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Episodes
Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
The Original Marriage
Genesis 2 July 11, 2021
I. Introduction:
A. We are living in a time when the very foundations of marriage are being
questioned – questions like: who is marriage for, what is its purpose, how should
it operate; then add to that so many different people speaking into it as if they are
authorities on this.
1. Our culture no longer seeks to find truth but rather constructs its own
subjective personal truth, which results in great confusion about marriage.
2. We as Christians believe there is an objective truth outside of ourselves
regarding marriage that we discover in God and His Word.
3. So let me ask you right at the start – where or who do you look to in order to
get your answers about marriage!
B. So this morning I want to go back to the original marriage where this whole thing
of marriage began with Adam and Eve, so we can see the original design and
purpose for marriage.
1. A design and purpose that is still true today because it is built into the very
nature of marriage!
• So turn in your Bibles to …
II. Genesis 2
A. In chapter 2, He goes back and gives us more detail about what happened on the
sixth day when He created both man and woman and the institution of marriage!
1. Read Genesis 2:18a
2. As we go on in this section God comes up with the solution to this problem
of man’s aloneness – being separated from others in isolation.
B. So the structure to this passage is simple:
1. Problem: aloneness - v18a
2. God’s solution: suitable helper - v 18b
a) Search for a suitable helper - v19-20
b) Creation of suitable helper - v21-23
3. Creation of institution of marriage – v24
C. Read – remember
1. V 19 – earlier in day 6 God had created the animals and now He was bringing
them before Adam
2. V 23 – read this as my Hebrew professor taught us the way the Hebrew
actually should read this – wow! I still have the wow!
• So let’s start by looking at the
III. Woman created as the suitable helper
A. Reread v18
B. We learn in this passage that man and woman are the God created perfect fit and
help to each other.
C. That is what the word suitable means – something that fits another perfectly, the
counter-part, the complement, the answer to what the other needs, the one who
corresponds to, the one who is just right for, the one who harmonizes perfectly
with the other!
1. So it is someone who is different enough to supply what the other lacks but is
similar enough to fit smoothly! They are the perfect answer to what the other
one needs
2. Illustrate with the hands
D. Let’s take the cultural steroids out of the word helper as many have been jacked
up feeling that the word helper means women are inferior to men and just are their
sidekick helpers!
1. If that is your case, it shows you have been more influenced by the culture
than you have been by the Scriptures.
2. Because this word for helper is often used in Scripture of God helping man
and helping Israel, it clearly is not a position of inferiority, it is just a fact that
man needs help!
E. What does he need help for? We learn back in Genesis 1 that God gave man and
woman together the responsibility to subdue the earth and rule over His creation.
We also learn that in Genesis 2 he was to cultivate the garden.
1. Bottom line –marriage is God’s gift to man and woman to have someone to
help them live out all the responsibilities, someone who is an equal who is
similar enough to him yet different enough to provide the help needed.
2. What if you are single? God has given the gift others in the body of Christ to
come along side of you with their differences to support you. Marriage is just
a very unique way God does it.
F. God created the woman to be man’s the suitable helper!
1. We learn in Genesis 1-2 that men and women are absolutely equal in their
dignity and personhood but gloriously different on purpose in order to help
each another.
• All of this drives us into the very
IV. Purpose of marriage
A. Read v24
1. For this reason – that man and women are the perfect complement to each
other and that woman was taken out of man.
2. For this reason... read rest
B. Marriage is all about two absolutely equal but gloriously different people, a man
and a woman, leaving their family of origin to form a brand new family unit,
called “one flesh.”
1. Marriage is all about these two different people blending their entire life
together into one harmonious unit.
2. Unity is not about being the same, or acting alike or even losing your
individual identity.
3. It is quite the opposite. Unity is the blending together in perfect harmony
that which is different.
4. The beautiful dance of two becoming one
• I want to leave us with one key application today
V. God designed our differences to be a blessing!
A. Our differences as male, female and individual human beings are designed to
bless and provide what is lacking for our mate. But Satan uses our differences to
create conflict and separate us!
B. We need to learn to appreciate and tap into our mate’s differences for our own
good!
1. Kim and I are as different as they come! Learning to appreciate and be
blessed by our differences was clearly a long slow difficult process.
2. One area in particular was in the way we think – I am very logical, analytical,
theoretical and internal processor. Kim also is logical but she is more
intuitive, practical, and an external processor.
3. Early on, I thought my way of thinking and processing was superior to Kim’s
and that God wanted me to help her learn a better way to think! As you
might imagine, this was a source of frustration and tension in our
relationship.
4. Long story short - God humbled me many times by showing me often Kim
way of thinking was in the end right and mine was not!
a) I learned that Kim’s way was not inferior but different and I needed to
learn how to gain value from her way of thinking. Learning how to
bring together the two different thoughts and find the better thought, we
can have together as we value and listen to one another!
b) Now I recognize I need Kim’s perspective so I pursue and respect it
before making major decisions
C. Men and women are gloriously different in so many ways and while there are
some generalities that are true of many in each of the two genders, it is not true of
all. Our responsibility is to study and know our particular and unique husband
and wife!
1. We have different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses, different
energy levels and likes and dislikes.
2. We have personal histories that are different, as Kim said a few weeks ago
we are all living a one of a kind story that has never been lived by anyone
before!
3. Our families of origins have deeply affected the way we handle money,
conflict resolution, attitudes towards sex, friendships, recreation, religious
beliefs etc.
4. All of these differences can either bless or frustrate!
D. The two becoming one can be like going on a rafting ride together. You get in the
raft together and at the start, it’s just a lot of fun as you move with the current.
But at some point two different and mighty rivers merge together
1. When they first merge, there is great turbulence and disturbance but once the
two different rivers finally blend and run together it becomes one new mighty
river.
2. The same is true of our marriages – once we learn to navigate and benefit
from the great turbulence and disturbance that our differences bring our
marriages can become a mighty force for God’s glory, blessing each other
and blessing others!
E. So if you are struggling with these differences or the two of you blending together
as one let me encourage you with two things:
1. First, reframe the way you look at your differences,
a) Change the way you think about your differences from something that is
bad, inferior, wrong or needs to be changed,
b) To something that is valuable, a blessing to appreciate and designed to
make you even better!
2. Secondly, live by the truth of 1 Peter 2:25. Read
a) Trust Jesus to point out, sort out and guide you through the hundreds of
things deep within that must be addressed. So you can dance well the
dance of two becoming one and so you can be a blessing to each other
and those around you!
Monday Jun 28, 2021
Monday Jun 28, 2021
Waking Up to Your Mates World
June 27, 2021 MVC
I. Our Relationship
A. Let me start by saying that Kim and I have had a very good marriage relationship
but we definitely hit a wall about 20 years into our marriage where things were
not too pretty!
1. Today we want to share with you that story and some lessons we have
learned along the way hoping that you will be able to find something that
connects with and helps you!
