Sermon by: Dr. Todd Morris
Text: Ephesians 6:10-20
Title: Stand Your Ground
INTRODUCTION: Archibald Naismith tells us that at the Battle of Waterloo, when the fight became its worst, an officer galloped up to the Commander, the Duke of Wellington and said, "my Captain says we are being destroyed, we need reinforcements quickly." The Duke said simply, "tell him to stand." The officer galloped back to relay the message to his Captain.
Shortly the same messenger galloped back with the same message. Again, Wellington said simply, "tell him to stand."
Very soon another officer same with the same request. Wellington’s response was this, "I have no help to send you, tell him to stand." The officer saluted and replied, "you will find us there sir."
When the battle was fought and won the Duke found each of those men at his post. All dead, but they stood. They had laid down their lives for the victory.
As I study this passage the first word that comes to my mind is "STAND!" This word occurs three times in this passage, and one of those it is in the intensified form in the Greek, which means it is given the greatest emphasis possible. The sentence structure in the Greek proves that often we place the emphasis on the wrong thing in this passage. The emphasis is not on the armour, but on standing. The armour is simply a tool that we are to use to carry out God’s command, "STAND."
Read verses 11, 13, and 14
Let us examine the passage in its true context, which is with the emphasis on standing.
I STAND ENLIGHTENED
A. THE SPHERE OF THE ENEMY
1. NOT FLESH AND BLOOD
2. BATTLE NOT FOUGHT IN EARTHLY PLACES
B. THE STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY
1. NOT JUST ONE BEING
2. GREAT POWER, BUT NOT ALMIGHTY POWER
C. THE DECEPTION OF THE ENEMY
1. WILES LITERALLY MEANS TRICKERY
2. WHOLE ARMOUR THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE DECEIVED
IN ANY AREA. (GREEK-- PANOPLY--COMPLETE)
D. THE SEASON OF THE ENEMY
II STAND EQUIPPED
A. EACH MEMBER PUTS ON THE ARMOUR (“BROTHERS” IS ALL
ALL INCLUSIVE)
B. EACH MEMBER PUTS ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR (PANOPLY)
C. EACH MEMBER PUTS ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR FOR THE
WHOLE PERIOD OF THE BATTLE (NO LEAVE)
III STAND EMPOWERED
A. SPHERE OF EMPOWERING - BE EMPOWERED IN THE LORD
1. IF THE CONFLICT IS IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM THEN
THE LORD HIMSELF MUST BE OUR POWER
B. THE SECRET TO OUR EMPOWERING
1. "IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT"
a. KRATOS - OVERWHELMING POWER - POWER
THAT SWEEPS ASIDE ALL OPPOSITION
b. ISCHUOS - POWER THAT IS INHERENTLY THE
POSSESSION OF THE ONE WIELDING IT.
*A.T. ROBERTSON- "WE ARE TO BE EMPOWERED IN THE RISEN
AND GLORIFIED LORD JESUS AND IN THE OVERWHELMING
STRENGTH OF THE POWER THAT IS INHERENTLY HIS BECAUSE
HE IS GOD."
C. THE STANDARD OF EMPOWERING
1. THE RESURRECTION POWER OF CHRIST IS THE
STANDARD BY WHICH WE MAY JUDGE OUR POTENTIAL
POWER
2. UNLIMITED POWER IS AVAILABLE TO THE BELIEVER AS
A RESULT OF HIS UNION WITH CHRIST
CONCLUSION: GENERAL HOWARD A GREAT GENERAL OF THE CIVIL WAR ONCE SAID; “ THERE WAS ONE PROUD DAY OF MY LIFE, AND THAT WAS WHEN A VOTE OF THANKS WAS MOVED TO ME ON THE FLOOR OF THE CONGRESS FOR MY STAND AT GETTYSBURG." IN THAT DAY WHEN THE CHURCH MILITANT BECOMES THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT, AND WE STAND TOGETHER IN CHRIST’S PRESENCE, WILL A VOTE OF THANKS BE MOVED ON OUR BEHALF BECAUSE, "HAVING DONE ALL, WE STOOD WE STOOD FOR THE LORD AGAINST THE POWERS OF DARKNESS
LET US STAND!!!!!! ENLIGHTENED----EQUIPPED -------- AND EMPOWERED
