Spiritual Warfare #2

Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:14a

Ephesians 6:14a Stand firm therefore, by fastening (middle voice vs. v.10a, passive) the belt of truth around your waist

I. Satan’s weapon against followers of Jesus is “lie”

1. John 8:44 Murderer & liar: He [Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies
2. Revelations 20:3 Deceiver: The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished
3. 1 Peter 5:8 Enemy: Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour
4. Ephesians 4:27 Intruder: Satan is trying to take a foothold. Do not give the devil an opportunity
5. Ephesians 6:11 Schemer: Satan is a schemer

II. Paul suggest that the believers must prepare to defend themselves with “full armor of God” from Satan’s attacks

1. Satan hits believers in their vulnerable areas (Achilles’ heel)
2. No spot must be left vulnerable
3. Satan can locate soft spots (Ephesians 4:27 Do not give the devil an opportunity)
4. Satan lies to keep believers remain feeling a failure

III. Believers’ protection from Satan’s lie is to be armed with “truth” (verse 14a)

1. Two possibilities for the phrase “with truth” (both are not feasible in verse 14a)

(a) Objective truth, which is God’s truth
(b) Subjective truth, which is “truthfulness of believers”

2. In 6:14a, the expression “in truth” refers to believer’s internalization of God’s relationship with believers (elected ones) that is revealed to us in Ephesians 1-3

(a) God loves you and His love for you is not dependent on you
(b) God has adopted you and He never retracts from this relationship with you
(c) God has destined you to be “holy and blameless” which is based on Jesus
(d) God has redeemed you by the substitutionary death of His Son, Jesus Christ
(e) God has given you the Holy Spirit to be by your side and an inheritance in the heavenlies
(f) God has appointed Jesus to be the Lord over everything
(g) God has made you to be His “masterpiece”—you are special
(h) God has won the battle and you are on His side

3. Believers fail because of the lack of the “knowledge” of the “truth” (Tony Evans)

Take Away

Identify your “Achilles heel” and reinforce those areas with “truth.”