August 11, 2024|United in His Strength|Ephesians 6
Will Davis
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This morning, we will be wrapping up our series in the book of Ephesians by looking at Chapter 6. Paul starts his closing message with Finally, but Paul doesn’t say this to move on to a last thought or teaching that is divorced from the rest of the letter. Rather like a commander about to send their soldiers into battle, Paul is closing his letter in that same way. Giving his final commands and encouragement as Christians to be United in Christ’s strength. Instructing the believer on how to dress for battle as to be able to stand strong and united as one body, one Church. See, Paul has spent the last 5 chapters telling the church who they are in Christ and how God made it possible to be united only through Christ. That apart from Christ we have no hope of salvation, no hope of grace, no hope of His power, no hope in a united purpose, no hope through His love, and now without putting on Christ we have no hope to stand in His strength. Paul’s whole argument or teaching has been that all of this unity is only made possible through Christ.
Looking back at Chapter 1 VS 3 it is God that blesses us in who, meaning a person, that person being Jesus, not our hard work, good deeds, keeping the law, or any other action we might take. That only through Christ may we not only be united with one another, but more importantly united with God. And not just united, but united as sons and daughters of God by the process of adoption through Jesus, and before we could ever think of this as a work we could ever do or something we could choose, Paul tells us clearly and in no uncertain terms he tells us that it is God that chose us from before the foundation of the world. Before there was ever a single “free will” God had already made a way for and chose His sons and daughters to be united to Him though Christ.
In Chapter 2 Paul clearly tells us that we are dead in our trespasses and sins. We are not in the process of dying or as the common illustration that is often used of us drowning in a vast ocean and Jesus is the lifeline we need. Without apology I fully reject that analogy. Paul makes it crystal clear that we are dead, without life, not drowning in a vast ocean, but crushed at the bottom of that same ocean. To think we are only in the process of drowning and all we need to do is reach out and grab this life line called Jesus gives the picture that we have some important role to play in our salvation. Church, as Voddie Baucham says "the only thing we bring to our salvation is the sin that needs to be forgiven". The only work done in our salvation is the work done by God. In our former condition of being dead in our sins, we willingly and happily followed after the Prince of the power of the Air, that same enemy that Paul is going to teach us how to withstand in Chapter 6. Understanding our standing as dead men and women helps make clear the beauty of VS 4 but God and not just but God, but moreover God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were what? dying, drowning? No even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved. See, before the foundation of the world God has chosen His sons and daughter to be united with Him in Grace. And it is only by His grace may we be saved through faith, so no man may boast in any work or free will. Paul makes it clear that dead men choose nothing but death, but God through His mercy and grace makes us alive through Christ.
Not only does He unite us by grace He also unites us through His power in Chapter 3. Power, that is yet another free gift of God that Paul says even though he is the least of all the saints, he is able to preach to the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and that it is Christs’ power that strengthens us in our inner man. That this strengthening would allow us to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
Paul also makes clear that we are united in our Purpose in chapter 4. That we are to be one body united in our purpose to be Christ-like. And not only Christ like, but that the whole body would be well equipped with each part working properly in order that our body might grow so that it builds itself up in love. Only united in the Purpose of being one body may we not be tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Paul makes it clear here that we are united in our purpose to be one body, but later in a moment when we dive deeper into chapter 6 we will see how we are to put on Christ in order to be the healthy untied body we are called to be.
In Chapter 5 we looked at the importance of being United in Love. That we are to be imitators of God, as His beloved children that He chose and adopted through Christ from before the foundation of the world. Then to walk in that love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. This love is not a superficial love that expects and demands the same in return, but rather a sacrificial love. Christ laid down His life for us while we were yet sinners. This love is marked by the absence of the desires to please the flesh. Only in the love of Christ and being imitators of Him may we learn to walk in this love and carry this sacrificial love towards one another in all our earthly relationships.
As we have gone through Ephesians first seeing the unity of our salvation through Christ then the unity of our sanctification through being made a new creation in Christ.
But Paul is not finished yet. He confronts those that are in Christ with the inescapable reality that we are going to be engaged by a hostile enemy bent on waging war against us. Paul is not dealing here with our internal struggle with sin. Paul deals with our internal sin in Romans 7 and sums it up like this, “wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Rather Paul is making it clear that we have a very real and external enemy in Satan. And so Paul is wrapping up this letter with a clear call to be strong in the Lord and to stand firm in Him. Paul has laid out the battle plan for us in the first 5 chapters and now Finally here he is going to leave us with 3 important commands in order that we might be able to stand firm against our enemy.
