Strength in the Spiritual Conflict Eph 6 10

Strength in the Spiritual Conflict (Eph. 6: 10 -20) Nature of Believers Conflicts “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. ” 1 Cor. 10: 3 -4 Our Conflict is Spiritual not in the Flesh!

In. V 10 WE HAVE A SOURCE OF STRENGTH. . . “be strong IN THE LORD” and “in the power OF HIS MIGHT” • In Christ is STRENGTH and POWER, we have this power because we are joined unto our Lord in one Spirit. “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. ” (1 Cor. 6: 17). • In Luke 10: 17 -19, “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name…”.

HOW DO WE GET SPIRITUAL STRENGTH? In V 11 By putting on “THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD”. . . not part of the armor but the whole armor! • This ARMOR is provided by GOD Himself. Our duty is to put on the WHOLE ARMOR that we are provided. • In Rom. 13: 14, Paul said, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ”

WHAT ARE THESE ARMORS? In verse 14 – 17, these “WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD” INVOLVES… v. TRUTH, which serves as a belt. Jesus Christ is the truth. He holds our life together with a sense of direction and purpose. In John 14: 6, “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth …” The “Truth” also set us free from sin. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. ” John 8: 32

THE TRUTH, AN ARMOR OF GOD! WILL GIVE US A SENSE OF DIRECTION AND PURPOSE, AND SET US FREE!!!

v. RIGHTEOUSNESS, which guards like a breastplate. This is of God and is only achieved in Christ. • “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ” (Rom. 3: 22). • This is through faith, “…the righteous will live by Faith” (Rom. 1: 17).

RIGHTEOUSNESS, AN ARMOR OF GOD! RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD protects us from ACCUSATIONS of Satan!

v. SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, which is our readiness to walk in the gospel of peace. • This is our readiness to walk in the gospel of peace so that we will be ever ready to go forth to preach the gospel. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…. ”Rom 1: 16 -17. • This enables us to walk in the Gospel so that we can take the glad tidings to others – the Bible says “…How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Rom 10: 15.

GOSPLE OF PEACE, THE ARMOR OF GOD! GOD’S POWER UNTO SALVATION! WE ARE THE CARRIES OF GOD’S POWER!

v. FAITH, which is like a shield. As long as the soldier had his shield, he felt secure; and as long as a Christian has faith, he is safe. • “…even OUR FAITH”. 1 John 5: 4. This FAITH is the work of God’s Holy Spirit through the Word of God that is in us. • Rom 10: 17 the Bible says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. • In Heb, 11: 6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God …”.

FAITH, AN ARMOR OF GOD! OUR FAITH IN CHRIST OVERCOMES THE WORLD!

v. SALVATION, which is like a helmet. • In 1 Thes. 5: 8, Paul speaks of the “… “hope of salvation” as our helmet”. The helmet protects the head which is a very vital organ of the human body, just as salvation protects our soul from eternal death.

SALVATION, AN ARMOR OF GOD! PROTECTS OUR SOUL IN BATTLE!

v. THE WORD OF GOD, which is the “sword of the Spirit”. Here is the “offensive” weapon that Christians must use in our conflicts, and it is a powerful one! • In Heb. 4: 12, “…is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, …” • Our Lord uses the Word of God in Matt. 4: 4 “…It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. ”

THE WORD OF GOD, AN ARMOR OF GOD! OUR OFFENSIVE WEAPON TO EXECUTE GOD’S JUDGEMENT!

THE NEED FOR THIS STRENGTH (11 b-13) Ø In verse 11. To be able to STAND against: • the wiles of the Devil…These WILES of Satan comes as cunning arts, deceit, craft, and trickery. The object of these wiles is as: q He blinds people from the Gospel–“…The god of this age has blinded …” 2 Cor 4: 3 -4; Evil doctrines results in “…whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron…” (1 Tim 4: 1 -3). q He entice people to indulge in wrong desires of the flesh and mind - “… followed the ways of this world …” Eph 2: 1 -3. q He brings persecution upon those who try to do right – “Be sober, be vigilant; . …” (1 Pet 5: 8 -9). Matt 5: 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted…

Ø In verse 12, to wrestle against “SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS”. . . • Daniel 10: 13, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: …” • Acts 10: 38, “… and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. ” • In Revelations 16: 14, it is stated that “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles…”

Ø In verse 13, to be able to stand in the “EVIL DAY”… This DAY is not any “specific day” about to come. It’s a just a normal day that has been planned by the devil and has great design to it for our defeat. • KING UZZIAH: He was a good and a godly king. Until one day pride arose…(II Chron 26). – “Keep your heart …”. (Proverbs 4: 23) • KING DAVID: when all kings goes forth to battle… (2 Sam. 11). – “A man without …” (Proverbs 25: 28) • ANANIAS and SAPPHIRA: Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, … (Acts 5) - “. . devil is the father of liars”. (John 8: 44)

HOW TO ACHIEVE IT? (In V 18 -20) PRAYER, the means by which we can remain “watchful”. (Matt 26: 41). For our “watchful prayer” to be effective, it should be : . . . ü “For all saints to perseverance” - as Jesus taught us in His parable of the persistent widow – Luke 18: 1 -8. ü “For all saints supplication” - needs, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ…as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers”. Gal. 6: 2 -10. ü “For all Servants of God” - even as Paul asked the Ephesians to pray for him. Eph 6: 19 -20.

CONCLUSION • • David said, in Psalm 55: 16 -17: …for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Let us come to Lord in Prayer: Prayer for all saints to have the attitude of perseverance in all that they are faced and going through because of their Faith in Christ. Prayer for all saints’ supplication–their Spiritual, Physical and Social needs that will enable them to stand for Christ. Prayer for all Leaders, Missionaries and all people sent by God into this world particularly Asia here. Final, Jesus said in John 19: 30 “…it is finished…. ” Let us thank God for the completed work of our salvation, our victory over all conflicts in relationships.