Eph 6 sermon

I am but a two fingered untaught typist and this doesnot do justice to an excellent sermon but it is betterthan no notes!
Ephesians 6 IPC 13 Apr 2008 P Levy

v10 begin "Finally". 3 chapters told of blessing inChrist then 3 chapters on how to live differently.Some say when you become a Christian your problems areover, but the Christian life is a battle. Paul wrotefrom prison and could see Roman soldiers. Perhaps hewas chained to one, his visual aid. Any soldierchained to him would have heard about Christian troopsand armour. Others have taught this at length. LloydJones did 28 sermons on this. Puritan William Gurnallwrote over 1000 pages.

1. We are soldiers at war.A friend took part as an army cadet and trained buthis was not the real dangerous thing. Soldiers at warknow their whole effort must be for the war. All hislife is involved in conflict. That is Paul's pictureof Christian life. Some Christians are only playingcadets. Bur Christian life is war. Uses militarylanguage of effort and hardship, of a subtle enemy, afight. Stop misleading people about Christian life. Itis hard. There is a cost to discipleship and we mustspeak of it in our witness. This is no hobby. It iswar.

2. A spiritual warfare.What is war for? Paul would say it is to hold ourground and take the enemy's ground.We must hold ground in what we believe. The mediararely attends to Bible Believing Christians. It isRC, charismatic or soap opera stuff. In the 19thcentury, General Booth, founder of the Salvation Armysaid, "I consider that the chief dangers whichconfront the coming century will be religion withoutthe Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ,forgiveness without repentance, salvation withoutregeneration, politics without God, and heaven withouthell." Booth's description of the 20th century. Inpopular Christianity, man is at the centre. Hell andheadship are not taught. Atonement and biblical sexethics are not popular. Some think we should standwith all who take the name of Christian but thisincludes all sorts of strange views.We must hold our ground in our ethics despite theworld accepting promiscuity, abortion, euthanasia. Wemust hold our ground.Bur these people teaching error are not our realenemies. Not Muslims, homosexuals, RCs , JWs orDawkins.These people are led astray by the devil's schemes.H:e has countless agents. Ranks of wicked spirits inhigh places. People do not believe; because theirminds are controlled by these spirits. Doe God controlyour mind?We try to hold our ground and bring people to thisground in Christ. All day long we battle. Look at theChristian. The devil tries to claim her mind, to leadher to wrong behaviour. This battle is to be our totalconcern and passion.

3. No need for us to be conquered.We are told we have a FULL armour. All we have to dois put it on. We do not need to fear any enemy only totrust in God's provision.If you are a soldier who is not minded to fight, thenno armour is any use. So we are told to be strong andfight.5 pieces of armour vss 14-17 and put on in the orderhere described. First lower body armour, belt oftruth. God provides this protection. It is the truthof the Bible.Next, breastplate often front and sometimes back too.Essential armour for survival. It is righteousness.Could be right living or, better to be imputedrighteousness of Christ. Remember Christ'srighteousness protects.Hob nailed sandals for firm footing. peace with God.Remember in the fight I am at peace with God. No enemycan discourage. Remember each day you are at peacewith God.Shield of faith. not a little round thing but a bighuge one protecting whole body. Could make aprotective tortoise of shields. So do not fear theenemy arrows. Faith shields us. Believe His promisesand you are protected.The helmet is the last item to be put on. Salvation.You are saved, being saved and will be saved. Here itis mainly future. Next day the victors' song. Keep thehope of victory in mind.Here are obeying and believing rites. Fill your mindwith what God has done for you in Christ. Feed yourmind on God's promises. Every day, every hour do this.

4. We should think in terms of advance.Aussies play attacking cricket. Reformed people defendlike Englishmen. We should attack like Warne'2 weapons. First, the sword of the spirit. Christiansmust hold the sword of the Word. the Bible and wieldit by Holy Spirit. All advance is by the Word. Not byenthusiasm but by the Bible.Now the soldier illustration breaks down because thereis no earthly no equivalent to prayer. All sorts ofprayer needed. Must be at centre of church life. Wemust not separate Word from prayer. All kinds. Prayfor all Christians especially for gospel preachers, sothey speak boldly. Preachers have no magic power.Every preacher needs prayer from Christians. Pray forthe preacher every day. Prayer thrives on informationv21-22. Conversion comes when people pray. Do you prayfor those here who proclaim the gospel? Real soldiersuse their weapons . Fake soldiers only play and talk.What do we do? Holding ground not enough. We mustadvance.Do you love the Christ unveiled in this letter? Willyou live for him despite the battle?