principles of christian living. lesson 7 lesson text—ephesians 6:10-13 ephesians 6:10-13 10...

Principles of Christian Living

Lesson 7

Lesson Text—Ephesians 6:10-13

Ephesians 6:10-1310 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.


12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having

done all, to stand.


Ephesians 6:14-1814 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;


16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:


18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Focus Verse—Ephesians 6:10

Ephesians 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his

might.

Focus Thought

We are in a spiritual conflict.

Victory comes by the power of the

Holy Ghost.

I. Knowing Our EnemyCULTURE CONNECTIONVictory through Prayer

There is only one way to live in victory through Jesus Christ: that is to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). And there is only one way to be strong and powerful in the Lord: through the power of prayer.

I. Knowing Our EnemyIn his classic book Power through

Prayer, E. M. Bounds wrote, “Prayer was to them what it was to Paul, a striving with earnest effort of soul; what it was to Jacob, a wrestling and prevailing; what it was to Christ, ‘strong crying and tears.’ They ‘prayed always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.’ ‘The effectual, fervent prayer’ has been the mightiest weapon of God’s mightiest soldiers.”

I. Knowing Our EnemyBelievers today are in a mighty

spiritual warfare for the very existence of their souls—for the very survival of their spiritual lives. Spiritual life survives only through the power of the Spirit, which we maintain and nourish through prayer. Consequently, there is spiritual victory through prayer.

The battle in which believers find themselves today is not one fought with tanks, guns, and planes; and the enemy they engage does not possess flesh and blood.

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe enemy is Satan and his imps; the weapons of our warfare are spiritual implements, not the typical machinery of war. But the most important of all of our weapons is prayer. When we connect with Jesus Christ through prayer, only then are we empowered to overcome all the attacks of the enemy with complete victory in Jesus.

I. Knowing Our EnemyContemplating the TopicThe Scriptures warn us that we have

an adversary, and we should regard him as a formidable foe. The Bible, however, does not say to fear our opponent; but we are to be on guard because he is a master of disguises and deception. He is a predatory beast who feasts upon the weakness, ignorance, and fear in human nature. He is also the original thief, liar, and murderer in the universe; and his goals are to steal, kill, and destroy.

I Peter 5:8

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring

lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8).

I. Knowing Our EnemyThis war is not easily won, so God created for us an arsenal of powerful weapons with which to defeat the enemy whenever and wherever we meet him. We should view ourselves as overcomers of Satan, not as his victims.

I. Knowing Our EnemySearching the Scriptures

Knowing Our EnemyA. Know His Evil Forces

Satan is a fallen angel, a created being whom God originally created in purity and holiness. Because God created him, Satan is not equal to God—not even in a negative sense. God has no equal; He is uniquely sovereign and supreme.

I. Knowing Our EnemyAlthough Satan is an invisible, powerful, spiritual creature, God placed boundaries around him. Satan therefore is not omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent. He cannot read our minds, but he does try to program or influence our thinking. Only God knows the number of fallen angels under Satan’s control (Revelation 12:4). Still, we must not underestimate Lucifer’s rebellion and those who followed in his revolt.

I. Knowing Our EnemyWhen Jesus confronted the demon-possessed man at Gadara, the demons in him said, “My name is Legion: for we are many” (Mark 5:9). A Roman legion consisted of 6,100 foot soldiers and 726 horsemen. It is not unrealistic to assume that Lucifer’s arrogant hostility infected many of the angels in Heaven who suddenly were expelled along with him (Luke 10:18). Because of the language of Revelation 12:4, many Bible scholars believe Lucifer’s rebellion drew the support of one- third of the heavenly angels.

I. Knowing Our EnemyIn Ephesians 6:12, Paul said we

wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness, and against spiritual wickedness. Each stratum of evil is an element of Satan’s kingdom on earth with specified powers and jurisdiction. Satan organized his hordes of fallen angels under principalities corresponding to earthly governments. If there is a Prince of Persia and a Prince of Greece, as in Daniel’s day (Daniel 10:13, 20), then there also could be a Prince of Russia, a Prince of England, and so on.

