ARE YOU REALLY READY FOR THE BATTLE?
EPHESIANS 6: 10-20
PREACHED DURING WOMEN’S WEEK @ PGBC
MINISTER JOYCE SCOTT
1st Lady, Pastoral Asst, Co-Founder of E.L. Ministries
IN THIS CHAPTER(6), PAUL IS ON HIS THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY, WHERE HE SPENT 3 YEARS IN EPHESUS. EPHESUS BECAME A CENTER OF EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH TO THE REST OF THE PROVINCES. PAUL SPOKE TO THE CHRISTIANS ABOUT THE BELIEVER’S WALK (EPHESIANS 4:1-6-9). IN THIS EPISTLE, PAULS HAD ALREADY STATED THAT THE BELIEVER IS TO
(1) WALK WORTHY OF HIS CALLING. WITH LOWLINESS
WITH MEEKNESS
WITH LONGSUFFERING
WITH LOVE
THE PURPOSE FOR WALKING WORTHY IS TO KEEP THE UNITY OF FAITH, AND THE BOND OF PEACE. THE BELIEVER IS TO :
(A) WALK USING HIS GIFTS – EPH. 4:7-16
(B) WALK AFTER CHRIST; PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN – EPH. 4:20 AND TO PUT ON THE NEW MAN.
(C) THE BELIEVER IS TO WALK- FOLLOWING GOD
(D) WALK AS A CHILD OF LIGHT (CAREFULLY & STRICTLY)
PAUL, IN CHAPTER 5 LIFTS THE STANDARD FOR WALKING IN LOVE, LIGHT, AND THE ILLUMINATION OF A NEW WAY OF THINKING AND WALKING IN WISDOM.
THEN, SUDDENLY…PAUL CHANGES HIS COURSE WHEN SPEAKING TO THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS AND SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE BELIEVER’S LIFE IN CHRIST. HE BEGINS TO SPEAK OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN MILITARY TERMS. FOR EVERY BELIEVER IS LIKENED TO A SOLDIER WHO IS ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF LIFE. FOR IMMEDIATELY, UPON RECEIVING CHRIST, THE BELIEVER FINDS HIMSELF/HERSELF IN A CONSTANT STRUGGLE, AN UNCEASING FIGHT, AN UNENDING WAR, A CONTINUING BATTLE AND STRUGGLE WITH EVIL. THE BELIEVER IS A COMBATANT, A SOLDIER IN SPIRITUAL CONFLICT. AND THE BATTLE IS REAL, DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS! FOR ALTHOUGH SALVATION IS FREE,,,,,,IT IS NOT MAINTAINED WITHOUT GREAT EFFORT. NO TRUE SOLDIER OF CHRIST CAN EXPECT TO BE IMMUNE FROM THE ASSAULTS OF THE ENEMY AND NO CHRISTIAN CAN AFFORD TO BE NEUTRAL IN THIS CONFLICT. There are two basic reasons to have soldiers. One is to prevent, deter or be ready in case of war, and the second is because there is a war going on. In our case, there is a war going on. IN LIGHT OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS WARFARE, THE CHRISTIAN CANNOT BE SELF-RELIANT, BUT WE HAVE TO BE “STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT”.
I. THE SOLDIER’S CALLING; HENCE,……LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE SOLDIER’S CQALLING IS NOT TO A LIFT OF ENJOYMENT AND EASE, BUT TO A LIFE OF CONFLICT, A CONTINUING BATTLE AND STRUGGLE WITH THE ENEMY. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY AND ARE A SPIRITUAL PRISONER OF WAR!
II. THE SOLDIER’S CHARGE: “FINALLY MY BRETHREN’ BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT. AND PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL.
III. THE SOLDIER’S ENEMY: (VS11)…PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. THE DEVIL IS SHOWN HERE TO BE AN ENEMY TO BELIEVERS. HE IS THE SERPENT OF OLD……ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, HE IS THE SAME ONE WHO IN THE GARDEN: created doubt -- "Has God indeed said...?" Then he accused God of lying -- "You will NOT surely die..." Finally he accused God of withholding good things from His creatures -- "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God..." HE IS THE FATHER OF LIES, AND MURDER AND ONLY HAS A 3 POINT AGENDA…..TO KILL STEAL OR DESTROY. HE IS THE ENEMY!