B. Kim and I had become what I call “professional husband and wife” and
“professional parents.”
1. By that I do not mean that we have become so great in those areas that we are
in a higher category than others but rather that we have learned the routine
well, we know what we need to do and we were doing it well.
a. We have learned well how to juggle all of the different responsibilities
and schedules and we are doing what we need to do.
2. But also by professional I mean that we have learned to do it in a way that all
the external things were done (kids to school and events, bills paid, house
taken care of, meals were made), but internally our hearts were getting more
and more dry and distant from each other.
3. Somehow, with all the busyness and responsibilities of life we were not
intentional nor gave the time needed to keep the internal fire going in our
relationship.
a. By internal fire, I am referring to that thing that the Scripture calls
“cherishing.”
b. That is the heart disposition that holds the other person as dear. It is those
tender affectionate feelings that cause you to treasure the other person, to
hold them as a special prize, to esteem and admire.
4. We found ourselves set into some patterns in our relationship that over the
long run were deadly.
5. Some years ago, the Saturday Evening Post ran a humorous article that traced
the tendency for marriage partners to drift from a height of bliss into the
humdrum of routine attitudes. That article perfectly described the drift in our
relationship! The article was called the “seven ages of a married cold.” The
article likens the state of the marriage to the reaction of a husband to his
wife’s colds.
Year 1- “baby girl, I’m worried about you. You have a bad sniffle and there is
no telling about these things with all this strep around. I am putting you in the
hospital this afternoon for a general checkup and a good rest. I know the food
is lousy, but I’ll bring your meals in from Rossini’s. I’ve already got it
arranged with the floor superintendent.”
Year 2- “listen darling, I don’t like the sound of that cough and I’ve called
Doc Miller to rush over here. Now you go to bed like a good girl, please. Just
for papa.”
Year 3-, “maybe you’d better lie down, honey; nothing like a little rest when
you feel punk. I’ll bring you something to eat. Have we got any soup?”
Year 4- “look, dear, be sensible. After you feed the kids and get the dishes
washed, you’d better hit the sack.”
Year 5-, “why don’t you get yourself a couple of aspirin?”
Year 6- “if you’d just gargle or something, instead of sitting around barking
like a seal!”
Year 7- “for Pete’s sake, stop sneezing! Whatcha trying to do, gimme
pneumonia?”
6. Back then Pat and I found our marriage to be somewhere between year 6 & 7.
It became a wakeup call for us.
C. We were beginning to be very short with one another and I was getting to the
place where I was not that excited about coming home at night and she was pretty
happy to see me leave in the morning.
1. To me it felt like our relationship was on two different tracks. We were like
two trains heading the same direction but each on a separate track next to each
other!
2. For a few years, I had been struggling with my health to the point that I was
close to bedridden for many months. My doctors could not determine what
was going on so we went to Mayo Clinic. I was diagnosed with an
autoimmune disorder called fibromyalgia. It is a muscle/neurological
disorder, which causes chronic pain & fatigue.
a. There is no cure for this, but rather you learn to live with it by managing it
through various lifestyle changes. There are medications to help ease the
pain but the side effects are not worth it to me.
b. I was always a very active & athletic person with a high energy level. I
found myself restricted with many limitations in what I could do. In the
beginning this situation left me very incapacitated, discouraged and
grieving the loss of the person I had become. I was wrestling with
embracing and accepting these limitations and struggling with figuring out
how to live my life in light of them.
3. Pat found himself picking up much of the load of what I had to let go of. At
first he picked it up with joy because we finally had a clear diagnosis, but as
time went on it became a huge burden and Pat found himself resentful and
angry with me for the person I had become.
4. How do you tell your wife that you are not sure that you even like your wife
any more, especially when you are the senior pastor of a church and you have
been preaching a series on becoming lovers of God and people?
5. We went to bed one Saturday evening after another hard day with one another.
We had a rough exchange of words a couple of hours before and had spoken
little to each other. I finally turned to Pat and said, “Pat, I want to apologize
for the person that I have become. I know I am not the person you married 20
years ago and I don’t like the person I’ve become either. In fact, I’m grieving
the person I once was, full of energy and life.”
a. You do not know how that freed up my heart. What I was feeling was
true, she has changed and even she knows it. I had the best night of
sleep that I had had in months
6. The next morning I was able to share with Kim how I was feeling and that I
had been deeply disappointed in the person she had become and the changes
that had taken place in our life.
E. My sharing with Kim the disappointments that I was feeling allowed her to come
in touch and freed up to communicate to me the disappointments that she had with
our relationship and me.
1. Her primary disappointment was that
a. I had not provided for her a very exciting life,
b. The church had become the “other woman” in my life and she and the
girls were pushed to the side.
c. She was dying on the inside and now battling her physical health
2. I did not defend myself because instantly I knew that she was right. You see
an exciting date in the Peglow household is going to a small group meeting, or
assisting me in a counseling session, or going to some ministry activity or to a
child’s sporting event or school activity. Other than that, there is not much
going.
3. I put no intentionality or creative energy into our marriage relationship.
F. We knew we were in trouble and God in His grace put in our path a marriage
retreat that was just for couples in ministry with the unique struggles they go
through. We got three major take aways from that conference that put us back on
track and relaunched our marriage.
II. Lessons Pat Learned
1. Start all over – get remarried … – to the same person!
1. We heard Ray and Ann Ortland at a conference speak about this very thing of
us not being the person we married!
2. They said we need to renew our marriage vows with the people we have
become today.
3. And we need to remarry the person they have become over and over again
throughout the years.
4. Kim and I received that as God’s word for us and we did and have done that
repeatedly since then!
B. Secondly, while walking with Jesus is essential to a healthy relationship, marital
skills are very important too!
1. I felt if you just meet with Jesus regularly and walk with Him that is all you
need and that everything else in the marriage will fall in place supernaturally!
2. Yes, it is true that Jesus is essential to give you the heart you need for
marriage but the skills are very important to make you that much more
effective and less combative and stressful in your relationship.
C. Enter into, appreciate, and value your mate’s world!
Kim had entered into my world (my interests, my activities, my loves, etc.,)
but I never entered into hers! Remember I am serving God – I am a pastor I
need to focus on the more important things!
1. Read 5:25. Emphasize, "Gave himself up for her…"
a. That phrase "gave himself up for her" explains how a husband loves
his wife. He sacrifices himself in order to do what is best for her.
2. What God was challenging me to do was to "lay down or leave my world in
order to enter into her world." One of the things that Ephesians 5:25 is
calling husbands to do is to lay down their world, the things that come natural
to them, the things they are comfortable and familiar with and enter into their
wife’s world that is just as important and valuable as yours!"
3. All I had ever done was invite Kim to enter into my world of ministry and my
interests rather than entering into her world of responsibilities and her
interests.
4. Therefore, my new mission from God was clear. Meet my wife’s practical
needs that I had neglected for years and the only way that I was going to meet
it was by stepping outside of my world and entering into hers.