I. Knowing Our EnemyWe cannot know how widespread his organization is; however, we may be reasonably sure that the governments of this world are influenced by the power of darkness.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

B. Know His TacticsB. Know His Tactics

1. The wiles of the devil. Nelson’s Bible Dictionary describes the wiles of the devil as “a trick or strategy intended to entice or deceive.” Satan can entice, seduce, or deceive humans when they allow any undisciplined desire to breed lust in their minds. Unbridled desires produce sin.

Satan cannot tempt us if we refuse to incubate his lustful thoughts and suggestions.

I. Knowing Our EnemyJesus said, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). The propositions of the devil will not tempt us if we have no desire or willingness to participate. When we fall for one of his devilish schemes, it indicates we already had a predilection to take that path.

Pushy salesmen often appeal to a person’s desire for instant gratification. This selfish side of humans is a work of our fallen, unregenerate nature. Greed refuses to wait for anything.

I. Knowing Our Enemy It is impatient and demanding. Satan observes these signals we unwittingly send out, then he overpowers us at the point of our weakness and he burrows into our lives.

One of Satan’s dirty tricks is to get people to believe he does not exist. They may not realize that if they deny his existence, they also deny the Word of God. If there is no enemy of our soul, there is no need to defend it. When a person embraces this erroneous idea, he opens the door to Satan to work his evil with impunity in his life without any resistance.

I. Knowing Our EnemySatan also takes advantage of human nature by covertly inciting two individuals against each other and causing conflict and confusion. If neither of the individuals realizes the source of the problem, they do not recognize the devil at work and they are never able to resolve the problem (I Corinthians 14:33). “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16).

I. Knowing Our EnemyBefore dealing with a situation like

this, we should pray against the spirit of confusion and pray to receive the peace of God. Only then are the two parties able to reconcile.

2. The fiery darts of the wicked. The art of warfare and weapons design is an ancient concept. When an army designed a shield that could withstand certain weapons, the attacking enemy immediately set to work to design new and advanced weapons capable of penetrating that shield.

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe fiery darts noted in Ephesians

6:16 were arrows or short spears. If the arrows of the attacking army could not penetrate the defenses of their enemy, they dipped their arrows into a combustible substance such as pitch and ignited them. When the flaming arrow hit the target, it burned to ashes and destroyed everything around it. Our enemy shoots burning arrows of bitterness, anger, resentment, and revenge that attempt to lodge in our spirits, destroy our peace, and rob us of the blessings of fellowship.

I. Knowing Our EnemySatan often uses people who are close to us to say hurtful things, trying to drive a wedge of separation between us. The words are like arrows with sharp barbs that tunnel deep into our subconscious mind. The least disturbance can resurrect all of the hurt feelings connected to the original injury, and it becomes a merry-go-round of painful memories recycling for years and too often destroying relationships.

A. Know Your GodKnowing Our Equipment

A. Know Your God

“The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32). What do we know about the nature and character of our God? We know God is faithful and will not ignore our sacrifices or our faith. He is a loving Father who disciplines and defends His children.

I. Knowing Our EnemyGod is knowable. We can relate to

Him. The psalmist stated, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). The promise of protection in Psalm 91 is for those who permanently dwell in the secret place with God. In the day of trouble, the distance we must run for refuge depends on where we dwell on a daily basis. When we roam too far from home, we can be cut off like an army that surges too far ahead of its supply line.

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe people of Israel heard the

audible voice of God in the Sinai Desert and were so frightened they told Moses to talk privately to God and then relay His messages to them (Exodus 20:19). Thus Moses knew God face to face, and he knew God’s ways. The Israelites knew only His acts and were therefore afraid of Him (Psalm 103:7). When God’s mighty acts cause us to be afraid of Him, it does not signify a divine aloofness or harshness.

I. Knowing Our EnemyInstead, it is a sign we do not know Him personally and consequently find it difficult to trust Him. To know Jesus Christ is to know God personally; and when we know Him, the “accuser of the brethren” cannot touch us. (See Romans 8:1; Revelation 12:10.)