IV. THE SOLDIER’S WARFARE: IT IS NOT HUMAN, BUT SPIRITUAL. “FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.
V. THE SOLDIER’S DUTY: “WHEREFORE, TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOR OF TOD, THEY YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTQND IN THE EVIL DAY AND HAVING DONE ALL…TO STAND. WE MUST PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, (THE COMPLETE ARMOR) THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY. THAT MEANS THAT WHEN YOU’VE GOT ON THE ARMOR…..
1. YOU CAN SUCCESSFULLY RESIST THE ENEMY
2. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND YOUR GROUND
3. YOU WIL BE ABLE TO STAND STEADFAST AGAINST CRAFTY ASSULTS
4. YOU CAN STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL’S SUBTLE WAYS
5. YOU CAN STAND AGAINST THE DECEITFULNESS OF THE DEVIL.
AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST WE FACE A WICKED ENEMY IN THE DEVIL. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD SOMEONE SAY “ I DO NOT HAVE AN ENEMY IN THE WORLD?” PERHAPS YOU ARE AMONGST THOSE WHO CANNOT POINT TO A SINGLE HUMAN ENEMY, BUT ALL OF US HAVE AN ENEMY IN THE DEVIL. I PETER 5:8 CALLS THE DEVIL A ‘ROARING LION” WHO WALKS ABOUT SEEKING WHOM HE CAN DEVOUR. IN MATTHEW 13:19……THE DEVIL IS CALLED “THE WICKED ONE”. IN JOHN 8:44……SATAN IS CALLED A LIAR AND A MURDERER. IN 2 COR. 4:4….THE DEVIL IS THE ONE WHO BLINDFOLDS THE MINDS OF PEOPLE, TRYING TO STOP THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST FROM ILLUMINATING THEM SO THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. IN REVELATION 20:8 THE DEVIL IS CALLED A DECEIVER. IT IS NOT GOD’S WILL THAT WE, HIS CHILDREN, BE DEFEATED, DEVOURED AND DESTROYED BY THE ENEMY. FOR WE KNOW THAT THE ENEMY SEEKS TO BRING ABOUT OUR DEFEAT AND DESTRUCTION IN BOTH TIME AND ETERNITY. BUT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, EMPOWERS US AS WE WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD.
SO MEN AND WOMEN OF VALOR – WHEN GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO A DUTY STATION AND CHOSEN YOU TO LEAD IN HIS NAME, HE OFFERS AND PROVIDES ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU WILL NEED. HE GIVES US..
(1) HIS OWN STRENGTH AND POWER FOR THE STRUGGLE WITH EVIL. I JOHN 4:4 ASSURES US THAT “GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN US, THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD”. AND THAT STRENGTH COMES THRU HIS HOLY SPIRIT,..FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME TO DWELL IN US, SINCE THE MOMENT OF OUR CONVERSION ACCORDING TO ACTS 2:38.
(2) EACH PIECE OF THE CHRISATIAN’S SOLDIER’S EQUIPMENT IS A PART OF THE PROVISION GOD MAKES FOR HIS CHILDREN IN THE STRUGGLE WITH THE ENEMY.
(3) WE MUST PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD……EACH BELEIVER MUST NOT ONLY PUT IT ON, BUT HE3 MUST USE IT!! AND HERE IS WHAT HE HAS PROVIDED:
A. THE BELT OF TRUTH –
(1)FIRST OF ALL, CHRIST IS TRUTH. JESUS SAID I AM HTHE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE….NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER BUT BYME (JOHN 14:6).
(2)THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUTH- THE BELIEVER IS TO PUT ON THE WORD OF GOD. HE IS SANTIFIED B Y THE WORD OF GOD,…..BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS GOD’S TRUTH.
(3)THE BELT SUPPOSTS THE SOLDIER IN THE BATTLE AND TRIALS OF THIS LIFE.
B. THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS –
(1) PROTECTS THE HEART……THE BELEIVER’S HEART IS FOCUSED UPON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THAT FOCUS MUST BE PROTECTED. BEING FILLED WITH FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH ARE BY JESUS CHRIST UNTO THE GLORY AND PRAISE OF GOD.
C. THE SANDALS OF THE GOSPEL –
(1) A SIGN OF READINESS…A READINESS TO MARCH INTO BATTLE, AND BEAR WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. THE SANDALS WILL HELP TO KEEP US STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE AND ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD.
