The Battle Raging - Eagle Christian...

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The Battle RagingEphesians 6:10-13

“The Battle Raging”

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.” (ESV)

Wrestle (palē)

•Struggle, conflict, or battle•Used to describe a “wrestling match,” but

specifically means “hand-to-hand combat.”•Only time used in New Testament

Our Enemy Is Real“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” (6:12)

Who Is Our Enemy?•We wrestle NOT against “flesh and blood”

(v.12)

•Our real enemy is an inhuman enemy. • The spiritual war involves human beings—but

men are not the real enemy, just victims of the real enemy.

Who Is Our Enemy?•We wrestle against “spiritual forces of evil”

(v. 12)

•Arrayed against you are forces beyond our comprehension—rulers and authorities, cosmic powers and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

C.S. Lewis•“There are two equal and opposite errors

into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”

“Do you really expect us to believe in the Devil with red tights and a pitchfork?”

Our Enemy Is Evil“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may

be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (6:11)

Stand (histēmi)

•To stand, resist, stand against, stand firm.

•A military word meaning: to hold one’s ground.

Satan Described•Satan is a great and powerful foe•Rulers (arch)—lord, prince•Authorities (exousias)—power, might,

capability• Cosmic powers (kosmokratōr)—a world-ruler• Spiritual forces (pneumatikos)—one who

yields spiritual power

Satan Described• Satan is a great and powerful foe

•Satan is wicked and destructive• The god of this age (2 Cor 4:4)

• The ruler of this world (Jn 12:31)

• Controls evil (1 Jn 5:19)

• Leads people to disobedience (Eph 2:2)

•Names include:•Devil, Dragon, the Prince of the World, the Evil

One, Apollyon, Abaddon, Deceiver, Accuser, Opponent, and Adversary.

Satan and His Minions Play Unfair

•“Bear in mind that they have no moral principles, no code of honor, no higher feelings. They recognize no Geneva Convention to restrict or partially civilize the weapons of their warfare. They are utterly unscrupulous, and ruthless in the pursuit of their malicious designs.” –John R.W. Stott

Satan Described• Satan is a great and powerful foe• Satan is wicked and destructive

•Satan is sly and crafty• Schemes (methodeia)—Clever and crafty

strategies. Trickery. Sometimes aptly translated as “wiles” or “evil devices.”

Devil’s Deadly D’s•Doubt—question God's word or his goodness.

•Discouragement—cause us to look at problems rather than at God.

•Diversion—make wrong things seem attractive or good things seem unimportant.

•Defeat—create a feeling of helplessness, unimportance, or simply prevent us from trying.

•Delay—cause us to put off things so we never get them done.

•Division—divide the church so that it becomes ineffective.

2 Corinthians 2:9, 11“For this is why I wrote ... so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” (ESV)

Satan’s Schemes•Sometimes he comes as a roaring lion• “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your

adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

(1 Pet 5:8, ESV)

Satan’s Schemes• Sometimes he comes as a roaring lion

•Sometimes he comes disguised as a friend(Gen 3:5)

Satan’s Schemes• Sometimes he comes as a roaring lion

• Sometimes he comes disguised as a friend

•Sometimes he comes dressed as an angel of light• “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises

himself as an angel of light.” (2 Cor. 11:14)

Our Enemy Is Defeated“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the

strength of his might.” (6:10)

God Described•God is omnipotent—He is all-powerful

•God is omnipresent—He is everywhere• “Where can I flee from your presence? If I go

up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there …” (Ps 139:7-8)

God Described• God is omnipotent—He is all-powerful

• God is omnipresent—He is everywhere

•God is omniscient—He knows everything

Fear This!•“In the New Testament, it is not believers

who tremble at the power of Satan, but demons who tremble at the power of God.”

—Stephen Travis

James 4:7“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (ESV)

1 John 4:4“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (ESV)

Ephesians 6:10“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (ESV)

Three Questions:•Are there immaterial realities beyond the

material and natural world—beyond our senses?

•What is the relationship of good and evil?

•How powerful is evil?

Romans 8:35-39“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (ESV)

The Battle Raging“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” (13)

The Battle Raging - Eagle Christian...

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