Stand Firm

There is this really interesting account

in 2 Kings 6.

The king of Assyria is seeking to attack Israel.

And so he surrounded himself with a war council

and they make decisions of when and where to attack Israel.

But what the king of Assyria didn't know

is that God was supplying the information

to the prophet Elijah.

And Elijah would tell the king of Israel

where he was going to attack.

And so the king of Israel always had a defense ready.

And so the king of Syria

brings his war council together

and he says,

which one of you is a traitor?

What's going on here?

And his war council says to him,

it's the prophet Elijah.

He's letting the king of Israel know everything you're doing.

And so the king of Syria says,

well, go get him.

Where is he?

He's in the city of Dothan.

Go get him.

And so the king of Syria sends an army down to Dothan

where Elijah is residing with his servant.

And that evening they surround the city.

The next morning they wake up.

Elijah's servant walks out

and he is dismayed

because the city of Dothan is surrounded by chariots and horses

of the Syrian empire.

And do you know what Elijah says to him?

He says, don't be afraid.

Don't freak out!

Don't freak out!

There are more numbered with us than with them.

And then Elijah prays,

O Lord,

open the eyes of this servant

so that he may see.

And do you know what?

God opened his eyes.

And do you know what he saw?

Do you know what?

The angelic host of God.

Surrounding them on the hillside.

Surrounding Elijah in chariots of fire.

And then Elijah prayed

and they were delivered.

The reason why I bring this account up is this.

We're at the front step of Ephesians 6.

This section on spiritual battle.

And my prayer for you

is that God would open your eyes

through His Word.

That we would be made aware

of the spiritual realities

and the spiritual conflict that surrounds us.

So having said that,

let's pray one more time

as we open God's Word.

O Lord, please open our eyes

that we may see

that we are in the midst

of a spiritual war

and we are fighting forces

that are greater than us.

But not so for you, Lord Jesus.

O God, strengthen us this morning

with your mighty strength

that we may stand firm.

And having done all,

stand firm.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Amen.

Ephesians 6.

I'm going to read through Ephesians 6.

Just a few verses here.

10-13.

Would you please read along with me

if you can?

Otherwise, hear God's Word.

Finally,

be strong in the Lord

and in the strength of His might.

Put on the whole armor of God

that you may be able

to stand against

the schemes of the devil.

For we do not wrestle

against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers,

against the authorities,

against the cosmic powers

of this present darkness,

against the spiritual forces of evil

in the heavenly places.

Therefore,

take up the whole armor of God

that you may be able

to withstand in the evil day

and having done all,

to stand firm.

That initial moment

that you first heard

and believed the Gospel

of Jesus Christ,

there was a dramatic shift

of kingdom allegiance.

Colossians 1.13 says it this way,

God delivered us

from the domain of darkness

and transferred us

into the kingdom

of His beloved Son.

And brothers and sisters,

this morning,

what you need to understand

is that this isn't

metaphoric language.

This is the Apostle Paul

speaking of a real

spiritual conflict.

A real spiritual reality.

Each of us,

if you're in Christ,

has been transferred

from one kingdom

to another.

We've been pulled out of one

and placed into another.

And the prince of darkness

who we once followed

Ephesians 2,

he's not pleased.

This morning,

what you must see

through God's Word

and be sobered by

is that as Christians,

we are at war.

There is a battle raging.

There's a conflict happening.

We're in the midst of it.

We are under imminent threat

of spiritual attack

by forces greater than us,

but not greater than our God.

In fact,

what we're going to see here

is that God has provided

spiritual enablement,

strength for us

that we may stand firm

against our enemy.

Or as 1 Peter says,

to resist Him.

For the next four Sundays,

we're going to learn

about spiritual warfare

from this section

in Ephesians 6.

And this morning,

I want you to think of it

as a battle briefing.

Next Sunday,

we're going to analyze

the biblical recon

on our enemy.

On the 17th,

it's to the armory we go.

We're just going to walk

through the spiritual armor.

We'll take stock

of the essential,

vital equipment

God has provided

each of us,

has issued each of us,

so that we understand

what it is,

how it works,

and how we put it in play.

We're just not to strap it on

to look good.

We're strapping it on

to war.

And then finally,

on the 24th,

we're going to see

the vital role of prayer

in this spiritual battle

to advance the mission

our King has called us to,

to make known His great name

among the nations.