This closing here reminds me of when I was a young private in Iraq ready to go on our first big mission to retake a town that was allowing the enemy to move weapons freely into the country. Our battalion commander stood up on the hood of a humvee and delivered his final commands and encouragement before we stepped off to face the enemy. Paul in that same way here is preparing the church to face a very real and ever present enemy. An enemy that he has already told us in Chapter 4 and again here VS 11 has many schemes and is full of cunning. And so to fight this fight on this external front Paul gives us 3 imperatives or commands that Christians must follow in order to wage this war. The first command that we are going to look at is the command to Be Strong In the Lord.
BE STRONG IN THE LORD
VS 10 “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
So, what does this mean to be strong in the Lord? 1st we must recognize that we do not have any strength in ourselves. That our strength is not our own in the same way we do not have the strength to choose God. That we had no strength to make ourselves free from the nature of being children of wrath. That only through His great mercy and love were we made alive in Christ. So, if we had no strength or ability to save ourselves why would we ever think that we could be strong enough in our own strength to resist the devil? Paul has clearly made the point that the salvation we have, and even the ongoing work of sanctification has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Christ’s redeeming work on the cross. Through this lens we can see that this is the only way Paul was able to endure all the trials he faced for the sake of the Gospel was due to Christ who strengthened him, Phil 4:13. The verse before 4:12 Paul tells us that this is the secret he has learned no matter what situation he finds himself in. He could not only be strong, he could abound whether he was brought low, he was hungry, or he had plenty; it was all and only through Christ’s strength that he was able to do all things. This is a strength that is external to him.
This strength that Paul is telling us to stand in is the same power God uses back in Chapter 1 VS 19. The same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at God’s right hand in the heavenly places. That this is the power or strength that has already and ultimately defeated our enemy at the cross. That though our enemy may come against us he has already been defeated by Christ, but understand that our duty of unity is complicated and assailed by the presence of hostile spiritual forces. To understand the importance of being strong in the Lord we must know who our enemy is. Paul plainly shows us that this enemy is not our own inward corrupted flesh on this battlefront, but rather Satan and his agents. VS 12 for 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 in the heavenly places.
I know here in America this is something that we don’t talk about a lot or really even acknowledge as an ever-present reality. Pastor John McAuther puts it like this, “Internally the flesh is where the struggle lies; externally it’s the devil, the devil, and he has schemes, and he is aided by “rulers” and “powers” and “world forces” and “spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” That just means in the spiritual realm. “Heavenly places” is mentioned at least three times in Ephesians. The first time, it says that we have received “all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.” That is to say, all spiritual blessings in the spiritual realm. The spiritual realm has holy angels, and it has heavenly blessings, but the spiritual realm also has unholy demons and unholy assaults. So, we are the most blessed and the most attacked.”
As a quick side note church as I feel most of you know this, but I feel I must say it. If you are a born-again believer neither Satan nor his demons can possess you. Yes, Satan is the ruler of the Earth, this is why he tried to tempt Jesus with all the kingdoms of the Earth. God in His sovereignty has allowed Satan to rule over all the Kingdoms of the Earth. So, for a point of reference to who is ruling over America regardless of political party the answer is the devil. Remember He is cunning and clever to work through men who are still following after the prince of the power of the air. But take heart, child of God. 1 John 3:10 tells us there are only 2 types of people in this world “the children of God and the children of the devil.” And as children of God, we have overcome these hostile spirits and their assaults that deny Jesus. We have overcome the devil because “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” Absolutely nowhere in scripture do we ever see any follower of Jesus needing to be delivered from a demon, why? Because greater is He, (the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,) who is in you and I than he,(Satan and his demons) who is in the world. Just to drive this point home 1 John 5:4 says “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” What an amazing yet simple truth that those who believe in the Son of God overcome the world, we have overcome the evil one through our faith in Jesus.
