Stand in victory…  (3 things)

• 1^st – A final word: Be strong in the Lord… vs. 10-13 (3 things)
  • 1^st – The final thing Paul wanted to give to the saints – the strength to stand… vs. 10
    • All of us want to be strong – to have a solid foundation in life to stand on…
    • People try all kinds of things – money / work / relationships…
    • But strength does not come from us – it comes from the Lord…
    • II Corinthians 12:9-10 – “My grace is sufficient… My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
    • In truth we are weak – but it is in our weakness we find true strength…
    • When we realize we are weak we learn to depend on God’s strength…
    • Only in Jesus are we truly strong – only then do we have the ability to stand for Jesus!
  • 2^nd – We need to be strong – because we are in a battle… vs. 11-12
    • Paul commands us to put on our armor – because we are heading out to war…
      • And we need to be protected against all the tricks and strategies of the devil…
        • Satan is a devious foe – and we need to be ready for the fight…
        • Satan has put a lot of arguments in the world to keep people from seeing Jesus…
        • Countless false religions – Islam / Hinduism / Buddhism…
        • Everyone of them with only one purpose – meant to keep men from heaven!
      • We are in a battle for the hearts of minds of those who do not know Jesus!
        • Those who are blinded by satan to the message of the Gospel – II Corinthians 4:4
        • Not a battle we fight with sticks and swords – we fight with prayer and God’s Word!
        • II Corinthians 10:4-5 – “We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds.  With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.”

• People are burdened down by superstitions – things they imagine in their mind…
• And they are bound to these fears – so long as satan can keep them from the Word! 
• It is through the power of the Word – we can change the mind of the misled…
• We can open their eyes – show them they have been deceived by satan’s lies!
• One of the ways satan attacks – is by using people against us…
  • Our battle is against ‘spiritual powers’ – we are going to war against spiritual darkness!
  • Paul knew who his enemy really was – and it was not those who did not know Jesus…
  • They were just the puppets being controlled by a far more devious foe…
  • The real enemy was the spiritual powers – the demonic influence behind the teachers…
  • So often in life we miss who the real enemy is – we look at the people…
  • They are puppets – they are being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
  • The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
• 3^rd – Stand firm – having done all – STAND… vs. 13
  • Our goal – after everything satan throws as us – is to still be standing…
  • Job was a righteous man – but satan took everything he had – wealth / family / heath…
  • It would have been easy to give up – just to curse God and walk away…
  • But instead Job worshiped the Lord – in all he did he did not sin – Job 2:10
  • So to help us stand – God gives us armor to prepare us for the battle ahead!
    

Grace to all those who2 follow Jesus Christ with an undying love – Amen!

2^nd – Stand in the armor of God… vs. 14-18 (3 things)

1^st – Paul understood the Armor of a Roman soldier – he was chained to one for 3 years…

Acts 28:30 – Paul appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome…

There he waited two years to stand trial – living under house arrest…

He was chained to two Roman guards – one on his left and one on his right…

He saw their armor / their weapons – and learned about their training for battle…

We need to be a good soldier for Christ – we need to be prepared…

Timothy 2:4 – “As Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you ca not satisfy the one who has enlisted you…”

Do not get caught up in the affairs of this life – the cares of this world… 

Do not get caught up in foolish momentary sins – that blind you to seeing Jesus…

Instead put on the Armor of light…

Romans 13:12-14 – “Put on the armor of light… and make no provision for the flesh…”

The way we overcome our enemy – the way we walk in the light so we can see…

Is by putting on Jesus Christ – walking in the Spirit of God…

Then Jesus changes our desires so we do not want to do the things that are wrong…

Instead we will want to do those things that please the Lord!

2^nd – The Defensive Armor of God… vs. 14-17

Put on the belt of truth…

The ‘belt’ in Roman armor was used to hold everything together…

It held up your pants / and it was used to hold onto your sword…

Without the belt – chances are you would head into battle with your ‘pants down’

Truth is what holds everything together in the Christian walk…

The truth is that we are here to make one simple choice – where we spend eternity…

The truth is Jesus – John 14:6 – without Him at the center life just seems to fall apart!

Take up the breastplate of righteousness…

The ‘breastplate’ in Roman armor went from the neck to the waist…

It was used to protect all the vital organs of the body – especially the heart…

Without the breastplate – chances were you would not last long in the battle…

The righteousness of Christ in us – is what protects us from attack…

The Devil loves to make accusation against us – that is what his name means…

Fill our mind with doubt and fear – who are we to serve God / follow Jesus…

Unfortunately many of his accusation are true – we are no good sinners…

But we do not stand on our righteousness – we stand on the righteousness of Christ!

Satan has nothing he can throw at us – because it is God who has forgiven us!

