Turn with me, if you would, to
Ephesians chapter 6. Ephesians chapter 6. I believe
you will see in a moment how this Bible study and the morning
message go hand in hand. I prepared the morning message
first, and then I looked at the next verse in Ephesians, which
is generally where we've been for the Bible study, and I was
amazed how they lined up together. So let's read verses 11 and 12,
Ephesians 6, 11 and 12. Put on the whole armor of God
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places. Now this is something that I
do not like to talk about. This is something that is fearful
to me. It's very fearful. I do not like
devoting any time to the thought of the adversary or his rulers
of the darkness of this world. And I would strongly encourage
all of us not to do so. Do not do so. Do not study him. Do not look into the things of
him. And that's what this is telling
us. That's exactly what the apostle
Paul is saying to us and warning us of here. Our Lord has given
us a few facts concerning our adversary in this word. He has recorded a few things
in this word so that we can have some comfort And so that we can
glorify our God concerning him. But as we look at these things,
we come to these places where our Lord has recorded these things
concerning him. As we look at the things that
are written in the word, we draw nigh to Christ. We draw nigh
to him. I read these and this is the
thought that's been going through my mind and heart. Lord, draw
me nearer. Draw me nearer to you. Pull me
close, pull me so close at all times, especially when we're
on a subject like this. And that's the exhortation he's
giving. That's exactly what Paul is saying. Draw nigh to Christ. Verse 11 says, put on the whole
armor of God. Romans 13 says, put on the Lord
Jesus Christ. Put on Christ. He said, put on
the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places. Now this is a vital exhortation
to us. But before we get into it, I
want to make this very clear. This is a trivial illustration,
a very, very trivial illustration, but I believe it'll make it very
clear. I believe it'll make the point
very clear. A lot of superhero movies have been made over the
years. A lot of superhero movies. And in every one of them, the
superhero has a nemesis. Another super being with rivaling
powers. And this evil wicked super being
wars against the superhero. So much so that at some point
the question is, will the superhero even win the battle? That is
not the case here. That is not at all the case here. Our adversary is no rival for
Christ our God. He is no match. One little word
from Christ our God shall fail him like a tree. That's what
Martin Luther said in his song, a mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing. It says, did we in our own strength
confide, our striving would be losing. That's the purpose of
this exhortation. We're not the right man on our
side, the man of God's own choosing. Just ask who that may be. Christ
Jesus, it is he. Lord Sabbath is his name. from age to age the same and
he must win the battle. There is no optional outcome. Men stand up in pulpits and they
make statements like this. The Lord is trying to work good
in your life if the devil would just stop messing it up. No way. That's the message of
the adversary. That's the adversary's message.
That's the work of his message, trying to dethrone God. That is not a possibility. It's
not a possibility. Turn with me over to Job chapter
one. Job 1 verse 6, it says, Now there was a day
when the sons of God came to present themselves before the
Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto
Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord
and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking
up and down in it. The adversary has to present
himself before the Lord our God, and he has to give an account
of his matters. Now, our God already knows his matters. He
knows all things. But in the adversary having to
present himself, and having to explain himself, he is constantly
reminded that the Lord knows all of his matters, and he has
to answer to our God. He's constantly reminded of that.
He was created by God. He is God's created being, and
he was created for a purpose, and that purpose was this. God
said to him concerning the woman's seed, which is Christ, God said
to him, you are going to bruise his heel on the cross. That's the reason why I created
you. He could not do it until he had permission to do it. He
couldn't do it until he was allowed at God's appointed time to do
it. But God told him from the beginning,
you are going to bruise his heel and he is going to crush your
head. That's the reason I made you.
