Tag Archives: enemy

October 15, 2018 · 2:09 pm

Preparing for Battle

Peninsula Community Church

Preparing for Battle

October 14, 2018

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor 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, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore 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.

This is the third installment of our stronghold series. Today, we will begin to focus our attention on the preparation needed for battle. As many of you know, I am a football fan and particularly an Alabama Crimson Tide fan. When it comes to football, there are a couple of things that every team understands they need to do before the next game. It does not matter who the foe is or how big the opponent might be, the preparation is generally the same.

Throughout the week the team and the coaches are reviewing film from previous games and from the games their opponent has played. They are looking for weaknesses, finding strengths, and looking for patterns that can be useful on the field of play. They do not just watch film, they are also on the practice field preparing and running plays that will be used in the game. They are in the weight room exercising and they are doing PT on the field. Why is this? It is so they will be prepared for the battle that will take place on the field of play. They want to be stronger, faster, and smarter than their opponents.

In this passage, I believe that Paul gives us some insight into how we can prepare for battle against our opponent. We must realize that we cannot wait until we are in the battle to prepare, we do so in advance. When it comes to football teams, they do not wait until game day to prepare. They are preparing everyday for the next game. They prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally. Think about this, can you imagine what would happen if our arm forces waited until the day of battle to prepare and learn to fight. Football teams and armies prepare before the battle. For us, there should be no exception. We too need to prepare and be ready for battle before we face the enemy. We must also acknowledge that our battle does not take place on Saturday at noon or Sunday at 1:00 PM. The fact is we are in this battle every day.

As we look at Paul’s words, we gain a better understanding how we can prepare for the battles we face. The first insight from Paul is that we need to know our strength. More importantly, from a spiritual standpoint, we must understand where our strength comes from. Even more so, we must know Who is our strength. Paul begins this passage with the words be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Be strong in the Lord! What a powerful request/command by Paul. When it comes to the battles we face we must recognize that our strength is not in our ability, but it comes from the Lord. Scripture is replete with instructions about strength. In 2 Samuel 22:40 we find David making this statement of truth. For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. As we prepare for battle, we must know that our strength comes from the Lord.

The word used by Paul for strength is the Greek word “endunamousthe.” The root of the word is the Greek word “dunamis.” The idea presented by this word is that the power is resident within. Dunamis is where we get our word dynamite. Endunamousthe literally means to impart ability or to empower. Paul is saying here that we are empowered to fight this battle because of the power that is resident within. As the power of dynamite is resident within the dynamite, so also all of the power we need is already resident within us. The real power of dynamite is not fully realized until the fuse is lit and the powder within the dynamite is ignited.

Our power comes from God and not from anything we do on our own. That is all of the power we need and it is unleashed when we need it. John Piper reminds us that we are empowered through our union with Christ. Our connection with Christ empowers us and imparts to us great strength. That is why the words of Isaiah 40:28-31 are so awesome. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Look at the use of the word strength in Isaiah’s passage. God does not tire or grow weary. He is always at work on our behalf. We do get weak and we faint in the activity of life. When that happens, He increases our strength. Secondly, while everyone faces struggles that weaken them and cause exhaustion, those who wait upon the Lord shall see their strength renewed. Think about that. We can be weak and weary, but God’s power, the power resident within us, empowers us to keep going, to keep enduring, and continues to enable us to overcome every issue we face.

To have that kind of insight brings joy and that joy is found in the wellspring of His strength. In Nehemiah 8:10 we find that we do not have to be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. John Piper stated that it’s a remarkable point delivered to Nehemiah and a people who were ravaged by war, weakened by insecurities, and constantly reminded of their own fragility. And this is where we find our strength: for life, for pain, for trials, for marriage, for child-raising, for missions, for everything. The strength we need for this life is found in the essential joy of God. Paul also recognized this inherent power when he stated I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Secondly, while we need to know our strength, we also need to know our enemy. In this passage Paul reminds us that 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. When it comes to football teams they can get distracted by the hype and the media that is seen and heard. They can focus on the negatives or they can get overconfident in the positive press. They can also get distracted by looking beyond the game they are now playing. They are not in the moment and are looking to the wrong enemy. You see their battle is not with the media or the fans, it is against the team they are playing.

The enemy also loves to get us distracted to the degree that we begin to fight against the wrong enemy. Know this! Our family is not the enemy. Our job is not the enemy. Our friends are not the enemy. Our enemy is the demonic forces that are at work against us that desire to neutralize us and diminish our effectiveness in the world around us and the community we live. That is the enemy we need to face.

