02-02-2020 – The Weapon of God’s People

Bible Text: Ephesians 6:17-24 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Ephesians | 02-02-2020 – The Weapon of God’s People

Ephesians 6:17-24

Last week we studied (verse 14) about the belt of Truth and the breastplate of
righteousness, (verse 15) then about special footwear which protects our feet and
our steps, for we have peace with God, through Christ.

Next (verse 16) we learned about the shield of faith, which enables us to
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, i.e., the attempts by Satan to
deceive, discourage, and disable the believer from standing his ground in service to
Christ.

Read Ephesians 6:17… We are instructed to take up the helmet of salvation,
and finally the sword of the Spirit [which is the Word of God].

The last piece of spiritual armor is the sword of the Spirit [the Word of God].
Christ gives us an example on how to use this special weapon.

See Matthew 4:3-11. Every time the Devil made an attack, Jesus blocked it
with Scripture, eventually the Devil left Him, having been defeated by God’s Word.

In Genesis God spoke everything into existence through His sovereign and
eternal Word.

When Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation, in Revelation 19:13-16 it
says, “His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven… …
were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that
with it He may strike down the nations… And on His robe and on His thigh He has a
name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’”
2Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman
who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Every Christian has the Holy Spirit [Spirit of Truth], our divine teacher, but we
must study and apply God’s Word if we are to stand our ground against the
enemies of God, the spiritual powers of the kingdom of darkness.

God’s Word is not only our defensive weapon, so we can remain standing
against all that the world, the flesh, and the devil may bring against us, but it is
also our offensive weapon, with which we can strike down the spiritual enemies of
God and claim victory over that which opposes God, because of Christ in us.
1John 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them [all those
who oppose God]; because greater is He [God’s Spirit] who is in you than he
[Satan] who is in the world.”

Prayer is as essential as the other pieces of armor without which, we could not
stand our ground.

Read Ephesians 6:18… Paul’s instruction on spiritual armor is followed by a
teaching on prayer, for prayer is the attitude a soldier [of Christ] must have as he
readies and outfits himself for battle.

In his Book, Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan tells of the character Christian’s
weapon called prayer. When darkness and discouragement surrounded him, prayer
enabled Christian to stand firm and ultimately to defeat the evil fiends in the valley
of the shadow of death.

We can pray wherever we are, in whatever situation we find ourselves (see
Luke 21:34-36). To pray at all times is to live continually conscious of God.

God’s greatest desire and our greatest need is to be in constant fellowship with
Him, and prayer is the means by which a believer comes into the presence of God
and has fellowship with Him.

Praying in the Spirit is to pray in a manner that is consistent with the nature and
the will of God, lining up our thoughts and desires with the Word of God. We must
remain alert for we are in a spiritual battle against the Devil, the world, and the
flesh; this battle must be spiritually fought, through prayer.

The focus here is on praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ, for it is
believers to whom God has provided the armor Paul describes in Ephesians
6:10-17, and so it is believers who are commanded in (verse 18) to pray in the
Spirit.

We are to pray specifically for one another, for our brothers and sisters in Christ
who are serving the Lord in this battle against the flesh, the world and the Devil.

Read Ephesians 6:19-20… Paul pleads for the believers in Ephesus to pray
not so that he can be freed from prison, but so that he will be bold and faithful to
proclaim the gospel while in prison.

Self-sufficient persons don’t pray to God. It is the humble believer who comes
before God, those who are poor in spirit receive God’s blessings (cf. Matthew
5:3-10, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, the pure in heart, peace makers; it is these who will be called the
sons of God; and theirs is the kingdom of heaven forever).

Paul’s motive for prayer is to further the gospel, encourage believers, and glorify
God.

Read Ephesians 6:21-22… Tychicus, from the province of Asia (cf. Acts
20:4), was especially dear to Paul, who sent him to other Christian communities
and individuals to encourage them on Paul’s behalf (cf. Colossians 4:7-8;
2Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12).

Paul knew the value of a personal word from someone who had been with him
recently. Tychicus could bring comfort, in Christ, to many of those who had been
converts of, or had benefited from, the preaching, teaching, discipling and
counseling ministry of Paul.

In May 2019 we began this study of the wealth we have been given in Christ,
the manner in which we are to walk, and the warfare we can expect as God’s
children.
Ephesians 1:5-8, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His
grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His
grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight.” 13-14, “In Him, you
also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having
also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given
as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own
possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may
boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are
fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”
Ephesians 3:11-12, “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He
carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident
access through faith in Him.”
Ephesians 4:1-6, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a
manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent
to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one
Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
There is one body and one Spirit one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and
Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 32, “Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in
love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” 15-17, “Therefore be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days
are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 21,
“submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Read Ephesians 6:23-24… Paul’s benediction seems to reflect the major
themes of this letter. Paul prays for peace, love, faith, and for the grace of God to
be the experience and desire of all genuine believers.

Grace [the divine favor of God], God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense, for all those
who responded to the eternal and unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ:
God’s Son, Lord and Savior.
The Grace of God should be evidenced in the life of every obedient ‘born again’
believer and follower of Jesus Christ. God’s Grace provides, not only our
forgiveness and eternal life, but also the armor and the weaponry we need to stand
against God’s enemies, using the Word of God [the Sword of the Spirit] to declare
the revealed plan, purpose, and provision, of God, by which we are to live
honorably and victoriously in this world, while we wait for Him to return and take us
to be with Him in the new and never-ending world, where (Revelation 21:4-5),
“there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying,
or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said,
‘Behold, I am making all things new,’” (Revelation 22:20-21), “He who testifies to
these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace
of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

Pastor Mike     >’(((><