STRENGTH To STAND-IX—Ephesians 6:10-20
Attention:
HERO CHIHUAHUA:
Summer 2017--GAINESVILLE, FL...
Gainesville Police said 7-year-old Coco was out being walked this week, when a robber approached them from behind as they walked near their apartment complex. The robber proceeded to strike Coco’s walker over the head with a glass bottle & demanded money. Little Coco bit the man’s leg, sending him running into nearby woods.
The dog actually belongs to the woman’s caregiver who lives with her. The woman who did not want to be identified for safety reasons, suffered a bruise on her temple.
Coco was rewarded with lots of treats. The Gainesville Sun reported the dog had been abused before being rescued four years ago. His owner said she plans to get Coco a badge.
Thieves beware—this Chihuahua may be little, but he won't mess around if you threaten his owner.
Coco found strength in his owner & the one walking him.
Likewise, God’s people must find their Strength to Stand firm in Christ & in our Heavenly Father.
Need:
Courage—to stand firm for & in Christ—against the lost world’s direction.
Confidence—knowing that we cannot compromise with the opponent.
Perseverance—knowing that the Lord’s armor holds & protects thru every battle.
Paul urged the Ephesian church to find their strength in the Lord by effectively arming themselves.
The church must acquire God’s strength to stand victorious.
Where & 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. CONTENTION(:12)
4. RESISTANCE(:13)
5. REALITY(:14a)Truth
6. MANNER(:14b)Righteousness
7. PEACE(:15)
8. FAITH(:16)
9—God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious thru a distinct...
SALVATION(:17a)
Explanation:(:17a)
:17—“And take the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
The soldier of Christ who successfully wrestles against the “spiritual forces of wickedness”(:12) equips himself with both “helmet” & “short-“sword.” “Salvation” & the “word of God” complete the Christian’s ensemble which allows him/her to stand victorious.
“And take the helmet of salvation”:
The Roman soldier’s “helmet” was constructed of heavy leather which was covered with layered metal plates or entirely of molded or beaten metal. It covered the entire back & sides of the head & sometimes most of the face.
The Roman soldier’s “helmet” obviously protected the head. If the head was compromised/damage/injured, then the individual direction & motivation of the individual soldier, as well as the overall mission of the ranks/team, was compromised. With injury to the head, one’s ability to reason & properly remain in rank-&-file was compromised.
If the “helmet” was missing the soldier was unprepared for battle. His security would be compromised in having to constantly carry himself in a protective posture being conscious of his extreme vulnerability.
“Salvation” acts as the Christian’s “helmet.” It protects his/her ability to think clearly in regard to God’s ideals. You could say that “our way of thinking needs preservation”(Jerry Miller) as well as our perception of what is around us.
“Salvation” affords the Christian unhindered vision—understanding God’s plan for us & all of mankind in Christ. “Salvation” affords the Christian an ability to deftly/skillfully employ all available defenses & offenses.
*If your “helmet of salvation” is not in place...If you don’t ‘keep your head...If your “salvation” is not in place, then you will become, at a minimum, disoriented & overwhelmed in a wicked world. You will become vulnerable to spiritual injury, as your eternal security is compromised. Your “salvation” must be settled & certain! It is not something which you can gain or lose at any given moment. Salvation is a done deal. You must be ‘born again’ or ‘born from above.’(Jn. 3:3-7)
?Are you unsure of your salvation?
“Take”(See :13—“Take up”; :17)—decomai—Verb—1) To take with the hand—1a) To take hold of, take up; 2) To take up, receive—2a) Used of a place receiving one, 2b) To receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship—2b1) To receive hospitality, 2b2) To receive into one's family to bring up or educate, 2c) Of the thing offered in speaking, teaching, instructing—2c1) To receive favorably, give ear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject, 2d) To receive. i.e. to take upon one's self, sustain, bear, endure; 3) To receive, get—3a) To learn. Strong—middle voice of a primary verb; To receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively).
“Helmet”—perikefalaia—Noun Fem.—1) A helmet; 2) metaph.—2a) The protection of the soul which consists in(the hope of) salvation. Strong—Encirclement of the head, i.e. A helmet. Used 2X.
From—peri—1) About, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near. Strong—properly, Through(all over), i.e. Around; figuratively--With respect to.—&—kefalh—1) The head, both of men & often of animals. Since the loss of the head destroys life, this word is used in the phrases relating to capital & extreme punishment.; 2) metaph.--Anything supreme, chief, prominent. Strong—from the primary kaptw(in the sense of seizing); The head(as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively.
