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Be well-armed for the battle
Chaplains Corner November 2009 Bishinik
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We continue our study in Ephesians chapter 6. We are in a battle and we need to be well-armed for the battle. How do we begin?
For our lesson we want to read four verses from Ephesians 6:10-13:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
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.
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.
First, we need to know we are fighting.
There is one who stands against the truth concerning himself. For he is the great imitator and deceiver who would have men believe a lie concerning him.
Paul says to the Ephesians in Ephesians 6:11: ... that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
The devil is very clever. He is clever to make us believe that he does not exist. Thats the reason why we see so many ridiculous pictures of him. Dressed up in a red suit with horns and with a long forked tail and with an evil grin. If he is pictured like this there is little harm he can do, except to give us a bad dream. Satan is not the man below, shoveling coals into an eternal furnace.
And Satan is very clever. He hides in unbelievable places. He hides in religion, he hides in poetry and in art and in music.
We read in Job 2:2, And the Lord said unto Satan, from whence cometh thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
What a picture, Satan walking all over the earth doing his work. He is no imagination, he is real and he is the enemy.
In Ephesians 6:12, you will notice the word against is used five times.
The Christian is in a battle, there is something we are against, and someone who is against us. It is unhealthy to believe that there is no conflict in the Christian life because there is. There is a war between the flesh and the Spirit dwelling in your life.
Satan is the enemy and we are his enemy.
Isnt it interesting that Pauls instruction in Ephesians 6:10 is addressed to the brethren, Finally, my brethren, be strong ...
This is not a war by the Apostles, it is not a war for Pastors, this is a war for the Brethren.
Thats you and me, all of us, who are Christians. Everyone of us are involved in the battle.
The enemy lines have been clearly drawn. Its the Lord and the brethren against Satan and the demons. And the battle goes on every day in your heart and in your life and in mine.
The Bible identifies the enemy in Ephesians 6:11 as the devil and in Ephesians 6:16 as the wicked one. We are fighting against the wiles of the devil and the darts of the wicked ones.
It is important for us to know something about our enemy. Nobody ever goes to war without learning all he can about the one he fights against.
The first thing to know about him is his personality. If you go through the Bible and underline the names for Satan you will find out a lot about him.
He is called the deceiver, he is called the murderer, he is called the tempter, he is called the destroyer, he has been given the name Apollyon which means destroy. He is called the Beelzebub, the serpent, the liar, the accuser of the brethren, the prince, the evil one. He goes about as a lion. One passage says he is like an angel of light.
From generation to generation he continues his same attack. And everything about him and everything about his personality is wrapped up in that one thought.
One of the reasons why we dont do anything about putting on the whole armour is because we dont have any respect for the enemy.
We have not learned to understand that this one with whom we have to do is the second most powerful person in the universe, subject only to God, and he has power to destroy. How powerful is he?
The Bible says that men are held captive by the power of Satan, until delivered from it by the power of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.
In II Corinthians 4:3-4 we read: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Will you trust Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior by faith today? How do you do this? Realize who God is. Realize what He has done. He sent His Only begotten Son to pay the penalty for sin.
(John 3:16). Then realize who you are. Agree with God you are a sinner and receive Him as your Savior. (Romans 3:23).
Pray for America. Pray for and honor our veterans and our brave men and women in service. Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day.
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