I raised you up that I might show my power in you. Now hold
your place right here in Job and go to Luke 22. Luke 22, verse
53. It says, when I was daily with
you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against me, but
this is your hour and the power of darkness. Our Lord said, this
is the moment that I'm allowing him to bruise my heel on the
cross. Now turn over to John 12. Verse 31 says, now is the judgment
of this world. Now shall the prince of this
world be cast out. And that's referring to the adversary
that the little G God of this earth, the prince of this world
right now, he's going to be cast out. Verse 32. And I, if I be
lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me. Men is in italics. I'll draw
all unto me, all of my own. The Lord Jesus Christ said in
the very same moment that he bruises my heel, I will crush
his head at that very moment. The very moment that he sees
to be his victory. That is the very moment that'll
be the final blow of his defeat. So we see that he is just as
much in the palm of God's hand as every other created being
is. Every other created being in
heaven, earth, under the earth, he is upon just like everybody
else. Now hold your place, keep holding
it in Job and go to Ephesians 1. Ephesians one verse 21, it says, our Lord Jesus Christ, it says,
he is far above all principality and power and might and dominion
and every name that is named. Not only in this world, but also
in that which is to come. He is far above. I mean far above, this is no
close match. Far above, nothing rivals His
principality and His power, nothing. Look at Colossians 1. Colossians 1 verse 16, it says,
for by him, by the Lord Jesus Christ, were all things created
that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers,
all things were created by him and for Him, all things, all
things. Verse 17 says, and He is before
all things and by Him all things consist. Everything is in His
hands. It was all created by Him and
it was created for Him. This shows the absolute sovereignty
of God. This shows the highness of God. Look at Colossians chapter two,
it says in verse two, I'm sorry, verse 10, Colossians two, verse
10, you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality
and power. Verse 13 says, and you being
dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with the Lord Jesus Christ, having forgiven you all
trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that
was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the
way, nailing it to his cross. And through that cross, through
his heel being bruised on that cross, verse 14, he blotted out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his
cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of
them openly, triumphing over them in," the margin says, himself. in himself. So before we talk
about the adversaries dealings with us, this is all, this is
part one of two parts. Next time we're going to look
at part two, but before we even get into his dealings with us,
let's put everything in its rightful place first. Let's put all authority
where it belongs first. And then with that being said,
let's heed the warning of our God. He said, put on the whole
armor of God. that you may be able to stand
against the wiles, against the deceit, against the trickery,
the snares of the devil, because a spiritual warfare is taking
place. It is taking place. Now go back
to Job chapter one. Job one. Verse 8, And the Lord said unto Satan,
Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like
him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth
God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord
and said, doth Job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made and
hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath
on every side? The Lord said, have you desired
to devour my servant, Job? And the adversary said, yes,
but it doesn't do me any good. It doesn't do me any good. I
can't touch him. You have a hedge about him. You have a hedge about
everything that he has. But this is what he went on to
say. If you will remove that hedge, he acknowledges it's all in your
hands. And if you will remove that hedge and let me touch him,
he will curse you to your face. You let me bring him down in
sorrow, in trial, in affliction, and he will deny you. He'll curse
you to your face. Now, if we know the story of
Job, we know that the Lord did remove the hedge. But we also know that it was
for Job's ultimate good. The Lord kept him. He never charged
God foolishly. Never. And it was for his ultimate
good. Job spent this entire book having
conversations with his friends. These friends, they were all
sitting around, spouting off, saying, well, this is what I
think, or that's what I think. And at the end of this book,
God dealt with Job and he spoke to Job in a way that made Job
finally say, I think it's time I put my hand over my mouth.
I think it's time I just stopped talking. I think that's my big
problem. I had heard of you by the hearing
of the ear. And this is a glorious moment.
You know, the Lord, people do hear of him by the hearing of
the ear, and they even hear some truths by the hearing of the
ear. But at some point, God, in his mercy, he said, I heard
of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.
I see you, I see me. Job said, I abhor myself and
I repent in dust and ashes. And we also know that God turned
his captivity and God gave him twice what he had before. It
was all for his good, but God allowed that to happen to Job.
He allowed that horrible, horrible misery to happen to Job because
he needed to learn something. He needed to learn something.
God did the same thing to Peter. Turn with me over to Luke 22.
