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Ephesians 6 God’s Will For Your Battle

Ephesians 6 God’s Will For Your Battle. First we need to look at why we are in a battle. We will get to Eph 6, but first Eph 2:4-10:

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Ephesians 6 God’s Will For Your Battle

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  1. Ephesians 6God’s Will For Your Battle First we need to look at why we are in a battle. We will get to Eph 6, but first Eph 2:4-10: 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. .. We are in a battle because we are in Christ.

  2. Struggle – battle with Satan 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith ….

  3. We Need to be clothed with Christ Gal 3:26-27 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. We have “put on” Christ. One of the biggest parts of Jesus’ life was to do the will of God and enable us to do the same. Have you truly embraced the mission of laying down your own life and taking up the life of Christ? Battle or Struggle with Satan and battle with “self” – selfishness. “S” and “S”

  4. Point One – 1) Connection - Eph 6:10-18 First let’s look at the connection between Righteousness, Faith and the Holy Spirit, v. 14 “breastplate of righteousness,” v. 16 “shield of faith” and the Holy Spirit, v. 17 & 18 Acts 2:36-38 36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

  5. Rom 6: 1-8, …10-18 Helper – Holy Spirit Rom 8: 5-13 … v. 13 if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. The key to righteousness is to use God’s Holy Spirit to help us. Eph 6 talks about praying in the Spirit and I think prayer is key. We need to ask God to help us use the Holy Spirit to overcome sin in our lives and to grow in righteousness. As we see this happen (our righteousness grow) then we also grow in our faith. Righteousness and the Holy Spirit are interconnected and faith is key also. Rom 8: 14-16, 23-27 Consistent PRAYER…we will talk about this later as well Pray that God will use His Holy Spirit in us to help us be righteous.

  6. Jesus talked about – “Helper” John 14:16-17 16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [b]Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. – NAS “Helper” is translated as advocate or counselor in other translations. Also, the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth” and we will talk about truth some more this morning – all of these things are interconnected. Holy Spirit is “in us” and is our “helper” We can overcome sin, Satan, and selfishness, with the “Helper”

  7. As we overcome sin we grow in faith and we become more righteous – these three are interconnected – this is my first point Part of the first point is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit does other things: John 14: 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 15: 26“When the [h]Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me ….. Point Two 2) “Belt of Truth” – Eph 6:13-14

  8. Point Two 2) “Belt of Truth” – Eph 6:13-14 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist … …. Could you imagine being a soldier and having amazing and perfect armor that did not weigh anything… That is what we have (if we use it – our armor takes practice to use it well) ….. Stand … don’t give up Use the “belt of truth”

  9. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4: 23-24 … Jesus talks about God and talks about us. God is “truth” and we need to worship God “in truth” and in “the Spirit.” ….. Truth is what God is all about and we need to know “the Truth” ….. John 8: 31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ….. Eph 1: 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory

  10. II Thess 2: 9-10 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. We need to love the truth – body of knowledge – the gospel 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 But, having the “belt of truth buckled around your waist” is more than just believing the gospel (intellectual agreement). We need to HOLD to the teaching or LIVE the teaching to “KNOW” the truth.

  11. Jesus is the “Truth” John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Clothed with Christ – having the “belt of truth buckled around your waist” Also, remember from John 15: 26“When the [h]Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me” – The Holy Spirit is tied to “The Truth” as well.

  12. Another scripture that ties “the Spirit,” “faith,” “righteousness,” and “the truth” together, is Gal 5:5-7, “For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” Again “obeying the truth” having the “belt of truth buckled around your waist” Central part of clothing and of being clothed with Christ. Center to being a soldier for Christ. A lot of equipment carried on the belt as well as provisions including food. Knowing and obeying the “TRUTH” is central.

  13. Point Three – 3) “Breastplate of Righteousness in Place” We have already talked about how the Holy Spirit helps us to overcome sin and be righteous and how we need to obey the truth with the help of the Holy Spirit. Eph 6:14: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” Matt 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

  14. Rom 10: 3-4 “Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Phil 1: 9- 11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Phil 3: 9 “…through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

  15. Matt 5: 20 “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Pharisees did not have the Holy Spirit to help them and they “took pride” in their righteousness. With God helping us with His Holy Spirit, He takes the credit and we humbly acknowledge that we are able to have righteousness in our lives only with God’s power and then God’s righteousness in us surpasses that of the Pharisees easily. Roman soldier’s breastplate was usually made of brass. A person who is not in battle does not need to wear something like this. We are “made” righteous in Christ, when God looks at us He sees us “Clothed with Christ” and as long as we are submitting and discerning and seeking – that is what He sees and we can withstand Satan’s darts.

