[0:01] Well let's turn to the passage we read in Ephesians and just very briefly this evening we'll look at some verses from verse 10. Ephesians chapter 6 and at verse 10 Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
[0:18] Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness.
[0:33] Against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand firm.
[0:47] The apostle as you well know gives this extended treatment of how we are to be armoured as Christians.
[1:00] And it's in this passage particularly out of all his epistles that he gives us so much detail about the need to be armoured. And the kind of armour that God himself has provided for us.
[1:12] Just three things briefly from the first few verses of the passage here tonight. The ones we've just read out. We deal first of all with a directive from God.
[1:26] Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. That's God's directive to us as to what we must be and seek to set out to be.
[1:37] To be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. And then secondly you have God's provision. God's provision to enable us to meet that directive that he sets out there in verse 10.
[1:50] And the provision is the armour of God. Which is then specified in the verses down there from verse 14. Especially the parts of the armour that he mentions.
[2:02] We're not going to go into that just now. But the armour is God's provision to actually meet the directive that he gives us. To be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
[2:16] And then thirdly God also gives us the reason why we need this armour and actually need his strength. And that's in verse 12 especially.
[2:29] 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.
[2:42] A directive. A provision to meet it. And a reason why we need it. All in these verses. Look at the directive first of all that God sends to us.
[2:52] Finally my brethren. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Now we need always to be strong in the Lord and to be strengthened spiritually.
[3:05] But the apostle and other parts of the Bible tells us that we need specifically at times when we are engaged most meaningfully.
[3:16] In the work of the Lord and the work of the gospel. To be aware then of our need of particular armour wearing. In other words. While we need the strength of the Lord all the time.
[3:29] It is undoubtedly the case that the devil which is the main enemy specified in these verses. The devil is stirred into action even more vehemently than at other times.
[3:43] When he sees God's people coming to engage in work for the gospel that directly assaults the grip that Satan has on people's lives.
[3:55] Now that's something that the Bible shows very clearly. It's not something that we make up. It's something that for example some time ago we looked at the book of Nehemiah.
[4:07] And we saw how the different stages in the work that Nehemiah set out to do. That at the early stages and more than one stage. He was actually faced with opposition that was obviously stirred up by hatred for the work they were doing.
[4:24] Hatred for their God. Hatred for their religion. Hatred for the building work that they were beginning again at Jerusalem. Every time you and I begin a new building work.
[4:35] Begin to add to the building work already done. You have to be watchful particularly at those times for the schemes of the devil. Because as he is stirred into action.
[4:48] So all the more do we need to take up his armour that he has provided for us. It is especially the case. And indeed you'll see that too in the book of Acts.
[4:59] If you go through the book of Acts from the beginning. Especially the early chapters up to the death of Stephen for example. You'll find that many of these incidents where the apostles were victimised and imprisoned.
[5:13] That they were obviously to do with the stirring up by Satan. By the powers of darkness against the gospel. Here was the gospel going out into the Gentile world.
[5:26] Here were the apostles spearheading this work of the gospel. After Christ's work on earth was done. And he had gone back to glory. And had sent his spirit.
[5:37] That really enraged Satan. And however much we do know that Satan is under Christ's dominion.
[5:50] Here is a passage along with others that tells us. Nevertheless don't underestimate the work that he is still able to do against the gospel.
[6:00] So we have to be strong in the Lord. But with a particular need. To be strong at times. When we're engaging in specific gospel work.
[6:11] For example. Our Christianity Explored course which is underway. You can expect that there will be. For ourselves. That there will be times.
[6:22] When the devil will try. To show his hand. And to divert us from our purpose. In regard to that and other words. Same with ABC Club. Same with Point to Life.
[6:33] Same with things that are specifically set up. Against the grip of Satan over people's lives. We are to then seek. More than ever before.
[6:44] To be strong in the Lord. And in the power of his might. So that's the directive. With that sort of background to it. Notice what the directive contains. We are to be strong.
[6:56] Or to be strengthened. In the Lord. And that is such an important phrase. Our strength is entirely.
[7:08] This is our spiritual strength of course. And all our faculties physically as well. Being strengthened for our spiritual tasks. All our strength.