Finally, while we must know our strength, and our enemy, we must also know our equipment and get prepared for battle. In the case before us, we must put on the armor of God. We must be dressed for war and for battle. We must put on the armor provided for us. When the team enters the field they must be prepared for the game. They suit up. They have on their shoulder pads, their helmet, their cleats, and so on. They are suited up and ready for battle.

Let me give you one thought about this idea of suiting up and being ready for battle. There this an incredible story in the Old Testament. David had consulted with Saul. David agrees to fight Goliath as no one else was stepping up the plate. After Saul and David agreed to allow David to fight Goliath, Saul offered David his armor. David refused it as it did not fit him because it was not the right armor for him. You see the world will try to get you to wear armor that you were never intended to wear. The problem was not Saul’s armor. The issue was this was not God’s plan. David’s trust was in the Lord. He had learned to rely on the strength of the Lord. It was not the armor he wore, as much as the spiritual armor that protected him and kept him safe.

The world is ready to give us all kinds of armor to wear. It does not mean that the world’s armor is always bad it just means that it is not always the best or God’s best. Think about it. Positive thinking is certainly a mindset we need. But a positive mindset without God creates in us a spirit that is self-focused, arrogant, and self-serving.

It is also important to note that the armor of God is something we wear all of the time. We are active in the battle, not reactive. When the enemy attacks your thoughts, it is not the time to try and put on the helmet of salvation. When the enemy presents you with the lies about who you are, and who God is, that is not the time to put on the belt of truth. When the enemy presents false doctrine that is not the time to try and find the sword of the spirit. We are equipped before hand, because we know we face our enemy all of the time. That is because we never know when we will encounter one of his schemes that want to take us out. Over the next couple of weeks we will review the armor we need to wear and how those parts of the armor is best used for maximum effectiveness.

For now how are you doing? Do you know where your strength comes from? Do you know your enemy? And lastly, are you prepared for battle by knowing your equipment? Doing so allows us to be effective and gives us the upper hand in conquering the enemy and the strongholds in our life.

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/messages.

Ephesians – Putting on the Gospel of Peace

Peninsula Community Church

Ephesians – Putting on the Gospel of Peace

May 31, 2015

Ephesians 6:14-15 – Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

So far we have looked at the armor of God and have reviewed the following pieces of the armor. First, we looked at the belt of truth to understand that we must walk in truth and not in the lies that are being continually perpetrated by the evil one. Last week, we looked at the breastplate of righteousness. In this we saw that God has forgiven us and has made us righteous through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Today, we will move to the next piece of God’s armor required for spiritual battle. Today, we will look at putting on the shoes of the gospel of peace.

Once again, we see in this passage a practical illustration of a common aspect of life in Paul’s day. The church at Ephesus understood the necessity of wearing shoes in their day and they understood visually what it meant for the warrior to wear shoes in battle. In battle, there were many issues that the soldier might face that made it necessary to wear protection on their feet. It might be the heat of the sand. It might be the jagged rocks and other sharp debris found in the soil. It might be something as simple as a twig or some other shard that would penetrate the foot and cause pain. Without proper protection there was also the possibility of a strain or sprain that could sideline the strongest of warriors, distract the warrior, or cause him to be ineffective in battle. For the warrior to be effective, it was critical for the soldier to wear protective shoes on his feet. This was critical as the soldier’s shoes allowed the warrior to step freely without fear in the face of battle.

It is interesting that doctors have reported that the most neglected parts of the body are the feet. Rather consciously or not, too often, we neglect to care for our feet until there is a problem. One of the best methods to care for the feet is to wear the right type of shoe. For the warrior his sandals were made of layers of leather up to 3/4 inch in thickness and were studded with hollow-headed hobnails. In other words, they were like cleats. The shoe of the warrior covered not only the feet but also covered the leg to about half-way up the calf and at times up to the knee. The shoes worn by the soldier were secured by leather straps or leather laces. The purpose of his shoes was to protect his feet and allow him to grip the turf underneath his feet. The result was he had greater ability to stand his ground in battle.

In our society, we have a different view of shoes. For us shoes are more of a fashion statement than they are a mode of protection. In fact, it is noteworthy that a Consumer Reports National Research study found that women in America own an average of nineteen pairs of shoes while 15% of women surveyed stated that they have thirty pairs of shoes or more. Additionally, according to Glamour Magazine, the average woman will purchase 469 pairs of shoes in her lifetime. This will total more than $25,000 being spent on shoes in one’s lifetime.

