What is the Gospel?
Intro Talking to internationals who have zero understanding of Jesus.
Have you ever explained Gospel to someone like that?
Can someone tell me what the gospel is?
Examples Four spiritual laws.
     1. God loves you and has a plan for your life.
     2. We can’t know God’s plan because we have sin.
     3. Jesus is provision for our sins.
    4. Must place faith in Christ to get the gift of salvation and knowing God’s plan.

Is the Gospel a formula?
What if you reject one of those laws?

Evangelism Explosion
“Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and He were to say to you 'why should I let you into My heaven?
What would you say?”
Is the Gospel fire insurance?
Focus of making it to heaven reduces the gospel to wishful thinking.
Blood Sweat and Tears “And When I die” I can swear there ain't no Heaven
But I pray there ain't no hell I'll never know by livin'
Only my dyin' will tell

Romans Road
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned…
Romans 6:23 Wages of sin is death…
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love toward us…
Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth Jesus as lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God…

Is the Gospel a hidden message in the Bible?
Have you ever wondered why the Gospel isn’t clearly spelled out in the Bible?
Why so many “Christians” have versions of it?
Let’s try to untangle…
John Eldredge talks about humanity loving story because it is written into our being.
I propose that the Gospel is actually an epic story.
Def. Gospel: Good News Good news implies there’s bad news.

Look at this from old Jewish perspective.
Creation. Everything is great. The Fall. We are cursed, but a promise/prophecy is given.
God offers little guidance, all hell breaks loose.
God resets everything with Noah.
Again, people wander away from truth, and God chooses Abraham.
Gives a promise. The world will be blessed through his offspring.
Abraham’s faith/trust/reliance on God’s promise is his righteousness.
God gives a few instructions to make his people unique.
Abraham’s family prospers until calamity (famine).
God rescues the family into Egypt, but that becomes enslavement.
Centuries later, Moses arises to free God’s chosen people from slavery and give them a promised land.
God gives detailed laws and rituals His people are to follow.
Why? To have Israel maintain its identity.
The rituals (festivals, sacrifices, etc) are unique to Israel and Followers of Abraham’s God.
Matt Tully and the festivals.
God’s people suffer all sorts of problems, mostly because they aren’t sticking to the rules God set up for them.
Many prophets come and go, begin Israel to repent and return to their traditional ways.
But hey also proclaim a new promise coming.
A new and better covenant.
Jer 31 3:31-33 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.
“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Ezekiel 36:26–27 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”

Fast forward a few hundred years and Jesus arrives on the scene. Jesus preached the gospel, (19 mentions in the Gospels) but what was his message?
Gospel of the Kingdom mentioned 5 times in Gospels (before crucifixion)
Matthew 4:23 “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.”
What is the kingdom? Matthew 4:17 it is at hand Matthew 6:10 prays for kingdom to come
This Gospel is not that you can make it to heaven, but that heaven is coming here.
So who is the King of this Kingdom of Heaven? Luke 19:37-40 Blessed is the King
Mark 15:2 Pilate.
It is as you say Matthew 27:42 King of Jews get off the cross
John 18:33-37 Kingdom not of this world Try telling this to someone who has no concept of the Bible or its stories.
It’s fantastic!
So, why is this story good news to the Jews of Jesus’ time or to us?
Because the New Covenant is far superior to the Old.
The constant striving to identify as one of God’s chosen is replaced with being adopted into the King’s family.
Having the law wrapped around your neck is replaced with having the Spirit of God reside within you.
Hoping to “make it into heaven” is replaced with being a part of heaven on earth.
Laws and rituals are replaced with relationship, intimate and personal.
Faithful obedience in one’s own power is replace with a new nature that is inclined to obedience.
Striving is replaced with rest.
Hopelessness and death are replaced with peaceful assurance and the life of eternity.
And that is pretty good news.

PHILIPPIANS 1
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. [1]
 

• Philippians: Theme is joy
• Paul is experience loneliness while sitting in jail and writing his friends.
• He is broke… hungry… and by himself.

