PLAYGROUND OR BATTLEGROUND?
Eph. 6:10-13,18
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: WHO DO I SHOOT?
1. A new soldier was on sentry duty at the main gate. His orders were clear. No car was to enter unless it had a special sticker on the windshield.
2. A big Army car came up with a general seated in the back. The sentry said, "Halt, who goes there?" The chauffeur, a corporal, said, "General Wheeler."
3. "I'm sorry, I can't let you through. You've got to have a sticker on the windshield." The general said, "Drive on!”
4. The sentry said, "Hold it! You really can't come through. I have orders to shoot if you try driving in without a sticker." The general repeated, "I'm telling you, son, drive on!"
5. The sentry walked up to the rear window and said, "General, I'm new at this. Do I shoot you or the driver?"
6. Sometimes, the trick in times of war is knowing who to shoot. In our warfare, we don’t want any "friendly fire." Let’s make sure we’re battling the real enemy!
B. TEXT
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
C. THESIS
1. Our culture – esp. the boys – has embraced a fascination/ fixation with war games. Halo, Call of Duty, Battlefront, Medal of Honor, Gears of War, etc. Sales – 267 million units sold at over $17 Billion.
2. While I believe these games are unhealthy and overly associated with death/ killing, they do recognize that we’re in a battle. If we’re to maintain our freedom, we must engage in warfare.
3. The Bible transmits the same message: to be a victorious Christian you and I must embrace the mindset that we’re in an invisible, spiritual war.
4. Many Christians don’t realize they are living in a BATTLEGROUND; they think they live in a PLAYGROUND!
5. Do you remember the hymn, ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS?
6. “Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see his banners go!
At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee; on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise; brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. Like a mighty army moves the church of God; brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.”
7. We’re going to look at the 3 fold assault on the People of God and the 3 things Paul said to do to counteract it.
8. The title of this message is “Playground or Battleground?”
I. THE 3-FOLD ASSAULT
We’re SOLDIERS in the Army of Jesus Christ.
In Eph. 6:10-12, Paul mentions a 3-fold assault going on against us; the FLESH, the WORLD, and the DEVIL.
1. Our FLESH wants our old life back.
2. The WORLD trying to drag us back.
3. And we have the DEVIL making sure it all goes according to plan!
A. THE BATTLE WITH OUR FLESH
1. It’s incredible, but our FLESH, our old nature, FIGHTS against the Spirit of God, against the things of God in our life! Gal. 5.17, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
2. Our physical bodies get exhausted & sick; we battle fears & insecurities. We must fight the tendency to be normal! “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
a. Attend church if we want…or not.
b. Really serve God – or give lip service.
c. Really tithe – or tip God a little.
3. “Greater is He that is in you than… in the world.” If true, we must be influencing others to Christ more than they’re influencing us toward the world!
4. But if you’re becoming more like the world … is Christ (the Greater One) really in You?
B. THE BATTLE AGAINST THE WORLD
1. Secondly, we’re fighting against the culture, the world’s ideology, value system, & priorities.
2. 1 John 2:16 says, “For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.”
3. We’re bombarded with PICTURES & PRODUCTS, there are ADVERTISEMENTS & ENTICEMENTS, no rules, anything goes, satisfy yourself, and don’t worry about the consequences.
4. They try to make sin look so good too. BEER: They show the happy men and women on the beach playing volleyball… not the 1000’s of families affected by the drunken drivers.
5. FREE SEX: Oh, it’s ok, have sex with anyone you want. They don’t mention the epidemic levels of STD’s, the babies aborted, the guilt. Charlie Sheen’s so cool, a sex symbol, but now he’s HIV positive.
C. OUR BATTLE WITH THE DEVIL
1. Behind it all is the PUPPET MASTER Himself – Satan - pulling all the strings. Satan hates you, and has a HORRIBLE plan for your life.
2. His goal is to lie to you, to deceive you, to convince you your life will be better outside the will of God.
3. You have freedom to yield to the devil’s temptation, but you don’t have freedom to change the consequences! You can choose to jump off a tall building, but you can’t choose to change the law of gravity!
4. Jesus said, “The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.
5. Satan doesn’t want you in church, or reading your Bible, or reaching others with the gospel. He wants you to be weak, feeble, & ineffective.
6. FIGHTING TO RIGHT ENEMY. If you’re fighting your boss, or arguing with your wife, battling your husband, struggling with your kids -- You’re fighting the wrong battle.
7. Don’t get sidetracked. Realize there are spiritual forces at work that are used to aggravate the situations and escalate them out of proportion. Pray & take authority!
8. ILLUS. /HUMOR
a. A little girl was praying a little longer than usual one night and her mom asked her why she prayed so long.
b. She replied, “My Sunday school teacher said that the devil trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. I just thought I’d make him shake a little longer tonight!”
II. 3 THINGS TO ATTAIN VICTORY
In Eph. 6, Paul tells us 3 things that will help us achieve victory.
A. BE STRONG IN THE LORD (Vs. 10)
“…and in the power of His might.”
