed and the other two were captured. The father and children were okay.
Jesus taught that as long as we live in this world there will be wars and nation will fight against nation.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6: 10-20 teaches that the greatest battle we face is a spiritual battle. The instructions Paul gave the Ephesians Christians can help us today find victory over the schemes of Satan.
Paul tells us how to become equipped for spiritual battle.
1. Know Your Enemy. Ephesians 6:10-12
“Finally, be stone in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Who is our enemy? Our enemy is a fallen angel. God created the angels to be his ministering spirits. Before the creation of the visible world; God created a definite number of heavenly hosts, angels. In the Old Testament angels walked the face of the earth in visible form. Abraham talked with angels. Jacob wrestled with an angel. Angels appeared to certain disciples after the resurrection of Jesus. An angel helped Peter escape from prison.
God created Angels. They are not omnipresent like God. After God created the angels they went through a probationary period. They were confirmed in their devotion to God. Some proved their devotion while others asserted their freedom and rebelled against God. The leader of the war in heaven was Lucifer an archangel on the level of Michael and Gabriel. In the war in heaven Lucifer and his followers were cast out of heaven and sealed in their chosen estate.
II Peter 2:4, “God spared not the angels that sinned but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.”
The devil’s mission is to keep people from believing and accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. Peter declared in I Peter 5:8 “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Satan’s scheme is to become all things to all people. Satan will try to fool some people to think they are doing God’s will when in fact they are representing the devil. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
Satan’s strategy is to use division. He diverts our attention from the things of God to work, pleasure or possessions. 2 Corinthians 4:4, “…The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Satan uses Delusion. He tempts people to believe they don’t need God. “I’m okay, I’ll go to heaven if anyone goes.” Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Satan uses Doubt. He persuades people to believe that God is only a figment of their mind. Why read the Bible, why pray, why go to church. It is a waste of time.” It’s okay to doubt, but you can have all your questions answered and still refuse to believe and become a follower of Jesus.
Satan uses Delay. He convinces you there is no hurry. Wait until tomorrow to get serious about living for God. There’s always a tomorrow. The Bible is clear, “Now is the day of salvation.” No one has a guarantee about tomorrow.
Jesus came to this world to defeat the works of the devil. I John 3:8, “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
I Peter 5:8-10 “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, be strong in your faith. Remember that Christians all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”
2. Be Strong in the Lord - Eph. 6:13
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.”
No one who lives in a human body is exempt from temptation. Paul says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”
We are living in enemy territory. Satan, the god of this world is the Prince of the powers of darkness. We are like spiritual commandos, infiltrating enemy territory. This world is not our home; we are just passing through. We need to remember that at the name of Jesus, devils tremble. In Jesus, we are on the winning team.
Paul admonishes us to “put on the full armor of God.” It is up to each one of us to get equipped and prepare for battle.
Put on the Belt of Truth. God’s Word is our source of truth. Jesus declared: “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
The Apostle Paul said, “Take the helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” Eph. 6:17
When Jesus was temped by the Devil in the wilderness Jesus used the written Word of God to answer each of the temptations. Jesus quoted passages from Deuteronomy to respond to Satan’s challenge.
When you have memorized and stored God’s Word in your heart you become prepared to face temptation and be victorious. Psalm 119:9,11 gives the promise: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my hart that I might not sin against you.”
Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through Your Word, Your Word is truth.” God’s Word is our absolute truth.
False teaching say there is no absolute truth. All truth is relative. You can find your god by just looking within yourself. You don’t need God’s will you only need self-will.
Jesus alone said He is the Truth. All religions present principles and truths like Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. You can take all the spiritual leaders out of all religious except Christianity and still have a religion. If you take Jesus out of Christianity you have no religion. Christianity is not a religion it is a Person.
For other world religions the key word is “Do.” Do certain works and earn your way to paradise. For the Christian the key word is “Done.” Jesus has completed the way of salvation through his life, death, and resurrection.
Islam teaches that Allah is revealed through the prophets including Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. The greatest that ever lived was Muhammad. Muslims say it is blasphemous to even think about God coming to earth or dying. Islam teaches that God is solitary and has no interest in revealing Himself to us.
The goal of Buddhism is nirvana, the extinction of desire. When total nothingness is achieved the person has arrived in heaven.
Buddhism does not believe in an ultimate God, only as a lesser, enlightened being.
In Hinduism the ultimate goal is union with Brahma, the Hindu god. Like the reunion of a drop of water in the ocean; the reunion is achieved through the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. Every animal, insect, or human being goes through this cycle. Whether one moves up or down the scale of life depends on the quality of moral life one has lived.
Hinduism believes that the highest conception of God is abstract and impersonal.
Jesus did not say, “I am a way, one of many ways to God.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to God except by me.” John 14:6
Only in Jesus are you set free to become the person God created you to be. In Jesus you are set free to be yourself. You don’t have to compete with others to fulfill their expectations of you. You live your life to please Jesus. Galatians 6:4 in (CEV) “Do your own work well…don’t compare yourself with others.” Celebrate who you are and don’t love the joy in life by comparing yourself to others.
Jesus sets you free from the bondage of sin and death. Two deaths are mentioned in the Bible, physical and spiritual. As Christ followers we will experience physical death but not spiritual death. In Jesus you have eternal life.
Jesus sets you free from the fears in this world. Jesus takes away the fear of dying. Jesus gives you the assurance of eternal life. I John 5:11-12, “And this is the testimony God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Jesus sets you free from despair and meaninglessness. Jesus gives you a life of significance. Jesus promises to never leave you or forsake you. In Jesus you have a bright hope for tomorrow.
Put on the belt of Truth, God’s Word. Put on the Breast Plate of Righteousness. When you become a Christ follower you live the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit. The prophet Zechariah prayed, “Not by power or by might, but by Your Spirit says the LORD.” It is the Holy spirit as work in your life that helps you say “No” to unrighteousness and “Yes” to righteous living.
Put on the breastplate of righteousness and say “yes” to all that God has for you.
Take up the Shield of Faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Here is a picture of a soldier on the offensive. As Christians we do not hide in some corner of life with fear and trembling of what others might say about our Faith. We don’t stay on the bench in the game of life.
Jesus wants to give you into an abundant life and guide you through the pitfalls and traps of secular godless living.
Suppose you had to cross a field of land mines. A person who knows exactly where every of the mines is buried offers to take you through the field. Would you say to him, “I don’t want you to tell me what to do. I don’t want you to impose your way on me.”
Your best choice would be to surrender to the guide and follow him through the minefield. Following in the steps of the guide will take you safely through the minefield.
Jesus sets you free to make choices. To not make a choice is still making a choice. Jesus doesn't force his way into your life. If you have made the choice to follow Jesus I can assure you that Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart and life. Jesus does not shove open the door. You have to invite Him in. Jesus says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, anyone who hears my voice, and opens the door I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.” Rev. 3:20
There are three things you do to open the door:
1. Confess your sin. Agree with God that you are a sinner. “If we confess our sins, He, Jesus, is willing to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9
2. Turn from sin. Repent of sin is to make an about face. You are walking your way, and you turn around to walk God's way. Acts 3:19, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
3. Invite Jesus to come in. “To all who receive Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) When we invite Jesus into our life we are asking Him to be Lord and in control. We take our hands off and say, Jesus I've made mess of my life, I'm turning my life over to you. I want you to guide and bless my life all the rest of my days.
