WEBVTT 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:12.720 So we are going through the book of Ephesians, and we are going through actually Ephesians 6. 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:21.039 So we're going verse by verse, and to recap, we had Evan in the first week. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:28.000 He was talking about being strong in the Lord and our strength coming from him. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:33.840 And then two weeks ago we had Joshua uh talking about uh being equipped to stand. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:40.079 So knowing that we have an enemy that's real and that we are in a real spiritual. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:41.759 Can you guys hear me alright? 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:43.439 Thumbs up in the back. 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:44.719 Yeah, good, cool. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:47.520 Alright, then that we have a real enemy. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:55.119 And um so I just gonna open up with a word of prayer before we go into the scripture. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:01:01.439 So Lord, I just thank you for this opportunity, this opportunity to share your word. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.480 Lord, thank you for this time together. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:05.760 Thank you for dinner. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:15.840 Um thank you for the hands that that made it, and Lord, I just pray that your word would would come through me today, and that ears would receive it, Lord. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:22.159 If there's people that are listening online that they would receive from your word, Lord. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:24.319 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:39.599 Okay, so Ephesians 6 13 goes, Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand firm. 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:56.319 So traditionally, uh it's agreed that the that Paul's letter to the Ephesians was written in around uh 60 to 62 AD while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:01.359 So what does the church look like that wears the armor of God? 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:02.799 What does it look like? 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:13.680 So when I talk about the the church and I use the word her, I mean most of you guys probably are familiar, but but when I say her, it's in regards to the church. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:17.439 So referring to her is in Christ's bride. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:24.159 So the church cannot stand in her own strength, but must take up the whole armor of God. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:32.159 So there's a Greek word called painopalia, and it is the word that um is used for whole armor. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:37.039 And so this word is describes uh a whole suit of armor. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:46.879 So it describes the the shield, the the um offensive weapons, so the spirit and the sword and the accessories. 00:02:47.039 --> 00:03:05.120 So um when it's that word is being used, it has um Old Testament echoes, but also it is would have been understood as in a Roman context, like a Roman weaponry context. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:09.919 So, what does it look like to stand firm in the evil day? 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:29.599 So in verse 12, we learn that the Lord has not left his uh people defenseless, but he instructs uh the church through Paul to face the spiritual forces of evil by holding fast against the enemy's charge. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:48.719 So success in this battle in the um in the stand is not defined by advancing to meet the enemy but and conquering new territory, but rather the there's a Greek word called histami. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:56.400 Histami is the Greek verb to stand, to stand ready or prepared. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:01.840 So this uh word is also used throughout scripture. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:07.360 So it's used again in 1 Corinthians, um, Paul writing the Corinthian church. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:18.639 It's used in 1613, and he says, be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act strong, act like men, be strong. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:35.040 So the action itself is passive, yet it is a form of warfare that the Lord um instructs Paul or has Paul is used to charge the church with. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:40.160 So uh there's another uh word in verse 13. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:41.839 The word withstand. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:46.959 Now the word withstand in in Greek is anthamy. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:55.600 Anthysteme is um it's used as withstand, and then the the rest of it is in the evil day. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:03.199 It means to actively oppose, resist, or stand face to face against an oncoming force. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:17.600 So Ephesians 6 13 commands believers to put on the full armor of God, so every piece of the armor, which we're gonna learn in in coming weeks, and to stand your ground, having done everything to stand. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:28.160 So uh James uses the same word um in James 4 when he says, Submit yourself thee then to God, resist. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:33.120 So this word resist also is that same word as with withstand. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:39.360 So um, so resist the devil and he will flee from you. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:43.759 So submit yourself then to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:55.199 And then Peter also echoes in First Peter uh five nine, resist him standing firm in your faith. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:00.560 So this verb depicts active, um, faith-filled response. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:14.560 So um it's it's um going out and being able to stand firm against the enemy. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:24.639 So there's one more uh um Greek word that I wanted to say, which is the Greek word for having done all. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:30.800 So there's a a word, it's kind of a tongue twister, but it's keterged zamahi. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:47.040 And the phrase having done all it comes from Ketergadzamahi, which means to perform, accomplish, or achieve having gone through every struggle of the fight. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:07:00.879 So um Paul is saying that after the worst has passed in this in this battle, the ultimate proof of victory is that you're still standing on your feet. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.519 So picture the dust settling in this war, and the Lord is there. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:08.319 You are standing and you're with the saints. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:12.800 And remember, this is a spiritual battle that we're that we're talking about. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:24.959 And um, so why does defending, why does defending take precedence over attack attacking? 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.000 The victory is already won. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:46.720 So Ephesians 2, one goes, and you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:49.519 We were on the wrong side. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:08:04.079 We were fighting on the wrong side, but God, rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:07.439 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:17.040 So, because of this great love that which he loved us, even though we were dead in our trespasses, he made us alive. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:22.959 So, Jesus secured this the ultimate victory. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:30.160 Christians are not fighting to conquer new territory because God said it is finished. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:36.159 So remember that the victory is already won in Christ. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:53.200 Now, this isn't uh just to pause, this isn't like an excuse to not strive for the Lord, to not um do good for the Lord or not um push or anything like that, but but rather to it's an identity thing, it's to know who we are in Christ. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:09:03.360 So the enemy's real goal, going back to what Joshua was saying two weeks ago, you know, Satan's objective is to destroy. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:08.879 You know, that's a real thing that's going on that we can't see, but is happening. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:23.200 You know, he's gonna try to do whatever he can in the spirit to really just terrify and and just break down believers um and have them abandon their post. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:35.200 So this is um probably not something that's revolutionary to well it is revolutionary, but but but it's probably not something that you haven't heard before. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:48.720 But you're not exempt, we are not exempt, and I say you, but I'm talking to myself also, from putting the armor of God on and standing because of your maturity in Christ. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:10:01.279 Rather, we should be getting better throughout our life and drawing closer to him more frequently, and and our relationship with him should be getting stronger. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:07.840 So, what does it mean to stand firm? 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:17.840 So Paul wrote this um the to the Ephesians from prison in Rome, and and we also have um another letter. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:28.159 So John also wrote to the Ephesians from exile about 30 to 35 years later, around 95 to 96 AD, from the island of Patmos. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:36.720 So for approximately three decades, the church of Ephesus sought to obey Paul's instructions to stand firm. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:51.519 So um the church today, isn't today, must stand firm and be strong in the Lord and be equipped to stand, but she must not lose her first love. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:11:02.960 So the book of Revelation 2, 1 through 7 says, this is John writing this down, and to the angel of the church in Ephesus, right? 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.480 Same church. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:13.759 The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:28.000 I know your works, your toil, your patient endurance, how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:36.960 I know you are patiently are you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:42.480 But I have this against you that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:49.200 Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:56.879 If not, you will I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:06.960 Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicolaitians, which I also hate. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:11.679 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:19.519 To the one who conquers, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:24.799 So I don't know about you, but I want to eat from this tree of life. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:31.600 I want to get to the end of my race and be seen fit. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:40.399 John wrote to a church that maintained its work and patient endurance, a church that could not bear with those who were evil. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:53.759 They had discernment to recognize false teachers, and they were practicing wearing the armor of God, going through real tests, standing firm in the decades that followed Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:57.840 Yet he wrote to a church that had abandoned its first love. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:01.360 They maintained their duty, but they lost their joy. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:08.399 So we cannot, as a church today, we cannot lose sight of why we stand firm. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:12.399 We stand because God first loved us. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:19.360 We love him, and he is our master who tells us to carry our cross daily. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:32.720 So in the coming weeks, you know, we are gonna talk about um the armor of God in in um more detail, and each piece we're gonna go through. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:39.840 And um my encouragement to to you is to remember why. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:45.200 Why are we why are we going to choose to put this armor on? 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:47.440 Why are we in this fight? 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:52.159 We cannot attempt to put the armor of God on without first drawing near to him. 00:13:52.559 --> 00:14:08.559 This intimacy is not about salvation, not gaining new salvation or salvation again, but rather it is being sanctified and drawing closer to him day after day after day. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:26.879 So um before I mean I'm looking around the room and I don't know all of you, but before I know most of you, but there might be some people online who don't know the Lord. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:36.320 So before you can stand in God's armor, you must first belong to the God who provides it. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:48.559 So if there's anybody here who's not ever believed in the Lord Jesus, or there's anybody online who's never believed in the Lord Jesus, I want to leave you with this encouragement. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:54.159 If you have not put your trust in him, I would ask you to consider doing so today. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:15:03.200 Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, rose again, so that all who believe in him will have everlasting life. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:08.879 Salvation is not earned by works, but received by grace through faith in Christ. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:17.679 If you have never trusted in Christ, I would like you to know, I would and would like to know more about this. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:27.360 I would invite you to come talk to either me or somebody else after the service or uh speak to one of the elders. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:36.960 But we would be glad to open up God's word and um go through it with you and help you understand what the Bible teaches about salvation. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:44.159 And yeah, just on that note, I'm just gonna keep it short and just end with some prayer. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:47.840 So, Lord, I just thank you for um your word. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:16:02.720 I thank you that you are such a a good God, and I just pray that you will touch the hearts of even those who might listen to this um message, and I pray that you would bring them to salvation. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:29.279 If there's people who are are even here tonight, Lord, I pray that they would walk with you, Lord Jesus, that they would choose to walk with you, and that they would put you first, that they would equip themselves, that they would stand firm, that they would um ask you, Lord Jesus, what you um what you want for their lives. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:39.200 And Lord, I pray I thank you for this community, and I pray that you uh just Yeah, bless all these people as we go in our different ways in Jesus' name. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:39.600 Amen.