  16. Point Four – 4) Feet – Readiness and Gospel of Peace Eph 6: 15 “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Shoes are essential for a soldier. Yet better if they are fitted and light enough – Roman soldier – special sandal that had special nails (hobnails) on the bottom to help him “hold his ground” and not loose footing in combat. Protection from pebbles – thick leather. Partially a boot and partially a sandal. Readiness – preparation – Greek root word is used for God preparing heaven for us and the disciples preparing the upper room for the last meal with Christ.

  17. Rom 10: 14-15 “now, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Gospel = Good News The gospel needs to travel – it needs to be spread and feet need to do it. Even though we are soldiers for Christ we bring a “gospel of peace.” (Eph 6: 15) The gospel of peace makes us ready for battling against Satan. It is a message of peace and how others can have peace with God or be reconciled with God.

  18. Point Five – 5) Shield of Faith Eph 6: 16 “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Shield is so strong that it can extinguish even flaming arrows. Arrows would sometimes have cloth attached that had been soaked in tar and then set on fire. Some arrows were large and were used in a form of a catapult. Large heavy shield that could be attached to each other.

  19. Col 2: 6-10 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” Our faith needs to be built into a tremendous power. We are “in Christ” and in Christ we are connected to “the Deity” Our faith can be a very powerful shield, and yet it is has “negative” weight.

  20. Eph 3: 14-20 in Hollman translation: “For this reason I kneel before the Father[c]15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us” We can have a very powerful faith – because God gives it power and the Messiah dwells in us. Our shield of faith is meant to be very powerful.

  21. Point Six – 6) Helmet of salvation Eph 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation…” Helmets are very important – my dad’s helmet in WW II deflected a bullet. Many times just to keep a tree limb, or an MVA from causing damage. Helmet in football. Roman helmet was bronze and was very heavy – used sponges inside it. It was so strong that not even a battle-ax could pierce it. It also had brightly colored horse hair or something similar on the top – decorative as well – very noticeable!! Protects our thoughts and yet the salvation also is the most ornate gift anyone could get.

  22. Rev 19: 1-2 “…Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,2 for true and just are his judgments ….” Eternal salvation belongs to God and He gives this gift to us. We need to constantly remember that God has given us this awesome gift and keep the fact that we are saved constantly in our thoughts. Satan is known as “The Accuser.” We need to strive to keep our mind pure because we are saved. Helmet is defensive. Now we are going to talk about offense.

  23. Point Seven – 7) The Sword of the Spirit Eph 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvationand the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Heb 4:12-13 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Double edged sword.

  24. Offensive weapon – this is what Jesus used over and over when he was tempted by Satan. We can use it to help others escape Satan’s hold. The sword was known as the “gladius” and it was very sharp on both edges and it was strong and heavy. Its tapered point could pierce though even heavy metal armor. On his belt he also had a dagger (a “pugio”) and lead-weighted darts. But Paul just mentions the sword.

  25. Eph 6: 10- 13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God…” This passage talks about our struggle – at the beginning of the lesson we talked about the three “s’s” in our struggle. We have power that God has supplied. Another passage is also in Ephesians

  26. Eph 1: 13-20 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heaven realms” The way we get this power and grow in it is prayer.

  27. Point Eight – 8) The 3 “P’s” Persistent Prayer for Power. We grow in the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit only with persistent prayer. Matt 7: 7-11 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

  28. Write down Luke 11:5-8 and look it up later. Luke 18: 1-8 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.

  29. In Both Luke 11:5-8 and Luke 18: 1-8, the person asking God for something in prayer was being outrageous and not socially correct. God wants us to be persistent, even on the verge of being obnoxious, in asking for his Power (through the Holy Spirit) in Prayer. Then we will have the armor of God. So, in conclusion,

  30. With Persistent Prayer for more Holy Spirit (in our lives) God will use Power as we use the Full Armor of God in our Struggle over Selfishness (we Surrender “I”), Sin, and Satan as Soldiers for Christ

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