Sermon Text:
Ephesians 6:10-24
As Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesian church, he calls them to do one final thing: stand firm. After showing the beauty of the gospel and how we are to apply it into our lives, Paul calls the church to withstand the spiritual warfare in the strength of God, praying at all times and encouraging one another.
Sermon Transcript:
(transcribed with AI)
Well, good morning. It's good to be here with you all. For those of you who might not know me, my name is Jonathan. I have the privilege of being the pastor here, and we have the privilege of opening up God's word. So if you have a Bible with you, let me invite you to open to the book of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 6 is where we're going to be, the very end of this book.
As you find your way there, I want to tell you about a date October 24th, 1648, nearly 400 years ago. The city of Prague was under siege. At this time there was the 30 Years' War that was going on, raging all across the European continent, and it had been going on for decades at this point, and the Swedish forces had joined into the fray, and they had actually put the city of Prague under siege. It had been that way for quite some time. The Swedish forces were not able to actually capture the city, but neither could they really break through this siege. It was kind of stuck at a stalemate for quite some time.
But see what makes this particular date so interesting, October 24th. Is that the war had actually ended. See, no one actually knew it at the time, but what had been going on for months beforehand was that peace negotiations were happening. They were trying to figure out how to stop this war from taking over the entire continent, and so they had actually negotiated a peace and October 24th, they signed the deal. The war was done. All armies were to stand down. The fighting was to stop. The problem is no one knew it. No one knew that was the end of the war, and it would take another 8 days until that news would actually reach this city under siege.
Just put yourself in the shoes of someone trying to defend their city for a moment. You've been fighting tooth and nail for quite some time, and at the end of it, finally you get word, actually, you know what, the war already ended. It was already decided that the outcome, no matter what had happened with that battle, was that actually Prague was going to be free. They were not going to be taken over. The war ended, but that battle still remained.
In many ways, I'm gonna argue this is fairly similar to what we face in our own spiritual lives. Oftentimes, as Christians were called into a conflict when the outcome is already decided. Jesus already has victory over sin, and yet a battle still does remain. And so if you have your Bibles open, that's what we're gonna look at here this morning. We're gonna look at this spiritual battle that we are called into. We're finishing up the letter of Ephesians here, and Paul is sending us out with sort of marching orders to actually fight this battle, but to remember even in it, the war is already won.
It's our tradition here to stand as we read God's word. So if you're able to, would you stand with me as we read? Ephesians chapter 6 starting in verse 10. This is God's word.
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, sand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and a shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God, praying at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints and also for me. The words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains that I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak. So that you may know how I am doing, Tychius, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I've sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
As far the reading of God's word, you may be seated.
Well, we have made it to the very end of this letter to the Ephesians. We started this series all the way back in January and while taking a little bit of breaks here and there, we are wrapping it up here today. If you've actually been with us through all of this, you'll know that Paul has covered a lot of ground in this series, and really what we're looking at here today is best understood as sort of his conclusion. Here is how he is wrapping up everything that he has just talked about.
You'll remember the first three chapters Paul is just unpacking what it means to actually know the gospel. What is it that Jesus has done? This salvation that God planned before he even created the world, that Jesus would come, that he would die on the cross for our sins, that he would pay the punishment for what we've done, that he would save us, and that actually he would give peace between not only us and God, but even make peace between us and others. And then in the last 3 chapters, he's been unpacking what does it mean to actually live that out? What does it mean to live out this message of the gospel that we can show our unity for the glory of God, that we can show what this transformation Jesus has made, that as we imitate God being filled with the Holy Spirit, we would actually show what he is like to everyone around us.
And so now as we come to the close, this is Paul not only just concluding the book, this is more than just a mere summary. These are marching orders to go forward with. Paul reminds his readers that the Christian life is going to involve a struggle. There is a fight going on. But it's not against other people. This is a spiritual battle for which we are called to be equipped, to know the gospel and to live it out means we are part of this spiritual battle. And so as we conclude this series, I want us to see this call to stand strong, stand strong, praying at all times and encouraging one another, to take on the Christian life is a call to be part of this battle, to stand strong in the gospel, praying at all times that we may share it and encouraging one another that our love for God may not grow cold.
But let's just start back here at the beginning, verse 10. Paul says, finally, here's his conclusion. He's wrapping up and like any good preacher, he says, finally, and then he keeps talking for a while.
