Bible Study - Why Church (6) - We Stand Together in Spiritual Battle - Ephesians 6:10-20 - August 30, 2020

 

Bible Study – Why Church (6) – We Stand Together in Spiritual Battle – August 30, 2020

This is lesson sixth (6) and final lesson in our series entitled “Why Do I Need the Church?”

Our focus scripture is Ephesians 6:10-20.

We stand strong with GOD’S armor and the support of others.

In this day of electronics and modern technology, it is hard for many people to think or consider that the world is in a spiritual battle. Surely modern people do not think medieval? That is exactly what Satan wants us to think.

Where do you think the COVID-19 virus came from? What has this virus done? Our schools, work, churches, social life, relationships, commerce have all been impacted. Christians must pray that GOD will annihilate it and HE is annihilating it and will. In times like these to whom do we turn? We as Christians are to pray and seek our LORD.

There is another evil lurking and that is out for the soul of America and that is our upcoming Presidential election. America has piled up enormous debt and who is best to deal with getting America up and running? Not voting is the worst thing one can do. Each person of age has one vote, cast it wisely.

What is the goal of Satan? It is to deceive and to destroy. His goal is to be GOD. What put Satan into his place in the universal/heavenly system? JESUS/GOD came to earth in the flesh, tempted as all are tempted, yet without sin. JESUS willing gave HIS sinless life by the shedding of HIS blood to pay in full for sin and its consequence which is eternal death. JESUS died upon the cross. HE was physically dead but on the third day, GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to be eternally alive. JESUS did that just for you, personally. If you had been the only person upon earth to accept JESUS as your Savior, HE would have died just for you. That is personal. That is how much HE loves you. Accept JESUS as your Savior now by asking JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life. If you did that, the Holy Spirit came into your life confirming that you are now a Child of GOD. You are HIS Son or Daughter and have eternal life and will live with HIM in Heaven when you leave your earth-suit in what we call death. But as a Christian you will never experience the death of your physical body. The Bible tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD.

Pray as you read the scripture for our today’s lesson. As a Christian, ask our LORD to reveal truth to you as you read and study. The future of America for you and your children rests in you. May the veil or blinders Satan places over our minds and Spiritual eyes be lifted and may each of us see clearly because the days are evil. Let’s explore our scripture!

First, what do we know about Satan? He was created by GOD. He was made beautiful. He is a deceiver at war with GOD for the souls of people, is like a hungry (roaring) lion roaming earth seeking whom he can devour and the list goes on.

In Ephesians chapter 6, the Apostle Paul was writing to the Christians in Ephesus to give them a head’s up how they should prepare each day to fight Satan and his onslaughts.

In the first nine verses of Ephesians 6, Paul addressed human relationships. In our focus scripture, verses 10-20, he addressed the human battle with the spirit world. Do not let Satan dupe you into thinking that Satan or the spirit world does not exist. JESUS spoke of the spirit world and Satan. We know from scripture that Satan confronted JESUS directly.

Satan has an army of spirit forces to do his havoc in human lives upon earth. Christians must keep in their minds 1 John 4:4: ⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you (JESUS) is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan). The shed blood of JESUS protects Spirit-born Christians. If you encounter what you think is an evil spirit, rebuke it in the name of JESUS and claim the blood of JESUS. The power is in the blood of JESUS.

In Acts 15:13-16, we read an interesting account:

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Let’s read Ephesians 6:10-13:

Christian Warfare

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. ¹³ For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 

The Apostle Paul was ending his letter to the Christians then and Christians everywhere. In essence, Paul was saying: “Finally, I have saved the best to last. You Christians know that when you place your faith in JESUS, you are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family. HIS power is your power, you are infused with HIS power. You are under HIS protection, therefore live/walk knowing when you start each day you must put on your fighting clothes because you will encounter spirit forces.

You know I have told you about taking off your old clothes and putting on your new clothes. Now, I want you to know that since you know the truth and you are the salt and light, you must suit up with fighting clothes and equipment. Why? It is because you have become a target of the spirit world. I want you to know about the spirit world that you will encounter as you do life upon earth. The spirit world will attempt to entrap and ensnare you but greater is GOD WHO is in you than Satan or any of his forces you may encounter. You must not be distracted and look or dwell upon their distractions because you will encounter forces that you cannot see because they are Spiritually discerned.”