[7:20] Our entire strength. In that sense. Is from the Lord. And comes to us from being in the Lord. We don't have strength. If we are not in the Lord.
[7:32] And when we are in the Lord. That's to say. In that relationship with Christ. Where we are united to him. Where our standing is in him. Where we know that that is where we feature.
[7:43] In relation to God. That is where we have. Our point of strength. From which we gain strength. We are to be strong. In the Lord.
[7:57] There is no strength other than that. For all the tasks that we face. And it was mentioned in prayer. Earlier on. That it's not by might. Nor by power.
[8:08] But by my spirit. Says the Lord. And that it's Paul who plants. And Apollos who are the spirits. The Lord who gives the increase. And when we want strength.
[8:19] To push on. With our own lives. To develop our lives personally. When we want strength. To push on. With congregational work. Or on the other hand.
[8:29] When we want strength. To actually defend ourselves. Against the wiles. And the assaults of the devil. That's where our strength is. Both for.
[8:40] If you like. The offensive side. That's to say. The. The. The fighting side. The. The taking on. Of the powers that are against us. That's the. The one side of it.
[8:51] But there's also the defending of ourselves. On. In both cases. On both sides of the issue. Where does our strength come from? It comes from. Being.
[9:02] In the Lord. And drawing our strength. From Christ. And then he. Adds to that. In this directive. Be strong. In the Lord. And in the strength.
[9:14] Of his might. Some people say that. That's really just another way of saying. In his mighty strength. Or in his powerful strength.
[9:27] But. There's. A nuance of meaning. In the way that it's put here. It's the same in the A.B. The power of his might. Or the strength of his might. And it captures something for us.
[9:38] That's not quite captured. In saying. His mighty power. That's just to say. It's a description of his power. To call it mighty. But this is saying a bit more than that.
[9:48] What it's saying is. Think of the might. Of the Lord. What is the might. Of the Lord. What do you think about. When you think of. The might.
[9:59] Of God. Well you think of. All mightiness. You think of the power. That created the universe. You think of the power. That God displays.
[10:10] As the creator God. And as the redeeming God. It's that power. That belongs. Exclusively to God. And to nobody else.
[10:22] That is. The might. Of God. This. This. Indescribably. Great. Power. That he has. And.
[10:34] The strength. Of his might. You might say. Is really the ability. That comes from that. In other words. You think of God. In his immensity. In the greatness.
[10:44] Of his creative power. And then you think. Well just think of the ability. That that gives. So the strength. Of his might.
[10:55] In a sense. Is really just. Another way of saying. Be strong. In the Lord. And in the ability. Which the might. Of God. Gives to you. Which the almightiness.
[11:07] Of God. Actually. Brings to you. Into. Your life. Now he demonstrated that. Just to finish off. The point about the directive.
[11:17] He demonstrated that. In two. Significant. Events. Not thinking. Just now. Of the creation. That of course. Is obviously. One of them. Where God.
[11:28] Created. By his word. Out of his own mind. All the universe. The creation. As we know it. But think of. His might. Redemptively.
[11:39] Or in that. Saving sense. Where you see it. In salvation. There are two. Events. In which you see. This might. Of the Lord. Where. Which are these two.
[11:49] First of all. In resurrection. Of Christ. If you go back. To chapter one. You can see there. Paul's great prayer. From verse 14.
[12:01] For the church. In Ephesus. What he's praying for there. That God will give them. All of these things. Your mind. Being enlightened. And to know the riches. Of the glory.
[12:11] Of his inheritance. In the saints. And. What is the immeasurable. Greatness. Of his power. Towards us. Who believe. According to the working.
[12:23] Of his great might. That he worked. In Christ. When he raised him. From the dead. And seated him. At his right hand. In the heavenly places.
[12:33] In other words. Paul is saying that. The might. That comes. Towards you. And works. In your lives. As the people of God. The might. By which you are made. Strong.
[12:44] In the Lord. Is the might. Which he displayed. In raising Christ. From the dead. And setting him. At his own right hand. In glory. And Paul calls it there.
