Tag: spiritual warfare

October 5, 2022 Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

To Stand…

In “The Christian in Complete Armour”, William Gurnall gives us an in-depth look at spiritual warfare. He spends some 1,500 pages unpacking Ephesians 6:10-20, expounding its text, discussing its implications, and giving some practical direction. In the first volume, he focuses on verses 10-13:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Finally, My Brethren…

This is addressed to my brethren (i.e., to Christians at the church in Ephesus… and recorded in scripture for all Christians of all time). In other words, if you are a Christian, you will experience spiritual warfare. There is no escaping it. The “evil day” will come. It’s only a matter of time. It comes in various packages, facades, seasons, and circumstances…

  • The temptation to give in to sensuality or lustful pleasures
  • The enticement toward bitterness and unforgiveness toward a brother or sister
  • The itch for independence from all accountability (i.e., at church, at work)
  • The urge to doubt God’s goodness in the midst of physical pain or health issues
  • The appeal of self-pity in the face of unreciprocated love or care
  • The lure toward anger while enduring persecution or injustice
  • The attractiveness of the world (i.e., its comforts, its entertainment, its ease, its pleasures)
  • The inclination to fear when we stand on the precipice of death

Whatever “evil day” comes upon you, Satan has one goal in mind… that you fall…

The Power of His Might…

Anyone who thinks they can stand against the devil, against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness… in their own strength… is a fool. Pride comes before a fall. We need help… a lot of help. And for any born-again Christian, that help has been given to us in the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17, John 14:26-27, John 15:26-27, John 16:13-14). In other words, God’s Spirit inside us… is the “power of His might…”

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

But how are we availing ourselves of His Spirit… when the “evil day” comes upon us? Are we surrendering to His battle plan, His tactics, His principles, and His commands?

Having Done All…

In verse 13 the Apostle Paul repeats verse 11, exhorting us once again to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand…” However, he ends verse 13 with an addendum, “and having done all, to stand.” Though we can only remain standing “in the power of His might”, it is also expected that we have “done all, to stand.” In other words, God won’t do for us, what we won’t do for ourselves…

I think this is where most of us fail. We expect God to do His part. But we aren’t willing to do our part. And notice our part… We are to have done “all”… not “some”, not “most”, but “all”.

Christian, are we doing all we can… to stand?

  • Are we looking daily into the truth of God’s word?
  • Are we living righteously according to all He says?
  • Are we going out with good news of His peace?
  • Are we trusting Him in the trials that we go through?
  • Are we secure in the promises He’s made to us, to deliver us?
  • Are we rightly applying His word in every situation?

These are just a few ways we can be ready. For more on this subject, see “The Christian in Complete Armour” below. The “evil day” is coming for each of us. May we be found “having done all… to stand…”

William Gurnall – The Christian in Complete ArmourDownload
June 1, 2022 Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

This last month we have been discussing the practice and purpose of personal and community “Spiritual Check-Up”. We’ve looked at common ways Satan blinds us, the doors we leave open to the enemy, and how we can keep those doors shut. Through these teachings, along with reading “The Christian in Complete Armour”, my attention has been keenly focused on our spiritual well-being, our enemy, and our need to fight.

Our Spiritual Well-Being…

We’ve looked at the following common ways Satan blinds us, hampering our spiritual well-being:

  • Spiritual Delusional Disorder (i.e., we can’t tell what’s real from what’s imagined)
  • Spiritual Switzerland (i.e., we look for a middle ground, a compromise, safety)
  • Comfort and Lethargy (i.e., we have too much to lose)
  • Isolation (i.e., we take our church community foregranted)
  • No Joy, Peace (i.e., we look for happiness in worldly things, rather than Joy and Peace in Christ)
  • Lack of Discipline (i.e., we are tired, don’t want to hold the hard line anymore)

Our Enemy…

We also looked at the doors we leave open, that our enemy exploits:

  • An uncontrolled tongue (Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 13:3, James 1:26, James 3:5-6)
  • An uncontrolled imagination (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
  • Fears (Philippians 4:6-7, 1 John 4:18, 2 Timothy 1:7)
  • Sinful Habits (Ephesians 4:26-27, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Mark 7:20-23)
  • Stubbornness (Proverbs 29:1, Psalms 81:11-12)
  • Emotional Hurt (Proverbs 15:13, Hebrews 12:3)
  • Anger (Psalms 37:8, Proverbs 14:29)
  • Rebellion (1st Samuel 15:23, Psalms 68:6)
  • Unforgiveness (Hebrews 12:15)

Our Need to Fight…

We can’t avoid the fight if we are Christian (2nd Timothy 3:12, Acts 14:22). The enemy is coming, whether we ask for it or not (Genesis 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8). Paul puts it this way,

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)

First, this fight is addressed to a community: “my brethren… For we”. There is an aspect of fighting in which we are all in this together. None of us is exempt. We fight with and for our brothers and sisters.

Second, this is personal: “we wrestle”. As William Gurnall puts it,

“Wrestling is primarily a ‘one-on-one’ contest where one opponent singles out another and enters into an arena with him… Each wrestler exerts his whole force and strength against the other… Each contestant is the sole object of his challenger’s fury.”

“Wrestling is close combat… wrestlers grapple hand-to-hand… When Satan comes after you, he moves in close, takes hold of your very flesh and corrupt nature, and by this shakes you.”

Third, God gives us the tools to win: “be strong in the Lord… and the power of His Might”. But it’s on us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand...“

Are We Ready…?

If we are going to be any good at this, preparation is required. Let’s examine ourselves in light of the above:

  • Am I strong in the Lord… and the power of His might? (i.e., Does He come through victoriously for me in the battle… Or do I give in to my flesh?)
  • Do I put on the whole armor of God? (i.e., Do I read, study, and meditate on His word… Do I pray and seek to remember his directions, so I can quickly maneuver and react?)
  • Do I take up the whole armor of God? (i.e., Do I recall his truth when needed, to win arguments against Satan… to fend off the enemy’s temptations?)
  • Do I fight for and with “the brethren”? (i.e., Am I surrounding myself with able men and women who can train me… Am I leaning on them for advice and feedback… to be a better wrestler?)

If we are going to make it, we can’t be ignorant of our spiritual well-being, our enemy, and our need to fight.

The Christian in Complete Armour – William GurnallDownload