STRENGTH To STAND-III—Ephesians 6:10-20
Attention:
Bigger Than Ever!
There were two old mountaineers were living in the backwoods of the Ozarks: Rufus & Clarence.
They lived on opposite sides of the river & they hated each other. Every morning, just after sunup, Rufus & Clarence would go down to their respective sides of the river & yell at each other.
“Rufus!” Clarence would shout, "You better thank your lucky stars that I can't swim, er I'd swim this river & whup you!"
“Clarence!” Rufus would holler back, “You better thank YOUR lucky stars that I can't swim, er I'd swim this river & whup YOU!"
Every morning. Every day. For 20 years. Neither one of ‘em even remembered why he was mad at the other one.
One day the Army Corps of Engineers came along & built a bridge. But the insults went on every morning. Every day. Another five years goes on.
Finally, Rufus' wife had had enough. “Rufus!” she squallered one day, “I can't take no more! Every day for 25 years you've been threatenin' to whup Clarence. Well, thar's the bridge! Have at it!”
Rufus thought for a moment. Chewed his bottom lip for another moment.
“Woman!" he declared, snapping his suspenders into place. "I'm gonna whup Clarence!"
He walked out the door, down to the river, along the riverbank, came to the bridge, stepped up onto the bridge, walked onto the roadway & stopped at the first truss over the bridge, he looked up for a second, then turned tail & ran screaming back to the house, slammed the door, bolted the windows, grabbed the shotgun, grabbed his wife, & then dove under the bed.
“Rufus!" cried the missus. "I thought you was gonna whup Clarence!”
“I was, woman, I was!" he nervously whispered.
“What in tarnation is the matter?"
“Well, it’s jist that Clarence ain't never looked that big from the other side of the river!” “I walked onto the bridge & there was an official lookin’ yeller & black sign hangin’ over the bridge entrance warnin’ ever’body comin’ onto that bridge, about Clarence!” It read 'Clearance, 13 feet, 6 inches!’
Likewise, God’s people need strength to stand in the storms of life!
Paul closes his revelation/direction to the Ephesian church by encouraging them to find their strength in the Lord by effectively arming themselves.
The church must acquire God’s strength to stand victorious.
Where is the church’s strength to stand victorious?
How can the church find strength to stand victorious?
12 distinctions of the Christian soldier’s strength for victory.
We have found that—
...God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious..or..acquire victory thru a distinct...
1. STRENGTH(:10)
2. ENSEMBLE(:11)Clothing/Array/Dress
3—God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious thru a distinct...
CONTENTION(:12)
Explanation:(:12)Test/Battle/Match/Struggle/Wrestling
:12—“For we do not wrestle against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
“In the ultimate sense, the church’s battles with Satan are already won.”—MNTC
However, the lot of the Christian’s life here on earth, is to “wrestle” &/or struggle &/or battle. To “wrestle” is to be involved in a chosen contest of strength, ability & strategy. It involves knowledge of one’s own abilities as well as the weaknesses & strengths of one’s opponent.
How do we approach or what happens when we “wrestle against” mere “flesh & blood.”...We use fleshly means. There is no need for additional means because the “wrestling” is limited & confined to mere “fleshy” & thus natural ability.
Technically, the Greek reads ‘blood & flesh.’
The Christian’s wrestling/battle is all inclusive of both fleshly & spiritual realms, that is, every realm of existence & reality.
The spiritual realm of wickedness is organized & ordered. The devil seeks to usurp God & God’s kingdom, which is organized & ordered & arranged hierarchically. Thus Satan’s kingdom is organized & ordered & arranged hierarchically.
There are aspects of demonic wickedness which we seldom take into account. The devil himself leads/commands a limited number of demonic hosts—a full 1/3 of the angelic hosts of heaven(Rev. 12:3-5).
These are described as “spiritual hosts of wickedness.” The concept of “hosts” is actually only implied. Perhaps ‘aspects’ or ‘manifestations’ would suffice as well to describe the ‘spirituals of wickedness.’
The ‘spirituals of wickedness’ are located or originate “in” “the heavenly places” or actually “heavenlies,” being the spiritual ‘aspects’ or ‘manifestations’ of the unseen spiritual world of the heavens. This probably correspond to “the power of the air,” of which Satan/the devil is it’s prince(Eph. 2:2)(EBC).
These ‘spirituals of wickedness’ describe the ordered sinister influences(EBC) which are encountered/arranged as “principalities” or rulers(arch--plural). They are the multiple heads who maintain the initiation & maintenance or active cause of “wickedness” in the heavenlies. The “spiritual forces of wickedness” also wield various “powers”(exousia) with which the Christian/church is continuously engaged in “wrestling.” These are recognized by their particular “powers” wielded. These are recognized “powers” in that they have liberty of action, possessing a particular degree of authority in their “wickedness.”
These “spiritual forces of wickedness” are also manifested thru demonic potentates(kosmokratwr) “who aspire to world control”(EBC).
These particular potentates are those who have command “of the darkness.” “Darkness” comprises a complete absence of light, & further elucidates the “wickedness.”
In spiritual terms, these demonic mega-rulers hold authority over things “of darkness” or those effectings & manifestations “of wickedness.”
The “darkness” is inherent to “this age” wherein we live & move & have our current existence in this world. “This age” probably also hints at the fact that despite the presence of “the darkness of this age”, this is simultaneously/also the “age” intended for repentance thru Christ...Repentance from “the darkness.”
“We have no way of absolutely identifying the networking of the various schemes of Satan...”
But “...every Christian has the resources of God’s own Holy Spirit within him to free himself from any demonic entanglement, no matter how severe.”...“On the other hand, it is dangerous to become presumptuous, thinking that we are free from any danger.”—MNTC
“For”—oti—Conjunction—1) That, because, since. Strong—neuter of ostiv-(Which some, i.e. Any that; also (definitively)--Which same]as conjunction; demonstrative--That(sometimes redundant))-; causative--Because.
“Not”—ou, ouk, or ouc—Particle—1) No, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. Strong—a primary word; the absolute negative [compare mh] adverb; No or not.
“Wrestle/Struggle”—palh—Noun Fem.—1) Wrestling(a contest between two[contenders] in which each endeavors to throw the other, & which is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck)—1a) The term is transferred to the Christian's struggle with the power of evil. Strong—from pallw(to vibrate; another form for ballw[to throw]); Wrestling. Used 1X.
“Against”5X(See :11)—prov—Preposition—1) To the advantage of; 2) At, near, by; 3) To, towards, with, with regard to. Strong—a preposition of direction; Forward to, i.e. Toward(with the genitive case) the side of, i.e. Pertaining to; (with the dative case)--By the side of, i.e. Near to; (usually with the accusative case)--The place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. Whither or for which it is predicated.
“Flesh”—sarx—Noun Fem.—1) Flesh(the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones & is permeated with blood) of both man & beasts; 2) The body; 3) A living creature(because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or beast; 4) The flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, & therefore prone to sin & opposed to God. Strong—Flesh(as stripped of the skin), i.e. strictly--The meat of an animal(as food), or by extension--The body(as opposed to the soul [or spirit], or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or by implication--Human nature(with its frailties (physically or morally) & passions), or specifically--A human being(as such).
“Blood”—aima—Noun Masc.—1) Blood—1a) Of man or animals, 1b) Refers to the seat of life, 1c) Of those things that resemble blood, grape juice; 2) Blood shed, to be shed by violence, slay, murder. Strong—of uncertain derivation; Blood, literally(of men or animals), figuratively--The juice of grapes, or specially--The atoning blood of Christ; by implication--Bloodshed, also--Kindred.
“But”—alla—Conjunction—1) But—1a) Nevertheless, notwithstanding, 1b) An objection, 1c) An exception, 1d) A restriction, 1e) Nay, rather, yea, moreover, 1f) Forms a transition to the cardinal matter. Strong—neuter plural of allov[else, i.e. different]; properly--Other things, i.e. adverbially--Contrariwise(in many relations). RWP—Perhaps, "nevertheless," in spite of the difference just noted.
“Principalities/Rulers”—arch—Noun Fem.—1) Beginning, origin; 2) The person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader; 3) That by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause; 4) The extremity of a thing—4a) Of the corners of a sail; 5) The first place, principality, rule, magistracy—5a) Of angels & demons. Strong—(properly abstract)--Commencement, or concretely--Chief(in various applications of order, time, place, or rank).
English =prefix—‘Arch’-enemy; ‘Arch’-nemesis.
“Powers/Authorities”—exousia—Noun Fem.—1) Power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; 2) Physical & mental power—2a) The ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises; 3) The power of authority(influence) & of right(privilege); 4) The power of rule or government(the power of him whose will & commands must be submitted to by others & obeyed)—4c1a) Jurisdiction, 4d) A sign of the husband's authority over his wife—4d1) The veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself, 4e) The sign of regal authority, a crown. Exousia is primarily liberty of action; then authority -- either as delegated power, or as unrestrained, arbitrary power. Strong—Privilege, i.e. subjectively--Force, capacity, competency, freedom, or objectively--Mastery(concretely--Magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence.
“Rulers/World Rulers”—kosmokratwr—Noun Masc. Accusative Plural—1) Lord of the world, prince of this age—1a) The devil & his demons. Strong—A world-ruler, an epithet of Satan. Used 1X.
From—kosmov—1) An apt & harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; 2) Ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. The arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens.; 3) The world, the universe; 4) The circle of the earth, the earth; 5) The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family; 6) The ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, & therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; 7) World affairs, the aggregate of things earthly; 8) Any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort. Strong—Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication--The world. RWP—“The whole cosmos of men, including Gentiles, the whole human race.”—&—kratew—1) To have power, be powerful; 2) To get possession of; 3) To hold. Strong—To use strength, i.e. Seize or retain(literally or figuratively).
“Darkness”—skotov—Noun Neuter—1) Darkness—1a) Of night darkness, 1b) Of darkened eyesight or blindness; 2) metaph.—2a) Of ignorance respecting divine things & human duties, & the accompanying ungodliness & immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell, 2b) Persons in whom darkness becomes visible & holds sway. Skotov is a general word, meaning darkness in any sense. Strong—Shadiness, i.e. Obscurity(literally or figuratively).
From the base of skia—apparently a primary word; “Shade” or a shadow (literally or figuratively ((darkness of error or an adumbration)).
“This”—toutou—Pronoun—1) Of this one. Strong—genitive case singular masculine or neuter of outov, outov, outoi, auth, autai; Of(from or concerning) this(person or thing).
“Age”—aiwn—Noun Masc.—1) For ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; 2) The worlds, universe; 3) Period of time, age. Aiwn is usually better expressed by age, it is the world at a given time, a particular period in the world's history. Kosmov has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. A similar meaning is often attached to aiwn, it means the spirit of the age, often in an unfavorable sense. Strong—properly--An age; by extension--Perpetuity (also past); by implication--The world; specially(Jewish)--A Messianic period(present or future).
“Spiritual Hosts/Forces”—pneumatikov—Adj. Accusative Plural Neuter—1) Relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God & serves as his instrument or organ; 2) Belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God; 3) Belonging to the Divine Spirit; 4) Pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing. Strong—Non-carnal, i.e. humanly--Ethereal(as opposed to gross), or demoniacally--A spirit(concretely), or divinely--Supernatural, regenerate, religious. Used 26X.
English=‘Pneumatic’
*Paul uses this same word(pneumatikov), in a different context, to describe ‘gifts’ of the Spirit of God—
*1Cor. 14:1—“Pursue love, & desire spiritual gifts(pneumatikov), but especially that you may prophesy.”
“Hosts/Forces”—Added for clarity
“Wickedness”(See :13, 16—ponhrov)—ponhria—Noun Fem.—1) Depravity, iniquity, wickedness; 2) Malice; 3) Evil purposes & desires. Ponhria denotes the active exercise of a vicious disposition. Strong—Depravity, i.e. specifically--Malice; plural concretely--Plots, sins. Used 7X.
“Heavenly places/Heavenlies”—epouraniov—Adj.—1) Existing in heaven—1a) Things that take place in heaven, 1b) The heavenly regions—1b1) Heaven itself, the abode of God & angels, 1b2) The lower heavens, of the stars, 1b3) The heavens, of the clouds, 1c) The heavenly temple or sanctuary; 2) Of heavenly origin or nature. Strong—Above the sky. Used 20X.
From—epi—1) Upon, on, at, by, before; 2) of position--On, at, by, over, against; 3) To, over, on, at, across, against. Strong—properly, meaning superimposition(of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution[with the genitive case], i.e. Over, upon, etc.; of rest(with the det.)--At, on, etc.; of direction(with the accusative case)--Towards, upon, etc.—&—ouranov—1) The vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it; 2) The region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal & consummately perfect where God dwells & other heavenly beings. Strong—The sky; by extension--Heaven(as the abode of God); by implication--Happiness, power, eternity; specifically, the Gospel(Christianity).
“Places”—Added for clarity
Argumentation:
Rev. 6:12-17—“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, & behold, there was a great earthquake; & the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, & the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, & every mountain & island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave & every free man, hid themselves in the caves & in the rocks of the mountains, & said to the mountains & rocks, “Fall on us & hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne & from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, & who is able to stand?””
1Cor. 10:1-14—“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud & in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, & all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, & that Rock was Christ[not that they were Christians]. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat & drink, & rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, & in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, & were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, & were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, & they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
Mk. 13:9—“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, & you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers & kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.”
2Jn. :8—“Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.”
Heb. 12:14-17—“Pursue peace with all people, & holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, & by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
2Cor. 2:5-11—“But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent--not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man-(expelled from the church 1Cor. 5:1-13)-, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive & comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
2Cor. 11:2-6—“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it! For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.”
1Chron. 21:1-3—“Now Satan stood up against Israel, & moved David to number Israel. So David said to Joab & to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, & bring the number of them to me that I may know it.” And Joab answered, “May the LORD make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?””
Even Joab knew better than to dishonor the Lord thru a census. And Joab & his brothers were the very ones whom David had said were too murderously harsh for him(2Sam. 3:22-39)!
God did not want David to number Israel lest he get the big head—being a military man—& think he had enough troops to defeat anyone...lest it be done in his own will rather than God’s!
Illustration:
Gerald Hickey—was a civilian working in Vietnam before & during the Vietnam war. He was regularly transported by U.S. military helicopters in his work as an ethnographer for the RAND Corporation. Hickey stated, “I hated choppers, the way they banked in the turns, flew toward treetops, & jumped up at the last minute. I had to sit in the seat & cover my eyes with my hands.”
But he appreciated the Army fliers more during a visit to the remote Green Beret camp—Nam Dong— in 1964. On July 5, hundreds of enemy soldiers attacked after midnight. The defenders held the perimeter through the night, but in the morning, enemy machine guns drove off six Marine Choctaw helicopters attempting to deliver reinforcements. Hickey recalled a wave of fear & disappointment among the survivors. But then a single [UH-1] Huey[assault gunship] swooped over the treetops, door guns blazing. The Army crew cleared a path for the relief helicopters to return. “Fearless, those kids,” Hickey said/personal CONTENTION
The Pilot is supposed to ‘pilot’ the helicopter/The gunners are supposed to use the big mounted guns/Imagine the temptation to flee rather than purposely fly into harm’s way/Consider the desire to ‘take over’ the gunner’s position if he isn’t hitting the target/It takes both of you working as a team to accomplish the mission/You cannot do both jobs at once!/Your personal CONTENTION
The America’s Cup sail boat race(begun in 1851) was held in June of 2017 in Bermuda/Qualifying began Saturday, May 27, with Playoff Semi-finals thru June 8th, followed by the Finals thru Monday, June 12th with Matches being held till the end of the month/I happened to be home for lunch one day & switched to the race by accident/I had never really paid attention to the makeup of the boats before, but each catamaran rides on a “hydrofoil” which lifts the entire hull above the water & suspends the ~2,900lb. ~44 X 22ft. boat on an incredibly minimal surface area at speeds of up to 55mph!/The 5-man crew is continually trying to gain advantage by using the wind to advantage/They are constantly adjusting & readjusting the fixed wing & jib sails as well as raising & lowering the foils/They constantly move from one side of the boat to the other, concentrating their efforts where needed/Each has their assigned job & working as a unit, they move across various checkpoints on the course/Bottom line--the America’s Cup is a sail-boat RACE/Each may not be able to keep tabs on what the other team is doing but they can see the boat!/CONTENTION
Application:
?Your CONTENTION give you & others, strength to stand victorious?
?You acquired Strength to Stand victorious over wickedness?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The sign at the bridge entrance warning everybody, about Clarence’s height” reading 'Clearance, 13 feet, 6 inches!’
Action:
God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious thru a distinct...
3. CONTENTION(:12)
1. STRENGTH(:10)
2. ENSEMBLE(:11)Clothing/Array/Dress
Pt. 3 only! Presented 06/11/2017am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