[12:55] His immeasurable. Might. What you see happening. In Christ. Being raised from the dead. Is something. That you just.
[13:06] Cannot. Possibly. Measure. In human terms. I don't know what sort of. Instruments they have. Nowadays you find. All kinds of instruments. And technological advance.
[13:17] To measure. To measure strength. Or power. To measure force. To measure. All of those. Sorts of things. And to measure energy. But here is something.
[13:28] That you will never be able. To actually get into. Some sort of. Human. Instrument. Or machine. To measure. The extent of it.
[13:39] It is. According to his. Immeasurable. Might. Which he wrought. In Christ. Which he worked. In his residence. That's the first event.
[13:51] In the redemption. That God has brought about. Where his might is displayed. And when you're thinking about. The power that you need. In your life. When you think about.
[14:02] You need to be. Strong in the Lord. You have to immediately. Think about. What kind of strength. Can I draw upon. And you immediately think.
[14:12] In terms of the Bible's teaching. We have to teach ourselves. To think. Well I am strong. In the same power. That raised. Christ. From the dead.
[14:24] I have that power. Of God. Given to me. That's what he says. Isn't it. In chapter one. What is the immeasurable. Greatness of his power. Towards us. Who believe.
[14:35] And that's really. The same thing. As saying. The power that's. Worked into our lives. Who believe. Life. So the second. Place you see it is. In our regeneration.
[14:47] Just as you see. The dead body. Of the Lord. Brought to life. By the immeasurable. Might. Of God. So you see.
[14:57] Your own. Dead life. Just like. A dead corpse. Physically. So our lives. Are spiritually. Until God. Comes. To bring us.
[15:08] Spiritually. To life. And isn't that. What he says. In chapter two. Of this same epistle. You. Were dead. In the trespasses. And sins. In which you once.
[15:19] Walked. But God. Even when. We. Were dead. In our trespasses. Made us alive. Or brought us to life. Or quickened us. Together.
[15:30] With Christ. And raised. Us. Up with him. And seated us with him. In the heavenly places. In Christ. Now there's more. Than regeneration. In that. There's more. Than bringing us.
[15:40] To life. In that. There's union. With Christ. In that. There's raising us up. To sit with him. In terms of. Where we are. Spiritually. In God's eyes. But what it does say.
[15:51] Also is that. He raised us. To life. With him. That means. He turned. Our spiritual. Deadness around. He brought us. To life. In a.
[16:03] Spiritual sense. Akin to. You are in. Correspondence. To what you find. A dead body. The dead body. Of Christ. Coming to life. By the power of God.
[16:16] The same power. Working there. As you find. In your regeneration. Now. Then you have to say to yourself. As a Christian. What sort of power.
[16:26] Do I possess. In my life. Against the. Greater power. Than my own. That Satan has. And you say to yourself. I need a power. Greater than he has. And what great power.
[16:37] He does have. But I have that. And I see that. Working. In these two great. Instances. And events. I see it working. In the resurrection.
[16:47] Of Christ. I see it working. In what turned me. From being dead. In sin. To being alive. In Christ. Isn't that. A tremendous.
[16:58] Insight. Into. The directive. That God is giving us. To be strong. In the Lord. And in. The strength. Or the ability. That's his. In his.
[17:10] Might. Why should we. Actually feel. That we are. Desperately weak. Of course. We are in ourselves. But let's not.
[17:21] Think that. That weakness. Is. Is. Is. The means. By which we face. Opposition. To. The gospel. To the development. Of our own lives.
[17:32] That's not what we take. In against. The devil. Against our own flesh. Against sin. No. We take. God's. All mightiness. As displayed.
[17:43] In Christ's resurrection. In our own. Regeneration. And. Is. Working. Towards. Us. To believe. On a constant basis. Draw.
[17:53] Your comfort. From that. Draw your assurance. From that. Don't let the devil. Persuade you. That actually. He is. After all. Stronger than you are. And you can do very little about it.
[18:05] Stand. Says Paul. Therefore. Having. This. Strength. In the Lord. Secondly. The provision. That God has given. Against. Meeting.
