EPHESIANS

(Eph. 6:10-17)

(Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

I. The Source of Strength

Knowing Your Position

1. He is a Captain Hebrews 2:10 “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” 2. He is a Man of War Exodus 15:3 “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.” 3. You are a soldier 2 Tim 2:3 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 4. Soldiers are able to fight 2 Tim 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 5. This is called a war 1 Tim 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

Knowing Your Position Know the Source

2 Cor 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 2 Tim 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

((Eph 2:10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Col 1:2 “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Col 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, Col 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

(John 15:4) Abide in me, and I in you (John 15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Satan defeated every great man. But Christ Satan defeated every great man! But Christ! Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 2 Cor 10:4 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” We go into battle like Gideon went into Battle!

(Eph 6:11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Qualities of a Soldier

Paul bases it off a literal Roman soldier. 1 Paul bases it off a literal Roman soldier. 1. Soldier should have courage. Eph 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 2. Soldier Holds his ground 1 Peter 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 3. Fights when scared 2 Samuel 10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

4. They fight for every single inch 4. They fight for every single inch. 2 Samuel 23:11-12 “And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victor”

Qualities of a Soldier Know your Armour

* There is no back plate! You are suppose to face you opponent straight up. You are not to stand alone!

First you have to know how to stand! Eph 4:27 “Neither give place to the devil.” 2 Cor 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Gen 3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Satan's first attack was on the Belt of Truth!

First you have to know how to stand!

(Eph 6:12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Reminder this is how you use to walk Reminder this is how you use to walk! Before Col 2:11-12 Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: John 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” John 14:30 “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

(Eph 6:13-14) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

You have a offensive and defensive capability Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Eph 6:13 “Withstand, Stand” Eph 6:14 “ Stand Therefore” 2 Tim 2:1-4 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

(Eph 6:14) “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

John 13:4-5 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. John 17:17 (Joh 17:17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 1 Peter 1:13(1Pe 1:13) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

(Eph 6:14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Romans 10:1-4 “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

(Eph 6:15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (1Pe 3:15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

(Eph 6:16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

(Heb 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Cor 11:23-27 Are they ministers of Christ 2 Cor 11:23-27 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool ) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness

(Eph 6:17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

1 Thes 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (2Pe 1:5-9) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

(Eph 6:17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Psalm 149:5-6 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

Sometimes you have to use your sword Sometimes you have to use your sword! Jer 48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood Judges 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them. Jud 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

* There is no back plate! You are suppose to face you opponent straight up. You are not to stand alone!