R398 The Believer’s Battlefield

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based freezing up Dr. Don Wilton and a message on the believers. There is a battle going on when you are not alone in that note, the believers battlefield taken from Ephesians 6 is the message we're about to share with you today from Dr. Don Wilton well-known author evangelist seminary professor, pastor, and I pray that is you would open your heart today, let him be your pastor for these moments as we had these in chapter 6, and study what it's like to be in this battle that we face every day and how we are not alone. One of resources on our website right now called fortified powerful encourager from Dr. Wilson.

Another book called the strategy of state because we are in a war against the enemy.

We can now let's open our hearts and God's word together with Dr. Don Wilton on today's message the believers battle I want to invite you to turn with me to Paul's letter to the Ephesians chapter 6.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians chapter 6 we going to be looking at an introductory passage to write most remarkable set of instructions that the apostle full shared with the church at Ephesus salvation is a one time event that has lifetime consequences. Even though there was a time in your life that you were born again of the spirit of the living God, your salvation, your life as a believer is worked out during the entire duration of your lifetime you never stop being so. And God continually is in the process of saving us onto that glorious day when we show be seated together with him at the feast table of the king. Now does during that process of being saved the doll.

Salvation takes on some very interesting dynamics. In fact, the Bible very clearly tells us that it is that process that becomes the greatest hallmark of the genuineness of our salvation experience, it's not the moment in time that we testify to. In fact, there are many people in the world today who could say pasta. There was a time that I walked down the isle of the church there was a time that I raised my hand in a crusade or there was a time as a child that I gave my life to Jesus Christ, we rejoice because you know that there was a time that you repented of your sin and by faith.

You receive Jesus Christ in your heart and according to John chapter 3 in verse 16 that was the moment at which you were born again of the spirit of the living God. However, the proof of that one time event is going to be inextricably intertwined into the fabric and the process of your subsequent life. The working of your salvation and pull writing to the church at Ephesus in chapter 6 and beginning at verse 10 begins to place a spiritual spam not upon that one time event about salvation, but upon the fabric of the progress of the journey that all believers are engaged in and pull lichens that through a battlefield. I wonder if you've ever read a book, you get to the first few pages and you read it in its raw the spellbinding.

And so you sit down and you read a few more pages and then another 10 pages in your site. You know, I just can't put this book down and eventually run out of time because you know it's 1 o'clock and you have to get up at 6 o'clock to go to work and it's late, but you want to know what's going on in you so anxious that eventually you have to admit this you cheat. So what you do and I know many of you have done it because I can see it on your faces.

You pretend that you're not doing it but you actually knew that you get your novel and and you kind of just by the way, it's sort of just got a cursory glance you look at the lost chapter and the reason why you want to look at the lost chapters you want to know how the war ended up that actually get married, that he's uncle leave him the $60 million in Great Britain. Did he catch that fish you want to know the end from the beginning. And so you take a little cursory glimpse or repeat ahead of time where there is a sense in which Sharon Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10, following the apostle full sons to take a glimpse at the journey of life and he makes a public declaration and the apostle Paul public declaration is simply this, I want you to know that because of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can be victorious and pull take this even further he says not only can you be victorious but I want you to know that you all victorious.

I want you to know the game from the beginning. I want you to know that even though you have become a believer in a moment of time.

That throughout the fabric of your life with all the ups and the downs the roller coaster of life with all the plane and the suffering and the hurts of the challenges all the joys that we experience. Paul says I want you to know that you compete beyond the curtain of time and if you follow God's instructions. You can know for absolutely certain that you can be and over, there are people here this morning and there are literally thousands of people watching. By way of television this morning who are struggling to overcome.

Life is filled with every kind of challenge. There is nowhere, my beloved friends in God's word that the Bible says that when I give my heart to Jesus Christ that life's journey is going to be hasslefree that I'm not going to be constricted that I'm not going to have to overcome obstacles that I'm not going to suffer every kind of conceivable attack from the evil one. But the apostle Paul says listen, you can know the end from the beginning because Jesus Christ was and he is and he always will be totally victorious and he says, guess what you can be and over, some of you here this morning are struggling with your salvation is struggling with the fact that you are not born again and what you've done as you have begun the journey of life. Basing your so-called Christian journey upon an event that never took place. And then there are many hundreds of thousands of people all over the world today who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and they are going through life, but I have refused to follow the instructions that God gives to them.

So I want to show you this passage I want you to just bow your heads with me for a moment, I'd like to pray for you. Father, I want to take privilege this morning and I want to pray for my people. Oh God, I beseech you this morning. There are so many of us who are engaged in the warfare of life physical tomorrow, material challenges, spiritual ups and downs.

There are people here today who are facing most perplexing life or death decisions. And they love the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, how do we make decisions that span and conform to the divine will of God.

If we are not prepared to put on the whole armor of God, and so to stand. Thank you Lord Jesus that we know that we can have the victory. Father today. I pray for my people whom you love so much.