I. Knowing Our Enemy

In Ephesians 6, Paul described the battle dress of the Roman soldier in order to instruct the Ephesian believers to put on the whole armor of God. We are foolish to go to battle against the enemy of the soul without the whole armor of God.

B. Protective Armor—Defensive

I. Knowing Our EnemyWe never know which piece of armor we will need, so we must put on all the pieces, not just what we find convenient or comfortable at a given time. 1.The girdle of truth. A soldier wore a leather belt that held his armor together. His sword and other weapons hung from this belt. Paul called this portion of the armor the belt of truth. In the life of the believer, the truths from the Word of God hold our lives together. We must know the truth, love the truth, live the truth, and allow truth to control and guide us.

I. Knowing Our Enemy2. The breastplate of righteousness.

The breastplate was made of metal plates or chains that covered the soldier’s body from the neck to the waist. It protected the vital organs of the body. Paul compared the breastplate to righteousness. Righteousness or right standing with God is a gift from God. Our enemy constantly looks for a crack in our armor. Any impurity compromises our right standing with God and makes us vulnerable to attack.

I. Knowing Our EnemyProverbs 4:23 exhorts, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

3. The sandals of the gospel of peace. The hobnailed soles of a Roman soldier’s sandals gave him a sure footing. The rough terrain on the battlefield would have many stumbling blocks and obstacles. Likewise, our battlefields contain many humps, animal holes, thorny hedges, rocks, and other hindrances, but we must not stumble. We must stand steady for battle and keep on standing.

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe Greek word used for

preparation is hetoimasia. It denotes readiness or preparation as found in Ephesians 6:15, where the Christian’s feet are shod with the “preparation” of the gospel of peace. The word also can mean a firm footing. If that is the meaning in Ephesians 6:15, the gospel itself is to be the firm footing of the believer.

What a contrast that in the midst of a chaotic war zone, the soldier of Jesus Christ has the gospel of peace to steady his feet!

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe good news of the gospel brings the peace of almighty God to the believer. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). We allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:7). Therefore we have peace from God (Romans 1:7).

4. The shield of faith. The Roman shield was generally made of wood covered with animal hide. Its four-foot length protected the soldier from head to knee.

I. Knowing Our EnemySometimes the soldiers marched as one with shields overlapped in a formidable phalanx. They never went to battle without their shields; with them they deflected the enemy’s blows and burning arrows. In a similar fashion, our faith is our defense against the fiery darts of the enemy. The enemy often hurls darts of doubt to cause us to lose hope and lay aside our faith in God. It has been said that faith does not live in the past, but the past nourishes it.

I. Knowing Our EnemyRemembering the ways God has provided for us encourages us to believe He will do it again. When we band together in unity and by our testimony, our joined shields create a barrier the enemy cannot penetrate.

5. The helmet of salvation. The soldier’s helmet was made of metal and shaped to fit his head. Later, the helmet also included a visor to protect his face.

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe head is the command center for

the whole body. The body acts upon direct orders from the head. Therefore the helmet protects the vital control center of the human body, and in similar fashion, the helmet of salvation protects the Christian soldier’s thought life, his vital control center.

Salvation is a gift from God for the total person: spirit, soul, and body. The helmet of salvation contains the knowledge of what God has purchased for us at Calvary. We can no longer live only to please ourselves.

I. Knowing Our EnemyWe are bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus and are now accountable to God (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

The knowledge of our salvation is our defense against the lies and suggestions of the enemy. When we wear the helmet of salvation, its protection enables us to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ (I Peter 1:13; II Corinthians 10:5). On the other hand, the enemy easily ensnares the believer who fails to control his thoughts.

C. Offensive Weapon—The Sword of the Spirit

C. Offensive Weapon—The Sword of the Spirit

The Roman double-edged sword was a short, heavy weapon specially designed for hand-to-hand combat. The cunning soldier could feint with one edge of the sword and strike with the other. In the hands of a trained warrior, it was an instrument of death. In battle the soldier advanced with single-minded purpose—to destroy everything in his path.

