July 10, 2011
Evening Service

We have come to the close of Ephesians and Paul has given us a “call to arms,” charging us to be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,” for the battle we have before us.

 

This battle is not “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world’s rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

 

As Paul sat chained to a Roman soldier, he used what he saw in the physical world to teach us about fighting this spiritual warfare.

 

We have looked at the call to be girded with the belt of truth, to be protected by the breastplate of righteousness, to have feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and to take up our shield of faith.

 

The spiritual applications of these are that we be encompassed in God’s truth, protected from attack by our righteous lifestyle, be ready to share the gospel with others, and use our faith to prevent being injured by demonic forces.

 

We have also looked at how Jesus fulfills all of these pieces of armor for us.  Jesus is our truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, and shield of faith.

 

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,

·         The Helmet of Salvation-the Roman helmet was made of thick leather or brass that was fitted for the head and protected the brain from certain death from an enemies blow.

·         Salvation means to be delivered or saved from something.  An old testament example would be:

o   Exo 14:13 And Moses said to the people, Do not fear. Stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah, which He will prepare for you this day. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them anymore.

·         The nation of Israel was delivered by God from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.

·         New Testament salvation refers to Christians being delivered from the penalty of sin (death) and entering into the Kingdom of God.

·         We are to protect our thoughts and mind with the fact that we have through Christ attained salvation and our destiny is sealed, despite the outcome of the battle we face today.

Rom 5:8-10 But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  (9)  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  (10)  For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

 

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.

 

Rev 21:1-5  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer is.  (2)  And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband.  (3)  And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  (4)  And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.  (5)  And He sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.

 

 

 

Act 4:12 And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

·         Jesus is our salvation.

 

·         The Sword of the Spirit-a fearsome tool in the hands of a skilled soldier with its dual edges and tapered point it could even pierce heavy metal armor.

·         The Sword, which is the Word of God, is our only offensive weapon we can strike our enemy with.

·         The Word is to be used in close combat.  God wants us to experience the battle, seeing and feeling it firsthand, so we can bring glory to Him in the end.

 

Jesus gave us the example of how this works when He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan (Matt. Chapter 4) not from afar off but face to face.

 

Heb 4:12  For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

·         The Word of God is able to cut through the enemies deceptions and reveal the truth.

·         We must learn to be skilled with the Word.

2Ti 2:15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

 

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

·         Jesus is our Sword of the Spirit.

 

Eph 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

·         Prayer-it is not mentioned as part of our spiritual armor, but it most certainly is a very important part of our successful battle against evil.

·         We are to be in constant communication with our Heavenly Father.

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

·         We are to pray according to the Spirit’s leading.

Rom 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  (27)  And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

·         Our prayers are to be with perseverance.

Luk 11:9 And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.

·         We are not to be selfish in our prayers.

Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

·         Through our prayers, we should be yielding ourselves to God’ will.

Mat 26:39  And He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.

·         Jesus is the example for our prayers.

 

2Pe 1:3 according as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue,

 

God has equipped us for victory.  The battle will not be easy, but the final result has already been declared.  Love wins!  Do not lose heart for he who endures to the end will receive the crown of life.