We're at war.

And we fight against

an unseen, powerful,

indetermined enemy.

So this morning,

for the remainder of our time,

we've got a battle briefing.

And we're going to walk

through Ephesians 6,

10 through 13,

and there's a real clear logic

of the Apostle Paul here.

And so we're going to look

at what we need to do,

be strengthened.

We're going to look at

how we are to do that,

put on the armor,

and then we're going to look

at why we must do this.

We've got an enemy.

And then the so what?

Stand firm.

It actually will follow

Paul's logic in this passage.

But this morning,

my prayer for you has been

is to realize that we are

in fact at war.

So point number one,

what we are told we must do.

If you look at Ephesians 6, 10,

we see it.

Finally, be strong in the Lord

in the strength of His might.

What we're being told to here,

commanded to do,

is to be strengthened by God.

Be strong in the Lord

and in the strength of His might.

So right out of the gate,

we've got to realize

that it's only by God's strength

that we will be able to stand

against our enemy.

In other words,

we will be unable to stand

against the spiritual forces

of darkness

in our own strength.

in and of ourselves,

we are outgunned

by the devil.

Which leads me

to something glorious.

Do you realize

what kind of strength

Paul has in mind here?

That phrase,

the strength of His might,

you see that?

Be strong in the Lord

and in the strength

of His might.

This isn't the first time

that phrase has showed up

in the book of Ephesians.

If you flip back

to Ephesians 1,

Ephesians 1:19

verse 19.

Now,

just to jog your memories

a little bit,

Paul has been praying

for the Ephesians

that God would open

the eyes of their heart,

that they would realize

some glorious truths

that are true of them

in Christ Jesus.

And he says in verse 19,

and he prays

that they would understand

what is the immeasurable

greatness of His power

towards us who believe.

And here's the phrase,

according to the working

of His great might.

You could translate it,

the strength of His might.

It's the same words.

Do you know what

it's in reference to?

God's great immeasurable strength

that He put on display

when He raised Jesus Christ

from the dead,

seated Him in heaven,

and then put all things

under His feet.

that's the strength.

That's the power

He's talking about here.

It's not some kind of

vague power,

but a real power.

It's a power

that has rendered

the devil and his demons

of no authority.

He's disarmed them.

Now,

this power is of

immeasurable greatness,

and it's exercised

for our good

in the putting

of all things

under the feet

of Christ.

So what you need

to see here

is that we are

to be strengthened

by the same power

that has dominated

the spiritual forces

of evil.

God has already

subjugated our foe.

our strength

is from the Lord,

not ourselves.

We must be

constantly strengthened

by His power

that has already

been put on display

through His cross

and resurrection.

So that's the power.

That's where we find

our strength.

That's some awesome power,

isn't it?

Now the question becomes,

how?

How do we appropriate

that kind of power?

How does that power

get to us

in such a way

that we are

to be enabled

by it?

Well,

we're told here

in verse 11,

we read this.

Put on the whole

armor of God

that you may

be able

to stand.

Here's God's strength

and the way

that we bring it

to bear

in our own lives

is by putting

on the armor.

And in two weeks,

we're going to get

a close look

at the armor.

But here's what

I want you to see

this morning.

The source

of the armor

is God Himself.

Notice

verse 11,

put on the whole

armor

of God.

And then look

at verse 13,

therefore take up

the whole armor

of God.

This armor

is God

forged armor.

This armor

is God

fashioned armor.

And this armor

has a God

enforcing function

to enable

Christians

to stand

against their

formidable foe,

the devil.

The devil.

God uses means.

And the way

that we are

strengthened

with the Lord's

strength

is by strapping

on this armor.

God's strength

for us.

Which leads me

to the next point.

The intended

effect of this

armor

is to strengthen

us.

God is the

source

of this armor

and He gives

it to us

in order

to resource

us

for the battle

at hand.

This armor

of God

amazingly

strengthens

saints

with the

power that

raised Christ

from the dead.

The power

that's already

subjugated

our foes.

So with this

armor on,

a Christian

poses

a kind

of a threat

to the

spiritual

forces

of evil.

Which means

this,

if you

don't have

the armor

on,

you are

rendered

powerless

and vulnerable

to a

desperate,

dangerous,

and determined

enemy,

the devil.