I pray that your blessing might fall upon this congregation for every person watching by way of television for every hospital room for every circumstance of life. I pray to God for that pair until this morning who does not know Jesus Christ.

I pray for that broken marriage. I pray to God for every circumstance of life and I thank you today on be half of my people, the word of God because your word is a lamp unto our feet and a lifetime dropcloth way.

May we grow strong and may we grow deep in our understanding of what it is that you give to us so that we might be equipped, and we might have strength for the journey, but we all ask these things in my office these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. For my people today in Jesus. Neither, amen. Let's look at verse 10.

I want to read these few verses beginning just to go straight through them.

Listen finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly room house if possible.

Here in the text in the context of this passage that the apostle Paul should be saying that we need to be aware of the devil's schemes in heavenly places. Shirley needs. Mr. Maki should've Said Bourbon St., New Orleans. That's what we do. We always assign Satan to place upon this earth, and quite rightly so.

In the book of Job, Satan went to and fro upon the earth, trying to bring people down and take them away from God.

But the Bible tells us, my friend. That wall and our struggle in our back and for you is not upon this, it is because of wickedness in high places in heavenly place. Revelation chapter 11 God draws the line he says and muffs enough you know something. The apostle Paul draws the line here in chapter chapter 6, beloved friends and he says listen, dear friend, enough is enough. You are and over, you do have the victory you do gain view preeminence you are able to overcome that obstacle. There is nothing that is insurmountable.

You do when because of Christ Jesus, please forgive that interruption will be back in just a moment with the rest today's message the believers battlefield, but if we win because Jesus Christ is what Dr. Don just said that we need to accept an understanding of that victory.

Perhaps in a fresh new way know that we are available to pray with you and for you anytime at 866-899-WORD. My encouragement is to jot it down or if you're like me, create a contact is hit that + on the contacts and drop us in is 866-899-9673 is The Encouraging Word ready to pray with you any type so the connection great resources that affect right now. The resource pair of fortified and strategy. Satan has become such a tremendous resource in arming us with the armor of God. The details are you spiritually dressed today's battles Christian word of God equips us on how to prepare spiritual apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 612 for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. Join Dr. Welch and exported five powerful message series to help you understand the spiritual battle. We are in teaching how to put your spiritual armor to further equip you, you will receive the bonus strategy 15 how to detect and defeat by Moran, seven 866-899-WORD 866-899-9673 and request the strategies of for a gift of $25. Thank you for supporting The Encouraging Word as we continue to proclaim the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Such a powerful resource grab your copy of fortified today on our website. There are also other resources there, including the brand-new book from Dr. Wilton call Saturdays with Billy. You may have seen him interviewed on DayStar or TB in such a powerful reminiscence of the time 20+ years. The Dr. Don Wilton are speaking from The Encouraging Word was the pastor.

The personal friend of Dr. Billy Graham and the details are on our website at tewonline.org you while you're there, be sure and follow Dr. Donovan socialist and sign up for the day The Encouraging Word email that's online@twonline.org now back today's great teaching from Dr. Don Wilton. Look at verse 12.

Again, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. Therefore put on the whole 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 by the Lord righties word upon our hearts. Now I'm going to do something different.

I'm going to share with you the original text.

I'm not going to speak Greek.

Some of you think that I speak Greek anyway, I'm not going to speak Greek and I'm not going to brag to you about Greek but did you know that the whole of the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language that's the original language I have a Greek New Testament if any of you would like to borrow at any time and if you want to really understand the deep significance of what God says to us, sometimes there is great value in going back and taking a little bit deeper and trying to find out what it is that God is trying to teach us, so bear with me for a month begins in verse 10 he says finally.

Why would he say finally, when you usually say. Finally, I know that preachers are usually notorious for signing. Finally, and in conclusion, I hope I don't say that too often because that sends out a signal that everybody can start looking at their watches and thinking about dinner and many preachers don't keep their word. At that point I would many families and in conclusion, that neither concluded nor came to a finality pull here is coming to the point in this epistle, at which he has. He, upon these believers I mound of instruction related to the fact that they ought to be titers of Christ and to the fact that they have to live lives which are worthy of the calling to which they have been called and so Paul says finally. I want to leave you with something. Perhaps this would be a good commencement address.you think Mr. Anderson is one of our high schools. I think this would be a marvelous word for those of you that are going off to college in the next few weeks. We are proud of you, you know friends that all of our young people fall by the wayside regarding their relationship with God when they get to college than at any other time.

You know that there are some students looking at me right now that the moment you get to college. God is not going to smell you for dust. Now why you know what my prayer is for our young people in this church listen. My prayer for you when you go off to college is that you are going to be strengthened by the might and power of the Spirit in the inner man that you going to be a testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ you going to take this plan, you going to withstand you going to overcome obstacles you going to span all you going to be live in darkness you are going to be a living testimony to the going outpouring of the grace of God upon your life and God will bless you in ways that you cannot even begin. This is what Paul is talking about. He's talking about the fabric of our lives that watch what happens. He says finally, in order for you to be strong in the Lord.