 

• In a recent national survey of American adults, 36% of respondents reported serious loneliness—feeling lonely “frequently” or “almost all the time or all the time” in the four weeks prior to the survey.
• This included 61% of young people aged 18-25 and 51% of mothers with young children.

 

• 43% of young adults reported increases in loneliness since the outbreak of the pandemic.
• About half of lonely young adults in our survey reported that no one in the past few weeks had “taken more than just a few minutes” to ask how they are doing in a way that made them feel like the person “genuinely cared.”
• Young adults suffer high rates of both loneliness and anxiety and depression.
• According to a recent CDC survey, 63% of this age group are suffering significant symptoms of anxiety or depression.[2]

 

• Young adults are twice as likely to be lonely than seniors.
• 79% of adults aged 18 to 24 report feeling lonely compared to 41% of seniors aged 66 and older. This is consistent with earlier research.
• More than twice as many younger adults as older adults experience feeling left out.
• More than two in five adults (42%) aged 18 to 34 report “always” feeling “left out,” compared to just 16% of people aged 55 or older who say the same.
• Men and women have roughly the same likelihood of loneliness.
• 57% of men and 59% of women reported being lonely.
• Loneliness levels were close to equal in 2018 as well, with 53% of men and 54% of women reporting feelings of loneliness.
• In 2019, data showed a spike in loneliness among men, with 63% experiencing loneliness compared to 58% of women.[3]

 
Epidemic in our culture (Bowling Alone… Robert Putnam)

• Joining and participating in one group cuts in half your odds of dying next year.
• More Americans are bowling more than ever before but they are not bowling in leagues.
• Playing cards with friends is down 25% (in last 25 years)
• Evening with neighbors is down 33% (how many homes have you been in?)
• Family dinners are down 33% (fast food)
• Having friends over is down 45%
• Readiness to make new friends is down 33%

 

• American Social Review: Social Isolation in America Average American only has 2 close friends (down from 3 in 1985)
• 25% of Americans have no one to confide in 80% of Americans only confide in family (they drive you nuts the most)

 

• Socially isolated needy people gather together to ignore one another
• Lonely people go to the coffee shop and drink their burnt coffee with their headphones in their ears and ignore other people “in community”
• Dog Lovers – Move on from people to pets – “my baby”
• Fighting to let their “best friend” dine with them
• “Your friend licks himself!!”
• Church/Religion

 

• People are disconnected and lonely – It is epidemic

 

• “Did God create us because He was lonely?” – Trinity
• Created everything good… it is not good for man to be alone.
• Genesis 3 – “sin” separates us from God and one another
• Loneliness is one of the effects of sin.

 

• Our culture and the church tells you that the answer to loneliness is a “friend” (accountability partners)
• Facebook – we had things in common in high school but I don’t know who they are now.

 

• What is the answer: Paul said it is that we become partners for the Gospel.
• It is centered on our relationship with Jesus.

 

• Marriage counseling: Focus is on the relationship with Jesus, then choose to be partners.
• Gospel Partnership – is like friendship but is much deeper… you know what to do with
• sin which typically is what destroys the relationship.

 
Verse 2 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Grace… understanding grace –
• When you receive grace you want to give grace
• Grace is given along with repentance
• Grace leads to peace (we were objects of wrath… now there is no condemnation)
• Peace allows you to be “OK” with others sin and “gooberishness”
• Michelle and I experience sin, repentance, grace & peace

 
Verse 3 - I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, (memories)

• Leads to memories… great memories vs very bitter memories
• With God… he can help us create new memories (especially inside marriage).

 
Verse 4 - always praying with joy (14x’s) for all of you in my every prayer,

• Joy or derivative is used 14 times in Philippians (how can he?... he knew something)
• Joy is a lifestyle… happiness is an emotion
• If joy were an emotion, then it would not be present in all circumstances
• Joy celebrates the forward Gospel of Jesus Christ despite all the junk that is happening around me.

 
Verse 5 - because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  

• Gospel Partnership – spiritual perseverance
• We are moving forward in the Gospel of Jesus
• We have endured rough times… memories
• God is going to replace those memories
• God is not going to give up on you!
• He will bring it to completion.