“Salvation”—swthrion—Adj.—1) Saving, bringing salvation; 2) He who embodies this salvation, or through whom God is about to achieve it; 3) The hope of (future)salvation. Strong—neuter of the same as swthria as (properly, concretely)noun; Defender or by implication--Defense. Used 5X.
Argumentation:
Mat. 10:16-22—“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents & harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils & scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors & kings for My sake, as a testimony to them & to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Now brother will deliver up brother to death, & a father his child; & children will rise up against parents & cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Mat. 24:1-13—“Then Jesus went out & departed from the temple, & His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, & of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered & said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ & will deceive many. And you will hear of wars & rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, & kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, & earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation & kill you, & you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, & will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up & deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
*1Jn. 4:17-19—“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”
Are you fearful of death/the end/life after death or death after this life? Then your love of Jesus has not been perfected nor brought to the state where it is intended for absolute confidence of salvation!
*Mat. 16:24-27—“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, & take up his cross, & follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, & loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, & then He will reward each according to his works.”
?Or are you one who mocks Jesus by reasoning that His dying on the Cross proved that He was a liar?....
Mat. 27:41-43—“Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes & elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, & we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
If so, then you have conveniently forgotten that Jesus’ resurrection blows away that thin belief!...
Rom. 4:23-25—“Now it was not written for his[Abraham’s] sake alone that it[righteousness by faith] was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, & was raised because of our justification.”
*Jn. 3:16-17—“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
*Rom. 5:8-9—“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
*Heb. 10:26-39—“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, & fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, & insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches & tribulations, & partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, & joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better & an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come & will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
Illustration:
To the animal shelter to look for a dog for a young family/Saving a dog whose owner(the world) has rejected/Dog’s attitude toward a new owner must be agreeable/The dog turns toward the saving hand with appreciation/A dog that may threaten the saving hand is rejected as a danger to the family/The dog is given opportunity to respond appropriately, lovingly, appreciatively/SALVATION
Application:
?Your SALVATION give you & others, strength to stand victorious?
?You acquired Strength to Stand victorious over wickedness?
10—God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious in a distinct...
WORD(:17b)
Explanation:(:17b)
:17—“And take the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
“& the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”:
The only offensive weapon mentioned by Paul is the Roman “short-sword”(6-18 in. in length) used for close, hand-to-hand fighting. It was sheathed in a scabbard attached to the belt.
The “sword of the Spirit” of God is the “word of God.” The “word” is the “sword” by which “the Holy Spirit” advances upon the enemy as He cuts & jabs thru the ranks of wickedness. It is the means by which we stand(:13). The “sword of the Spirit” is the infallible “word of God” because all the written “word” has been penned by men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Thus the word penned thru the Spirit is God’s inerrant truth(:14) upon which we depend in measuring every aspect of our lives.
2Pet. 1:20-21—“knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
The Spirit is resident within the believer as our guarantee of eternal life & as a guaranteed reminder of truth.
“The Bible is an armory of heavenly weapons, a laboratory of infallible medicines, a mine of inexhaustible wealth. It is a guidebook for every road, a chart for every sea, a medicine for every malady, & a balm for every wound. Rob us of our Bible & the sky has lost it’s sun.”—Thomas Guthrie in MNTC
Thus all this Christian soldier’s ensemble(ensemble/panoply--whole armor--:11, 13) of protection & offense is intended to be employed as a unit, each piece bolstering & enabling the other.
If you are one who depends upon what other people say about Christianity rather than what God says about Christianity, then you have decided that you do not need that offensive & defensive weapon. You are no soldier of Christ Jesus. You have no close, personal protection because you have refused your “sword.”
“The word of God” is that which all true doctrine is built upon. It is truth... God’s revealing of Himself to & for man!
It is both an offensive & defensive weapon! As a “sword” it it supplied to the Christian soldier by “the Spirit” of God Himself. Such a “sword” cuts to shreds anything that comes against it!
God’s “word” is timeless but never antiquated! It must be interpreted properly, in every age, so that it is allowed to be entirely relevant(culturally, socially, politically, individually, corporately).
“And”—kai—Conjunction—1) And, also, even, indeed, but. Strong—apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative & sometimes also a cumulative force; And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection(or composition) with other particles or small words.
“Sword”—macaira—Noun Fem.—1) A large knife, used for killing animals & cutting up flesh; 2) A small sword, as distinguished from a large sword—2a) Curved sword, for a cutting stroke, 2b) A straight sword, for thrusting. Strong—A knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively--War, judicial punishment.
