Commitment Sunday 2011
Series: Partners 2020
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 26th November 2011
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Well, good morning, St. Paul's, and welcome to Commitment Sunday.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:08 We have arrived at the end of our Commitment series for this year.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:12 We have arrived at the end of our Partners 2020 weekend.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:21 And what a time it has been as we have progressed through this letter to the church at Ephesus.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:28 We have had unfolded before us God's grand purposes from eternity to eternity.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:40 God's purpose, as we have seen, is to create a new single humanity through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:49 God's plan is to unite His universal church and, in fact, all of creation under the Lord Jesus' feet.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 That, my friends, is God's agenda for His world.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 It's His agenda for history. It's His agenda for your life.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:05 In Christ, we have seen that the old days of division are gone.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 God the Father has one family.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 The Lord Jesus has one people.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 The Holy Spirit has one body.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 And what beauty we have seen in these chapters.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 The mystery of election.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 The wonder of salvation.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:22 Peace with God.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:26 Unity amongst believers from every cultural background.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 Giftedness to serve God and people.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 We have had a call to demonstrate our unity in the Christian fellowship,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:39 while at the same time rejoicing in the diversity of gifts and ministries.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:46 We have been called to put away all the uncleanliness of our pre-conversion behavior and live a life of holiness.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:54 We have been called to submit to one another in every kind of domestic relationship and promote harmony in the home.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:59 Unity, diversity, purity, and harmony.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:05 These are some of the characteristics of the new life and the new society under Christ.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 And what a beautiful ideal.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:16 Such exalted thoughts that we have seen in the first five chapters of this book.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:21 And just when you think Paul's about to end his letter with,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 and they all lived happily ever after,
00:02:24 --> 00:02:30 he slaps us across the face and wakes us up from our dreamy reflection.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:41 Because this letter closes with the ugly blood and grime of warfare with our enemy.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 The beautiful life, as we have seen for five chapters,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:54 is lived out while cant in the trenches of war in the enemy's territory.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:55 Verse 12.
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 In your Bibles, Ephesians 6.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 Pick them up and have a look at it.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:08 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 but against the rulers, against the authorities,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 against the powers of this dark world,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:17 and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:23 Brothers and sisters, we are at war.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 We're at war.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 A long and protracted war.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 Verse 10 opens with the word finally.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:40 That is not signaling for Paul and for his readers.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 I'm nearly at the end of my letter.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 The word finally is better translated for the remaining time.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:52 Paul is indicating here that the whole of the remaining time before Christ returns
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 will be characterized by warfare.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 It will be characterized by conflict.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:03 The peace which has been made through Christ on the cross
00:04:03 --> 00:04:10 is to be experienced only in the midst of a relentless struggle against evil.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:17 Verse 12 says that it is not a war against flesh and blood.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 It is a supernatural war.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24 And so conventional weapons and tactics are useless.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 It is a personal war too.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:31 The word struggle indicates hand-to-hand combat.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:37 Smart bombs aren't being dropped from silent drones 50 feet above the earth's surface.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:44 This is a swaying back, locked in hand-to-hand combat with the evil one.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 It is mortal combat.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 Sweat on sweat.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 Breath on breath.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:55 It is also a futile war if it is fought in and by our own strength.
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 We are involved in a battle with a formidable enemy
00:05:00 --> 00:05:04 where conventional tactics are useless.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:12 If we attempt to spread the influence of the kingdom of God in this world
00:05:12 --> 00:05:16 by using conventional wisdom, human wisdom and tactics of this world,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:21 trading with them, strength with strength, cunning with cunning,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 manipulation with manipulation, anger with anger,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:30 we will lose for our opponent is too great.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:34 And Paul is quite specific about our opponents.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 Our struggle is against the rulers,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 against the authorities,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 against the powers of this dark world
00:05:41 --> 00:05:45 and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:53 Our war is against powerful forces
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 who have the run of the heavenly realms.