 
Verse 7 - Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (partakers of grace) 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

• It changes our heart for people and causes us to pray for others
• Paul is compelled to be a compassionate man
• Paul was a KILLER
• Now he is an encourager
• He realizes his life is not about himself but it is about others
• Prayer overcomes proximity and affinity
• He writes to encourage them (letters are important)

 
Verse - 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior (excellent) and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,

• I have failed the mercy portion of a Spiritual Gifts analysis.
• It is the understanding of the Gospel that allows me to love others.
• This based upon discernment and trust of other people.

 
Verse 11 - filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

• Righteousness –
• 2 Corinthians 5:21- He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.[4]
• If you don’t comprehend this… you get trapped in religion
• You give Jesus your sin and He gives you righteousness
• Your legal standing before God but also your lifestyle!
• You are a new creation… you have a new heart.

 

• It is all about Jesus… (mentioned 7 times in the first 11 verses)
• This community is only together because of our relationship with Jesus Christ and the moving forward of the Good News of what He has done for us and through us.
• Is loneliness a bad thing? No… sometimes God uses lonely times for you us to draw near to Him… Jesus is found many times to be experiencing loneliness
• He voluntarily withdrew… in the garden… on the way to the cross (denial).
• He was utterly alone on the cross.
• He can sympathize with us!

 
Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [5]

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Philippians 1:2–11). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports/loneliness-in-america
[3] https://newsroom.cigna.com/loneliness-epidemic-persists-post-pandemic-look
[4] Christian Standard Bible (2 Corinthians 5:21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Hebrews 12:1–2). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• Luke leaves Rome and travels to Philippi, where he stays with the church.

• Titus travels to the Island of Crete and plants a number of churches there.
• Spring 62 - Crisis in Philippi
• After some time, Paul decides to address the problems in Philippi that Epaphras reported to him.
• The problems are as follows: There are contentions, grumblings, and disputes present that are rooted in pride and petty jealousies.
• Two sisters in particular, Euodia and Syntyche (sin-2-key), are quarreling with each other fiercely. (These women, along with Clement, have helped Paul labor in the gospel every time he was present in Philippi.)
• The Philippians are receiving persecution at the hands of their pagan neighbors who are libertines noted for their loose living and bondage to their fleshly appetites.
• The Philippians are also being agitated by Jewish missionaries who are urging them to be circumcised and come under the Law.
• Epaphras recovers from his illness, and Paul sends him to Philippi.
• Paul plans to send Timothy to Philippi once he learns about the results of his upcoming trial.
• He wants Timothy to bring back a report on the church’s progress.
• Paul is optimistic that he will be released and plans to visit the church when that time comes.
• Philippians is Paul’s last letter to a church that is recorded in the NT.

 

• PAUL WRITES PHILIPPIANS
• Year: Spring 62
• From: Rome
• To: The church in Philippi (which is about 12 years old)
• Provocation: Paul wants the Philippians to know how he is doing in Rome.
• He gives them an update on Epaphras (also called Epaphroditus) and tells them that he is sending him back to them.
• Paul encourages the church in the face of opposition.
• He addresses their contentions by presenting Christ—His humility and His lack of self-preservation.
• Paul puts the church on guard against the Judaizers (“the mutilation party” as he calls them) and against the pagan libertines.
• He tells the Philippians of his plan to send Timothy to them when he has a better idea of his own future.
• That future includes his desire to visit them when he is released from prison.
• Paul speaks directly to Luke and asks him to help two sisters in the church to reconcile and live in harmony (chapter 4:3).
• He ends the letter by thanking the church for its gracious financial gift.
• A highlight of this letter is found in chapters 2:6-11 where Paul quotes an ancient Christian hymn regarding the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

 

• In spite of his difficult circumstances as a prisoner in Rome, Paul is rejoicing.
• The secret of his joy is the single mind; he lives for Christ and the Gospel. (Christ is named eighteen times in Philippians 1, and the Gospel is mentioned six times.)
• “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
• But what really is “the single mind”?
• It is the attitude that says, “It makes no difference what happens to me, just as long as Christ is glorified and the Gospel shared with others.”
• Paul rejoiced in spite of his circumstances, because his circumstances strengthened the fellowship of the Gospel (Phil. 1:1–11), promoted the furtherance of the Gospel (Phil. 1:12–26), and guarded the faith of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27–30).[1]

 

• Philippians: Theme is joy
• What is the difference between joy and happiness?
• Can you be happy and joyful at the same time?
• Can you be happy and without joy?
• Can you be joyful and not happy?
• What makes you happy? What brings you joy?

