6th Sunday after Pentecost / June 26, 2005

Ephesians 6:10-20

Rev. Gayle M. Highness

Be Strong in the Lord

If you listen to any newscast today, chances are you will hear a report on some aspect of the war against terrorism. Not everyone agrees on just what the “war on terrorism” is and how it should be fought, but ever since nine-eleven, almost anyone would agree that terrorism is an evil we must address and address much more effectively than we had before.

We knew terrorism existed before nine-eleven, but it seemed to be something “over there somewhere” that other countries had to deal with. Nine-eleven changed that and we became engaged in a battle with many different fronts: financial, political, military and religious.

Our sense of danger was heightened and, with hindsight, we could see that the enemy’s biggest advantage – our greatest weakness before nine-eleven – was our false sense of security. We knew terrorism existed, but we didn’t know how close at hand it was. When it struck, our defenses could not stand.

In our second reading today, Paul talks about spiritual warfare. We are not fighting an enemy of flesh and blood – in other words, not a human enemy. Rather, this battle is against the wiles of the devil … rulers and authorities and cosmic powers of this present darkness … spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places … flaming arrows of the evil one.

According to Paul, we are extremely well-equipped to fight this battle.

We hear about how the armored Humvees in Iraq are so effective against road side bombs or IEDs and yet people still get hurt and even killed.

We, on the other hand, have armor that is guaranteed to protect us in this battle.

We have truth to protect our gut – our emotions; a covenant which puts us in right relationship with God to protect our hearts – our desires and aspirations; the good news of the gospel of God’s love to protect our feet so we can walk in confidence; faith or trust to deflect direct attacks; salvation to protect our heads – our thinking and decision-making; and the Word of God as an offensive weapon to defeat the evil one.

We have nothing to fear from this enemy of God that surrounds us and attacks us from every side. The devil has no power to hurt us because, as the Bible says in 1 John 4:4, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” And in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

What struck me in this lesson, however, is that our great, great weakness is similar to our nation’s weakness against terrorism before nine-eleven. It doesn’t really matter what resources we have at our disposal to fight an enemy if we aren’t aware of the enemy’s presence or we don’t acknowledge the threat that is posed.

You just don’t hear all that much talk about the devil and the powers of darkness these days – at least not in a way that takes the threat very seriously. Yes – most would probably say there is such a thing as the devil, but do we see ourselves as actively engaged in a struggle against the devil – against evil powers?

There are three ways this battle gets minimized. One way is by fear.

Once in awhile you hear of someone so possessed by the devil or evil that this person’s actions are frighteningly evil – like Charles Manson or Jeffrey Dahmer. That picture of Satan’s power is so frightening we don’t even want to go there, lest even THINKING about it would open our minds and hearts to an invasion. Fear keeps us from facing the enemy.

Another way spiritual warfare is minimized is when the devil disguises himself by cloaking himself in something seemingly good … the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. This strategy really hits us where we are most vulnerable. This is the original temptation: “Come on, Eve, take a bite. Look how good it is – it won’t kill you – it will make you like GOD!” Wow, doesn’t being like God seem like a good thing?

A third way is for the devil to break us down with lies and accusations. “Who do you think you are to imagine that God could really love you and choose you and work through you? Huh! That’s silly. You know better. You’re just a normal, average, everyday and not all that smart person. You really have nothing to offer the world.”

Or, “Hey – don’t bother about that person or that situation – look out for number one – if you don’t look out for your own needs, no one else is going to.”

The devil IS real and the powers of darkness ARE around us. We need to acknowledge the presence of the enemy, but we do not need to fear the enemy because the enemy has NO POWER over Christ. In Christ, we are STRONGER than any power of darkness.

As it says in the opening of John’s gospel: “For the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” And later, in chapter 16, Jesus says, “In the world you face presecution, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

But DO notice, in this passage, all the imperative verbs: verse 11: “put on” – verse 13: “take up” – verse 14: “stand” and “fasten” and “put on” – verse 15: “put on” – verse 16: “take” – verse 17: “take” – verse 18: “pray” and “keep alert” and “persevere.”

We have a guarantee of full protection, but we have to take it and put it on. And if we don’t see or believe we are in any danger, if we don’t want to think the enemy is real or is after us, we will have no reason to put on the armor. We just don’t think it’s really necessary. And that is the lie that the devil LOVES for us to believe.

So, I encourage you, today, now, believe that the devil is lurking about, looking for a foothold. And he WILL use you to fight against the kingdom of God making ANY advance in this world. Talking about the devil and his power, Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me.”

A Christian who doesn’t think the devil is of any real concern is easy pickings for the devil to advance the cause of evil.

But again, don’t let this scare you – just let it wake you up! So you CAN put on, take up, stand, fasten the armor of God. The enemy has already been defeated. He is a wimp compared to our mighty and powerful God.

Praise God for choosing us and calling and equipping us to carry out God’s mission of reconciling and redeeming this world. Let us rejoice in the knowledge that we are loved and forgiven. And as we respond to God’s call to carry his love into the world, let us be aware that the powers of darkness are against us, but know, at the same time, that we are STRONG in the Lord when we put on the armor God has given us.