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.
Really, in these two verses, we get his whole conclusion summarized. This call to stand strong. And notice it's not we need to be strong enough. Rather, no, we're called to actually rely on God for His strength. We're called to be strong in his might. And why do we need that? Verse 11, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. He introduces us here that actually we are involved in a spiritual battle. Paul identifies our opponent in this battle as well, the devil, Satan himself.
And before I go even any further, we kind of need to pause there and just clarify because whether you've grown up in the church or not, there are all manner of misconceptions about what this actually means. Probably the biggest one is that Satan is somehow the antithesis of God. He is God's opposite, that Satan is sort of just God, but the evil version of him. That's not what the Bible tells us at all. Satan is not God's opposite. He is not everywhere at once. He is not all powerful. He is not all knowing. In fact, Satan can only ever exist in one place at one time. He does not know the future. He is not all powerful. And notice here Paul is not saying that Satan himself is going to harass every believer. Hardly. He doesn't have the time, and frankly we're not that important. We're not actually that important to have taken his time. What Paul does say is that his schemes can ensnare us. That is what we are called to watch out for.
In fact, Paul has already talked to us about this earlier in the book, Chapter 2. He identifies what this looks like. He says,
and you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked. Following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
To be dead in our sins is to be following the power of Satan. Satan's biggest weapon in his arsenal is our own sinful nature. You wanna know what it means, what Satan is scheming to do? It is to have us fall back into our old ways of sin. Spiritual warfare is a battle against your own sinful patterns of life.
And once again there's a couple of pitfalls we can very easily fall into. On the one side is the pitfall that says, well, OK, I mean this is all just the spiritual forces. The devil made me do it. I didn't do this. Well, this was just Satan. He was tempting me. I can push all of my responsibilities for all the bad things I've done. That was Satan. He made me do it. Well, no, actually, the Bible says we are still responsible for our actions and in fact we don't need any help to sin. In fact, we can do that just fine on our own. We're born that way we can very easily do that. On the other hand, neither can we say that the spiritual realm is not real, that it does not actually affect us in any way. I know we live in a culture where anything that is spiritual is treated a little bit like believing in unicorns and Bigfoot. I mean, sure some people might do that, but are you sure that seems a little crazy. And yet this is the reality that the Bible warns us about. There are spiritual forces and they are seeking to actually cause us to fall away. We're actually called to hold on to both of these truths.
So What exactly are we supposed to do with this? How exactly are we supposed to work with it? Well, verse 12, look back at it. He says,
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.
This is not a call that we are to fight people. We are not opposed to people. In fact, the Bible tells us repeatedly we are to go out, share the gospel with people, we are to show God's love and mercy and grace. People are the ones we're trying to see come to Jesus. That is not our fight. What is? Well, against these spiritual forces.
And so again, we kind of look at them and we go, OK, so what does that mean? Are we supposed to go out and rebuke a bunch of spirits? Are we called to go and cast out demons? Is that what we're talking about? And you notice actually Paul doesn't even go there. That's not in Paul's mind. That's not in this discussion of what he is calling us to do.
What does spiritual warfare look like? I'm gonna argue Paul has two main commands for us. Number 1, stand on the gospel. Number 2, share the gospel.
What are we called to actually do? By far, Paul has in mind standing in the Gospel. Look back at verse 13. He says,
take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand firm.
Again and again and again, Paul repeats this word, stand, withstand, stand firm. Remain where you are. Stay in the gospel. Remember, this is a conclusion. Paul has already talked about this for a good deal. He's explained what the message of the gospel is that Jesus actually died to pay for our sins by faith. We are brought into a right relationship with Him. His righteousness is credited to our account. Paul says, don't forget. Growth in the Christian life doesn't mean you start ignoring that message and you go somewhere else as if there is anywhere else. No, do not go back into your sinful patterns of life. Rather, stay away from them, fight against it. Spiritual warfare is not about casting out demons, but about standing firm in the gospel. It means not departing, it means we remain committed to trusting in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, living that new life that he has given us. Means we actually fight against sin in our lives, that we're not going back and just following along with everything that we used to do. Rather, we are fighting to honor God in everything we do.