 

• Happiness depends on circumstances
• Joy is independent of circumstances
• Joy is accessible to the believer when happiness is on vacation (nowhere to be found)

 

• Hebrews 12:2 - keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[2]

 

• Constitution: We have rights… among them… Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
• Happiness occurs in two places: culture and religion
•    Culture: people, places or things
•    Processes: There always steps…
•    Football Team winning
•    Favorite Starbucks drink
• Finishing a project
• Being with family or friends
• Ice cream
• Traveling – Trips – Vacation

 

•    Culture is not the answer for happiness

 

• Religion: Pop psychology (Oprah), creating your own God, Joel Osteen (health & wealth=prosperity)
• Just because it is in a book, magazine or even on religious television
• Galatians 5:19-21 - It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.[3]

 

• Walking in prosperity, incredible health, strong relationships, living in victory, without pain and anxiety excludes Jesus.
• Your plan should include God

 

• Jesus was born in a poor family… sometimes homeless, common job, hungry & didn’t even have enough money to pay his taxes.
• Relationships: Jesus have strange relationships? Family disowned him, friends abandoned him, Judas betrayed him & the crowd called for his death.

 

• Pain: Did Jesus ever experience pain? Cross…

 

• Victor or victimized: False accusations, false witnesses, false trial, false condemnation and false execution

 

• Worries & Anxiety: Gethsemane… sweated drops of blood.

 

• There are days of pain!!! We think we can live in the first couple of chapters of Genesis. The fall of man occurred!

 

• #1 prescription drug in America is anti-depressants (118 million people)
• 25% of adults and 8% of adolescents experience a major period of depression.
• #3 reason for death among teenage girls is suicide

 

• Our pursuit of happiness is not working…

 

• Three reasons why…
• We hang our hopes on someone or something
• (desire is ok… it is the discontentment that ruins us)
• We get those things think will make us happy… and they don’t make us happy.
• (spouse, child, job, car… Ecclesiastes… “Everything is meaningless”
• We create diversions
• (computers, television, Blackberries, sleeping, eating, internet, etc)

 

• CHRISTIAN WARFARE
• PHILIPPIANS 1
• GREETING
• 1 Paul and Timothy (Paul’s right-hand man), servants of Christ Jesus:
• To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi (Acts 16:11-38 – it was hub, strategic for church planting), including the overseers and deacons. (pastors & elders)[4]
• Christ Jesus (mentioned twice in first verse)
• There wasn’t a lot of talk about Jesus
• Philippians written in 62 AD (about the same time as the Gospels)
• Jesus rebelled against culture because he came as a humble servant. (Matthew 20:28 - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”[5])
• Saints – Those who believe in Jesus Christ…
• Saint Qualifications - In official Church procedures there are three steps to sainthood: one becomes Venerable, Blessed and then a Saint.
• Venerable is the title given to a deceased person recognized as having lived heroic virtues.
• To be recognized as a Blessed, and therefore beatified, in addition to personal attributes of charity and heroic virtue, one miracle, acquired through the individual's intercession, is required.
• Canonization requires two, though a Pope may waive these requirements. Martyrdom does not usually require a miracle.
• Christian: One step… Jesus… Check!!! Done!!!!
• Jesus rose for you and you are set apart… it is our identity!
• Put this on your resume… business card… REPRESENT!