[18:16] That directive. Here's his directive. Be strong in the Lord. And in the strength of his might. Well how? Put on the whole. Armor of God. That you may be able to stand.
[18:28] Against the schemes of the devil. When do we put on. The whole armor of God. Well that's not so easy to answer.
[18:41] And on the other hand. It is quite easy to answer. We put on the whole armor of God. Repeatedly. There's a sense in which you.
[18:51] Put it on. When you come to know. Christ. As your savior. When you put your trust in him. You realize that you need. This armor. So you're consciously looking. To the provision.
[19:02] That God has given you. In righteousness. In the gospel. Of peace. In the shield of faith. In the word of God. The helmet of salvation. The sword of the spirit.
[19:12] The word of God. All of these things. But in practice. It's something. That we do. Throughout. Every day. It's. It should be.
[19:24] And I say this to myself. As much as to yourselves. It should be. The very first thing. We do. Every single day. We come. To waking up. It should be.
[19:35] In our thoughts. That we need. Before we get on. With the business. Of the world. And the business. We are in. That we put on. The whole armor of God. That we consciously. Think.
[19:46] Of our need. To be armored. Today. And to actually. Seek the Lord's help. To wear that armor. Effectively. Against whatever. We're going to meet. Throughout that day.
[19:58] You would never think of. Well I would hope. You would never think of. Actually getting out of bed. Getting your breakfast. And then going to work. In your pajamas. But that's the equivalent.
[20:10] If we actually thought. Of just tumbling out of bed. Doing our early things. In the morning. And then going to. Wherever we're going to work. Yes. Even within the house. If I'm going to my study. Or whether you're going.
[20:20] To your place of work. Or whether you're retired. And going about things. It doesn't really matter. It doesn't make any difference. What it means. Is that we take up. That's to say. We consciously.
[20:31] In our minds. With prayer. And with. A deliberate. Putting on. Of the armor of God. We actually do that.
[20:42] To begin each day. And through the day. There'll be times. When we are challenged. At specific points. Through each day. And one of the things.
[20:52] That we need to. And I'm not any better at this. Than you are yourselves. You're probably a lot better. Than I am. But at different points. Of the day. When challenges come your way.
[21:03] And none of us knows. What challenges come. Any particular day. But when they do. Then we have to train. Ourselves. To then put on. The armor of God. To think about.
[21:14] The righteousness. And the faith. And the gospel's terms. That God has given us. To face that challenge. To actually. Meet whatever challenge it is. So.
[21:24] It's not that you just. Put it on in the morning. And then forget about it. Because this is something. That we need to be. Exercised about. Constantly. And repeatedly.
[21:35] Throughout each. And every day of life. That we put on. The armor of God. That we deliberately. Clothe ourselves. And really. Essentially.
[21:45] What he's saying. Actually. Is that we clothe ourselves. With Christ. With everything. We have been given. In Christ. And is available to us. In Christ.
[21:56] We take the Lord. With us. In other words. Consciously. Arming ourselves. With him. And. That. That. Is something you do. As we say.
[22:07] Repeatedly. In that sense. But it's saying. The whole. Armor. Of God. We don't just take.
[22:18] Parts of it. We don't just say. Well I can have the word. Today. But I don't have time. For prayer. You take the word of God. And praying. In the spirit.
[22:29] You take the sword. Of the spirit. And you pray. In the spirit. Won't go time. Just now. To go into the definition. Of that. But. Stand there for having. Fastened on the belt. Of truth. Having put on the breastplate.
[22:40] Of righteousness. And as shoes for your feet. The readiness given. By the gospel of peace. In other words. We must take care. That we're actually. Setting out. To wear. All the parts.
[22:51] Of the armor. That God specifies. Belong to us. As Christians. Because if we don't. Then. Our enemy. Will know. Which part of it.
[23:02] We haven't bothered. To wear. And will actually. Come to target. His assault. On that specific. Point. Of weakness. Yes. And not only that.
[23:16] But. We need to. Wear the armor. As God. Has specified it. It isn't just saying to us. Wear the whole armor. Of God.
[23:26] But wear all of these. Parts of the armor. As God. Defines them. Because you'll find. Some people. That will say. Well I don't. Understand.