Is that what your spiritual fight looks like? Are you fighting to remind yourself of the truth of the gospel, to live it out in your life? See, we've just spent months looking at this book, looking at what it means that Jesus has saved us and how to look, how to live it out. Are we putting that into practice? Paul's conclusion is, don't give it up. As Christians we are consistently called to root ourselves in this gospel message lest we start drifting away unknowingly, like a boat that's just sitting on the water. It's so easy if you don't have an anchor dropped to simply allow that boat to drift further and further and further. You don't need a giant wave to knock your boat out of place. All it takes is a little ripple constantly pushing, drifting, drifting, drifting. How easy is it in the Christian life to do the same thing? It's not some big wave that usually knocks people away from following after Christ. Usually it is the common things of everyday life, of busyness, of other things that distract us from what God is calling us to do, and little by little we can realize we can drift very, very far. The call to wage this spiritual warfare is a call to stand on the message of Jesus and reflect it in our lives.
But do not forget that's not our power. Rather, it's God. Verse 10, he says, be strong in the Lord. If we are called to stand on the gospel, remember what it is that God has done. He is the one who has saved us. He has sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins. He had raised Jesus to a new life. He calls us through the power of the Holy Spirit to himself. He is the one who makes us new. He is the one who gives us a new heart to believe in him. He is the one who raises us. He is the one who seals us. Do you think we do it on our own? Remember the message of the gospel. It is God's power, His grace at work in our lives. Trust God. Keep your focus on Him. Because actually, his power is unmatched. Paul writes in chapter one. He says
this is the power that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule, all authority, all power, all dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Hear me, we're called to fight a spiritual battle in a war that God already won. The war is over, yet the battle remains. Do not give up, do not do it in your own strength, but rather rely on the power of God that is greater than everything that might oppose us. Trust in Jesus as you flee from your sin.
Take on the armor that God has given to you. Paul warns us we need this armor for this evil day. In fact, that's not a day simply that's coming, that's today. Ephesians chapter 5. You remember Paul says,
making the best use of the time because the days are evil.
This is not something we're going to need one day in the future, but it's something we need right now. If we are going into battle, hear me, you need to put on your armor before the battle starts. You can't do it while the battle is going on. That's too late. Be ready now. Paul again earlier in the book Ephesians 4 tells us to put on our new selves. Ephesians 4,
put off your old self which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds to put on the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
The spiritual armor that Paul describes here is putting on that new life in Jesus Christ, not our own works, standing in the gospel using the gifts he has given to us.
And so Paul begins to kind of work through all the different pieces of this armor. Verse 14, he says,
stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
As Paul begins to kind of describe this armor of the Christian life, he's actually really reflecting here on how Isaiah the prophet is talking all the way back in Isaiah chapter 11, talking about the Messiah. Says
righteousness shall be the belt of his waist and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
Again, Isaiah 59,
he put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head.
Isaiah the prophet is describing this king who is coming, who will come dressed in this armor of righteousness, and Paul as he's reading Isaiah goes, yeah, but that's Jesus and we are his people. We are equipped with what Jesus himself has on. The truth of the gospel, the righteousness of Christ, these are gifts to all believers. In fact, back in chapter one, Paul is praying that the church would understand the gospel message. Chapter 2 that we would understand the righteousness that is given to us.
Verse 15 here, he keeps going. He says,
as for shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
The end of chapter 2, Paul describes how the gospel actually gives us peace with God and with others. If we have peace with others through the gospel, how ready can we be to share no matter where we are.
Verse 16, he continues
in all circumstances, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.
Again, chapter 2, faith is even a gift were given. Take it up as your shield. The truth is every one of us will face attacks for believing. Most often they come even from within our own minds. I'm not worthy to be saved by Jesus. Maybe this applies to everyone else, but it's not for me. I've sinned too much. There's no way God could actually love me. In fact, there's more I probably have to do if I'm really going to be accepted or loved by God. If I were a real Christian, I wouldn't have done that. I wouldn't have messed up. Hear me. These are attacks, lies that are whispered into our hearts to take away our trust in the promises of God that he forgives our sins. Do not allow the lies of Satan, his schemes to have any residence in your mind, rather trust God's promise. The faith that God gives us to trust his promise is the shield that keeps us safe from the lies of the enemy.
Verse 17, he says,
take on the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.