 

• Servants
• Greek word is slave… not the same thing as America practiced.
• Be a slave to Jesus Christ
• Slave to sin, religion or Jesus
• Sin – Titus 3:3 - For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.[6]
• It usually starts kind of fun and then turns bad…
• It is selfish… it is about me… it demands service… it is “me” oriented

 

• Religion – 2 Peter 2:19 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.[7]
• Religion is horrible… it is about a list of things you must do… and you measure up according to how you act to things that are posted on the list.
• It is selfish again… it is about “me”… pride… external rewards…
• Man promises happiness in religion, Christ promises joy in understanding
• Jesus – You never know what is in store… it is fun…
• It is selfless… not selfish… it is not about me… it is about Christ doing things while I rest.

 

• Why would I become a slave? I’m free already… No… not really…
• You are a slave to someone or something… Who is your master?

 

• Slavery is the key to freedom!
• Humility is the key to joy!
• Servanthood is a great lifestyle for those who identity is a Saint.

 

• Our identity is a SAINT
• Our lifestyle is a SERVANT

 

• Knowing that I am a SAINT… makes me happy
• Living as a servant… brings me Joy…

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 64). Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 12:2). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Ga 5:19–21). NavPress.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Php). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Mt 20:28). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Tt 3:3). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (2 Pe 2:19). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• Paul wrapped up his discussion on submission and authority. Then changed subjects to end.
• As Christians, we face three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil (Ephesians 2:1–3 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.[1])
• 1) “The world” refers to the system around us that is opposed to God, that caters to “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:15–17 - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.[2] ).
• “Society apart from God” is a simple, but accurate, definition of “the world.”
• “The flesh” is the selfishness that is opposed to God and can do nothing spiritual to please God.
• By His death and resurrection, Christ overcame the world (John 16:33; Gal. 6:14), and the flesh (Rom. 6:1–6; Gal. 2:20), and the devil (Ephesians 1:19–23 - and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. 20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens--21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet, and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.[3]).
• We still live in this world that Christ overcame.
• We still live in the flesh that Christ overcame.
• We still deal with the devil that Christ overcame.
• In other words, as believers, we do not fight for victory—we fight from victory!
• The Spirit of God enables us, by faith, to appropriate Christ’s victory for ourselves.[4]

CHRISTIAN WARFARE
EPHESIANS 6:10-24
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.

• There is no question that believers will face opposition.
• Jesus was a model for dealing with opposition.
• In warfare, the intelligence corps plays a vital part because it enables the officers to know and understand the enemy.
• Unless we know who the enemy is, where he is, and what he can do, we have a difficult time defeating him.
• God's goal is to teach us to fight spiritual battles with spiritual weaponry... not spiritual battles with physical weaponry.

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.

• Where was Paul during this writing to Ephesus? (Roman prison) So who was he constantly staring at? (Roman soldiers).
• "Put on" - to envelope in, to hide in, to clothe with.
• If you "put on" something, then we can assume it you are able to "take off" as well.
• This is not talking about actual clothing and getting dressed as if you are doing something.
• You don't get up every day and "put on" on your battle clothes.
• You better be hiding in them when you go to bed!
• My neighbor's flood call - Putting on clothes... you better be ready.
• the devil. The enemy has many different names.
• Devil means “accuser,” because he accuses God’s people day and night before the throne of God (Rev. 12:7–11).
• Satan means “adversary,” because he is the enemy of God.
• He is also called the tempter (Matt. 4:3), and the murderer and the liar (John 8:44).
• He is compared to a lion (1 Peter 5:8), a serpent (Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9), and an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:13–15), as well as “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4, NIV).
• Tactics/schemes = craftiness, trickery, cunning or deception.
• The devil does this inside the church as well, by getting Christians to spend their energy trying to obtain what is already theirs.
• He made you to enjoy Him... not work you into a frenzy.
• It is not a believer's performance that brings about such a standing not his performance that allows him to maintain his stance.

 
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

• Battle/Struggle/Wrestle
• A wrestling match speaks of a contest at close quarters, and an individual contest, between the Christian and his demon enemies.
• This is not about flesh and blood... because in a battle, there will always be a winner and a loser.
• So what if this battle takes place in a church business meeting. Someone loses. It is not about flesh and blood... purely spiritual.
• Paul not only spends time here making the believers aware of satan's existence but he is reminding them of what they already have and where they stand. (I am a CHAMPION)

13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

• The “whole armor of God” is a picture of Jesus Christ.
• Christ is the Truth (John 14:6), and He is our righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21) and our peace (Eph. 2:14).
• His faithfulness makes possible our faith (Gal. 2:20); He is our salvation (Luke 2:30); and He is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14).