[23:37] Faith. Nowadays. In the way. They used to understand. Faith. Or I don't understand. Righteousness. Now. As something that comes. By faith. In Christ. The relationship.
[23:47] Between. The parts of the armor. Or I don't understand. The word of God. To be. What they understood. In the days of the reformers. When they took the bible. Pretty literally. And said.
[23:57] This is the word of God. That's no longer. How we understand. The word of God. People will tell you. Well. That's not. The definition. Of the armor. That God has given us. Take the armor.
[24:08] As it has come. From the hand of God. And not. As. We ourselves. Or other people. Would define it. Or shape it.
[24:19] Or alter it. For us. Armor. Has changed. Over the centuries. Considerably. There's no comparison.
[24:30] Really. Between. Medieval. Kinds of armor. What you wore. When. You went out on horseback. Clothed with. Steel armor. Whatever it was. And had all these other types of.
[24:41] Protections. As well. For armies. You now have. Sophisticated armor. You even have. Armor that. Enables. Aircraft. And battle. Ships.
[24:51] Or whatever. To. Go around. Without being detected. By radar. Hugely. Sophisticated. Compared to the old days. Never. Forget.
[25:03] That the armor. That God. Has given you. Is perfectly. Good. As it has come. From his hand. You don't need.
[25:13] To develop it. You don't need. To try. And take it. A stage further. Than God himself. Has already. Provided. Whether it's. The word of God. You're thinking of. Or the righteousness.
[25:24] That you have. By faith in Christ. Or the helmet. Of salvation. Of what salvation. Consists of. You don't actually. Try and improve. On that. And bring it up.
[25:35] To what. Modern standards. May seem. To want. God. Has provided. For us. An armor. That is. Perfectly. Suitable. For every.
[25:46] Age. For his people. And every time. We wear it. We're wearing. The same armor. As Paul himself. Wore. And it hasn't.
[25:56] Changed. Nor should it change. In our thinking. All through. These years. Take up. The whole armor. Of God. And.
[26:07] Take it up. In. The way. God himself. Has provided. For us. So. There's. Directive. There's. The provision. That he's made. For us. To meet.
[26:17] The terms. Of directive. And then. Thirdly. There is. The. Reason. That God. Gives us. In verse 12. As to why. We need. All this. In the first place. What he says.
[26:28] We do not. Wrestle against. Flesh and blood. But against. The rulers. And against. The authorities. Against. The cosmic powers. Over this. Present. Darkness. Against. The spiritual. Forces.
[26:38] Of evil. In the heavenly. Places. Well. He also mentions. In verse 11. The schemes. Of the devil. Paul was very aware.
[26:52] Of his. Enemy. And how his enemy. Abused human. Agents. As well. But. The thing. That he was concerned. To stress. For the Ephesians.
[27:03] Is that they were. Standing against. And needed to be. Armed against. The schemes. The wiles. The stratagems. Of the devil. He's not.
[27:15] An obvious. Adversary. To us. He doesn't. Go about. In a way. That makes. Himself. Obvious. You can. Learn. So much. From the way.
[27:25] That you see. He approached. The Lord. Jesus Christ. Himself. In the desert. Because. In the first. Two instances. It wasn't. Obvious. Well.
[27:36] We should say. It was obvious. To the Lord. I'm sure. But. It's not obvious. As you read it. That the devil. Has made himself. Explicitly. Clear. If you are the son of God.
[27:47] Command these stones. To be made bread. And then. He moved on. To the second one. And then. It's only in the third one. After the first two. Had failed.
[27:57] Significantly. And completely. We should say. It's only then. That he revealed himself. And all is complete. And utter. And graphic. Hideousness. All these. Will I give you. If you fall down.
[28:08] And worship me. Now it's clear. Who's speaking. But it wasn't clear. The first time. Or the second time. That's why he's.
[28:19] So often represented. In the Bible. As a snake. The serpent. The one who came to Adam. And Eve. To Eve. To begin with. In the garden of Eden.
[28:29] The one who's mentioned. As that great serpent. Because he's a scheming. Adversary. He's a wily adversary. He twists his ways.