1. Don’t be strong in your opinions. Don’t be strong in your experiences. Don’t be strong in your bank account, or your career, or your knowledge… BE STRONG IN THE LORD!
2. Only God’s power will we be victorious and overcome all attacks. Zech. 4.6, ’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
3. THIS WEEK (Thanksgiving) has been a week of difficult trial for many of you. But Jesus has come that you might have life! “Greater is He that is in you then he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4. “I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength!” Phip. 4:13.
4. Some of you have been sidelined as Christians, not interested in spiritual things. You’ve been right where Satan wanted you; he doesn’t hassle those he already has control of.
5. But remember, God gives more grace when the burdens grow greater. “Where sin abounds, God’s grace does much more abound.”
6. “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper!” Isa. 54:17. Jesus said, “Behold I give you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means prevail against you” Luke 10:18-19. Satan is under our feet!
B. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR (Vs. 11)
1. Any good soldier will tell you that’s it’s essential to have the right battle gear. Have the wrong gear, and you’re destined for failure.
2. We can’t go out to the BATTLEFIELD thinking we can win this thing on our own…abilities, wisdom.
3. WHY? The enemy is stronger than we are! He’s not only stronger, but smarter! That word ‘wiles’ is the Greek word “methodeia.” We get our word ‘methods’ from that word. Satan has his methods, his plots, his schemes.
4. But Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Pet. 5:8.
5. Some Christians UNDERESTIMATE him. They think he’s not using the things around them to trap them.
a. “Oh that movie won’t hurt. That drink won’t kill me.” That isn’t that big of a deal. DON’T JUDGE ME BROTHER!
b. Hey… the devil is no cartoon character. He’s a powerful and intelligent spiritual being… a prize fighter, a master deceiver…
c. Many have fallen to his schemes & devices. MANY…
6. Many other Christians OVERESTIMATE him.
a. Even though he’s powerful, he’s not ALL-POWERFUL
b. Even though he’s cunning, he’s not ALL-KNOWING.
c. As a matter of fact, he’s NO match or equal to Jesus Christ! Not so. Stand strong in the lord, and put on the full armor.
7. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO WIN
a. Whatever battle/ temptation you’ve got, God will give you the ability to withstand & overcome it.
b. Some Christians say their temptation was too much, “I couldn’t resist it!” No way!
c. 1 Cor. 10.13. God knows exactly how much we can take… AND he always provides THE WAY of ESCAPE!
8. THE SECRET TO INNER STRENGTH
a. Being connected to Jesus Christ is the key; “Christ in you the hope of glory.”
b. This is an area where many Christians fall: NOT abiding in Jesus. You’re the strongest when you’re the closest. You’re the weakest when you’re walking apart from Him.
9. This armor is for frontal defense. If we backslide, we leave our “backside” exposed to the enemy and will suffer grievous wounds. James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” If there’s any running to do, let him do it! Be Strong, Be Covered…
C. BE TENACIOUS (Vs. 12)
“We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood.”
1. The world wrestle, means ‘hand to hand combat.’
2. ILLUSTRATION
a. Lucas Sibana, a South African was walking along a remote path, minding his own business when a python slithered out from behind some shrubs.
b. Sibana froze. Within a few seconds the snake had wrapped itself around him and began constricting. Pythons are large snakes that suffocate their victims before swallowing them whole.
c. Sibana was trapped. He didn’t know how he would escape. He decided the only way to get free and save himself was to bite it as hard as he could just below the head.
d. He bit, he kicked and he punched the snake until it released him. Then he killed it with a stick, took it home and skinned it. His family had it for supper.
3. That’s the kind of tenacity we need to fight Satan with.
4. We’re in a battle, but the war has been won from the beginning. Genesis 3:15 is a prophecy to that effect, “[Jesus] shall bruise your head, and you shalt bruise his heel.”
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. One of the most intriguing stories of espionage occurred during WW2. The Axis powers still had control of Europe but they knew an invasion of Italy was imminent.
2. In a stroke of luck, the Germans recovered the body of a British pilot off the coast of Spain. In his pocket was found a partially written letter to his wife mentioning a probable invasion of the Italian peninsula, bypassing Sicily.
3. The Germans were elated! They swung into full preparations for the invasion.
4. But it was a brilliant diversion. The pilot had actually died of pneumonia. All his I.D. was faked and the bit about the invasion was false.
5. When the invasion came, it came to Sicily and the Germans were not prepared. The invasion was a great success!
6. The Enemy of our Souls wants to divert us from the real goal: to draw near to Jesus, follow His teaching, and fight the good fight of faith – to win others to Christ.
B. THE CALL
1. How many of you would say, “Pastor, I’ve been fighting a battle, but I don’t feel like I’ve been winning. I don’t feel like I have any strength left. I need God to hold me up.” Raise your hands.
2. Others might say, “Pastor, I feel like I’ve been fighting the wrong enemy. I need to get back into the battle for the Lord!”
3. Some others, “Pastor John, I’m not sure which side I’ve been on, but I want to get on the Lord’s side today.” Raise your hands.
4. Prayer.
[Messages by Ed Taylor and Bruce Howell contributed to this piece.]