So up until

this point,

we've looked

at the what.

We are to be

strengthened

in the Lord

with the strength

of His might.

And then we're

just being told

how.

we're strengthened

by putting

on the

whole armor

of God.

We'll come

back to that

in a couple

weeks.

But I want

you to see

why.

We are told

why we need

God's strengthening

armor.

To stand

firm against

the schemes

of the devil.

Several things

you know about

the devil.

This is a battle

briefing.

I'm not going

to go into

great depth.

I'm going to

come back to

this next week

so we can

have a greater

understanding

of some

of his

scheming.

But for

today,

know this,

the devil

is real.

Paul is

writing of

the same

being that

deceived Adam

and Eve

in the garden

and that

will one

day war

against the

returning

Christ.

Jesus

himself was

tempted by

the devil

in Matthew

Matthew 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4.

Do you

remember that?

And in

Matthew 4,

just as a

side note,

the second

Adam,

Jesus,

did what

the first

Adam didn't

do.

And that

was obey

God's

word and

send the

devil packing.

The second

Adam did

what the

first Adam

didn't do

and in so

doing he

undid what

the first

Adam did.

He did.

for us.

So the

devil is

real.

The devil

opposes

God.

Look at

verses 11

and 12.

And if

you're looking

in the

ESV,

you're going

to notice

a repeated

word.

Put on

the whole

armor of

God that

you may

be able

to stand

against

the schemes

of the

devil.

For we

do not

wrestle

against

flesh and

blood,

but against

the rulers,

against the

authorities,

against the

cosmic powers

of this

present

darkness,

against the

spiritual

forces of

evil in

the heavenly

places,

against,

against,

against.

The devil

opposes the

work of

God.

Ephesians

1.9

informs us

that God

has a plan

for the

fullness of

time to

unite all

things in

Christ.

To unite

all things

in Christ.

So what

the devil

is seeking

to do

is to

oppose

God's

redemptive

work

to

unite

all

things

in

Christ

for

the

glory

of

Christ.

But what

the devil

really does

not want

you to

know

is this,

that God

in His

glorious

sovereignty

uses the

schemes

of the

devil

to advance

His plan

for the

fullness

of time.

God

works

all things

out for

the good

of those

who love

Him

and have

been called

according to

His

purpose,

even the

schemes of

the devil.

That's the

scope of

God's

sovereignty.

The devil

is not

God's

equal.

In fact,

though the

devil would

not care

to admit

this either,

he's actually

dependent

on God

and subservient

to Him.

He was

created

by God.

He's been

around for

a while.

He took

the form

of a

crafty

serpent

in the

garden

and deceived

Adam and

Eve.

He's been

around for

a while,

but you

know what?

Don't think

he's from

everlasting

to everlasting.

That's

God

alone.

The devil

was created.

The devil

isn't stupid.

Throughout

the millennia,

the devil

has been

opposing

God's

eternal

plan of

salvation,

so he's

picked up

some best

practices

along the

way.

He's

very

cunning.

He may

even have

a top

ten

ways to

deceive

and

distract

God's

people.

The devil

is cunning,

but he's

not omniscient.

Only

our God

knows all.

The devil

is organized.

You can

see that

played out

in 6.12

where we

do not

wrestle

against

flesh and

blood,

but against

the rulers,

against

the

authorities,

against

the

cosmic

powers

over

this

present

darkness,

against

the

spiritual

forces

of

evil.

He's

talking

about

the

demonic

host.

He doesn't

go into

explaining

how they're

organized,

just that

there are

a lot

of them

with

seemingly

different

titles.

The devil

may be

organized,

but he's

not omnipresent.

Only God

is omnipresent,

our God,

and our

God has

promised to

be with

us

always,

strengthening

us.

The devil

is powerful.

Ephesians

6.12

For we

do not

wrestle

against

flesh and

blood.

Our fight

isn't

mano y

mano.

We're not

fighting the

same kinds

of people

as we

would

ourselves.

Our fight

is against

something in

the spiritual

places in

the heavenlies.

against

rulers,

against

authorities,

against

cosmic

powers,

spiritual

forces.

We may

be outgunned,

but our

God is

not.

His power

prevails

against the

cosmic powers

over this

present

darkness.

Remember

Ephesians

1.22.