Who are these spirit forces? The Apostle reveals them. They are:

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 

Do you recall 1 Corinthians 2:8 - ⁸ None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

GOD is in control and keeps some things a mystery until it or they are fulfilled.

Paul makes it clear our battle is “NOT against flesh and blood.”

Our battle is against the hierarchy in the spirit world e.g. rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 

Who is our strength in this spirit battle? It is GOD. What is our connection to GOD? It is our faith in JESUS. Therefore, as a Spirit born (Christian) you are GOD’S Child and under HIS protection. Sin can remove you from HIS canopy of protection. Unconfessed sin becomes a shackle that binds you as you live/walk through life.

When you sin, do you lose your salvation? NO! Once you become GOD’S Child, you are always GOD’S Child. So, what does sin do? It can open you up to attacks from the spirit world and all sorts of evil can influence our lives. It can compromise our witness and rob us of the rewards GOD desires for us. 

But as HIS Child you can always call out to HIM and ask for HIS protection. Whatever circumstance you may be in, GOD is right there with you. HE never leaves or forsakes you as HIS Child or potential Child. But as GOD’S Child, through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth, you are a target of Satan. Satan does all he can to keep you from becoming a Christian. When you become a Christian, then Satan will do all he can to defeat you. That is why all Christians must put on their Spiritual warfare battle dress every day. So, what are Christians to put on?

¹³ For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 

Christians must put on their full armor that GOD provides. We are to not leave off anything because one little omission can result in us being vulnerable. Paul’s list of fighting equipment is in our next scripture -----

Let’s read Ephesians 6:14-17:

¹⁴ Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, ¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. 

Truth is vital – confess any and all sin. Ask GOD to have the Holy Spirit search your heart to reveal any sin that you have not confessed. Truth is essential. Truth is the belt that goes around your waist to hold implements needed for battle.

Righteousness – comes from knowing JESUS is in you and you are in JESUS. (2 Corinthians 5:21) GOD made you righteous when you placed your faith in JESUS. Righteousness is vital because it covers your heart and vital organs. It is like armor on your chest. Why chest? It is because GOD expects you to advance forward.

Your feet are important. I understand that the footwear of the Roman soldier had nails in the sole of the sandal to give them grip. The nails were slanted to grip in the forward direction. The Roman soldier was trained to advance and not retreat. That is the idea Paul was telling Christians. We are to stand firm and march forward because GOD is our Commander in Chief. We must keep in mind, “we do not fight against flesh and blood but the spirit world.”

¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

The Roman soldier had two shields. A small shield he could use to ward off the flaming arrows the enemy was shooting toward him. He had a larger shield which was large enough to shield his body. These shields were covered with leather to prevent their wooden shields from burning. For shields to be effective you have to be alert and watch for flaming arrows.

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. 

The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit/The Word of GOD is vital. Satan and his minions try to confuse people by tricking them to follow strange teachings. Truth is truth and is always truth. Truth was truth when it was written and is truth today. Know the truth of GOD’S Word and its application as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Do we go into battle alone? NO! That is why the church is vital when we are facing spiritual battles. Fellow Christians come together and pray, minister and support each other. If one becomes a target, all respond. Paul gives us an idea how we can respond as we read on -----

Let’s read Ephesians 6:18-20:

¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰ For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Prayer is an essential part of the church. Christians are to stay alert to the needs of the church and its members. The church and its members are a target of Satan. All who have a leading role in church also have a target on their backs. We must pray for one another. We must pray for each other that we will have the boldness to tell others about JESUS and the mystery surrounding HIS life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension and return to earth.

We are all ambassadors for JESUS/GOD. Is this a self-appointed position? NO!

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 5:20:

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

We who know the truth must share the truth as GOD provides the opportunity. All Christians are in a battle, not with flesh and blood but the spirit world.

Christians stand firm because GOD’S power is in us and flows through us.

Blessings!!!