Engaging in Spiritual Warfare: Strength in the Lord

 

Summary

In Ephesians 6:10, Paul calls us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. This is not merely a conclusion to his letter but a pivotal transition into a new section that emphasizes the spiritual battle we face as Christians. Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is a masterpiece of logical progression, moving from the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith in the first three chapters to the practical applications of these truths in the latter chapters. The Apostle has laid out the glorious privileges and responsibilities of the Christian life, urging believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling. However, he now shifts focus to the reality of spiritual warfare, reminding us that we do not live in a vacuum but in a world filled with opposition from the devil and his forces.

Paul’s exhortation is not a mere afterthought but an integral part of the Christian life. He emphasizes that the Christian life is a battle, a struggle against not just flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places. This warfare requires us to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. The Apostle’s call is not to a life of ease but to a life of vigilance and readiness, recognizing the formidable enemy we face. This section of Ephesians is crucial for understanding the biblical doctrine of sanctification, highlighting the necessity of active engagement in spiritual warfare.

The Christian life is not a passive experience but an active battle. We are called to stand firm, fully armed with the armor of God, and to engage in this warfare with the strength and power provided by the Lord. This is not a call to rely on our own strength or to hand over the battle to God while we remain passive. Instead, it is a call to be active participants in the fight, empowered by God’s might and equipped with His armor. This understanding is vital for living a victorious Christian life, recognizing the reality of the spiritual battle and the resources available to us in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The Christian life is a spiritual battle, not a life of ease. We are called to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God, recognizing the formidable enemy we face in the devil and his forces. This understanding is crucial for living a victorious Christian life. [15:22]

- Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 6:10 is not an afterthought but an integral part of the Christian life. It emphasizes the necessity of active engagement in spiritual warfare, highlighting the reality of the opposition we face and the resources available to us in Christ. [16:15]

- The call to be strong in the Lord is a call to active participation in the spiritual battle. We are not to rely on our own strength or to remain passive, but to engage in the fight with the strength and power provided by the Lord. [35:18]

- Understanding the biblical doctrine of sanctification involves recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare. This section of Ephesians highlights the necessity of being vigilant and ready, fully armed with the armor of God, to stand firm against the enemy. [32:13]

- The Christian life is not a passive experience but an active battle. We are called to be active participants in the fight, empowered by God’s might and equipped with His armor, recognizing the reality of the spiritual battle and the resources available to us in Christ. [37:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10
- [00:28] - Context of the Epistle
- [01:09] - Observing Paul's Method
- [02:34] - Meaning of "Finally"
- [04:58] - Overview of Ephesians
- [06:09] - The Glory of the Christian Life
- [07:48] - Living Worthy of Our Calling
- [11:08] - Being Filled with the Spirit
- [14:13] - Introduction to Spiritual Warfare
- [17:26] - Dividing the Section
- [20:10] - General Exhortation
- [22:47] - The Need for Preparation
- [25:36] - Detailed Instructions
- [28:18] - Relationship to Previous Sections
- [32:13] - Importance of Spiritual Warfare
- [37:23] - Call to Battle

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:10-13

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he instructs believers to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might"? How does this set the tone for the rest of the passage? [00:10]
2. How does the sermon describe the transition from the earlier chapters of Ephesians to the focus on spiritual warfare in chapter 6? [00:28]
3. What are the "principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places" that Paul refers to, and why are they significant in understanding the nature of the Christian battle? [23:33]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-13 relate to the broader theme of sanctification in the Christian life? [32:13]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Christian life is not a passive experience but an active battle? How does this understanding affect one's approach to daily living? [35:18]
3. How does the sermon challenge the idea of relying solely on God's strength without personal engagement in the spiritual battle? What balance is suggested between divine empowerment and personal responsibility? [36:07]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually unprepared for a challenge. How might putting on the "whole armor of God" have changed your response? [22:27]
2. Identify an area in your life where you tend to rely on your own strength rather than God's power. What steps can you take to shift this reliance? [35:18]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare. How can you become more vigilant and ready to stand firm against spiritual opposition in your daily life? [32:13]
4. Consider the "evil days" mentioned in the sermon. How can you prepare yourself spiritually for those times when you feel particularly under attack? [24:11]
5. The sermon calls for active participation in the spiritual battle. What practical actions can you take this week to engage more fully in this fight, empowered by God's might? [37:23]
6. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God? What role can you play in supporting each other in this spiritual journey? [35:18]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s call to move beyond self-pity and grumbling. What specific attitudes or behaviors do you need to change to align more closely with this call to battle? [41:52]

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Warfare is Our Reality
The Christian life is not a life of ease but a spiritual battle against the devil and his forces. Paul, in Ephesians 6:10, calls believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. This is not a suggestion but a necessity for living a victorious Christian life. The reality of spiritual warfare is that we face a formidable enemy who seeks to oppose us at every turn. Recognizing this truth is crucial for understanding the Christian journey. We are not called to a passive existence but to an active engagement in this battle, fully aware of the opposition we face and the resources available to us in Christ. [15:22]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you feel spiritual opposition? How can you actively engage in spiritual warfare in those areas today?