5. Not only is her world important but she is actually my number one ministry
even above the church and my number one relationship priority outside of
Jesus!
¨ A few other lessons God has taught us!
III. Lessons learned - Kim
A. It is important for a married couple to work as a team as a practical outworking of
what it means to be one.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For
if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one
who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie
down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? In addition,
if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three
strands is not quickly torn apart.”
1. Responsibilities: we work as a team and share in household duties and raising
& parenting our children according to our time schedules & commitments.
2. Decision making – we’ve learned to listen and hear each other out when
making major decisions and not act on a decision until we have both prayed
about it and are unified in it.
3. One area that I hear now and then with couples is the “mine and yours”
mentality regarding finances. You have become one and your names both
need to be on the bank accounts, credit cards, mortgage and car titles.
B. Take time to study your mate
1. Do you realize that God made males and females different? In fact, in Psalm
139, it says he made each one of us unique and different in our mother’s
womb, whether male or female.
2. Listen to this quote from Gary Thomas from his book “Cherish”…
“Your spouse has a unique history, so cherish your spouse by treating them
according to their reality. They are living a life that has never been lived
before. They have a personality that has never existed before. They have a
unique blend of strengths and weaknesses, temptations and gifts, as well as a
once-in-a-universe calling. Your role is to help them complete their one-of-akind
story.”
3. Take time to discover one another. Men, is she a verbal processor? Does he
need down time when he comes home from work? What are your spouse’s
hobbies, favorite flower, candy, food, types of movies, books, activities,
places they love to go? What energizes or depletes your mate? What are their
love languages (physical touch, receiving gifts, acts of kindness, words of
affirmation, quality time? What language(s) fill their love tank up?
4. What are their inner quality traits & characteristics? What areas are their
strengths & weaknesses?
5. Study your mates so you can begin to practically cultivate a relationship
where you both can express and cherish your love to each other according to
your knowledge of one another. Some ways to do this are:
a. Begin to and practice praising and affirming their inner character and
personality traits and strengths. i.e... smart, kind, funny, great sense of
humor, parent well, loyal friend, athletic, good listener, uses their time
wisely, great cook/griller/baker, creative, good provider, heart for God
and His Word, good listener, wise, teachable, or good teachers, live
within their means.
b. Pray often and regularly with them.
c. Lovingly exhort them to work on their areas of weakness and to excel
still the more physically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually.
d. Pat with sils; love notes/candy bar under pillow/ in restaurant Pat said I
was kind and beautiful
6. Simply - come along side each other, support one another in becoming the
personal story that God has written for them, and created them to be.
7. Why this is important: your attentiveness and interest in one another will
deeply convey and communicate your undying, unwavering love for each
other. It will demonstrate that your spouse is the most important person in
your life other than Jesus. It will warm their heart toward you in such a way
that they will begin to naturally respond back to you in like manner.
8. It doesn’t take being a rocket scientist to study your mate and get to know
them.
IV. Final take aways
A. Of the things we heard today, which area needs the most attention for you to
improve your marriage?
a. Maybe you need to be remarried to the same person. Either publicly or
privately renew my vows with the person who my mate is today!
b. Study your mate and appreciate their uniqueness and unique needs!
c. Maybe it is another area we mentioned today
C. Conversation starter – You know what baby, ________________ is the area I
believe I need to give attention to in order for our marriage to excel still the more.
Is there an area God has spoken to you about?
D. You may have hit walls that are way more serious or bigger than mine and Kim’s
– remember as I said “skills are very important but turning to and trusting Jesus is
essential
1. We have people here to pray with you. 2 Corinthians 1:10b-11a
2. The song we are going to close with today is “there’s nothing that our God
can’t do” and that is true with your marriage and mine. One word, one touch
from Jesus and the power of heaven will be in your marriage– there is no
power like the power of Jesus! Jeremiah 32:17
E. As we sing this song this morning, sing it out in faith and your prayer to the Lord
regarding your life and marriage.
F. Pray for marriages!
Monday Jun 28, 2021
Monday Jun 28, 2021
The Mystery of Marriage
Ephesians 5:31-33 & Matthew 7:24-27 June 13, 2021
I. Introduction:
A. Marriage is a great mystery!
1. Turn in your Bibles and read Ephesians 5:31-33
2. By mystery it does not mean it is something that is very strange and cannot
be understood
3. But what it does mean is that it is a truth that cannot be known or understood
apart from the Bible revealing it to us.
4. Here in this context we learn that the mystery of marriage is that the deep
oneness that happens when a man and woman become husband and wife is
actually a picture of the oneness of that Jesus and the church experience in
their relationship.
B. This summer we are going to look at what the Bible says to us about marriage.
My hope is to lay a foundation for us regarding marriage that is based on the
Bible so we can stand the storms of what this culture is bringing against marriage
today. The storms that can come just by two people, who are equal in dignity as
persons but gloriously different as male and female living really close to one
another.
1. You know that when the foundation is off and weak the rest of the building
becomes vulnerable when stress and pressure is put on it.
2. That foundation has to be built upon God and His Word because God is the
creator of male and female, He is the one who instituted marriage as the
pinnacle of His creation! Everything God created up to that point was good
but after He created male and female in His image and instituted marriage He
said it is very good
3. God as the creator and designer of male and female along with marriage has
written an owner’s manual, the Bible. In the Bible He gives us wisdom about
many things that relate to marriage and how they were designed to work –
love, forgiveness, how to relate to one another, sex, parenting,
communications, how to handle conflict, money, what to do with our
weaknesses, etc.
4. When we ignore God and His Word when it comes to marriage, we do it to
our own hurt!
C. Turn to Matthew 7:24-27. Read
1. Let me illustrate that with the swing set we got when our daughters were real
young and I was new at MVC
a) Started with the owner’s manual then Roger, my next-door neighbor
came over with a better idea, “since pastors do not last long you can take
it with you…”
b) After setting it up, the next day, I am at church and Kim calls – there is a
problem…
c) Next day back to owner’s manual, and I followed it instructions and it
worked perfectly for over 30 years.
2. So many people are building their marriages in light of the ideas they have
heard and seen from “the Rogers” in their lives (experts in the world, parents
or friends) rather than by the instructions of the one who created male and
female and marriage.
• Today I am going to be speaking in a very general sense and in weeks to come we
will look at greater specifics from God’s Word. Let me start with two
II. Myths about marriage that make poor foundations!
A. Marriage was designed to make me happy!
1. I love the story Dr Henry Cloud told about a friend who told him “when I
was single, I was unhappy and insecure. Then I got married and I became
married, unhappy and insecure!
2. God is not against our happiness but there are much greater purposes for
marriage than that!
3. When we build marriage on happiness, when it starts to wane, and it will
wane, then we either blame our mate or ultimately leave our mate looking for
someone who will make me happy!
B. The second myth is marriage will complete me!
1. Sometimes people feel like they are not whole or like something is missing
until they find that soul mate and get married to them. They think they have
found that better half and now will be complete!