Hear me, this isn't some sort of salvation we now have to put on, on top, rather, he is reminding us of our salvation in Jesus, this most vital part of our armor protecting our most vital part of our body. We are saved by God's grace as a gift to us. Take up the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Hear me. This is the only, as many people have pointed out, this is the only offensive weapon that Paul actually lists. It's our Bibles. Do we know the word of God? Do we actually pick these up throughout the week or is it collecting dust on our shelves? Hear me, if we're called into battle, we need the word of God with us, not just on our shelves, but actually in our hearts to cut against the lies of Satan, to cut to our own hearts. The word of God both convicts and comforts, convicts us of our sin and comforts us with His grace.
I had someone a while ago ask me, you know, why do I find it so hard to read my Bible? I read all sorts of other things. I don't find that difficult. I have all kinds of other habits and routines in my life. Why do I find that every time I wanna read my Bible, it's such a difficult thing to get going and started in my life? The answer is it's part of our spiritual battle. The answer is it's part of this Christian life where our own sinfulness, where even spiritual forces don't want you to read your Bible. It is yet so necessary. Open your Bibles, spend time in it. This is not just a book, it is part of our spiritual warfare. We're called to stand strong in the gospel. Don't let your life drift away from it, but rather be transformed by it. Seek to live it out. And be ready for that fight. Take on all of God's gifts that we may stand in his strength.
But even then, please hear me, that is not all we have for this battle. Because Paul keeps going. He calls us to pray at all times. Verse 18, he says,
praying at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication.
Very often whenever people preach through this passage, they talk about the armor of God. Too often this is the part that gets missed out. Paul doesn't give prayer a particular part of the armor. Maybe if we were to add it in, it'd be something like a radio. You go into battle. You actually need to still be in contact with your commander, so a Christian must be in contact with our king. Paul tells the church, be praying at all times. Whether you are struggling or not, too often we leave out prayer, don't we? Everything's going well. I have nothing to pray about. No, it's because God has been so faithful in answering your prayers that things are going well. Praise him, rejoice in that.
You remember Paul, where he started this letter, chapter one. He says,
for this reason, because I've heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Paul says, I haven't heard anything bad about you, so I kept on praying. I didn't want to stop praying for you. Praise God, things are going well. Don't forget to praise God when things are going well, and do not forget to pray to him when you need that strength. Again, chapter 3, Paul prays. He says,
for this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being.
If we need God's strength for the battle, it means we must be consistent in prayer. In fact, that's exactly what Paul wants them to do, and it's what he wants them to do for him. Verse 18, he says,
to that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
Now, to what end? That they would stand strong, that they would actually endure in this spiritual battle. We need to be praying for others. You run out of things to pray for, for yourself, start praying for those around you. For your brothers and sisters in this church, start praying for other churches in this town. Start praying for churches in BC in Canada around the world pray for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted around this world right now. You don't have things to run out of time to pray for. There is so much.
In fact, even Paul himself says, as you know, the apostle of God, please pray for me, verse 19, he says,
and also for me that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak.
Paul says, pray for me please. Even while he is in prison, he is seeking to share the gospel, that he would actually have the right words to be able to speak the gospel boldly. If you can think of nothing else to pray, pray for that pray for the right words right here is part of our spiritual battle standing on the gospel sharing the gospel and Paul says, pray for me that I would have the right words to say. I mean, I don't know about you. He's just written an entire letter. He clearly knows the right words. What are you asking for, Paul? You know the gospel, you just wrote it down. Well, actually, while the gospel message never changes, how we are called to communicate that gospel does. We're called to make disciples of all peoples of all nations. It means the way that we talk about this message of Jesus Christ is gonna change. What is Paul asking for? He says, I need the wisdom. I need the words in my mouth to be able to speak well to actually work in people's hearts so that they can hear what Jesus has done for them. Paul says, pray that God would give me the right words, and then he says, pray that I would be bold to speak it. Again, if Paul the Apostle needs prayer for boldness, how much more do we? That when we actually have those moments, those opportunities to talk about Jesus, that we would take them. If you've been a Christian for a little while, you know, there's probably been a point where you thought to yourself, I could probably talk about Jesus right now. And there's probably been a point where you chickened out. Paul says, we need to pray for boldness. Pray for the courage to be able to talk about Jesus. We need God's strength for that. Pray that God would make us bold, that God would give us the right words to speak, to actually communicate the gospel well. Let us pray that we would be bold in taking this with the right words to those around us. We need to pray at all times.