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe Word of God is our only

offensive weapon (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It is imperative that we learn to use the Word skillfully and offensively. The Word of God is a living book from the heart of the living God. It becomes the living Word to us when we apply it to our daily living. The book becomes spirit and life as we use it personally.

Jesus’ skillful use of the Word when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness blunted every charge of the adversary (Matthew 4:1-11).

I. Knowing Our EnemyJesus answered each of the temptations with, “It is written.” The sword of the Word impaled Satan and drove him away for a season.

As Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness, we also can overcome the enemy. In his book Satan: A Defeated Foe, Charles Usher says, “The degree in which we are able to use the Sword of the Spirit will be dependent upon the degree in which we allow it to penetrate into the depths of our own moral and spiritual life, dividing asunder soul and spirit and thus making us spiritual.”

I. Knowing Our EnemyPeter used the Word to defend his

faith before the Sanhedrin, and his testimony convicted them (Acts 5:33). When we skillfully use the Word in our witness, we can expect the power of the Spirit to drive the Word into the heart of the hearers, and one of two things will happen: they will hear and believe the Word, or they will hear and reject it.

III. Knowing Our OrdersKnowing Our Orders

Before he goes into combat, every soldier learns the rules of engagement. He studies how to recognize the enemy, under what circumstances he is to fire or hold his fire, and when and how to take prisoners.

We can find our official rules of engagement in the Scriptures. Jesus, as our perfect example, demonstrated how to engage the enemy when he attacks (Matthew 4:3-11). Jesus did not argue or debate with the devil.

I. Knowing Our EnemyInstead, He drew the sword of the Spirit and quoted the Word of God. Each time He wielded the sword, the enemy retreated and approached on another front. On the third attempt, Jesus quoted, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10).

Jesus successfully resisted the devil’s attack not only by His skillful use of the Word of God, but also because of His level of submission to His Father.

I. Knowing Our Enemy“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Our ability to resist Satan equals the level of our submission to God. Any area we have not submitted to God can become an inroad for the enemy. We must be aware that the devil’s radar has a high sensitivity to rebellion. He is an opportunist. If we refuse to submit to God and we demand our own way, we are an easy prey for the enemy.

A. To Stand and WithstandA. To Stand and Withstand

In the same way God was looking for a man to stand in the gap and make up the hedge in Ezekiel’s day, God needs believers today who will faithfully stand against the deceitful schemes of the devil (Ezekiel 22:30). The will of God for our lives often places us in the path of a direct attack from the enemy. God expects us to take a position for truth and resist the devil. Paul told Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12).

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe believer must come to terms with the fact that living for God is not a weekend recreational sport. We are at war with a formidable foe and our life is a battleground.

The faith once delivered to the saints is worth embracing and defending against every attack of the enemy. “Earnestly contend[ing] for the faith,” as Jude exhorted us, reflects an intense combat, a struggle (Jude 3). Taking a stand for truth is not a one-time event in our lives. We must daily take up our armor and choose to follow Christ.

I. Knowing Our EnemyMany policemen today wear body

armor to protect themselves from the daily danger of a criminal’s attack. Since the armor is uncomfortable, heavy, and somewhat cumbersome, some policemen choose not to wear it, leaving it in their locker or the trunk of the car. Officers have been killed in the line of duty because they did not wear their armor. A believer should never step onto the battlefield without his armor.

B. To PrayB. To Pray

A sword has no power in itself; however, the sword of the Spirit is anointed by the power of the Author. Prayer enables us to bear the weight of the armor and wield the sword and shield skillfully. We cannot fight the battle in our own power, no matter how strong or talented we may think we are. Prayer is the power for victory, but not just any kind of prayer. Paul tells how to pray if we want to defeat Satan.

I. Knowing Our EnemyWe are not always praying, but we

can be in constant communion with God as if there were an open communication line to His throne (I Thessalonians 5:17).

During a hospital visit to a parishioner, a pastor omitted the “amen” at the conclusion of his prayer. The patient chided the pastor for the omission. He responded that “amen” was needed when one ceases to pray, but since he found so many reasons to pray he seldom said “amen.”

