Ephesians 6:14a - The Apostle Paul's Strategy to Winning Life's Battles
Victory Action #3 Live In Truth
14a Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist … - Ephesians 6:14a
Introduction
Welcome back to our study called, "The Apostle Paul's Strategy to Winning Life's Battles." There are times in life when we face severe temptations and even when life's problems seem to knock us down. Bad things do happen to good people. The question then becomes, "how are we to respond?" Paul's primary directive is found in Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."
Thankfully, he teaches us how to be strong in the Lord. He instructed us with Victory Action #1 Put on the Armor of God and Victory Action #2 Stand Firm. Today, we will consider Victory Action #3 Live in Truth.
Live in Truth
You can be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power by standing firm with truth as you face life's battles. Our enemy, the devil, wants us to focus on his lies and to consider them as if they are valid. He is a master manipulator who wants us to be tossed on the waves of chaos and confusion. The antidote to his tactics is to find Truth and to live in truth. Truth is the anchor that keeps us steady when we find ourselves in the storms of life. To put it another way, Truth is the lighthouse that brings us hope and direction for rescue in the middle of the upheaval of life's storms.
Thankfully, the Truths of God's Word, the Bible, are plentiful and life changing. In our time today, we will consider two truths about our spiritual enemy and then four truths about God that will encourage you to stand firm and bring victory over life's battles.
The first truth about our spiritual enemy is that all that is "bad" originates from the devil. The evil one has power in this world for a time and uses it to kill and destroy everything and everyone created and loved by God. You may be facing a life-threatening illness, a loss of job, the betrayal of a spouse, or a natural disaster. While you may know the individual who is at fault, the one who originated all sin, evil, and death is the devil. Now, God is good and only that which is good comes from Him. The Bible says it this way,
"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created" (James 1:13-18).
The second truth about our spiritual enemy is that the devil's main tactic is to cause you to doubt. When bad things happen to good people the devil tries to whisper in your ear that God is not in control. He wants you to question, "God, why did you not save me?" or "God, did you not care about me?" This tactic was seen first in Genesis chapter 3 in the Garden of Eden when the serpent asked Eve, "'Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden?"'" The devil wants you to think that he has the authority and the right to question God.
After he gets you to doubt God then he wants you to doubt yourself. He will tell you that you are no good, that you have no value, that you are alone, and that no one cares. He lies about God being in control and he lies about your self-worth. Thankfully, the Bible is filled to overflowing with truths that overcome the doubts of the devil.
There are three truths about God that I want to highlight briefly that will equip you to stand firm as you encounter life's battles.
First, God is in control. We live in a world where it rains on the just and the unjust. Bad things happen to good people and to bad people. This is the result of our living in a world corrupted by sin. In spite of this, God is still in control. The story of Joseph makes the point that while Joseph's brothers had evil intentions and sold him into slavery, God was still in control. Joseph was placed strategically by God in Pharaoh's presence to bring God glory. Once all was revealed, Joseph told his brothers, "'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives'" (Genesis 50:20).
There are times when we want Jesus to return immediately and balance the scales of justice. But, even with all the wars and rumors of wars and worldwide tragedies, God is still in control. In II Peter 3:8 we read, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
There is one more verse that I will share on this point. It is found in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." When you encounter life's battles, stand firm on the truth that God is in control and will work all things for His glory.
The second truth about God is that you are His child. You do not have to doubt His love for you or doubt to whom you belong. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord you became a child of God and an heir to the King. You matter to God. You are loved unconditionally. As you deal with life's battles, stand firm in the truth that you are a child of God. Romans 8:31 puts it this way, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" and a few verses later in verse 37, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
The third truth about God is that He keeps His promises. The Bible is God's letter to you that reveals His character and His love for you. The Bible teaches us that God loved you so much that He sent Jesus Christ to die for your sins. Jesus loves you so much that He gave His life willingly and then He rose again on the third day and conquered sin and death. You can live in the Truth that Jesus is alive and walks with you throughout life's journey! God does not promise you will never face a battle in life. The truth is that He promised that He will never leave you or forsake you and that He will fight life's battle for you!
Jesus Christ said, "'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6). He also taught, "'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'" (John 8:32).
Conclusion
Victory Action #3 in the Apostle Paul's Strategy to Winning Life's Battles is to Live In Truth. I encourage you to hold to the teachings of Jesus found in the Bible and follow Him wholeheartedly. The only response to Truth that our spiritual enemy, the devil, can make is to run away. May the Lord give you strength to Live In Truth today.
Prayer
Dear Lord, please help me to live in truth in the midst of life's battles. I believe in you and in your Word, the Bible. I put my life in your hands. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
For You to Consider
- Consider you most recent life battle and discuss the tactics used by the devil.