Day 2: Active Engagement in Spiritual Warfare
Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 6:10 is not an afterthought but an integral part of the Christian life. It emphasizes the necessity of active engagement in spiritual warfare, highlighting the reality of the opposition we face and the resources available to us in Christ. The Christian life requires vigilance and readiness, recognizing that we are in a battle against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places. This understanding is vital for living a victorious Christian life, as it calls us to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. [16:15]

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." (1 Peter 5:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you be more vigilant and ready to resist the enemy's attacks in your daily life?


Day 3: Strength in the Lord
The call to be strong in the Lord is a call to active participation in the spiritual battle. We are not to rely on our own strength or to remain passive, but to engage in the fight with the strength and power provided by the Lord. This is a crucial aspect of the Christian life, as it reminds us that our strength comes from God and not from ourselves. By relying on His might, we can stand firm against the enemy and live a victorious Christian life. [35:18]

"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." (Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can rely on God's strength rather than your own in your daily battles?


Day 4: The Necessity of Vigilance
Understanding the biblical doctrine of sanctification involves recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare. This section of Ephesians highlights the necessity of being vigilant and ready, fully armed with the armor of God, to stand firm against the enemy. The Christian life is not a passive experience but an active battle, requiring us to be prepared and equipped for the fight. By being vigilant and ready, we can stand firm against the enemy and live a victorious Christian life. [32:13]

"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be more vigilant in your spiritual life to avoid falling into temptation?


Day 5: Equipped for the Battle
The Christian life is not a passive experience but an active battle. We are called to be active participants in the fight, empowered by God’s might and equipped with His armor, recognizing the reality of the spiritual battle and the resources available to us in Christ. This understanding is vital for living a victorious Christian life, as it calls us to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. By being equipped for the battle, we can stand firm against the enemy and live a victorious Christian life. [37:23]

"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." (Ephesians 6:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What specific pieces of God's armor do you need to put on today to be better equipped for the spiritual battles you face?

Quotes

"The Christian life is a warfare, is a struggle. We wrestle. The whole section is to impress upon us the fact that it is a fight and a warfare and a struggle. There is no greater misrepresentation of the Christian message than that which depicts it and offers it to us as a life of ease with no battle and no struggle at all." [00:32:13]

"Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 6:10 is not an afterthought but an integral part of the Christian life. It emphasizes the necessity of active engagement in spiritual warfare, highlighting the reality of the opposition we face and the resources available to us in Christ." [00:16:15]

"The call to be strong in the Lord is a call to active participation in the spiritual battle. We are not to rely on our own strength or to remain passive, but to engage in the fight with the strength and power provided by the Lord." [00:35:18]

"Understanding the biblical doctrine of sanctification involves recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare. This section of Ephesians highlights the necessity of being vigilant and ready, fully armed with the armor of God, to stand firm against the enemy." [00:32:13]

"The Christian life is not a passive experience but an active battle. We are called to be active participants in the fight, empowered by God’s might and equipped with His armor, recognizing the reality of the spiritual battle and the resources available to us in Christ." [00:37:23]

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." [00:00:10]

"Now, this word of course must needs first of all engage our attention because we must be quite clear as to the meaning of this. Well, finally, my brethren, he says, what does he mean by finally? Is he just saying more or less, well now then, I've come to the end of my letter?" [00:02:34]

"Now, this is not just a kind of PostScript, and if we regard it as that, as I say, we've missed its real value. It isn't an afterthought. It isn't that he'd, as it were, said all it got the same finished as that, and they are remember there's just one other thing to regard it like that." [00:03:36]

"Now, that is one of those things which I had in my mind in referring, as I've been doing, to the style of the Apostle. He carries the whole case right through to the end, and when he comes to this, it's just something that is yet a further statement with regard to that." [00:04:18]

"Now, this is not something entirely different. It's a continuation of it, as if to say, now in the light of all this, I've been telling you about yourselves and the kind of life that you've got to live. Now then, here you are, you see, it is not all." [00:14:13]

"Now, then, this is not something entirely different. It's a continuation of it, as if to say, now in the light of all this, I've been telling you about yourselves and the kind of life that you've got to live. Now then, here you are, you see, it is not all." [00:14:13]

"Now, this is not something entirely different. It's a continuation of it, as if to say, now in the light of all this, I've been telling you about yourselves and the kind of life that you've got to live. Now then, here you are, you see, it is not all." [00:14:13]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?