D. THE SHIELD OF FAITH -
THE SHIELD PROTECTS THE SOLDIER’S BODY FROM THE FIERY DARTS THROWN BY THE ENEMY. THE PSALMIST TELLS US IN BOTH THE 27TH AND 33;20 PSALMS HE IS NOT ONLY OUR LIGHT AND SALVATION, BUT HE IS ALSO OUR HELP AND SHIELD.
E. THE HELMET OF SALVATION-
THE HELMET COVERS THE HEAD AND MIND OF THE SOLDIER. THE CORE OF A SOLDIER’S POWER TO WAGE WAR. THE HELMET OF SALVATION KEEPS US SAFE IN THE BATTLEFIELD OF OUR MINDS. IT PROTECTS OUR BRAINS AND OUR THOUGHTS. IT PROVIDES ASSURANCE AGAINST DOUBTS AND INSECURITY AND THE KINDS OF WORKS BREEDED BY THEM. ISAIAH SAID.”THOU SHALT KEEP ME IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE, BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE”.
F.THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT:
(THE WORD OF GOD) THE SWORD IS USED OR BOTH OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSE. THE SWORD IS USED TO PROTCT AND FIGHT OFF AND SLAY THE ENEMY. THE SIGN OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IS HIS USE OF THE “WORD OF GOD”. FOR THE WOD OF GOD IS QUICK AND POWERFUL AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO EDGED SWORDS” HEB. 4:12
FINALLY,…….GOD HAS GIVEN US ANOTHER SUPERNATURAL PROVISION; PRAYER! ALWAYS PRAYING (A CONSTANT SPIIRIT OF PRAYER-ELEVATES OUR CONFIDENCE, ASSURANCE AND COURAGE. THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MUST: (A) ALWAYS PRAY. MEN OUGHT TO ALWAYS PRAY!
(B) WE MUST PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT- ROMANS TELLS US THAT EVEN WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO PRAY, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL INTERCEDE FOR US!
(C) SOLDIERS MUST BE CONSTANT IN PRAYER! WE MUST CONCENTRATE AND PERSEVERE WE MUST PRAY WITHOUT CEASING! WE NEED TO WATCH AS WELL AS PRAY!
(D) WE MUST PRAY UNSELFISHLY. THE SOLDIER IS NOT IN BATTLE ALONE! WE MUST PRAY FOR OTHER CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. WE MUST PRAY WITH PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION…WATCHING THEREFORE WITH ALL PERSEVERENCE AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS.
DEBORAH WAS A SOLDIER…SHE WAS BEE IN PEACE, AND A WASP IN WAR.
ESTHER WAS A SOLDIER….SHE WAS WILLING TO GO TO SEE THE KING TO SAVE HER PEOPLE. WHENEVER, YOU WANT TO BE SAVED, YOU’VE GOT TO GO SEE THE KING.
JESUS, IS OUR GREATEST EXAMPLE….Back in the days of Christ, soldiers often went without water, food, sleep, medical treatment, seeing their family, not to mention other unimaginable hardships. When we consider the great affliction He suffered, we must keep in mind that He did so because of our transgressions—not His. We deserve all that He suffered and more; He did not. ISAIAH SAID: “THAT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANGRESSION, AND BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES, AND THE CHASTISEMENT OF OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIS SHOULDERS……BUT WITH HIS STIPES WE ARE HEALED! WAIT A MINUTE……Paul WAS JUST FOLLOWING the example set by Christ. Just as Christ used His great suffering for glorifying our Father, Paul uses his sufferings to glorify Jesus. EVERY NOW AND THEN….
"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."
As with all structured military units, soldiers are instructed to obey their commanding officers and follow orders. While Jesus is ultimately our Commanding Officer, He will not force His soldiers to obey His orders or accept His missions. Just as with our salvation, we are given free will to make a choice.
Many times during Christ’s life on earth, He told His followers that He did only as He saw His Father do in heaven. He was not a rebel or Lone Ranger that tried doing things on His own.
This is why He called us to serve Him through the Church. We are called to be members of His Body in the Church. His Churches are our Spiritual Boot Camps
SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE BATTLE….WHEREFORE…….PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR…..NOT A PART, NOT A FEW PIECES. BUT THE WHOLE….