Many of us III don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know how I'm going to be able to handle this. Maybe your marriages straining at the end. Maybe you've gone through a horrible divorce. Maybe you're facing a medical decision today. That is the most perplexing decision that you ever have to make in your entire life and pull here pull drawing from the riches of the fountainhead of the grace of Almighty God. He says listen listen believers.

He says I know that life is a battle for you, but that's not what I want to emphasize. I want to emphasize the fact that it is while you are engaged in this battle for you. You can be and over, and he says how can you do that he says finally, in order for you to believe to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. By the way, those are two synonyms there that are intertwined together.

Listen to what Paul says Paul says in order for you to be strong in the Lord because all altogether with or as a result of God's mighty power. You see he's speaking about a subject who is God Almighty, and the sole object is the recipient of God's grace and the recipient of God's grace is you and me. Beloved friend as we walk through life.

He says finally I got some great news for you today.

If you want to be strong in the Lord together with his mighty power in his mighty car because of his mighty power. You therefore must put on now here we have an imperative.

In verse 11.

He says if you want to be strong in the Lord. You say you want to be immobile, you say you want to make the right decision.

You say that you want to live a life that is pleasing to God.

You want to do that you must put on the full armor of God, in order that so that one. There is look at it with me so that you can take a stand against the devil's schemes that good news. He says you want to take a stand. He said you need to put on the full armor of God, we gotta be preaching about that of the next few weeks.

Now why is this necessary in the life of a believer.

Why is it necessary how folks listen to me and never been around an ostrich hands up all of those of you that have ever been around an ostrich put up a hand. Okay, how many of you have ever written an ostrich put up the Hannah thank you very much. That's why BJ looks like he does listen folks listen to me you want to ride an ostrich you will have the right of your life. Young people, it beats every roller coaster ride you've ever had.

When you get on an ostrich you got plenty of Nick to hold all it's like standing next to Robert, pull you, but cleaning the and when you get onto ostrich he's gone. I mean that if you want to definition of gone he's gone. And if you don't hold on your God, and he has these two big wings that provide a platform behind you. I did at one time, and it's a great experience, but I felt general and ostrich does folks listen to me carefully and ostrich berries. He's head when he sees something that he doesn't want to see or deal with not a great solution to all of our problems. That's what ostrich does. You just think about it. He just walks around a stick. She said in the sentences may not want to see that. I mean he just sticks his head in the sand. He says the solution to all of last probably just stick your head in the sand.

The ostriches forgot one thing.

You see friends and ostrich can no longer see what he fears. But what he fears certainly can still see him ever got rid of these problems in many of us are like that on. We want to stick our head in the sand policies I want to tell you why you need to put on the whole armor of God. As we gotta be looking at this the next couple weeks. You need to be ready for it. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, he tells us exactly who our struggle is again and he says in verse 13.

Therefore, on this basis put on the whole armor of God, and then he goes future tense so that when you face challenges you going to be able to take a stand and then when you've taken the spamming you've gone through lack going to look back and say I'm in overcome when everything is done I have gained the victory because God has been on my side. Such a powerful truth to finish up today with the Lord is upon your side.

I pretty would not listen to the enemy lines you to that loving truth that God's love for you is continuous and one ending there's nothing you can do or have done to make a looking glass making just as you are. I pray in these moments of her doctor with intense as he steps in the studio. Open your heart to share your ready to give your half of Locke Lord Jesus Christ, I'm so happy to hear that wanting to pray this prayer God on love very very and I know that the Lord Jesus died on the cross that on my feet today.

I repainted I can face my son and I invite you to come into my heart into my life by faith in Jesus name I pray, if you prayed that prayer. Let me be the first want to welcome you to the family of God. This is wonderful.

I hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying for you and how very important this is for me. Call us so we can talk to connect to the right place you can begin this wonderful journey.

And in just a moment I'm in a come back with the final if you just gave your life to Jesus Christ. Welcome to the family of God. Welcome back. If you rededicate your life know that Dr. Wilton has specific free resources. He wants you to have if you'll just call us.

Let us rejoice with you.

Let us celebrate with you that Dr. Don know how God's has moved in your life by calling us at 866899 word 866-899-9673 or join us online@tewonline.org Dr. Don would love to have an email from you is email is simply Don deal in@tewonline.org Don@tewonline.org is not affect before we get away a closing talk to Dr. Wilson himself, you know these sucks so right my friends. I want you to know this ministry goes on for hours round the clock all the time. We want to be involved in your life and we want to continue to pray for you. You can call us at any time talking with us the time prayer and giving. We know that you are 100% gay as we are sharing God's truth without searching will that's what this is all about leaning God is doing great with and I love you and I thank God for you.

God bless. It's been a great day of teaching on The Encouraging Word and there's more to come.

The next edition. The next podcast the next radio broadcasts can be starting a two-part series on believers commission how we are indeed commissions put into service with gifts and abilities God is built into you to serve him again will know more about his restudy tomorrow on the next edition of The Encouraging Word