So, getting back in the text, how do we resist or stand strong in the Lord? That's what we are called to do right, to stand strong right? Or as we will see later to stand firm. Even though we are called to put on the armor of God we are not called to chase after and cast out demons. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you are not an apostle and are not called to go around casting them out. This is not a gift that we have been given as the office of apostle no longer is in existence. We must be careful to not become haughty or arrogant of our own strength like the Sons of Sceva in the books of Acts. Remember the story where they were trying to cast out demons from someone when the demons shouted back to them and said, “Jesus we know, and Paul we know, but who are you fools?” Fools is what my amplified version says. We must understand that it’s a wonderful reality to know that we have overcome Satan and the world. That he no longer holds sway over us, he no longer has dominion over us, but this fact does not stop his influence from coming at you in the form of the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life.
This then leads to the question “how do I, or how can I protect myself?” This brings us to our next command that Paul gives us to take up the whole armor of God.
TAKE UP THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD
VS 13-17 13Therefore 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. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
So, this is a very challenging battle isn’t it; we all understand that. Paul doesn’t promise us that it will be easy, but what he does is lay out the plan for victory here. 1st we know we find our strength in the Lord, but there’s something more to his command than that. We have to take up the armor of God as well. Not only do we have to find our strength in Him but look at verse 11: “Put on the whole armor of God,” because we are not going to be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil unless we have the armor of God. Also, the verb here “put on”, is a verb that means “put on, and leave on.” This is a permanent statement “to put on and keep it on. Put it on once and never take it off.” This armor is not like a jersey or a uniform that you put on and take off like you're playing for a team.
Sadly, many in the church today think this is only the uniform they need to put on for an hour or two on Sunday morning then they can take it off and blend right back in with the world.
This is the byproduct of cheap grace, but the truth that Paul is telling the church is that this war never ends, there are no breaks, no timeouts, no resets, there is absolutely no leave. To be in Christ and to put on His armor is not something you can slip in and out of when it is convenient for you.
There is no such thing as a part time Christian, you are either all in or all the way out.
Paul wrote this letter probably with Roman soldiers all around him, and he would look at the equipment of a Roman soldier and see how that could be awesome imagery for understanding what it is to have God’s armor so that we can resist. Remember Paul is writing this letter while he is a prisoner in Rome. He quite possibly had a Roman soldier in view as he wrote this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As a soldier, this illustration that Paul uses makes a lot of sense to me. Getting dressed for battle was a big part of my life for a long time, and I can still feel the weight of the body armor on my shoulders even now. I look back at my time as a squad leader checking my soldiers to make sure that they all had the gear on. And as we have talked about the last couple of weeks about being united in purpose and how the body can not function properly if one part is not working correctly. In that same way my squad could not function properly if some of the soldiers were not in the right armor. This is true even more so for Roman soldiers whose armor and shields not only protected themselves, but the man next to them as well. They also fought in large formations and any one weakness in their lines would cause the whole Army to fall or be thrown into disarray. While I know that Paul is instructing the individual Christian to put on their armor, this command has been given to all of us who are in Christ.
Let's bring this home and make it real for us who gather here at EBC in the name of Jesus. We know that our enemy is Satan and we know that he is pictured as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour 1 Peter 5:8 tells us. We know that our enemy is cunning and always scheming against the church which is why we must be united in His Strength by all of us putting on and keeping on the whole armor of God. Think how many churches have been devoured by our advisory because the church wasn’t united as one body dressed in the same armor. What does that look like in a church? It looks like someone or a group not abiding in His truth, not putting on His righteousness, not standing in His gospel of truth, not picking up His shield of faith, casting aside His salvation, and leaving behind His sword of truth. It looks like whole denominations bending to the will of our evil culture. Choosing feelings based doctrine over the truth of scripture. It looks like churches kicking bibles into the congregation and preaching through Disney movies instead of the bible. In other words failing to put on Christ and stand in His strength, but rather stand in our strength only to be devoured. You see that this armor is not physical armor to put on and fight a physical enemy, but rather it is putting on the spiritual armor that is Christ. Not only do we need His strength, but we also need His armor.
We are united not only by His strength, but also in the armor we wear as one body. Standing together to further our mission of making disciples, but this mission becomes almost impossible if members of the body put on their own armor and give our enemy a serious foothold to cause great disunity in the church.
So, our church would always have to stay internally focused on fixing the body, paralyzed unable to look outside of itself and reach those around us, much less the world for Christ.