00:05:56 --> 00:06:00 Now they do not have the run of the highest heaven
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 where Christ is seated at the right hand of God
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 as we saw that in chapter 1 verse 20
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 and where believers are seated with him
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 as we saw in chapter 2 verse 6
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 but they do move freely about the rest of creation.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:17 The consensus of scripture is this world is Satan's domain.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 1 John 5 verse 19 says,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 We know that we are children of God
00:06:21 --> 00:06:25 and the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 2 Corinthians 4.4
00:06:27 --> 00:06:32 The God of this age, referring to the evil one, Satan, the devil,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 the God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 who is the image of God.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 And even in Ephesians 2.2
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 the devil is called the ruler of the kingdom of the air,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:50 the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 This is the devil's world.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:58 And that is why he was able to make a genuine offer
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 of all the kingdoms of the world to the Lord Jesus
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 if only he would bow down and worship him in Matthew chapter 4.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:11 The devil and his angels are a great demonic enemy
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 with a defined and disciplined chain of command.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 Satan is terribly powerful.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 He doesn't possess anything like the power of God.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 He can only be in one place at one time.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 But with his army of evil spirits
00:07:27 --> 00:07:32 he imitates God's omnipresence and omnipotence.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 He desires to be God more than anything else.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 In fact, his desire to be God
00:07:37 --> 00:07:41 is the very centre of his terrible total spiritual evil.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 Verse 12 alludes to this
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 in describing the enemy
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 as the powers of this dark world
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 and the spiritual forces of evil.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 Now of course we know from Romans 1 to 3
00:07:55 --> 00:07:59 that we are evil.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 We are totally depraved.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:06 Which means that every part of our beings
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 is tainted by sin.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 But it doesn't mean that we're as bad
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 as we possibly could be
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 because there's always room for deprovement.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:17 And yet
00:08:17 --> 00:08:22 even those who throughout history
00:08:22 --> 00:08:26 who have gone very low in acts of evil
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 do not match Satan's evil.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 Satan, our enemy
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 the one in whom we are bound together
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 in mortal combat
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 has no conscience
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 no compassion
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 no remorse
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 no morals.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 He feeds on pain
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 and anguish
00:08:48 --> 00:08:48 and filth.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 There is nothing in Satan
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 which is redeemable.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 There is no virtue
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 but only a dark
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 cannibalistic void.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:02 He is also supremely cunning
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 verse 11 speaks
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 of the devil's schemes
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 or the devil's methods
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 and he has been honing
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 his schemes
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 and his methods
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 for millennia.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 He is an accomplished philosopher.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 He is an accomplished theologian.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 He is an accomplished psychologist.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:21 He has studied
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 for thousands
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 and thousands of years
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 enough time
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 to be astonishingly brilliant
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 in every area of discipline.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 He is the ultimate manipulator
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 subverter
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 and actor.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 2 Corinthians 11 says
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 that one of his deadly methods
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 is to masquerade
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 as an agent of light.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 He is that cunning
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 that accomplished
00:09:47 --> 00:09:51 that he can pull off
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 being a servant of God.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 And so we should expect
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 that his servants
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 would masquerade
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 as servants of God
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 as well.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 Satan specializes
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 in many dirty techniques
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 to win the battle.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 He is not governed
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 by a Geneva Convention
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 of Spiritual Warfare.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 He desires to win
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 and in winning
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 he desires to destroy.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 One technique
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 is to mix
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 just enough truth
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 with falsehood
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 to make the falsehood
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 seem plausible.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 Another is sensuality.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 Many souls
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 have been sold out
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 to accommodate
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 a downwardly spiralling morality.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 Another is to instill doubts
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 about God's goodness.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 Whatever his tactic
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 he seldom
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 seldom
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 attacks openly.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 His strategies
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 administered by
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 his evil spirits
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 are nearly always unseen.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 They are virtually
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 always shrewd
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 and perfectly tailored
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 for you
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 and for me.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 that we might come
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 under the influence
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 of his schemes.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 He operates best
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 when he can convince people
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 that he does not exist.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 He persuades us
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 that life
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 that we are living
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 right now
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 is not a battle.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 That we are not
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 in warfare.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 He is evil
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 beyond our comprehension
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 and without conscience
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 or principle.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 He is diabolically cunning
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 and he is after us.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 He hates
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 Christ.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 He hates
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 God's children.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 He hates
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 the church.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 He hates
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 the mission
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 and vision
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 of St. Paul's
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 Chatswood
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 that we
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 as a people
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 would know
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 Christ,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 treasure Christ
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 and represent Christ
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 so that the people
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 in our area
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 are rescued
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 from his evil clutches.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 He hates it.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 And therefore
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 he desires
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 to destroy
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 the work
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 of the Father
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 to make one society
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 in Christ
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 that brings glory
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 to him
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 and he will do
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 whatever he can
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 to destroy
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 the work of the gospel
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 in your life.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 He will do
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 whatever he can
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 to destroy
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 the work of the gospel
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 at St. Paul's
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 Chatswood.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 He will do
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 whatever he can
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 to distract us
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 to make the small
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 things big
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 and the big things
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 small.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 He will cunningly
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 labor to put up
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 the walls of division
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 that the cross
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 removes.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 He will labor
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 to subvert
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 our witness.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 He will labor
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 to downplay
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 the spiritual war
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 and lead us
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 into a full sense
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 of all is at peace
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 and comfort
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 and safety.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:39 This my friends
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 is Paul's
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 cosmic perspective
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 with all
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 its chilling
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 implications.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 And all
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 would be despair
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 except that's only
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 part of his
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 cosmic perspective.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 On earth
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 amongst mortals
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 Satan
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 has no equal.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 evil.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 You are no match
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 to him.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 But in the heavenly realms
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 he is far exceeded
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 by a triune God.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 There is no dualism here.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 Satan is not
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 the counterpart
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 of God.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 Satan is finite
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 and God is infinite.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 In fact
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 Colossians 1 and 2
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 says that the entire
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 spiritual realm
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 owes its existence
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 to Christ
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 including
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 thrones
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 powers
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 rulers
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 authorities
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 both visible
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 and invisible
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 both in heaven
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 and on earth.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 But Christ
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 is not only
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 more powerful
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 by virtue
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 of being
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 Satan's creator
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 but because
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 he defeated
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 Satan at the cross.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 Satan
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 and all
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 his cronies
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 are under
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 the feet
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 of the Lord Jesus.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 He has sealed
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 their doom
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 although
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 in this present
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 age
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 they still
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 exercise
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 control
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 over those
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 who have not
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 found freedom
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 in Christ.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 If we are
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 filled with the
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 spirit
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 Satan's forces
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 cannot subdue us
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 but those
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 who neglect
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 Christ's
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 resources
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 those who do
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 not take up
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 the weapons
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 that he has
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 given us
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 and take on
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 this devil
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 and all his
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 schemes
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 with human
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 wisdom
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 and conventional
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 tactics
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 they place
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 themselves
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 in harm's
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 way
00:14:29 --> 00:14:33 as do
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 those
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 who give
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 the enemy
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 room in
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 their lives.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 In Christ
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 there is
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 always
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 victory.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 So what
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 then are we
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 to do?
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 Paul
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 leaves
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 two commands
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 for us
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 that dominate
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 his advice
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 in the last
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 final verses
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 of this
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 letter.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 The first
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 is verse
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 10
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 finally
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 be strong
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 in the
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 Lord
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 and in
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 his
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 mighty
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 power.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 This
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 command
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 is in
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 fact
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 a passive
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 command
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 it is
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 literally
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 be made
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 strong
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 in the
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 Lord
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 that is
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 we cannot
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 fight
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 Satan
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 ourselves
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 we are
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 totally
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 dependent
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 upon
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 Christ
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 the power
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 is his
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 and without
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 his strength
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 we will
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 falter
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 and we
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 will fall
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 and yet
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 the command
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 here is
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 that we
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 still need
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 to be
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 strong
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 in him
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 and Paul
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 here I
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 think
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 expresses
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 the proper
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 combination
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 of divine
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 enabling
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 and human
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 cooperation
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 he does
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 it again
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 and again
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 throughout
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 this letter
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 and he
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 does it
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 here with
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 his second
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 command
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 in verse
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 11
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 put on
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 the full
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 armor
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 of God
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 so that
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 you can
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 take your
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 stand
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 against the
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 devil's
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 schemes
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 it is
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 God's
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 armor
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 it is
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 his
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 armor
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 and without
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 it we will
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 be fatally
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 unprotected
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 but we still
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 need to take
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 this armor
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 up and put
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 it on
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 God has
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 made provision
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 for us to
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 stand so
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 that we
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 will not
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 fall and the
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 provision is
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 his armor
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 God is able
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 to keep us
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 from falling
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 according to
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 Jude
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 and the way
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 he keeps us
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 from falling
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 is by fitting
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 us out for
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 successful
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 spiritual
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 combat
00:16:18 --> 00:16:21 and so
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 my friends
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 if your
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 aim is to
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 persevere
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 in the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 Christian
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 life
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 and not
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 be defeated
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 by the
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 schemes
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 and the
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 methods
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 of the
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 evil
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 one
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 then you
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 must put
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 on the
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 armor
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 that's
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 described
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 here in
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 these
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 verses
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 we are
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 told four
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 times in
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 these
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 verses
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 of the
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 need
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 for us
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 to
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 stand
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 Paul
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 is
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 concerned
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 here for
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 our
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 stability
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 as the
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 battle
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 rages
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 wobbly
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 Christians
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 who don't
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 have a
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 firm
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 foothold
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 in Christ
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 are easy
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 prey
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 for the
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 evil
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 one
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 and so
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 Paul wants
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 to see
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 Christians
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 so strong
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 and stable
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 that they
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 are even
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 stable in
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 the face
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 of Satan's
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 schemes
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 and stable
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 when
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 verse 13
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 says
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 when the
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 day of
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 evil
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 comes
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 or the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 day
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 of
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 very
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 special
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 time
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 pressure
00:17:21 --> 00:17:24 and so
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 the full
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 armor of
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 God
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 here is
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 essential
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 it's
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 described
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 in the
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 following
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 verses
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 the
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 belt
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 of
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 truth
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 verse
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 14
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 held
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 the
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 sword
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 in
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 place
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 it
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 didn't
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 just
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 hold
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 the
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 sword
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 in
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 place
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 but
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 it
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 held
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 up
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 the
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 soldier's
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 tunic
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 so
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 that
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 the
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 soldier
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 was
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 not
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 hindered
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 as
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 they
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 charged
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 into
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 battle
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 to
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 stand
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 firm
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 in
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 the
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 battle
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 you
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 must
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 be
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 a
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 person
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 here
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 filled
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 with
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 truth
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 filled
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 with
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 the
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 truth
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 of
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 revelation
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 of
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 God
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 in
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 the
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 scriptures
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 and
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 you
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 must
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 be
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 transformed
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 by
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 that
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 truth
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 so
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 that
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 you
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 will
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 become
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 a
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 truthful
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 person
00:17:58 --> 00:18:03 not
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 just
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 to
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 know
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 the
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 truth
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 but
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 for
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 that
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 truth
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 to
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 transform
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 you
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 so
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 that
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 you
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 are
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 a
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 person
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 of
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 truth
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 not
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 half
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 truths
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 not
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 a
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 bleak
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 language
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 truth
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 fullness
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 secondly
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 the
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 breastplate
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 of
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 righteousness
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 verse
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 14
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 was a
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 metal
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 piece
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 that
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 covered
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 the
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 front
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 of
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 the
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 body
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 to
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 protect
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 the
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 vital
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 organs
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 and
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 especially
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 the
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 heart
00:18:27 --> 00:18:57
00:18:57 --> 00:19:27
00:19:27 --> 00:19:57
00:19:57 --> 00:20:01 翻
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 loose
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 face
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 which
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 says
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 λιi
00:20:03 --> 00:20:08 will believe what God says and not the messages of the evil one.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:17 Five is the helmet of salvation in verse 17, which is the assurance of salvation and resulting
00:20:17 --> 00:20:20 confidence that it brings to us.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:28 The helmet assures us that no matter what happens in this battle, no matter what happens,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 I am saved.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 I am rescued.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:38 I am secure in Christ and I have victory in him.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:45 Lastly is the sword of the spirit in verse 17 and we are told here that it is the word
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 of God.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:53 What we are to understand about the sword of the spirit is that when we take it up, we
00:20:53 --> 00:21:03 we have in our hands the word of God, the supreme weapon for defensive and offensive battle.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:09 The word of God cuts to the heart.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:17 It lays open the heart so that people would believe, so that they would repent, so that
00:21:17 --> 00:21:23 they would be rescued from the clutches of the evil one and made alive.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:34 We are at war and our razor sharp weapon is God's word and we would be fools to lower it just
00:21:34 --> 00:21:38 simply because our culture says it can't cut.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:50 We would be fools to lay it to one side because our enemy wants us to believe it is irrelevant, it
00:21:50 --> 00:21:53 is archaic, it is not understandable.
00:21:53 --> 00:22:06 We would be fools to have ministries that minimize the word of God and to push it to one side.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:12 It is the only weapon that cuts the heart.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:23 The weapons that we fight with are not the weapons of this world according to 2 Corinthians 10.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:31 And so my friends, take up the word of God and read it and meditate upon it and memorize
00:22:31 --> 00:22:37 it and study it and love it and speak it and speak it.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 You can have great conversations with people.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:52 You can have warm, beautiful conversations with people, but unless the word of God is spoken,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:58 the heart is not cut to see the glory of God in the face of Christ.
00:22:58 --> 00:23:01 Do not lower that weapon.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:09 The Christian warrior dressed in full armor, the full armor of God is a formidable picture.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:17 I hope you get the sense that these verses here are calling us to action, to wake us up
00:23:17 --> 00:23:20 out of a comfortable stupor.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:26 That if you are there in the enemy's battlefield, in the trenches with your deck chair out and your
00:23:26 --> 00:23:33 umbrella up and your cocktail in your hand, throw it to one side and put the armor on and
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 get into the battle is what it's saying.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 Get ready.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 The Christian warrior here gets ready.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 He tightens his belt.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 His heart pounds under the breastplate.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:48 He scuffs his feet at the earth with his studded boots to get a firm grip.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:54 He takes up his shield in anticipation of the fiery arrows that are coming for him.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:58 He repositions his helmet and he tests the edge of his sword.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 His heart pounds.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 The sweat falls.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:06 And the warrior stands motionless as the enemy charges at him.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:10 And then he does the most amazing thing.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:16 He falls to his knees in deep, profound prayer.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:22 Make no mistake, there will be action.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 There will be hand-to-hand combat.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:31 He will rise and he will use his sword, but it will all be bathed in prayer.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 And this is the picture as you read into verse 18.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:54 Prayer isn't added as another part of the armor.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:59 It actually pervades all of the spiritual warfare.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:07 The scriptures and prayer belong together as the two chief weapons that the spirit puts in our hands.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 The sword of the spirit.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:21 The most effective weapon for both offensive and defensive battle and prayer.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 That gives the sword all its power.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 The prayer referred to here is comprehensive.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:33 We are to pray on all occasions, both regularly and constantly.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:37 With all kinds of prayers and requests, for it takes many and varied forms.
00:25:37 --> 00:25:42 Because being alert and always keep on praying because you don't want to ever give up.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 And you don't want to ever fall asleep.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 For all the saints.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:52 Since the unity of God's new society, which has been the preoccupation of this whole letter to the Ephesians.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:56 Must be reflected in our prayers.
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 Most Christians pray sometimes with some prayers.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 With some degree of perseverance and for some of the people.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:07 But to replace some with all.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:15 In each of these expressions would be to climb to a new dimension of our prayer life.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:19 And my friends, we need it here at St. Paul's.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:27 If the gathering on a Sunday afternoon once a month is the extent of our prayers.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:33 I'm amazed at how few people gather.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:38 And when we do gather, how much we struggle to pray for God's agenda for his church.
00:26:43 --> 00:26:47 Against the prayer that is described here, the principalities and powers are helpless.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:56 Without prayer, we are much too feeble and much too flabby to stand against the might of the forces of evil.
00:26:56 --> 00:27:03 So let me remind you again, St. Paul's, brothers and sisters, friends.
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 We are in cosmic battle.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 We're at war.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:13 Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:19 against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:24 And the basic spiritual weapons of our warfare are the word and prayer.
00:27:24 --> 00:27:32 And so my simple challenge to you is to rethink your priorities in these two areas.
00:27:33 --> 00:27:42 Commit today, on Commitment Sunday, commit today to a new resolve to be a Christ-centered, Bible-saturated warrior
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 who's devoted to prayer.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:52 As per two of our core values, commit today to a new venture with God.
00:27:56 --> 00:28:04 My second simple challenge is to take on a wartime mindset in regard to the spiritual war that we're engaged in.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:12 Timothy reminds us that the soldier doesn't get entangled in civilian affairs.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:18 He doesn't get entangled with civilian affairs.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:24 The soldier has a job.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 And that's to fight an enemy.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:34 We're encamped in enemy territory, so it doesn't make sense to construct mansions and build up treasures.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:41 Let us stand together with a wartime mindset, firmly trusting in the mighty power of our Lord Jesus.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:48 The wartime mindset is where you pour your resources into winning the battle.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:55 We work together in giving our time and our prayers and our energy and our money to winning the war.
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 And that is what I'm calling you to do today.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:06 People are going to hell right now just metres from us under the influence of our enemy.
00:29:10 --> 00:29:13 That is the battle that we're involved in.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:25 And one of our enemy's great seductions is to lure us into a comfortable, distracted life.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:33 This year, Nellie and I have increased our giving to St. Paul's to $700 a month for the ministry here.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 You know my pledge as I do each year.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:47 Together, the staff and parish council have already pledged so far $6 a week for the battle here.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:54 And so I now call you to follow them by having a wartime mindset and setting your resources to the battle.