Luke 22, verse 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon,
that's Peter, Simon, Peter. The Lord said, Simon, Simon,
behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you
as wheat. And verse 54 tells us that the
Lord did allow the adversary to have him. And it tells us
how he sifted him. Verse 54, then took our Lord
and led him and brought him into the high priest's house. And
Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire
in the midst of the hall and were set down together, Peter
sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him
as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked upon him and said, this
man was also with him. And he denied him saying, woman,
I know him not. You know, our flesh reads this
and it naturally thinks, you know, Peter did that. We all
know Peter did that, but I wouldn't do that. That's exactly what
Peter said before he did it. Verse 58, after a little while,
another saw him and said, thou art also of them. And Peter said,
man, I'm not. And about the space of one hour
after, another confidently affirmed, saying of a truth, this fellow
also was with him, for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, man,
I know not what thou sayest. And immediately while he yet
spake, the cock crew and the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word
of the Lord, how he had said unto him before the cock crow,
thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out and wept bitterly. But do you know what verse 32
says in this chapter? Our Lord said in verse 32, But
I have prayed for thee. He said, Satan has desired to
have you that he may sift you as weeds. And I'm going to let
him sift you. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail
not. And when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren. I'm going to allow this to happen,
but I will not let you go. I will not let you go. And after
you're converted, after you learn what this is going to teach you,
after you're converted to see that you are not all, I am all. After you're converted to see
that the strength does not lie in you, the strength lies in
me. After that's confirmed in you,
I want you to then go and strengthen all of your brethren. I want
you to help them come down. You go around and strengthen
them. Help them all come down. Bring them down. You just bring
them down. Remind them, come on down. Let's all come back down. The
way to be strong is to be strong in Christ and weak in self. He said, Peter, I'm gonna allow
this to happen to teach you to have no confidence in the flesh. None. And then I want you to
teach your brethren that. And that's what Peter did. That's
exactly what he did. Go with me to first Peter chapter
five. 1 Peter 5, verse 5, he said, Likewise, ye
younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be
subject one to another, and be clothed with humility. For God
resisteth the proud, and he gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you
in due time, casting all your care upon him. This is how you put on the whole
armor of God. Casting all your care upon him, for he careth
for you. Be sober, be vigilant, because
your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour. whom resist steadfast in the
faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all
grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
After that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish,
strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. He said, run to Christ. Run to Christ so you won't have
to be devoured cast all your care upon him He said he will
not let you go He will not if God teaches us and if he causes
us to cast our care upon him truly Verse 10 says the God of
all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ
Jesus after that you suffer a while and He'll make you perfect and
He'll establish you and strengthen you and settle you. He will not
let you go. Just listen to this. This is
Romans 8, verses 38 and 39. For I am persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the
love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing. But this is the warning. This
is the exhortation. He said, be sober. in that. Be vigilant in the armor of God
so that you won't have to be taught these painful lessons.
Now that puts the authority where it's due in this situation. That puts all authority where
it's due in God's hands. He's in control of every bit
of this. That also sets up the importance
of heeding the warning. This exhortation is a warning.
Run to Christ. Run to Christ. Put on Christ. Be in Christ. Vigilantly, soberly,
hide in Christ. The next time, the next time
we're in Ephesians 6, we're going to look at the armor of God.
We just saw the importance of putting on the armor of God.
The next time we're going to look at what it is, but let's
just close this with a sneak peek, all right? Go with me back
to Ephesians 6. Ephesians 6, verse 11 says, put
on the whole armor of God, Christ. One word answers the whole armor
of God, Christ. that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil, for we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the
whole armor of God, Christ, that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all to stand, Stand therefore
having your loins gird about with truth, Christ. And having on the breastplate
of righteousness, Christ. And your feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel, Christ of peace, Christ. Above all, taking the
shield of faith, Christ, wherewith you shall be able to quench all
the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation,
Christ, and the sword of the spirit, Christ, which is the
word of God, Christ, Christ. Here's the only safe place to
be. Here's the warning, be in a safe place. Here's the only
safe place to be. Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ,
Christ. We're about to take a break.
Throughout that break, I hope this one word is embedded in
our brain. Christ, Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, keep us right there. All
right, you're dismissed.