2. The Bible teaches us that a mate or any other person (for those of you who
are single) was never designed to complete us instead; they were designed to
make us better!
3. When we look to them to complete us, that is do something for us that only
God can do, we make them an idol and frustrate both them and ourselves.
4. When I get my completeness from God then I can move towards my mate to
give them blessings rather than to get from them something I need!
III. Now I want to share …
IV. Four counter cultural Bible truths that have shaped the foundation of Kim’s and my
marriage
A. First, marriage was designed to make me holy not happy
1. I first learned about this truth when I was reading the book by Gary Thomas
called Sacred Marriage.
2. It makes sense when you look at marriage through the lens of God’s ultimate
purpose in our life.
a) Romans 8:29 tells us that God predestined us to be conformed to the
image of His Son Jesus Christ and Romans 8:28 essentially tells us that
God causes all things to work together for this purpose.
b) Read Romans 8:28-29
3. This turns most North American perspectives about marriage upside down
and changes everything about the way I approach and respond to both the
good and tough parts about marriage!
a) So God is even going to use the things that make me unhappy in
marriage as part of His process to make me more like Jesus.
4. There is something going on in marriage that is bigger than my happiness!
B. Second marriage is a covenant not a contract.
1. Many may not know this but our whole relationship with God and His
program in this world is based upon covenant
2. I am going to spend a whole message on this but let me say one thing about
this now. Death and covenant are tightly tied together as the death both
ratifies and pictures for us the heart of a covenant.
3. So the one picture of death that I want to remind us of is that I have died to
myself and now I live for Kim and Kim has died to herself and now she lives
for me!
a) Everything I do, every decision I make should be for her benefit and not
mine.
b) I am laying down my life to bless her!
4. This is no different from our new covenant relationship with the Lord where
we no longer live for ourselves but we live for Him while at the same time
He commits himself to care for us!
5. There is something going on in marriage that is bigger than I am!
a) So let me ask you men – the last time you kissed your wife did you do it
to get a blessing or to give her a blessing?
C. The third cherishing is the driver of love, commitment is the spare tire
1. I hear people often say love and marriage is all about commitment. I disagree
with that 99%.
2. While commitment is an aspect of love, it is not the driver. Cherishing your
mate should be the driver in your marriage. To cherish them means that I
have a soft and tender heart towards them that values them highly and I care
for them with a tender love.
3. Commitment is more about I have to do it because I promised her versus the I
get to do it because I delight in her that comes from cherishing.
4. Ladies, let me ask you this – would you rather have your husband hold your
hand and kiss you because he delights in you and wants to or because he has
to because he married you?
5. Commitment is a part of love but it is the part that comes when the cherishing
is not going well, then I pull out the spare tire of commitment and use that
until the cherishing is restored.
6. The Song of Solomon is clearly a picture of a couple that cherishes one
another!
D. Fourth, marriage models our relationship with Jesus
1. It is my opportunity to model how Jesus loves us to Kim, my kids and the rest
of the world!
2. That is where we started today in Ephesians 5 and we will be back to that
passage at least four times in this series.
3. But simply the way that I treat my wife and the way she treats me becomes
one of the greatest visuals God has given to us in our witness to a lost world
and to help grow other believers in this.
4. The love and respect that should be there between a husband and wife and the
kind of love that Jesus has for us and the kind of respect His people give Him
is better caught by couples who model it than taught by preachers who preach
it!
V. Conclusion
A. What if I discovered this morning that my foundations are so far off that I need an
overhaul in my marriage? Good news – that is what Jesus is all about!
1. He not only saves us from the penalty of sin but also from the power of sin in
our lives and marriages!
2. He gives us the Holy Spirit to dismantle sin in our lives and to build the life
and heart of Jesus into us!
B. I think many couples need to have a very honest conversation this week
1. To see how closely their marriage is built upon the foundations that can face
the storms of this world and this life.
2. And how deeply they are depending upon the Holy Spirit to transform them
and their marriages into something that matches the instructions in the
owner’s manual!
C. Pray
Thursday Jun 03, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
God’s Double Whammy Defense
Various Passages May 23, 2021
Introduction
A. No soldier would ever go to battle without their defensive
armor or their offensive weapons
1. Today we are going to look at our defensive armor
2. Next week we will look at our key offensive weapon!
• This morning I want to share with you two strong defensive
resources that God gives us in standing firm against Satan’s
attacks to hold our ground. The first is…
I. The armor of God
A. God has provided His armor for the very purpose that we might
be able to stand firm against Satan’s attacks turn to Ephesians 6
1. Read v11 put on the full armor … “that” you may be able
to stand firm.
2. Read v 13, take up the full armor …“that” you may be able
to resist... and... Stand firm.
B. What is the armor?
1. Read v14-17
2. Bottom line - truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation,
and the Word of God.
C. I want to share with you in a very practical way, how I put on
the armor!
1. I put on the armor through believing prayer.
2. I start by thanking God for the foundation that by His
doings, I am in Christ and Christ is in me. When I pray
about:
a. I in Christ I am claiming all the gifts and rights that
God has given to me in Christ.
b. Christ in me I am praying that the life of Jesus within
would grow in me and take greater possession of my
life in these particular ways!
3. You will note as I describe what I do that when it comes
to what I am in Christ it is always in the context of
thanking God for that because it is already done. But
when it comes to Christ in me, I am always asking for
something because it has to do with what God needs to do
in my life.
D. Describe what the armor is like that we wear.
1. Belt = truth – the belt is so important because it is the
piece of the armor that holds all the other pieces in place.
a. Satan’s primary tool is the lie. He was a liar from the
beginning, he is the father of lies and he works through
the lie. Much of spiritual warfare rages in the mind and
it is a battle between the truth and lies.
b. In Christ – thank Him that I am in the truth and
associated with the truth.
c. Christ in me – ask
1) His spirit to move the truth from my head to my
heart. That He would cause truth to fill the innermost
part of my being.
2) Holy Spirit to shine His light of truth on and expose
any darkness, lies, ground, denial, deception, doubt,
strongholds (mindsets contrary to truth) strategies
that Satan is working against me, my family and
MVC.
2. Breastplate = righteousness
a. Satan is constantly attacking believers in this area.
1) He accuses us of sin and tries to convince us that deep
inside there is something wrong with us, and that we
are dirty and not good. He also is looking for ground
in our life from which he can work!
2) We need to stand firm in the truth that we are
righteousness in Christ.
b. In Christ – thank that in Christ I am righteousness.
Nothing to do with my performance or any righteousness
of my own. Thank you that I stand before you today with
Jesus righteousness and not my own.
c. Christ in me – ask Jesus to fill me with His righteousness
in such a way that I live a righteous life. Would He make
righteousness the delight and desire of my heart? And
make me more righteous so Satan has less he can grab
onto!
3. Shoes = peace
a. I believe this applies to both the peace with other brothers
and sisters in Christ and proclaiming of the good news to
the lost of peace with God through Jesus.
b. When we are under attack by Satan, we feel like God is
displeased with us because not everything is in order in
our lives. In the midst of the battle, you need to stand on
firm on the fact that you are at peace with God.
c. A key theme in Ephesians is the peace that comes between
the believing Jew and Gentile and that Jesus has already
broken down the dividing wall.
1) Nothing that I know of better causes a place for Satan
to attack than in the area of divided relationships
between believers. When we have something in our
hearts against one another, Satan notices that and
causes it to come out in such a way as to ruin
relationships and churches.
2) We need to be ready to make peace with one another.
d. So when I pray I pray regarding both peace in my
relationships and spreading the gospel of peace.
1) In Christ – thank Him that I am one with Him and we
are at peace with one another!
2) Christ in me
• Ask Him to grant me every grace that I need to be at
peace with those who struggle with me and I pray for
blessings upon those with whom I struggle.
• I also ask Him that as an ambassador He would give
me the heart of Jesus towards the lost and a readiness
in my heart to share the gospel. Pray that He would
open a door for me to share the gospel
4. Shield = faith
a. When Satan’s lies, doubts, and temptations come flying
over at us, it will require the shield of faith to extinguish
them.
1) Without faith then Satan’s flames begin to burn and
destruction of our lives is the result; and we are
distracted from the real enemy as we are busy putting
out the fires that Satan has started.
2) Like the Roman soldier, we must also at all times
crouch behind that shield when we are fighting.
Whenever we take on the enemy from a stance other
than by faith we leave ourselves open to be struck by
his arrows.
b. In Christ – thank Him that I am in the faith.
c. Christ in me – ask that His Spirit would fill me with His
faith, His expectancy and His dependency. I ask that my
faith will not come from me but from Him. And that He
would make me sensitive to the flaming darts coming my
way!
5. Helmet = salvation
a. In Christ – thank Him that I am already saved, already a
new creature, already dead to sin and alive to God, already
delivered from authority of Satan and transferred to
kingdom of His son. That I am no longer a victim but
now a victor! I declare that I am fighting today from a
position of victory and not trying to get victory
b. Christ in me – ask Him to work in particular strongholds
in my life. Break, transform and control. I also ask Him
to work in areas of sin and ground in my life that I am not
even aware of. I particularly ask Him to make me aware
of my own thoughts and that by His grace I would bring
every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
6. Sword = word -
a. We will look at this one next week in more depth as part
of our offensive weapon.
b. It is sufficient to say today that I pray the Spirit of God
will speak the word to my heart, bring the word to me
through others, and through me to others!
• So the first defensive gift that God gives us is the armor of God.
The second one is …
II. God himself as our refuge!
A. Read Psalm 18:30
1. A refuge is a place that provides shelter or protection from
danger or distress.
2. Illustrate it by running to Kim’s porch during a rainstorm
when we were dating.
3. God is saying here that His word is tried, proven and
certain. If you trust Him to be your protection from
danger, He will be a shield to you.
4. Remember in Job 1:10 Satan complained to God that he
could not get at Job because God had put a hedge about
him, his house and all that he had.
B. Turn and read Psalm 91:9-11.
1. By faith, he trusted God to be his refuge as a result God
gave his angels a charge/command concerning him to
guard him in all his ways.
2. Picture this for them. Me praying and God calling the
angels at the café.
C. Does this really work? I wondered that myself and began to
ask God if this was real or was I just making it up in my
head. Within 2 weeks
1. Story of Courtney and the school kids egging her on to
involve herself in a séance. Felt like something one was
telling her no in her heart.
2. Story of me working for Dave and painting a front window
when woman came out fully naked.
3. Did not think but rather God whispered that into my heart
• So
III. Application
A. Simply start daily and at special times of trial or ministry to
pray on this armor through believing prayer, declare to God you
are trusting Him to be your refuge, your spiritual protection,
then ban Satan from your life and ministry by the blood,
authority and name of Jesus
B. Resource of my warfare prayer
C. Pray
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Satan’s Favorite Plays
Various Passages May 16, 2021
I. Introduction:
A. A number of years ago the Chicago Bears were playing the Dallas Cowboys in the
playoffs. The Cowboys beat the Bears and frustrated them greatly in the process.
Four times the Bears had the ball inside the Cowboy’s 10-yard line but each time
they were unable to score a touchdown.
1. I will never forget watching the 10 o’clock news that night. The sportscaster
had gone into each of the locker rooms and asked a player from each team the
same question. “Why could the Bears not score even though they had the
ball inside the 10 yard line four times in the game?”
a) The Bears player shock his head in frustration and said “I do not know”
b) The Cowboys player said, “We know why, we watched their films.
They always do the same thing, so we stacked up against where we knew
they were going to go. We were ready for them.
2. Did you know that Satan is much like the Chicago Bears were? He uses the
same tricks over and over again.
B. God in His word has shown us what Satan’s favorite plays are so we, like the
Dallas Cowboys, can be ready for his attacks, stack up our defense against were
we know he is going to go.
• This morning we want to look at Satan’s three favorite plays that he uses over and
over again in his game plan. the first one is …
II. Confuse our plays
A. When we are in the huddle with God in His word, we get our plays that He wants
us to carry out! But Satan seeks to confuse us and get us to question what God
wants us to do.
1. We see he did this with Eve.
2. There are three parts to this play
B. First part is that he confuses us about God’s word
1. Read Genesis 2:16-17a - This is what God did say – “from any tree except
one you may eat freely.” Read Genesis 3:1 - this is what Satan said – “you
shall not eat from any tree.”
2. Satan twisted God’s word to try to confuse her as to what God said.
3. Satan will do anything to keep us from reading, studying, memorizing and
mediating on God’s word.
a) He does not want us to be clear about God’s ways. This play includes
keeping us confused.
C. Second part is tampers with the consequences
1. Read Genesis 2:17b - God said, “You shall surely die” Read Genesis 3:4 -
Satan said, “You surely shall not die!”
2. Now he convinces us that the consequences of disobeying God are really not
that bad.
3. Come on, God is a God of grace and love. He understands and forgives.
D. Third part is once he has us questioning God’s word and the consequences of sin
then he tells us that we are not complete. There is something we are missing.
Read v5
1. God is withholding something good from you. Something that you really
need. You deserve this. If only you had, then your life would be OK. He
gets us preoccupied with what we do not have and what we need.
2. Satan’s goal is to get us to go outside of Christ to find what fulfills us; job,
pleasure, person, position, possession, etc.
E. So Satan’s favorite play is to: confuse us regarding God’s word; tamper with the
consequences of sin; then tell us that we are not complete.
1. Then he gets us to indulge in sin resulting in us destroying ourselves read v6-
8
• That is Satan’s first favorite play that he uses over and over again on us. but he has
two more …
III. His ground attack.
A. Satan is looking for certain conditions that are ripe for his work.
1. Read 1 Peter 5:8
2. What kind of person is Satan seeking to devour?
B. I believe that Satan is looking for a place to stand.
1. Favorable circumstances by which he can take hold of and use, a base of
operation. Ground to stand on to take advantage of us.
2. Read Ephesians 4:26-27 read; 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 read
C. Ways that Satan can find a place to stand in our life
1. Anger Ephesians 4:26-27
2. Unforgiving heart 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
3. Selfishness - Matthew 16:21-25
4. Immorality - 1 Corinthians 5:1,5
5. Pride - 1 Timothy 3:6
6. Worldliness - James 4:4-7 1 John 2:15-16 – playing in his playground all
day
7. Unbelief - 1 Timothy 1:19-20
8. Bad conscience - 1 Timothy 1:19-20
9. Anything you love more than Jesus - Revelation 12:10-11
10. Ancestral sin (especially satanic sin) - Exodus 20:4-5 1 Peter 1:18
11. Lack of marital sexual fulfillment - 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 –
12. Idol worship (objects of idol worship) - 1 Corinthians 10:20
Beth with the dream catcher
* Exceptions: sometimes God allows Satan to work in our lives
- battle point – Job – purposes we cannot understand
- sanctification - 2 Corinthians 12:7 – messenger of Satan to keep us humble
IV. His goal line defense
A. A goal line defense that is when a team is very close to scoring a touchdown. The
goal line defense is an arrangement of players, especially big and strong, all
stacked up right in the middle so that it is hard to gain even a yard at a time. It is
designed to hold the offense right where they are so they cannot move.
B. Satan has a play like that and it is called a stronghold
1. A stronghold is a well-secured and guarded position that cannot easily be
entered into.
2. Illustrate this on the platform.
C. Read 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
1. Note in v4 the “destruction of fortresses.” Note in v5 “we are destroying.”
Destruction …. Destroying.
2. In other words, he moves from the general in v4 to the specific in v5. In v4,
he tells us these weapons are for the destructions of fortresses. In v5, he gets
very specific in telling us what these fortresses are they are destroying!
Read v 5 again
a) Speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of
God. It is a battle for the mind. It is a battle of truth
b) Has to do with every single thought that passes through our minds.
Every single worldview and philosophy that the world is promoting as it
is trying to squeeze us into its mold!
D. But this battle is not just with individual thoughts that pass through our minds.
Strongholds are mindsets, patterns of thinking, ways of thinking, and habits in
thinking that are contrary to the truth.
1. We are usually not conscious of these patterns. Our conscious thoughts are
usually the fruit of these strongholds.
2. When God destroys a stronghold in our life, He is pulling out a problem by
the roots so that the symptom are all dealt with.
• How do we respond to all of this information?
V. Conclusion
A. Read Psalm 36:9
1. The first light is God’s light shining into us
2. The second light is our light in that we see things as they really are.
3. This is not about searching out your life but rather the Spirit of God and the
word of God shining light on things I may be out of touch with or are so
deeply built into my thinking that I think they are normal
B. So pray, God
1. Are there any places in my life where my thinking about your word is
confused or lacking?
2. Are there any sins in my life that Satan is using as ground for him to work
3. Are there any ways of thinking that are contrary to your ways of thinking?
C. Quiet reflection
Wednesday May 12, 2021
Wednesday May 12, 2021
Wednesday May 12, 2021
How to Ban Satan from our Lives
May 2, 2021 – Communion
Introduction:
A. So far we have learned that:
1. “There is an invisible intelligent organized army out there whose sole desire
is to destroy us.”
2. We also learned that Satan has a game plan to destroy us: Satan will use the
world to tempt our flesh so we will destroy our selves by our own sin.
B. This morning I want to address the question: “How do we resist Satan as the
Scripture tells us to do?”
1. Scripture
a) Ephesians 6:13
b) James 4:7
c) 1 Peter 5:8-9
2. Resist means to answer an offensive action by using counter force.
C. To do this we need to go back to Ephesians 6:10 where we learned that the
spiritual foundation to this whole spiritual battle we are in is for us to be strong in
the Lord and the strength of His might.
1. That is all the spiritual blessings, rights, privileges, positions, promises that
are now ours because we are in Christ and all the power that comes to us
through the Spirit of Jesus being in us!
• So this morning I want to share with you the three special rights and privileges we
have in Christ regarding our battle with Satan! The first is…
I. The blood of Christ
A. Turn and read Colossians 2:14-15
B. V15 says that at the cross God did three things:
1. Disarmed the satanic army - stripped away from them their weapons
specifically the weapon of using sin against us in v14
2. Made a public display - explain in that culture when a victory was so
complete they would strip the enemy and march them right down the center
of town to show everyone how totally defeated they are.
3. Triumphed over them through Christ - a decisive and overwhelming victory
has already been won at the cross.
4. Note that all of this is already done, already accomplished through the blood
of Christ shed at the cross.
C. Read Revelation 12:11
• The second spiritual right and privilege God has given us in His grace is …
II. The authority that we already have over Satan
A. We talked about this a few weeks ago as we learned we do not have the power to
overpower Satan but God has given us the authority, the legal right to use the
power of Jesus to defeat Satan.
1. Read Ephesians 1:20-21
2. Read Ephesians 2:6
• The third spiritual right and privilege God has given us in His grace is …
III. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ
A. Read Philippians 2:6-10
1. Acts 16 tells us about a slave girl that had a demon in her and followed Paul
around for many days. Listen to Acts 16:18
B. A name is simply a symbol that represents all that a person is and does! God has
given us the privilege to use Jesus name in both prayer and warfare!
1. Like the song says – there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain
2. In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested and they were brought before the high
priest and his descendants.
a) Listen to what they asked Read Acts 4:7
b) Note here they equated name with power!
C. I remember watching the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China.
1. Both the British and the Hong Kong flags were raised. In a moment, those
two flags would be lowered and China’s and the new Hong Kong flag would
replace them.
2. The announcer then said, “Those flags carry great symbolism… as each flag
represents all that is behind it.”
a) Each flag represents a different political system, different economic
systems, different military power, different rulers, different laws,
different culture and just different ways in general.
b) While at the moment of the changing of the flags it appeared very little
really happened but a ceremony. But actually very deep changes took
place that have made a great difference in Hong Kong.
3. The name of Jesus is the same! The name of Jesus represents all that He is,
does, has given us, authority, power, victory, etc. ; and at the moment that we
use it, it may appear that very little is happening but very deep spiritual things
take place.
D. Whenever Satan comes our way, we need to raise the flag of Jesus name. Satan
knows that it is the means that God has given to us to represent that Jesus and all
of His authority and power are on our side.
1. When we bring the name of Jesus against Satan, it is like a police officer
flashing his badge.
2. He is showing the people that he is a representative of a certain government
authority and that all their power is available to back what he says and does.
IV. Conclusion
A. So when I use God’s gifts to resist Satan I think of this simple little acronym
“ban”. Ban Satan by the blood, authority and name of Jesus!