Put on the shoes of the Gospel of Peace…

The ‘shoes’ in Roman armor were important – they let you walk over rough roads…

A barefoot soldier is not going to be of much use in the battle…

A soldier who did not have his shoes on – was not planning on going into the battle!

God has called us to be prepared – to share the Gospel of peace…

We need to ‘put on’ our shoes and get walking – Romans 10:13-15…

The message of salvation is simple / powerful – but people still need to hear it…

How can someone believe in Jesus – unless they hear about Him…

How can someone hear about Jesus – unless someone goes and tells them…

How can someone tell them – unless they are willing to step out and go…

Blessed are the feet who bring the message of salvation – Isaiah 52:7

Above all take up the shield of faith…

The ‘shield’ in Roman Armor was the most valuable defensive weapon…

In those days one of the greatest dangers was from unseen attacks…

Arrows – often lit on fire for added damage – flying in from far away…

Without a shield for protection the solider would be defenseless

Satan likes to take his shots / fiery arrows – at us whenever he can…

We almost never see them coming – they are sudden and deadly…

Our only protection against them – is our faith in God…

When the sickness strikes / when the money is not enough / the betrayal of a friend…

It is in those moments when we ‘do not understand’ we fall back on ‘faith’…

Satan has no weapon that can penetrate unwavering faith in the goodness of our God!

The helmet of salvation…

The ‘helmet’ in Roman armor served to protect the head of the soldier…

Our ‘helmet’ is our salvation – it keeps satan from messing with our minds…

Those thoughts that slip through our mind – thoughts we would be ashamed to reveal…

Those are the glancing blows of satan – trying to get into our head…

But the thoughts are not sin – so long as we do not dwell on / entertain those thoughts…

Instead we run to Jesus – our salvation – and ask him to kick those thoughts out!

3^rd – The Offensive Weapons of God… vs. 17-18

It is not enough to be well defended – we need weapons to attack…

If a soldier came at your with a helmet / shoes / shield – but no weapon…

You would not be very afraid of him – but if he came at you with a sword…

The sword of the Spirit – which is the Word of God…

The Holy Spirit helps us understand the Word – so we can use it in battle…

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness three times by satan – Luke 4:1-14…

Every time Jesus defeated satan by quoting form the Word of God!

The key to standing against satan is understanding and using the Word of God

Satan is powerless when we come against him with God’s Word…

It is as we are in the Word (and the Word in us) that we stand against our enemy!

Praying always – in the power of the Spirit…

You can have all the right armor / weapons…

But it will do you do no good if you do not know how / when to use them…

We need to be in constant communication with ‘headquarters’ – talking to God…

Only then are we going to be effective as soldiers – able to stand!

We do not tend to think of prayer as a weapon – but it is a formidable one…

Satan does not want us to be talking with God – he knows that is our strength…

So if every time satan shoots an ‘fiery arrow at you’ – you pray for someone…

He is not going to quickly realize it is best not to shoot any arrows at you!

You essentially slap satan in the face with prayer every time he comes at you!

3^rd – Conclusion of the letter… vs. 19-24 (2 things)

1^st – Paul asked the saints to pray for him… vs. 19-20

Pray that Paul would be willing to open his mouth and share the good news…

And that God would give him the right words to say – so many would believe!

Like Paul – so often we are nervous about sharing our faith with others…

We think we need to have all the answers to all the questions…

It is God who speaks through us the words that are needed…

All we need to do is be willing to open our mouths – share Jesus!

Paul was an ambassador for the Gospel – a representative of God to the world…

Yet the world rejected him – the Romans threw God’s ambassador into prison…

But Paul did not want the Ephesians to pray for his release…

Instead pray he would continue to speak boldly in spite of his chains!

We are Christ’s ambassadors – His representative to a lost world…

We go out pleading with the world on Jesus’ behalf – but will likely be rejected!

The reality is not everyone who hears the Gospel – will believe…

If fact most likely only a small portion of those who hear will believe…

When we share the Gospel with others – they may reject / mock / ridicule us…

But consider the alternative – Hell is the VERY real consequence to rejecting God!

We need to pray for boldness – pray that nothing keeps our mouth shut!

2^nd – Paul would send the letter with Tychicus… vs. 21-24

The church was concerned about Paul – stuck in prison…

Tychicus was a loved friend – and trusted servant of the Lord…

He would update the church in Ephesus concerning the Apostle Paul…

Tychicus was of the province of Asia – where Ephesus was the capital – Acts 20:4

He would also carried the letter to the Colossians – Colossians 4:7

He may also have delivered the second epistle to Timothy – II Timothy 4:12

Paul closes this beautiful letter with a blessing to all the saints in the church…

Peace to all the brothers – and Love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus…