STANDING FOR TRUTH IN THE LAST DAY
EPHESIANS 6:10-18
Introduction:
The Apostle tells us in 2 Timothy 3:1, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:”
The verse describes our day. Every word in these verses is true of our day today. It is a time to….
I. BE STRONG IN THE LORD
A. Be strong in the POWER of HIS MIGHT, v. 10;
1. As Saul of Tarsus after his conversion, Acts 9:22, “But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”
2. As Abraham, Romans 4:20, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”
3. As the Apostle Paul in his later ministry, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
B. That you might be STRENGTHENED by HIS SPIRIT in the INNER MAN, Ephesians 3:16, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
1. We should NOT have FAINT HEARTS or FEAR, Deuteronomy 20:3, And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let NOT your HEARTS FAINT, FEAR NOT, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; 4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
2. We come before the Lord in PRAYER for STRENGTH, Psalms 138:3, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with STRENGTH IN MY SOUL.”
C. For we wrestle NOT AGAINST FLESH and BLOOD, v. 12;
1. This is not a contest of the flesh, but of the Spirit, Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside EVERY WEIGHT, and the SIN which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
2. We wrestle against SATAN, the RULER of THIS WORLD, John 14:30, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the PRINCE OF THIS WORLD cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
3. Against the GOD OF THIS AGE, 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the GOD OF THIS WORLD hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
4. Against the SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS of WICKEDNESS, 1 Corinthians 5:8, “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
D. THEREFORE, PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, v. 11, 13;
1. The NEW MAN will put on this armor, Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
2. This NEW MAN who has CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST, Ephesians 3:12, “In whom we have boldness and access with CONFIDENCE by the faith of him.”
3. The STRONGER MAN wears God’s armor, Luke 11:22, “But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.”
II. HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND, STAND THEREFORE
A. Having your loins girt about with TRUTH, v. 14;
1. We have trusted in Christ after we heard the WORD OF TRUTH, Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
2. We have GROWN UP (MATURED) in Truth, Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
B. Having on the BREASTPLATE of righteousness; v. 14; 1 Thessalonians 5:8, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”
C. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, v. 15;
1. Readiness of mind that comes from the gospel whose message is peace, Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”
2. The message of RECONCILIATION, 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
D. Taking the shield of Faith, v. 16; Genesis 15:1, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
E. Having the helmet of Salvation, v. 17; Isaiah 59:17, “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.”
F. Using the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, the only OFFENSIVE weapon, v. 17; Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
G. Praying and Watching on every occasion, v. 18; Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”