[28:41] Into our lives. Each and every day. And doesn't. At all. Make it obvious. Just like you find. A hook. That anglers use. For fishing.
[28:53] It's not obvious. That there's a hook in it. The bait is attractive. It looks delicious. It doesn't look that dangerous. But once you've taken it. Then you're caught.
[29:05] And there's so much. Of the devil's ways. In what you find. In that sort of. Ordinary illustration. And. It's the. Way that it's put. In verse 12.
[29:16] Along with. The schemes. As he puts it. The wiles. We don't wrestle. Against flesh and blood. You know. Sometimes. It would be difficult enough. If you are facing. A human.
[29:27] Adversary. In human strength. And human ingenuity. But. God is saying. That added to that. And even above that.
[29:39] There is. The rulers. The authorities. The cosmic powers. This is. The. Area of darkness.
[29:50] That exists. In the spiritual world. We don't have. Access to that. Now we do. We want to have access. To that. But the Bible. Gives us this glimpse. Into it. That.
[30:01] There are forces. Spiritual. Forces. Of evil. In the heavenly places. In the heavenly realms. That's. That's. That's what we're up against.
[30:16] That's why we need. The armor of God. That's why we need to be strong. In the Lord. And in the power. Of his might. Because we're not facing.
[30:27] And wrestling against. Mere flesh and blood. But against this. This greater power than ourselves. This vastly greater power. Than ourselves.
[30:39] But not against. Not greater than. The powers that are with us. Thankfully. Martin Lloyd-Jones once. Spoke to a woman.
[30:50] Who had been delivered from. A very dark life. She had been. Embroiled in. Dealing with evil spirits.
[31:01] And. In touch with. Or having access to. That sort of world. As some people seem to have. She was converted. And Lloyd-Jones asked her.
[31:15] Could she. Tell him. What difference. If any there was. Between the powers. That she was once aware of. Before she was converted.
[31:25] And the power. That she now. Was aware of. Being a Christian. Well she said. They are very similar. Powers. In terms of the.
[31:36] The strength of them. Of which she acknowledged. That God. Of course. Was stronger. But this is what she said. They are very similar powers. But. This she said. Is now. A very.
[31:48] Clean. Power. A very. Clean. Power. It's the power. That delivers you from.
[31:58] The unclean. Power. Power. The dark. Power. The power. That's in. The realm of darkness. In the spiritual. Power. Of that world.
[32:10] That is a very. Unclean. Power. And that's why the Lord. Counsels us. So strongly. Never go near it. Never be tempted. To go towards it.
[32:22] Never in any way. Give. Anything. That would weaken. Your stance against it. Maintain. Your stand. In the clean.
[32:33] Power. In the power. Of the Lord. In the strength. Of his might. In the armor. That God. Has given us. To wear. Stand.
[32:44] Therefore. Therefore. Having. This privilege. Knowing. This directive. Having. This provision.
[32:55] And this reason. Why we need it. Stand. Therefore. And there's nobody here. Myself included. Young or old.
[33:06] Or young or old. In the faith. Who doesn't need. Daily. To do exactly. As God is telling us. In this passage. Let's pray.
[33:19] How gracious. And eternal God. How we give thanks. That when we face. Our weakness. That when we face. Our weakness. And the strength. Of powers.
[33:30] That are ranged. Against us. As you people. That we have recourse. To a greater power. Than them all. Oh Lord. We thank you. That. We can look. Tonight.
[33:40] To the power. That has been demonstrated. In resurrection. And regeneration. As well as in creation. And we wonder. Oh Lord. That this power.
[33:51] Is directed towards. Such as ourselves. We bless you. That it is the power. That delivers us. That starts. Our spiritual life. For us. That gives us.
[34:02] The maintenance. We need. As we go through. All the issues. Of each day of life. That will take us. Ultimately. Through death itself. And on into glory.
[34:13] Oh Lord. Help us. As we pray. To ever seek. That power. For ourselves. Daily. To stand against. The wiles. Of the evil one. So be with us.
[34:24] We pray. Hear the prayers. Of your people. And all we ask. Is for Jesus sake. Amen.