HoHum:
A few minutes before the services started, the church people were sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from the evil one. Soon everyone had exited the church except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, unconcerned to the fact that mankind’s enemy was in his presence. So Satan walked up to the old man and said, “Don’t you know who I am?” The man replied, “Yep, your Satan.” “Aren’t you afraid of me?” Satan asked. “No, sure ain’t” said the man. “Don’t you realize what I can do to you?” asked Satan. “I know what you can do to me,” replied the old man. “And you’re still not afraid?” asked Satan. “Nope.” A little perturbed, Satan asked, “Well, why aren’t you afraid of me?” The man calmly replied, “Well, I’ve been married to your sister for over 48 years.”
WBTU:
In Genesis 1 and 2 we see God making everything in our world. At the end of Genesis 1 and then Genesis 2 we see God making the man and the woman. In Genesis 3 we find Satan tempting the woman and she sins by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The man also takes some and he eats. Sin enters the world. God punishes the man and woman and the serpent (Satan). In his punishment against the serpent God said, “And I will put enmity (hostility) between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”” Genesis 3:15, NIV. We see Satan using everything within his power to destroy the good creation that God made. He started in the Garden of Eden and he will keep on until the end of world as we know it. His greatest defeat was through the cross of Jesus Christ. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:8. However, Satan is still seeking to steal, kill and destroy as much as he can until the end.
This is Memorial Day weekend. We honor those who paid the supreme sacrifice of their lives for our freedoms in this country. Also, we often think about those who have served through the battles that our country has faced. There is a war going on right now. This war is being fought on many fronts. One of the fiercest battles right now is going on against the family. Satan wants to destroy every Christian family because through the family the Christian faith is displayed.
The NT is aware of this spiritual warfare surrounding the family. Notice that in Ephesians Paul talks about marriage in 5:21-33 and childrearing in 6:1-4. Paul talks about servants and masters in 6:5-9 especially household slaves/servants and masters in keeping with the context. Then we come to 6:10-18 and many disconnect this from what comes before. In the context of Ephesians 6:10-18, the practical matters Paul is dealing with are marriage and the family. It is important to look at the biblical teaching on marriage and the family on one hand and spiritual warfare on the other hand in a connected way. Spiritual warfare surrounding marriage and the family is a reality, and awareness of this conflict as well as skills in winning it are necessary.
Thesis: Talk about 3 important lessons we need to learn in this battle for our family and then give some practical applications
For instances:
3 important lessons
1. Be aware that there is a battle going on.
Anyone who, in the case of war, fails to realize that he is engaged in conflict will no doubt be an easy casualty because of his failure to properly prepare, plan and protect himself. October 8, 1862 a battle was fought at Perryville, Kentucky. It was strange because three Confederate Divisions attacked 8 Union ones and actually won. Part of the reason is that two Union Corps were not engaged as the Army's commander, an Ohioan and former West Pointer, did not know a battle was going on! He did not hear any sounds from the battle (because of the weather and terrain, called an acoustic shadow) and so he did not know!
Much the same in the realm of marriage and the family. Divorce rates are skyrocketing, not because of a lack of good intentions, not because of the availability of resources and instruction on how to have a strong marriage, not even because of a lack of love, but because many fail to recognize that spiritual warfare is a reality that calls for a united, deliberately planned response. Even though we do not hear any sounds of this battle, we must be aware that a battle is going on. Always be alert! “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8, NIV.
2. Know our enemy.
The enemy of our souls hates marriage and hates children. He uses a variety of strategies, methods and schemes to bring down the family. Unfaithfulness in marriage is widespread in our culture. Wives disrespecting the authority of their husbands. Husbands being inconsiderate to their wives. Parents apathetic for the spiritual welfare of their children. Adults loving this present world more than their spouse or children. Children disrespecting their parents. Entertainment and society as a whole encourages many destructive behaviors and attitudes against the family. Satan uses all of this to encourage dysfunction in families.
Satan targets people’s areas of weakness and vulnerability, so everyone must be prepared. The famous series of SUPERMAN can serve to teach us how the devil attacks us. Superman had superhuman abilities: flying, running, scaling walls and buildings, not to mention incredible strength. However, if exposed to one element Superman’s strength was rendered impotent. Once in contact with Kryptonite, Superman was as weak and vulnerable as any other human person. It was his major “Weak-point.” Once Satan discovers a weak point he attacks that point. Therefore, it is essential to know ourselves, to know our weak points, to know our own “Kryptonite” so we can be defended against it!
The devil is smart, but he is a creature. He is not all knowing or all present or all powerful; God is superior to Satan, they are unevenly matched. The devil can, and does, miscalculate.
God’s power and grace is sufficient for every challenge that we face. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV.
3. Must know how to use the proper weapons- Can Lose a battle because unaware! Also lose a battle because using wrong weapons or using the weapons we have poorly, become a casualty. In the context of the family, to win we need to put on the full armor of God- Vs. 11, 13.
Truth (Vs. 14): Spouses and children “must put off falsehood and speak truthfully” to one another- Ephesians 4:25. WE must speak “the truth in love” and from this we will “in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” Ephesians 4:15. In our speech we must make every effort to “not let any unwholesome talk” come out of our mouths; “but only what is helpful” for building each other up “according to their needs”- Ephesians 4:29.
Righteousness (Vs. 14): Righteousness has a double meaning- 1) One’s right standing with God in and through Christ (justification); 2) One’s right dealings with God and and one’s fellow human beings. The family is where we learn how to live out the righteous way.
Peace (Vs. 15): As Christians we know that we have been forgiven and that we are sons and daughters of God; we are at peace with God; from this we can have peace with our family and act as peacemakers in the world around us
Faith (Vs. 16): Husband and wife must follow the Lord Jesus Christ in discipleship and learn to trust Him to satisfy their needs and overcome all challenges and adversity; the main concern should be enlarging God’s Kingdom in the world; faith in God also means trusting God with one’s spouse and children, trusting in the HS’s transforming work in their lives
Salvation (Vs. 17): Because we are secure in our salvation, we can truly love each other unselfishly; husband can provide leadership without abusing his authority, and the wife can trust and submit graciously to God’s leading of her through her husband (Ephesians 5:21-33)
Word of God (Vs. 17): This is our foundation; whole family needs to make the Word their bread and butter personally and collectively. Family needs to remain in the Word through regular study of Scripture and faithful attendance of and participation in a local church where the Word of God is preached.
Prayer (Vs. 18): Regular prayer is essential for marriages and families. In a recent poll from Gallup it was revealed that “among married couples who attend church together regularly, the divorce rate is one out of two. That is the same statistic for marriages outside the church. However, among married couples who pray together daily, the divorce rate drops to one out of 1,153.” Prayer reinforces the connection between couples and as a result, their marriages are strengthened!
Conclusion and invitation:
Practical applications:
Every Christian family needs times of family worship, devotions, Bible study.
We need to strengthen our families by creating and maintaining family traditions. Celebrating major holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. Children need a sense of Christian and national holidays. The Israelites were often told to teach their children the meaning of the Passover or the exodus.
Encourage wholesome activities, such as reading, outdoor activities, spend time with other children who are good friends and role models. Limit unwholesome activities such as excessive TV watching, web surfing, addiction to computer games. Have meals together.