He has

already

set all

things under

the feet

of Christ.

So the

devil is

more powerful

than any

of us,

but he's

not more

powerful than

our God.

The cross

of Christ,

this is

Colossians

2.15,

has disarmed

the rulers

and authorities

and put

them to

open shame

by triumphing

over them.

The power

of the death

and resurrection

of Jesus

Christ has

triumphed

over the

devil.

Christ's

cross

defeated

sin,

defeated

death,

and has

defeated

the devil.

So the

devil's

already

been

defeated.

He knows

it.

So for

those of

us in

Christ,

because we've

been moved

from one

kingdom to

another,

the devil has

absolutely no

authority over

us.

Ephesians 2.6,

Paul is very

explicit.

We have been

seated with

Christ in

the heavenly

places,

far above

these

authorities.

Do you

remember when

the United

States invaded

Iraq?

He toppled

Saddam Hussein.

Remember that?

We established,

the United

States established

a stable

government there,

but there was a

time when

Saddam Hussein,

though toppled,

was on the run.

He was alive

and he was

exerting

influence.

That's where

we're living

right now.

The cross has

toppled the

devil,

but he is

present and

exerting

influence.

He's been

defeated.

He's been

defeated by our

King,

Christ.

The devil's

doom has been

determined.

Would you look

back at

Revelation?

You've got to

see this in

your Bible.

Because our

enemy knows

this is in

our Bible

too.

Revelation

Revelation 20:10

chapter 20

verse 10.

Christ comes

back.

He cleans

house.

So here's

something to

bank on that

we were singing

of just moments

ago.

Thank you

Martin Luther.

Revelation

20 verse

19.

Excuse me,

10.

20 verse

10.

And the

devil who

had deceived

them was

thrown into

the lake of

fire and

sulfur where

the beast and

the false

prophet were

and they

will be

tormented

day and

night forever

and ever.

His doom

is sure.

But it

makes them

all the

more

dangerous.

Though

defeated,

he's

dangerous.

Peter in

1 Peter 5

8 describes

him as a

prowling

lion seeking

for someone

to devour.

Though he

has no

authority over

us, he

can still

assault us

especially if

we go

unarmed.

he is

determined.

He's

determined to

wreak havoc

on anyone

but especially

the saints

of God,

those of us

who have been

transferred from

the kingdom

of darkness

following the

prince of the

power of the

air,

transferred into

the kingdom

of the beloved

son.

It's safe to

say he hates

us.

our battle

is against

a defeated

foe whose

demise is

sure, but

it's made him

all the more

desperate,

dangerous,

and determined.

Our enemy is

not flesh and

blood.

So we need

God's strength

to stand

against his

raging.

C.S.

Lewis wrote

this book,

The Screwtape

Letters.

If you

haven't read

this,

read it.

But in

the preface,

he writes

this.

There are

two equal

and opposite

errors in

which our

race can

fall about

the devils.

One is to

disbelieve in

their existence,

disregard them,

the other is

to believe and

to feel an

excessive and

unhealthy interest

in them,

to be enamored

by them.

We are being

called to

soberly stand

firm against

them.

So we've

looked at

the what?

Be

strengthened in

the Lord.

We looked at

the how?

By putting on

God's armor.

We looked at

the why.

We have a

defeated but

dangerous foe.

Now let's

look at the

so what.

We are

exhorted to

stand firm.

And we see

that in

Ephesians 6,

11, 13,

and 14.

But let me

just let you

know this.

We live in

between the

defeat of the

devil through

Christ's death

and resurrection

and the final

demise of the

devil when he

gets thrown

into the lake

of fire.

So we live in

the already but

not yet.

We live in

between.

So our enemy

continues to

prowl though

defeated.

Defanged as

some say.

But he still

exerts influence.

When Jesus

returns and he

tosses the devil

into the lake

of fire, do you

know what?

We don't need

the armor anymore.

There will be no

need to suit up.

Maybe our

heavenly mansions

will have display

cases for armor.

But we live in a

time, this present

darkness, verse 12.

In the evil day,

verse 13, when we

must take up the

armor so that we

can stand firm

against the devil.

There remains a

threat by a

dangerous though

defeated foe.

God enables us

to stand against

the spiritual

forces in

his strength.

We are

strengthened with

God's strength

through putting

on the armor.

