The Soldier's Knees

November 24, 2024 • Jason Whitley • Ephesians 6:18–20, Romans 12:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16–18, John 15:5

John Bunyan once said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” This timeless truth highlights the Christian's most powerful weapon: prayer. In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to take up the armor of God, not merely to stand firm, but to pray. Prayer, like a soldier’s knees bent in reverence and readiness, completes the Christian’s preparation for spiritual battle. 1. Pray Continually Paul commands us to pray “at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). This echoes his words in Romans 12:12: “Be constant in prayer,” and 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” Early Christians exemplified this devotion. Acts 2:42 records their steadfastness in prayer alongside teaching, fellowship, and breaking bread. How can we, in a busy and distracting world, obey this command? Charles Spurgeon offers practical wisdom: “I always feel it well to put a few words of prayer between everything I do.” Like breathing, prayer should be woven into the fabric of daily life—whether in moments of thanksgiving, supplication, or confession. 2. Pray Dependently Paul emphasizes that our prayers must be “in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). This reminder humbles us, pointing to our utter reliance on the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 assures us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding when we do not know how to pray. Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne captured the essence of dependence in prayer: “What a man is alone on his knees before God, that he is and no more.” True prayer is a declaration of our insufficiency and God’s sufficiency. 3. Pray Passionately Prayer is not a casual exercise but a spiritual struggle. Paul calls for “all perseverance” in prayer (Ephesians 6:18), recognizing its challenges. James offers Elijah as an example: “He prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain” (James 5:17). Elijah, though an ordinary man, demonstrates that passionate, persistent prayer yields extraordinary results. Even Jesus, in His greatest agony, prayed more earnestly (Luke 22:44). If the sinless Son of God depended on prayer in His darkest hour, how much more must we? 4. Pray Selflessly Paul exhorts believers to make “supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). This selfless intercession mirrors the examples of Job, who prayed for his friends, and Jesus, who interceded for Peter’s faith (Luke 22:32). Paul himself sought prayer, asking the Ephesians to pray for his boldness in proclaiming the gospel (Ephesians 6:19-20). One of Paul’s companions, Epaphras, exemplified selfless prayer. Colossians 4:12 describes him as “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers.” His dedication to interceding for others reflects the heart of true Christian love. Conclusion Prayer is the Christian soldier’s lifeline to the Commander-in-Chief. It completes the armor of God, empowering us to stand firm in spiritual battles. As Edward Payson said, “Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to minister. Pray, therefore, my dear brother, pray, pray, pray.” Let us, like the Apostle Paul, take up prayer as our ultimate weapon, knowing that the church advances on her knees.

Put on Christ's Armor

November 17, 2024 • Jason Whitley • Ephesians 6:10–12

Satan's Tactics

November 3, 2024 • Jason Whitley • Romans 8, Ephesians 6:10–12, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 12:10, 1 John 2:1

We are finally returning to Ephesians Chapter 6. The famous passage that introduces us to the armor of God. This morning, our topic is "Our Enemy," but I’m not talking about political foes. Today, we’ll focus on an unseen enemy, the enemy of the church, the gospel, and the Lord Jesus Christ. And, as you’ll see, this enemy is your personal adversary as a Christian as well. The apostle Paul, here at the conclusion of his profound letter to the Ephesians, brings up an unexpected topic: warfare. Having discussed prayer, the gospel, salvation by grace, the unity of the church, and practical Christian living, he now shifts to spiritual warfare and our invisible enemy. We learn that our battle is not against humanity; our enemy is not with other people, not even the unbelieving world itself, but rather spiritual forces. As Christians, we’re engaged in a struggle against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly realms.  Paul is reminding us that there are rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms who are opposed to us. We’re certainly not alone in this world; there are things that exist beyond what human eyes can see. For the Ephesians, who lived in a city filled with the worship of various gods, these words would have resonated. The people in Ephesus believed that their gods controlled the elements—storms, water, crops, and even people. But Paul brings the truth to light: it’s not these gods, but rather evil spiritual forces in heavenly places that we contend with. The enemy is real, composed of fallen angels, and they are opposed to Christ and His church. Paul had already hinted at these spiritual beings earlier in Ephesians. In Chapter 1, he prays for the Ephesians to have the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and above every name, not only in this age but also in the age to come.  In Chapter 3, Paul mentions that through the church, God’s manifold wisdom is being displayed to these heavenly authorities. It’s as though God, in creating the church, has put His wisdom on display for the angels to see—both good and bad. The church is the masterpiece of God’s wisdom, a creation that even the angels didn’t anticipate. In Chapter 6, we find ourselves in the midst of this cosmic battle. Though unseen, this battle is very real, and we’re a part of it. We don’t need to be scared, but we do need to be alert. Our enemy, the devil, is described here as the one orchestrating schemes against us. This ancient foe has been around since the beginning, tempting, deceiving, and trying to stop the movement of the gospel. He’s been observing humanity, learning our weaknesses, and is highly experienced in his tactics. Paul tells us repeatedly in this passage to stand firm. But before we can do so, we need to understand our enemy better. In warfare, it’s essential to know your opponent’s strategies, goals, and tactics. In studying this subject, I’ve identified 11 schemes of Satan that we need to be aware of. Let me briefly outline them here: 1. Dishonors God: Above all, Satan’s aim is to dishonor God. He wants to prevent God from receiving the glory due His name. 2. Seeks to Dethrone God: Satan desires to usurp God’s authority, trying to establish his own kingdom in opposition to God’s. 3. Blinds the Minds of Unbelievers: As Paul says in 2 Corinthians, Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel. 4. Persecutes the Church: Satan persecutes God’s people in various ways, sometimes through governmental systems or societal pressures, and even through those closest to us. 5. Tempts Believers: Though he cannot take away our salvation, Satan actively tempts us to distrust, dishonor, and sin against God. 6. Accuses Believers: Satan accuses us before God, trying to sow doubt about our standing in Christ. 7. Distracts Christians: Satan often distracts us from our mission with lesser, though sometimes necessary, things. 8. Dilutes Doctrine: He mixes truth with error, confusing people and leading them away from sound teaching. 9. Divides the Church: Satan seeks to create division within the body of Christ, undermining our unity and witness. 10. Devours: As Peter warns, Satan prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. His ultimate aim is to destroy believers if he could. 11. Discourages: Lastly, Satan tries to discourage us, especially when we’re tired or feeling weak. While Satan is indeed formidable, he is not sovereign. He operates under the authority of God, and his power is limited. He has already been defeated at the cross, and Christ’s resurrection assures us of ultimate victory. We belong to Christ, and nothing can separate us from His love. In the words of https://ref.ly/1%20john%202.1;esv?t=biblia, “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Satan may accuse us, but Jesus is our advocate before the Father, defending us with His righteousness. In the hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, by Martin Luther, we sing, Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing. Yes, our enemy is powerful, but we are not alone. Christ is with us, and He must win the battle. Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, we acknowledge that we are unworthy sinners, yet You have graciously made us Yours. We have a powerful enemy, but we also have an even more powerful Savior. Lord, deliver us from the evil one and keep us steadfast in You. We pray in Your mighty name. Amen.