1. Like any gift of God’s grace, we experience them on the basis of faith.
2. We must by faith claim our victory over Satan on the basis of the blood,
authority and name of Jesus!
3. Like Peter said, we must resist him firm in faith!
B. The best way I can picture what happens when we do this is what I saw in a
movie a number of years ago.
1. A mountain lion was devouring all sorts of animals in the wild.
2. One day this lion came across a small bear cub. The camera showed the lion
growling at the little bear cub and in a position ready to attack. Then you saw
the little bear cub stand up on his feet and growl back at him as if he was not
a bit afraid.
3. I thought this bear cub is dead; he has no chance against this lion. I figured
the lion would brush off his growl and destroy the bear. However, the next
scene you see is the lion backing off. I did not understand it this lion could
destroy that bear.
4. Then they showed a completely different camera angle. Something that we
did not see first time was shown this time. Behind the bear cub was his
mother. Standing up about ten feet tall ready to defend her cub if needed.
Not making a sound but making its presence known.
5. When we by faith stand on the foundation of God’s gifts of grace He is
standing right there behind us seeing to it that His word will be fulfilled and
the His presence will be made known to Satan.
V. Communion
A. As we go to communion this morning, consider what James 4:7 says, “Submit
therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
1. Is there any area of your life that you must submit to God then resist the devil
by banning him from your life with the blood, authority and name of Jesus?
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
The Sure Foundation for Victory
Various Passages April 18, 2021
Introduction:
A. Foundations are the ultimate support upon which something stands, whether it be
a building or an idea!
1. If the foundation is strong, then the structure that is built upon it will stand
the test of time and stress.
2. If there is any flaw in the foundation it will have a direct impact upon the
strength or the condition of the building and will become more and more
evident over time!
B. If we ever need a foundation that is flawless, it is in the area of spiritual warfare
since we are facing an invisible army who has thousands of years of experience
and their sole goal is to destroy us!
¨ This morning I want to look at the sure foundation for our
victory over Satan. In weeks to come we will continue to look
at the complete structure of our victory over Satan but we need
to get the foundation right or everything else will be off.
I. The riches of God’s grace Ephesians 6:10
C. This is one of the strongest passages in the New Testament regarding our battle
with Satan, we learn here about the armor that God provides for the battle. But
before he goes into the armor, he lays a foundation for us. Read v10
1. He teaches us here that foundational to our warfare with the enemy, even
foundational to the armor being effective for us; we must be strengthened by
the Lord in two different ways!
a) Strong in the Lord - you in Christ
b) Be strong … in the strength of His might - Christ in you
2. We need to be strong in all that we are in Christ and we need Him filling our
lives with His strength.
a) At the core of our beings, we are spiritual beings. “Christ in us” and “us
in Christ” is not just a theological phrase but rather a deeply real spiritual
relationship that we have with Christ
b) This is how God infuses us with life and power of the Spirit of Jesus,
shares with us all the rights, privileges, and victories He has already
accomplished for us!
c) I love the way the TPT says this verse! - “…be supernaturally infused
with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand
victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing in and through
you.” Ephesians 6:10 TPT
B. You in Christ and Christ in you are the two major pillars of God’s grace. The
foundation of our victory over Satan is God’s grace. If you will, it is the footing
to the foundation that upon which even the foundation stands!
1. All that God freely gives us in Christ and all that God freely gives us with
Christ in us is the heart of God’s grace.
2. Us in Christ is the way that god sees us and blesses us.
a) Remember from Ephesians 1:3 that in Christ we have already been
blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places!
b) That means that God has already given to us as a gift every blessing,
every promise, every position, every privilege, every right, and even the
victory Jesus has already accomplished over Satan!
3. Christ in us is the way that God changes us and empowers us.
a) The Spirit of Jesus within us is the one who transforms us to be people
who fight from the right foundation of Gods’ grace and the one who
empowers us to live like a mighty warrior of Jesus!
C. If we respond to Satan’s attacks by any means other than grace, we are doomed
to defeat! It is what Jesus has done and not what we can do that is the basis of
our victory over Satan!
¨ So now, with the footing of the foundation in place now let us look at two
foundational gifts of God’s grace that we have in our battle with Satan. First, …
II. God has already won the battle
A. Turn to and read Colossians 1:12-14
B. First note the word “He.”
1. God is the one who has won the battle not us.
2. It does not say that God “will” deliver us “if” we do the right things, or pray
enough or obey enough or anything else. Our victory is not dependent upon
us but upon God.
3. Much of what I have heard in the area of spiritual warfare makes the victory
over Satan dependent upon our performance and jumping through so many of
the right spiritual hoops and saying the exact right words in a warfare prayer
so you can have the victory. In other words this way emphasizes we must do
certain things in order to be set free from Satan’s power in our life.
C. V 13 does not say that God “will” deliver us and transfer us …
1. It does say that God has “already” delivered us from the territory over which
Satan was ruler exerting his power and authority
2. God has “already” transferred us into the kingdom where His Son is ruler
exerting His power and authority.
3. Picture this with two sections on the main floor (neighborhood) as God pulls
us out of one and puts us into another.
D. I remember the day God turned on the lights inside of me to realize this.
1. It was break time of a seminar, went back to my office with the two speakers
at the seminar, and shared the deep struggle I was in.
2. As they prayed for God to work in my behalf the lights went on inside of me
as the Spirit showed me that I already have the victory. It is not something I
have to get but something I already have.
3. From that day on the foundational way, I did spiritual warfare totally changed
as I moved from doing things to get the victory to standing in the victory I
already have!
¨ Now that I know in God’s grace that He has already given me the victory over Satan I
need to recognize the third foundation and that is that …
III. I have authority over Satan.
A. To understand this properly we must understand the difference between authority
and power because I do not have the power to overcome Satan but I do have the
authority to overcome Satan!
1. Power - ability to act, capability of producing an effect or exert force.
2. Authority - the right to exercise someone else’s power. The legal right to
command.
3. A good way to illustrate authority is what a police officer has when he directs
traffic. A big semi is rolling down the road that is much bigger and more
powerful than him. That powerful truck comes to a halt when the police
officer raises his hand.
a) The police officer had the authority to stop the truck but he did not have
the power to stop it!
b) By virtue of his authority as police officer, he has the power of the
government behind him. They can bring all and every resource they
have to stand behind what the police officer is ordering.
4. God has given us the legal right, with all His strength, all His angels and His
Son and His Spirit to back it up, to command Satan from using his strength to
overcome us.
B. Turn and read Ephesians 1:19-22
1. Note first the names of demons here. (Rule - authority - power and dominion)
we learned last week that their names indicate that they do have a measure of
control, exerting some kind of influence over humans.
2. But note also where Jesus is
a) Seated at the right hand of God. God is seated on the throne in heaven
(1) A throne is the place where the king rules.
b) He is seated “far above”
(1) Jesus is in a place where He is not just above but far above all the
rule, authority, power and dominion of Satan and his army of
demons!
c) In other words, Satan and his demons are in subjection to Jesus.