I. Knowing Our EnemyWe must “pray always” because we

always are subject to temptations and attacks of the devil. A surprise attack has defeated more than one believer who neglected to “pray without ceasing.”

One could categorize prayer into several types: prayer, supplication, intercession, thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6; I Timothy 2:1). Certainly, we should ask for the provision of our needs and the needs of others in prayer, but not before we give thanks for all God has done.

I. Knowing Our EnemyGiving thanks is a powerful weapon for defeating Satan because through it we lift up the wonderful works and attributes of our God. Praise changes the atmosphere of prayer from petition to power. Interceding for others then becomes a privilege that can bring victory not only to others, but to our own lives as well.

I. Knowing Our EnemyIn the power of the Spirit, we can

pray in the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). It is possible to pray fervently in the flesh and not get through to God. It also is possible to pray quietly in the Spirit and see God do great things.

C. To WatchC. To Watch

Watchfulness means alertness. Jesus warned His disciples to watch and pray to avoid temptation (Matthew 26:41; Luke 21:36). To watch and pray is the secret of victory over the world (Mark 13:33), the flesh (Mark 14:38), and the devil (Ephesians 6:18).

I. Knowing Our EnemyPray and persist in praying.

Perseverance in prayer means our concern is so deep and our burden so heavy we cannot rest until we get an answer. The early church prayed without ceasing when Peter was in prison and, at the last moment, God gave them their answer (Acts 12:1-19). Pray for all the saints. The Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father,” not “My Father.” When we pray, we are part of a worldwide family that also is talking to God, and we ought to pray for the other members of the family.

I. Knowing Our EnemyIt is comforting to know we are not in this war alone. We are connected to each other in the family of Jesus Christ by the same Spirit. The Holy Spirit can move on us to intercede for each other even though we are not connected geographically.

Paul asked for the prayer support of the Ephesian believers. If Paul needed the prayers of the saints, how much more do we? He did not ask them to pray for his comfort or safety, but for the effectiveness of his witness and ministry.

D. To Make No Provision for the Flesh

D. To Make No Provision for the Flesh

There is nothing wrong with the normal appetites of our body when we exercise them in the right ways and to the right degrees. The problem with fleshly desires is that they require control, and every individual exercises whatever measure of control he chooses. For instance, we decide when to log on to the Internet, what sites we visit, and when to log out.

I. Knowing Our EnemyThe Internet is a wonderful tool that we can utilize for much good, but it also opens the door to much temptation and potential evil. Paul warned that we should not make excuses for our fleshly appetites. If we lose control, we cannot blame the devil or our parents or anyone else. Every believer bears responsibility for his personal choices and actions.

E. To Make No Place for the Devil

E. To Make No Place for the Devil

In Ephesians 4:27, Paul warned that anger is dangerous because it can give the devil a stronghold in our lives. Through our flesh the enemy can manipulate any area of our lives we fail to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ.

I. Knowing Our EnemyGod does not want us only to

commit to His will; He wants us to surrender to His will. In making a commitment, we can still retain control. In an unconditional surrender, however, He is the only one who dictates the terms. We need to surrender our all to Jesus Christ.

I. Knowing Our EnemyInternalizing the MessageBy His death, burial, and resurrection,

Jesus Christ overcame the world (John 16:33; Galatians 6:14), the flesh (Romans 6:1-6; Galatians 2:20), and the devil (Ephesians 1:19-23). Because of His victory we do not fight toward the victory, we fight from the victory. His victory makes ours possible.

What Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross for us we could not do for ourselves. Calvary gives us hope in this world for the world to come.

I. Knowing Our EnemyOur faith in Jesus Christ enables us to receive Christ’s victory for ourselves.

The psalms and songs alike often reference the testimony of the righteous. For example, David said, “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings” (Psalm 40:2). One favorite chorus reads, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done for me, my soul cries out hallelujah, praise God for saving me.”

I. Knowing Our EnemyWe have put our faith in Jesus

Christ because of what He has already done for us. Greater yet is our confidence in His abiding work that continues daily in our lives. Without Christ we can accomplish nothing, but with Christ working in us we are transformed from glory to glory (II Corinthians 3:18).