- There are times when we encounter a life battle that our sense of self-worth is diminished. What must you do to see yourself as God sees you?
- How will you respond to someone who is facing a potentially tragic situation and who asks you, "where is God?"
- What difference will it be in our life battle if we believe the truth that God is on our side and fighting our battles for us?
- How do you know Truth and how do you grow your confidence in the Truth?
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Ephesians 6:13 - The Apostle Paul's Strategy to Winning Life's Battles
Victory Action #2 Stand Firm
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.- Ephesians 6:13
Introduction
The Apostle Paul taught us in the book of Ephesians that the devil is our spiritual enemy who wants to kill and destroy us. He will use everything in his power to attack and defeat us. Typical responses for people who are attacked by a bully is what is called "fight or flight." People will either hit back at the aggressor or run away. Both responses present problems and are not viable for the believer.
If you hit back at the one who is hurting you then you are lowering yourself to the aggressor's level and playing by his rules. If you return anger for anger and pain for pain then you are no different than your attacker. A second reason why the fighting response is inappropriate is that you have no authority in your own right to overcome the devil. So, the "fight" response is inadequate.
If you choose the "flight" response and run away then you lose the ground won by Jesus Christ when He died and rose again to conquer sin and death. Plus, you cannot avoid conflict with your spiritual enemies for very long. They will find you eventually and force you to react.
So, what are you to do when it seems that the problems of life knock you down? I remind you of Paul's primary directive given us at the beginning of this passage: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." In our last time together, we considered the beginning of Paul's strategy to winning life's battles and that was Victory Action #1 Put on the Armor of God. Today, we continue with Victory Action #2 Stand Firm. Ephesians 6:13 states, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Jesus is Our Example
The best example of one putting on the armor of God and standing firm in the face of a spiritual attack is our Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 4 we read of the time in His life when Jesus went to the desert and fasted for forty days and forty nights. The Bible says that He was "hungry." It was at this point, when he is physically weak, that the devil enters the scene to tempt Him three times.
The temptations begin with the devil demanding that Jesus prove His deity to him. "If you are the Son of God," the devil demanded. But who is the devil that he should demand anything from the Son of God? Jesus was not required to prove Himself to anyone but God the Father. So, Jesus stood firm immediately by not engaging the devil in conversation about the devil's false authority.
The devil then went to the first temptation: "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." But instead of fighting the devil physically or with a war of words and instead of running away, Jesus responded to the evil one with the Truth of God's Word. "Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'
The temptation before Jesus was to delve into the pleasures of the flesh but He stood firm by declaring the Truth of God's Word. This was followed by the second temptation to become prideful of His position as Son of God and then the third temptation to be all powerful and rule all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus stood firm by remaining consistent in His response. He acted righteously by quoting the Truth and by relying on God the Father.
How to Stand Firm
I believe that the Apostle Paul had this exact incident in mind when he provided practical means to stand firm. He addressed this issue in a letter to the church in Corinth and wrote, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
"Our way out" when facing temptation is to put on God's armor and to stand firm. This means that we respond as Jesus responded. We then stand firm by living in truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, God's Word, walking with the Holy Spirit, and by helping others. These items comprise the armor of God and equip us to stand firm in the midst of our spiritual battles.
So, when the attacks of life are around you, remember that you do not have to defeat the devil. You remind him that he is defeated already by Jesus Christ and that he has no place in your life. When you put on the armor of God, you align yourself with Jesus and are on the winning team. Instead of taking on the devil's doubts and fears, you can stand firm in the Truth of God's Word. You can live righteously and at peace because your trust in the Lord brings you hope and a personal relationship with Him.
Result
If you put on the armor of God and stand firm then the devil has no choice by to run away. James 4:7 states it in this way: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
The reality of the situation is that the devil cannot make you do anything. He can tempt, seduce, entice, suggest, shout, threaten, try to cause doubt, and even try to scare you. But, he cannot take you away from God if you are in the palm of God hands.
Conclusion
When facing temptation of all kinds, you must remember Victory Action #2 Stand Firm when you encounter your spiritual enemy. In doing so, you will be fulfilling the Apostle Paul's strategy to winning life's battles. May the Lord find us faithful.
Prayer
Dear Lord, please help me to stand firm in the midst of life's battles. I rededicate my life to you and put on your armor. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
For You to Consider
- What does it mean to stand firm when facing temptation?
- How did Jesus respond to the devil's attack?
- Why is the "fight or flight" response inadequate when facing spiritual battles?
- Consider a temptation, or spiritual battle, you are facing now. State the proper Biblical response and list what you should do now.
- What could happen, potentially, if you do not respond by wearing God's armor and standing firm?
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