“Spirit”(See :18)—pneuma—Noun Neuter—1) The third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father & the Son; 2) The spirit, i.e. The vital principal by which the body is animated—2a) The rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides, 2b) The soul; 3) A spirit, i.e. A simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, & possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, & acting—3a) A life giving spirit, 3b) A human soul that has left the body, 3c) A spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. An angel—3c1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men, 3c2) The spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels & equal to God, the divine nature of Christ; 4) The disposition or influence which fills & governs the soul of any one—4a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.; 5) A movement of air(a gentle blast). Strong—A current of air, i.e. Breath(blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively--A spirit, i.e. (human)--The rational soul, by implication--Vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman)--An angel, demon, or (divine)--God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit. RWP—‘“The Spirit” is the use of pneuma as metaphor.”
Pneuma corresponds to Hebrew—xwr. A)quch—Breath, i.e. by implication--Spirit, abstractly or concretely--The animal sentient principle only, which is distinguished from, B) pneuma—The rational & immortal soul, & C)zwh—Mere vitality, even of plants. These terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew...A)vpn, B)xwr & C)yx.
“Is”—esti—Verb—1) third person singular of “to be.” Strong—third person singular present indicative of eimi; He(she or it) is; also(with neuter plural)--They are.
“Word”—rhma—Noun Neuter—1) That which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word—1a) Any sound produced by the voice & having definite meaning, 1b) Speech, discourse—1b1) What one has said, 1c) A series of words joined together into a sentence(a declaration of one's mind made in words)—1c1) An utterance, 1c2) A saying of any sort as a message, a narrative—1c2a) Concerning some occurrence; 2) Subject matter of speech, thing spoken of—2a) So far forth as it is a matter of narration, 2b) So far as it is a matter of command, 2c) A matter of dispute, case at law. Strong—from rew[to utter, i.e. speak or say]; An utterance(individually, collectively or specifically); by implication--A matter or topic(especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative--Naught whatever. J. MacArthur—rhma refers to individual words or particular statements with emphasis upon the precision of specific truths.
“God”(See :11, 13)—yeov—
Argumentation:
Ps. 18:30—“As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
Prov. 30:5-6—“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, & you be found a liar.”
*2Tim. 3:16-17—“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, & is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
All 176 verses of Ps. 119 are a testimony to the power of God’s revealed Word...
Ps. 119:11, 49-50, 65-72, 92-93, 99-104, 105, 113-114, 129-131, 134, 155—
:11—“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!”
:49-50—“Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.”
:65-72—“You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word. Teach me good judgment & knowledge, For I believe Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good, & do good; Teach me Your statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold & silver.
:92-93—“Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.”
:99-104—“I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.”
:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
:113-114—“I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. You are my hiding place & my shield; I hope in Your word.”
:129-131—“Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth & panted, For I longed for Your commandments.”
:134—“Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts.”
:155—“Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.”
2Cor. 10:3-6—“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments & every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, & being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Jn. 9:39-41—“And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, & that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, & said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
Illustration:
Internal Revenue Service(IRS)/They have authority to garnish your wages if you have not been faithful to pay your due to the Govt./They have authority to gather what is owed the govt./The federal & State laws support their actions/Distinct WORD
Summer-Fall Construction site at the merging of Marine St. & Gulf Ave.(adjacent to the public boat ramp) in Carrabelle, FL/The old dilapidated buildings were recently razed & the area is being turned into a parking lot for trucks & boat trailers/I might have liked to see a restaurant &/or fishing gear store/But the city commissioners along with County, State, & Federal agencies supplying grants have seen fit to make a very nice practical parking lot for the area/All the agencies involved have the final say in the whats, whens, & hows of construction in that spot/Theirs is a Distinct WORD
Application:
?Your WORD give you & others, strength to stand victorious?
?You acquired Strength to Stand victorious over wickedness?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
7-year-old Coco the Chihuahua. Coco protected the one walking him. Coco found strength in his owner & the one walking him.
Action:
God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious thru a distinct...
9. SALVATION(:17a)
10. WORD(:17b)
1. STRENGTH(:10)
2. ENSEMBLE(:11)Clothing/Array/Dress
3. CONTENTION(:12)
4. RESISTANCE(:13)
5. REALITY(:14a)
6. MANNER(:14b)
7. PEACE(:15)
8. FAITH(:16)
Pts. 9-10 Presented 10/01/2017am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