C. Now look at Ephesians 2:4-6
1. Where are we right now in Christ? Seated at right hand of throne!
2. We have not only been joined together in the death and resurrection of Jesus
but also in the ascension of Jesus Christ
3. God in His grace has shared with us the authority of Jesus Christ and that is
the basis of our victory over Satan.
IV. Application
A. Let me try to illustrate how all this works with flood insurance. I shared this early
on in our Ephesians series but it fits perfectly here!
1. Required to buy at $300+ per year – bothered me because no flood at my
house since Noah!
2. I had to tell someone just how much that bother me so I called insurance
man, bank, surveyor, city – good news – not in zone
3. Called back bank, surveyor but he refused to change (pride)
4. Because it was legally mine I kept calling and kept claiming my right
5. Eventually he gave in and changed it and I got back my $300
6. It happens the same way spiritually as we stand firm in the grace God has
already given us with the victory and authority over Satan! As we fight the
fight of faith against Satan, he will eventually back down and God’s Spirit
floods us with His presence, power, and freedom!
7. 1 Peter 5:9-11
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Be Prepared to Fight the Right Enemy
Eph 6:10-13 April 11
I. Introduction:
A. Many years ago Kim and I attended a seminar for pastors and their wives
regarding burnout and handling stress in the ministry. It was led by a medical
doctor and a pastor.
1. The medical doctor opened up the 1st session with a comment that caught me
off guard coming from someone from the medical field.
2. In essence he said “there is an invisible intelligent organized army out there
whose sole desire is to destroy us. We have to expect it, we must recognize it,
we must be prepared!” Dr. Richard Swenson
3. Did you ever stop to think that you have an invisible intelligent organized
army of supernatural evil beings whose sole goal is to destroy you?
4. It’s a war for your soul and a war for your marriage and family,
church and nation!
5. It is time for us to wake up from the illusion that being a Christian is like
going to a church picnic or a Christian concert but rather it is a war!
B. And God warned us about this many, many years ago in Eph 6! Please turn to
Eph 6:10-13.
1. Watch for the heart of what God is telling us in this passage which also will
become the heart of my message this morning: be prepared to fight the right
enemy!
2. Watch for this as I read.
• Let’s start by talking about …
II. Fighting the right enemy
A. Listen again to11b-12 as to who our battle is with.
1. Satan and his army of invisible spiritual angels – called demons.
2. He classifies 4 different kinds of demons here – rulers, powers, world forces
of this darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness.
3. To summarize, they are demons, who are wicked and relate to darkness that
have some particular role in influencing the activities of human beings.
B. And they use schemes to accomplish their purposes! 11c
1. The word schemes shows us that Satan has a strategy to take us down. He
uses a method, a technique, he tricks us and deceives us in order to ambush
or ensnare us!
2. They want us to take the bait they use to get us to sin so we will drink poison
in the Kool aid resulting in the destruction that sin brings upon ourselves and
others around us!
C. Finally note who the battle is not with. Read 11a
1. That is why I am calling this section fight the right enemy because so many
of us think the fight is with other people, flesh and blood, or even with our
own flesh and blood, but we are only the pawns – Satan only uses others to
further his purposes, he is the real source.
2. Satan’s primary camouflage is other people! Repeat
a) And if we do not recognize that and fight with the right enemy we will
end up fighting with other people.
b) Someone said “snakes do not hiss anymore, they call you babe, bro or
friend.
D. So there are 2 key implications to this:
1. If I do not learn to recognize and deal with the source/root problem, Satan;
he will be glad to feed me his resources/fruits/Kool aid all day long or even
more so all lifelong to keep me in defeat and frustration dealing with the
fruits one at a time rather than the root problem Satan himself
2. If the one I am ultimately wrestling with is not flesh and blood but spiritual,
then I am going to need spiritual weapons to deal with him!
• And my next point and the whole series is designed to address this, and that is …
III. Be prepared to fight!
A. We need to put on the full armor so we will be “prepared” to fight!!!!
And we need to be prepared to “fight!!!!”
1. I think one mistake I often make is thinking if I put on the armor then I
will avoid Satan’s schemes and he will just pass me by because he sees I
have the armor on.
B. Note
1. V11 says I need to put on the armor so that I can stand firm against his
schemes. – That means his evil and deceitful schemes are going to come my
way and the only way I will be able to stand is by having on the armor.
2. V13 says I need to take up the armor so I can resist in the evil day when he
does attack me. Resisting means I need to actively oppose that wicked and
dark spiritual pressure or power that is coming against me.
• “Finally” let’s look at the word at the start of this verse:
IV. Finally
A. Read 10a.
B. This word is very clear that it is not a final thought in a series of unrelated ideas
but rather this word indicates that it is the rest of the whole.
1. It directly relates to and completes everything we have learned in the book of
Ephesians! What we need to know about our position in Christ and our walk
with Christ and yes even in our marriages, parenting and daily work in Eph
5:22-6:9
2. By the way, we will be dealing with marriage and parenting from Ephesians
as our summer series this year.
C. Position in Christ – Satan, the father of lies will continuously lie to you about who
you are at the core of your being!
1. Convincing you that you are still just a sinner saved by grace rather than a
brand new creature who has been totally transformed by God’s grace into a
saint!
2. As the accuser of the brethren he will constantly point out your failures and
inconsistencies and say to you “see this is who you really are!”
3. Or he will work to get us to focus on our performance and activities as a
believer to get the blessing God has given us and the victory over Satan
in Christ rather than living your life as one who already has the
blessings and victory over Satan.
D. Walk with Christ – Satan as the tempter will constantly be putting temptations in
front of us to side track us from our walk with the Lord.
1. And those temptations can range all the way from pornography to people
pleasing and everything in between!
2. He wants to frustrate us, control us and ruin us and he will use anything and
anyone in this world system to get us to bite the bait and drink the poisonous
Kool aid.
E. Marriage and family – God’s most precious gift of a mate or child and for those
of you not married – a close friend often becomes the closest, most intimate and
fiercest battles we can have.
1. And so often Satan is skillful at causing us to think that our real enemy is that
person who lives so close to us who is made of flesh and blood.
2. Young parents you will learn over time that one of the great parenting skills
will be learning how to wrestle with Satan for the sake of your children!
F. This world - and as we learned in Eph 2 Satan is the prince of this world and is
currently influencing the sons of disobedience. We do not have to look far to see
that in the time and nation we are living in.
1. Like never before we need to recognize who the real and ultimate enemy is
who is using politicians, entertainers, media, etc. as his pawns.
2. And there are no people in this country positioned better than Christians to
be part of the real answer when we recognize who the real enemy is and use
the spiritual weapons we have!
G. We need to be prepared! And we need to be prepared to fight and we need to fight
the right enemy.
1. Today was the introduction – the next 6-7 weeks will be the rest of the
sermon!