Finally, as Paul is wrapping up this letter, he has these closing encouragements, in fact, the call to encourage one another. Certainly there's much more in this final greeting than I could have time for, but look back at verse 21. He says
so that you also may know that how I am and what I'm doing. Tychius, the beloved brother, faithful minister of the Lord, will tell you everything. I've sent him to you for this very purpose that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts.
Tychius was the guy who actually was taking this physical letter to the church in Ephesus. He also delivers the letter to Colossians as well, or to the church in Colossae. But notice there Paul has another reason for why he's sending them. Why is he sending him? He says, so that he might encourage your hearts. Paul has just called the church into this spiritual battle, given them their marching orders, and then says, now I'm sending someone to encourage you in that time. Please hear me. We are not called to the Christian life alone. We need others around us to encourage us to build up our hearts before God. Again, Ephesians 4, Paul writes,
rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
It's only when the church is actually working together that we are growing and building ourselves up in love. We're not independent Christians who happen to gather together from time to time, but dependent members of one body, and each part is needed so that the whole body can grow to be more like Christ. Do not neglect one another in this spiritual battle. Pray for one another, encourage one another.
Paul ends his letter with his blessing,
Peace be to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as he began the letter with blessings, so now he ends this letter with blessing. Peace, love, faith, all these benefits that every Christian can enjoy in God's presence. Verse 24, he says,
grace be to all who love our Lord Jesus with love incorruptible.
May we love Christ with a love that does not fade, that does not lessen, that is not corrupted. Here is the essence of our spiritual battle. God's love never fails, but ours can grow so weak. And in fact, if you know anything about the church in Ephesus, you know this is what ends up happening. Many years later, John the apostle, he writes the letter of revelation, and Jesus himself gives a letter to all these churches around, and Ephesus is one of them. This is what Jesus himself says. He says,
I know your works, your toil, your patient endurance, how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who called themselves apostles and are not and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently, bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But this I have against you. You have abandoned the love you had at first.
Hear me, this church did so many things well. They held their doctrine well, they rejected false teachers, they endured, but it was their love for Christ that suffered. Please hear both the warning and the encouragement for us. The warning to actually watch your own life and consider whether or not your heart is drifting away. And here the encouragement that Jesus calls us back to him. Hear the encouragement that God meets us with mercy. Hear the encouragement that your brothers and sisters around you are standing to call you back to know Jesus. We are praying for you. Let us continually keep our eyes on Christ and encourage one another all the more.
The call to take on the Christian life is a call to spiritual battle, to stand strong in the gospel, to pray at all times and encourage one another that our love for Christ may not grow cold.
As we close here, I wanna close with the words of a hymn. It's not a particularly well known hymn and that's partly because, well, the music is terrible. The words are beautiful, but it doesn't sound great with the tune, so let me read it.
Soldiers of Christ in truth arrayed, a world in ruins needs your aid. A world by sin destroyed and dead, a world for which the savior bled. His gospel to the lost proclaim good news for all in Jesus' name. Let light upon the darkness break that sinners from their death may wake. Morning and evening sow the seed. God's grace, the effort shall succeed. Seed times of tears have oft been found with sheaves of joy and plenty crowned. We meet to part but part to meet when earthly labors are complete, to join in yet more blessed employ in an eternal world of joy.
Brothers and sisters, do not forget that while there is a battle, Jesus Christ has won the war. It is over. We know where the end is going, and though the fight may yet be strong. Our aim is that eternal world of joy that waits for every believer. Take up the fight not against your neighbors, but for their good and for God's glory. Let us persevere in prayer that we may have the words, the opportunity to speak this good news of Jesus. Let us encourage one another in the faith, making sure to remind each other of His peace, grace, and love that ours may not be corrupted. May all of our lives be shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let's pray together. Oh our heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you so much for this good news of Jesus. Lord, thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross that everyone who trusts in you may be saved. Lord, not because we are good enough, not because we have done enough, but rather because of your mercy and your grace. Father, we thank you for the gifts that you have given. Lord, I pray, would you find us faithful to the task that you've put before us, Lord, would we fight this spiritual battle to hold on to your gospel, to share it widely? Father, I pray, would we be consistent in prayer for one another? Lord, work among us. Encourage us, Father, I pray. That we would be found faithful before you, that we would have lives shaped by what you've done. We ask all this in your name. Amen.