In looking at our text, we find that the shoes discussed here are more than physical shoes, they are spiritual in nature. When dissecting this verse we find that the actual Greek translation of this passage would be, “Let the shoes of your feet be the Gospel of peace, to give you a firm footing.” Stability comes by being fitted with the Gospel of peace.

Another interesting concept of this passage is that there is a call to readiness. This insinuates that the soldier does not wait for the battle to put on his shoes. He puts on the shoes long before the the battle begins. Spiritually, the idea that is communicated is that we must be ready for battle by having our feet shod with the gospel. That is we are ready for battle because we have the gospel in us.

These words have a faint echo of words spoken by Paul and by Isaiah. Listen to Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:17. Paul stated And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Isaiah complimented this thought when he stated How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns (Isaiah 52:7).

To understand the Gospel we must understand that the Gospel is the good news. It is the good news that brings peace. For some who read Paul’s letter it seems strange because the question is posed “how can we have peace in the midst of the battle and warfare?” Why is this? The greatest reason for this peace is that the enmity between God and man was overcome. As believers, we have chosen to fight on the side of God and therefore God is no longer our enemy. Conversely, if we fail to accept God’s gift of salvation, we are in essence fighting against God. Think about it. If choose not to accept Christ, you are in essence fighting against the God who created the heavens and the earth, the God who called fire down from heaven, and the God who sent a storm to redirect Jonah’s life. This is the same God who opened the earth and swallowed the rebellious children of Israel. I am not sure about you but I do not want to be on the opposite side of God.

When I was in Junior High School in Bridge City, Texas, I was regularly picked on by some of the older students. I wasn’t the only one as these bullies chose to pick on anyone smaller than them. One day, I was pressed up against a locker in the hallway of the school by one of the bullies when I heard this deep voice from behind the crowd. I looked up and it was my cousin’s boyfriend. He was the starting all American linebacker for the varsity football team. She had shared with him how these kids were bullying the younger kids and he came to our rescue. He grabbed one of the kids and held him by the collar with his feet dangling off the floor and said a few choice words to him. It was something like “You mess with my friend, you miss with me.” You see in life we have been bullied by the evil one, but on the cross Christ took the enemy by the throat and said “you mess with my friend, my child you mess with me.” Through the cross we have been repositioned from a state of enmity to a state of friendship and partnership.

Listen to what Paul proclaimed in Romans 5:1-5. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The good news is that through Christ we are on the right side of the battle. It is for that reason that Paul calls this the Gospel of peace. When you think about it, peace is an interesting emotion in that we can have peace about some things and yet be anxious and fearful about others. Very few of us experience a general peace about life and still fewer have a peace that reaches the inward man. And yet that is the purpose of Christ’s peace.

I love what Dallas Willard had to say in this regard. He said “Even in the case, through no fault of my own, there must be a struggle between me and others, there does not have to be a struggle within me.” He continues “I may have to resist others, for some good reason, but even so I do not have to make things come out right. I am not the one in control of outcomes. I do not have to hate those whose course of action I resist, or even get mad at them, and so I can always be at peace within myself as well as towards others.” He continues by saying that the greatness of God and the love of God forms my peace, and at the same time my love and my joy. Job of old had many worrisome questions in the midst of his troubles but when he beheld God they simply did not matter. That is why Isaiah could honestly proclaim You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3). Look at the parameters established here. You will be in perfect peace when your mind is on Christ because you trust Him with everything in life.

Nothing in this world can destroy my peace or rob me of peace even though in our world today there is so much that can steal our joy and peace. The economy is still fragile. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are shootings and murders taking place daily. The drug epidemic has escalated and is getting worse by the day. The moral fiber of America is being shredded on a daily basis. But with all of this, I am reminded of what Jesus spoke to His disciples. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you. ’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I’ (John 14:27-28).

To understand this we must understand that the Gospel of Peace cannot and must not be separated from the author of peace who is also the author of Gospel. To have real peace, we must come to know the real giver of peace. His name is Jesus. He came so that I could live a real life. Not some legalistic or false spirituality kind of life but one filled with God’s love and His peace. I do not know about you but I yearn for that kind of peace and that kind of life. It is available to us as we put on the shoes of peace.

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/media.php?pageID=14

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