This is why it is so important for every member of the body to put on not just parts of the armor, but the whole armor of God. So that we may stand firm and united against the attacks of the enemy able to be about the mission our Captain, our Commander, our Lord Jesus Christ has set before us. To go into all the nations making disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:19) But that's not Jesus’ complete mission statement for His disciples, is it? Look what He says in VS 29 teaching them (who is them, any born again believer) to observe (what only a few things He commanded, no) ALL that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always (not just sometimes or when 2 or more are gathered), to the end of the age (what age? The church age that we are still currently in). So, this mission from our Captain is still in effect and through the apostle Paul, He has given us a practical way to see how He is with us always until the end of this age. As we stand in His strength, and His armor we can not only stand, but stand firm against our enemy because He is always with us. Making it possible for us to not only stand firm individually, but to stand firm, corporately united in one accord, able to fight the good fight not because we have the ability to do it on our own, but because He is always with us. Jesus is our strength, Jesus is our armor that we must put on, this is not an option for the believer but a command we must obey in the spirit of unity and purity.
In this list of armor, we are only given one offensive weapon, the sword of the spirit. Paul clearly could have included the Roman soldier’s most powerful and effective offensive weapon the spear but chose not to. Instead choosing the Roman short sword which was only 8 to 18 inches long. A weapon designed for close in hand-to-hand fighting. Used to ward off the enemy as Christ did when He was tempted by the very same advisory. This picture helps us understand we are not to go out focused on engaging in spiritual warfare against our enemy. Foolishly thinking we are called to run around casting out demons and other such things. Paul makes it clear that our weapon is a defensive one used to repel the enemy not in our authority, but in the authority and truth of scripture. The only other offensive weapon we really have here is prayer. This leads us to our last command which is to pray at all times.
PRAY AT ALL TIMES
VS 18-20 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Paul ends his battle speech with a final call to prayer. This is not a haphazard call to random prayers for people to be healed from ailments or sickness, not that it is wrong to do so, but this is as the reformation study bible puts it is a “militant” call to prayer. The idea that we are to keep alert for the schemes of the enemy by being in prayer not just for ourselves but for all the saints. Not just praying boldly in the Spirit, but also in supplication or in petition for all the saints. Prayer for the Christian is not to be the last resort, but an ongoing means to remain in the strength of the Lord. Praying diligently and purposefully for the body that we may be united to proclaim the mystery of the gospel in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. Remember Paul is in the midst of imprisonment in Rome and he asks for prayers not for freedom, comfort, health, prosperity, rather that he would through the strength of the Lord be able to open his mouth boldly for the gospel. This is the heart of doing all things through Christ who strengthens us. That even while in chains Paul’s main thought is only to be able to declare the gospel in strength of the Lord and not in the weakness of his flesh. Paul is completely dependent on prayer. This is made clear by the fact that in chapter 1:15-23 that Paul does not cease to pray for the church. What is he praying for them? That they would be made rich, that their numbers would grow, that all their earthly problems would go away? Of course not! He prays that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in knowledge of Him. Why? So that our hearts would be enlightened to know what is the true hope to which God has called us. To know the glorious inheritance we have through Christ. That we might know the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might.
Paul clearly demonstrates that prayer must be ever present in the life of the believer, and ever so present in the life of the church. Praying in boldness but also in humility for one another that Christ would not just be made known to His people, but the immeasurable greatness of His power He gives to His church that we might be able to keet alert, to be aware of the attacks of the enemy. That we would be able to stand firm in His strength. That we would be able to put on His armor to withstand the schemes of the evil one and persevere in unity toward the great mission that He has given His church.
So, what does this mean for the church? It means that we are all called to pray at all times for one another and that if the apostle Paul sought and needed the prayers of the church so does the pastor and every member here. That there is no one in the Church that is beyond the point of ever needing prayer. Pray that each and every member would stand firm in Christ’s strength, pray that we would all put on the whole armor of God, and pray that we would be a church that seeks the Lord in prayer always. Pray not just for our church, but for all the saints and all who labor in the name of the Lord that they would all stand firm in the strength of the Lord and know the immeasurable greatness of His power towards all who believe.
I would like to close today very simply by calling you to pray, either right where you are or upfront is open if you would like to come. I would ask that you would in boldness of the Spirit pray with all supplication for our church. That we would reflect on our time in Ephesians pray for the unity of our salvation through Christ, and then the unity of our ongoing sanctification of all the saints here. Pray that we would be a people that stand firm in His Strength, put on His armor, and seek Him always in prayer.
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