14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest,

• The belt was fundamental, because everything else connected to it. It held everything together.
• The girdle also held the sword.
• Unless we practice the truth, we cannot use the Word of truth.
• Breastplate of righteousness - It is not something you earned. You got it as a believer. Now Paul is telling you to appropriate it. Figure it all and walk in it!
• ‎Satan is the accuser, but he cannot accuse the believer who is living a godly life in the power of the Spirit.
• ‎When Satan accuses the Christian, it is the righteousness of Christ that assures the believer of his salvation.‎
• ‎So you don’t have to get up in the morning determined to try to be righteous.
• Instead, you get up in the morning and say, “Because of Christ, I am righteous today.”
• The breastplate of righteousness is part of the armor you wear all the time, because every day you are dressed in Christ’s righteousness.
• The belt of Truth is more than just intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures.
• It better be Truth attained and applied. You gotta be wearing it... not carrying it.

15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.

• The Roman soldier wore sandals with hobnails in the soles (cleats) to give him better footing for the battle. If we are going to “stand” and “withstand,” then we need the shoes of the Gospel.
• The believer has peace with God as received through faith in Christ... so walk in that peace.
• The believer can bring peace, not necessarily for the physical battle but the spiritual battle.
• Just reminding people that it is spiritual not physical brings peace of mind.

16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

• The shield was large (similar to a door), usually about four feet by two feet, made of wood, and covered with tough leather.
• As the soldier held it before him, it protected him from spears, arrows, and “fiery darts.”
• These "fiery darts/arrows/missiles" are aimed for your brain... fleshly thoughts and temptations.
• ‎The “faith” mentioned here is not saving faith, but rather living faith, a TRUST in the promises and the power of God.

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.

• The actual helmet protected the crown of the head, the forehead, the cheeks and the neck as well. Protected against decapitation.
• Satan will even cause you to doubt your salvation.‎
• The helmet refers to the mind controlled by God.
• ‎This sword is the offensive weapon God provides us. The sword is the Word of God.
• The believer saturates his mind with the Truths of God's Word, the Spirit brings to remembrance the specific verses needed to counter each of the enemy's schemes.

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

• Prayer is the energy that enables the Christian soldier to wear the armor and wield the sword.
• We cannot fight the battle in our own power, no matter how strong or talented we may think we are.
• Prayer - Refer to Keith's teaching in the Fall of 2010.
• What does praying at "all times" look like?
• Pray with your eyes open.
• Watching means “keeping on the alert.”
• The phrase “watch and pray” occurs often in the Bible.
• Praying for others... multiplies our defense/offense... as well as moves the focus off of self.

19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

• Paul had confidence in the church at Ephesus that they would pray for his boldness in sharing the Truth.

20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

• "in chains" - confirms his imprisonment in Rome.
• "Boldly" - freedom, confidence, clarity, openness and frankness.

 
PAUL’S FAREWELL
21 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed.

• Tychicus would bring this letter to Ephesus. (as well as the letter to Colosse).
• Tychicus was from Asia (Acts 20:4)
• He could add more to the letter about Paul and answer questions concerning Paul because he knew Paul's heart.

22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.

• Paul always made it about the church rather than about himself.

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Peace, love and faith all come from God as gifts.

24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.[5]

• Grace: 1) unmerited favor and 2) daily power to walk by the Spirit and accomplish God's will.

"I am a champion"
"I am redeemed"
"I am forgiven"
"I am complete"
"I am perfect"
"I am holy"
"I am a saint"
"I am victorious"
"I am righteous"
"in Christ"

• Believe it... Believe it... Believe it...
• And when you walk out of this locker room onto the playing field... those darts will be coming.
• The enemy will look huge.

Stay together as a team... Remind each other that "You are a Champion... in Christ"

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 2:1–3). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (1 Jn 2:15–17). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 1:19–23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 56–57). Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 6:10–24). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.