That enables us

to withstand the

attacks of the

devil.

Notice that

word stand.

We see that in

verse 11.

Put on the

whole armor of

God that you

may be able to

stand against the

schemes of the

devil.

Verse 13, take

up the whole

armor.

That purpose you

may be able to

withstand in the

evil day.

And having done

all to stand

firm.

Look at 14, the

first word, stand

therefore.

Now up until this

point in Ephesians,

God has been

exhorting us to

walk.

We were dead and

used to walk in

trespasses and

sins.

Two, one.

Now we've been

made alive in

Christ Jesus and

we walk in the

good works that

he has prepared

beforehand for us.

2.10.

We are to walk in

a manner worthy

of the calling to

which you've been

called.

4.1.

We must no longer

walk as non-Christians

do in the futility

of their minds.

4.17.

We are to walk in

love as Christ loved

us and gave himself

up for us.

5.2.

We are to walk as

children of light,

finding out what

pleases our God and

exposing the

unfruitful deeds of

darkness.

5.8-11.

We are to walk not

as unwise but as

wise, making the

most of the time

because the days are

evil.

5.15.

Empowered by the

Spirit, submitting to

one another.

Walk, walk, walk,

walk.

Walkity, walkity,

walkity, walkity,

walk.

Walk, walk, walk.

Ephesians is just

packed full with

exhortations to walk.

Walk, walk, walk,

walk, walk.

Walk.

6.11.

Stand.

Stand.

Walk, walk, walk.

Stand.

Stand firm.

It's a change of

posture.

It's climactic.

There's a reason why

Paul is closing the

letter on this note.

In the midst of all

these glorious calls to

holiness, to walk as

Christ would have us, to

walk in the ways of

Christ, Paul sobers us

up by exhorting us to

stand firm against the

devil.

Up until this point,

walk like Christ.

Now we are to stand in

the strength he provides.

This fight is close

quarter combat.

That word wrestle,

in verse 12, for we do

not wrestle.

That's literally to lock

somebody up.

Close quarter combat.

It's exerting an effort.

It's being close proximity

to things.

And we are called here to

persevere by God's

strength, having done all

to stand firm.

And so here's where he

wraps it up.

You need to be

strengthened.

Put on the armor.

We've got a really strong

foe.

So put on the armor and

stand firm.

Fight.

Wrestle.

Resist him with the

strength that God has

provided for you.

Until Jesus comes back

and tosses him into the

lake.

There's something I just

want to note before I

close.

He's writing to a

church.

It's easy to think

about putting on the

armor and standing firm

in terms of individualistic

thinking.

But he's writing to a

church.

We are to stand firm

together.

against the schemes of

the devil.

Each of us is to suit up

daily with the empowering

armor of God so that we

can stand together united

against the schemes of the

devil.

Imagine.

Look around.

We've got everybody wearing

their civvies.

Dressed for the day.

Now imagine all of us

clad in the armor of God.

Singing God's praises from

the depths of our hearts

in the midst of a raging

battle.

We're to do this together.

What?

Be strong in the Lord.

How?

Put on the armor.

Why?

Our enemy is real and

powerful, defeated yet

dangerous.

So we must stand firm

together against our enemy.

One point of application.

When the U.S. was drawn into

World War II, the U.S.

industry was dramatically

transformed in a really short

amount of time.

It went from peace time to war

time really quick.

So auto plants became tank

plants.

Manufacturers of blue denim

started producing green

camo outfits.

Luxury liners became troop

transports.

The war united our country.

It's a testament to those who've

gone before us, both our citizens

and our leaders.

Real war has a real effect.

Real war really transforms a

people's thinking and way of

living.

And so in light of the real

spiritual battle that we are in

right now, do you have a

wartime mentality?

Are you thinking battle?

Are you thinking skirmish?

Are you thinking and are you

living?

Are you taking up the armor

and light of the spiritual

fight at hand?

We will unpack this in the next

few weeks.

But I just wanted to ask,

is it in your mind?

Let's pray.

Oh Lord, open our eyes that we

may think and live empowered

with your strength against the

spiritual forces of this present

darkness.

God, would you keep us from

disregarding the spiritual

realities and keep us from

becoming enamored with them?

God, would you help us to be

sober and to stand firm with the

strength you provide?

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.