Sermon Notes - Ephesians 6:10-18 Littleby Baptist Church - September 28, 2025 PM Service

1.        There is an obvious tension in our nation and the world.

a.        Wars between several different countries.

b.       Violence between different groups within their own countries.

c.        Political rhetoric and tension escalating here in America, but also in many other countries.

d.       At times it feels like it is a battle between one group or another.

e.        A battle between one leader and another.

f.          This political idea or party or another.

2.        That is the way it tends to play out in the world.

a.        Or amongst friends.

b.       In the news.

c.        On social media.

d.       And if we are not careful, we as Christ followers can get sucked up into it.

3.        It is easy to get caught up in the emotion of it all.

a.        To think we need to argue with others.

b.       To battle against those in our lives who believe different than us.

c.        Whether we are talking religious beliefs or politics.

4.        To be clear, I am a firm believer of getting involved.

a.        Serving where we can.

b.       If one feels led to run for office, do it.

c.        Volunteer for a committee, do it.

d.       Serve at church, absolutely.

e.        We are all to serve in one way or another.

5.        Serving is not where we run into trouble.

a.        We are all called to serve.

6.        We run into trouble when we argue or battle with others.

a.        There is a wrong way and a Godly way of doing it.

b.       We need to remember that our battle is not with those in this world.

c.        It is not with the person we are talking to.

d.       It is not with the person on the other side of the phone or keyboard.

7.        Ephesians 6:10-12

a.        The person who believes different than us…

b.       Those who want things that are against the Bible…

c.        They are not our enemy.

d.       Let me say that again…

e.        Those that believe different than us…

f.          Those that yell at us.

g.        Those that teach different than the Word of God are not our enemy.

h.        Our battle is not against them.

i.          Per what Paul wrote to the Ephesians our battle is against the Devil.

j.          Our battle is against demonic forces that are pushing for the destruction of family values.

k.        Our battles is against spiritual forces who want to tear down what our Lord Jesus has taught us.

l.          Those are the battles we are to fight.

m.     But they are not battles that we can win on our own.

n.        We cannot stand against Satan in our own power and expect to defeat him.

o.        Vs. 10 says ‘be strengthened by the Lord’, I cannot think of anyone stronger.

                                                                              i.        ‘by His vast strength’, a strength that has no limits.

8.        We cannot defeat Satan on our own.

a.        But Scripture does not tell us to do it on our own.

b.       It tells us to depend on our Jesus.

c.        It is telling us to tap into our Lord’s strength.

d.       To abide in our Lord Jesus.

e.        To depend on Him.

9.        Throughout Scripture, we find that if we seek Him we can receive…

a.        His wisdom.

b.       His peace.

c.        His Joy.

d.       His Hope.

e.        His Strength.

10.   To battle the darkness in this world, we need to abide in Jesus.

a.        Then He will give us the strength we need.

b.       His overwhelming strength.

c.        He will give us the wisdom we need, and so much more.

d.       But we need to do our part.

e.        Which is to put on the full armor of God.

11.   Ephesians 6:13

a.        Putting on the full armor of God helps us to stand strong.

b.       Helps us to defend ourselves.

c.        To do so, we must make every effort to be prepared.

d.       This isn’t a I said a prayer once type of preparation.

e.        This is persistent habit of spending time with God preparation.  

12.   Ephesians 6:14

a.        Stand.

b.       Defend.

c.        Be firm.

d.       Don’t be swayed.

e.        Hold on to the truth.

f.          Trust in God.

13.   Truth like a belt.

a.        We are to live our lives with integrity.

b.       We are to live out our faith.

c.        Our faith is to be sincere.

d.       People should be able to see that we live the way we say we believe.

14.   Righteousness like armor.

a.        Our faith being lived out as rightly as we can.

b.       We are human it wont be perfect.

c.        But we are to live our lives as righteous as possible with the graciousness of our God.

15.   Ephesians 6:15

a.        As we think about battling the Powers of this world, there are three ways we are to be ready with the gospel of peace.

b.       We are to share the Gospel of Christ with others.

c.        We are to be untied as believers of Christ.

d.       We are to be ready to defend the message of Grace to others.

16.   Ephesians 6:16

a.        How do we defend against the devils’ attacks?

b.       We remember what God has already done.

c.        Remembering the chains He has freed us from.

d.       Looking through Scripture knowing what He has done throughout history.

e.        Trusting that God will be with us.

f.          Trusting that he will never leave us or forsake us.

g.        Believing beyond doubt that He is the Author and Perfector of our faith.

h.        Holding on to these things are the shield that will quench the flaming arrows of the enemy.

17.   Ephesians 6:17

a.        The helmet of Salvation…

b.       The Hope we have.

c.        Knowing that Jesus holds our Hope eternal.

d.       No one can take that hope away.

e.        It is secure.

f.          It is guaranteed.

g.        We are a child of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and our faith in Him.

h.        Trust in Jesus and your Helmet of Salvation is secure.

18.   Hold tightly to your Sword.

a.        Spend time with it.

b.       Learn its truth.

c.        Knowing that it cuts.

d.       But trust in it.

e.        You will need it.

19.   Ephesians 6:18

a.        Prayer is a vital part of the battle.

b.       We can get all dressed up, but if we are not bathed in prayer it won’t be effective.

c.        We need to persevere in prayer.

d.       Continually seeking God.

e.        Not once and done.

f.          But as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 states, Pray Constantly.

g.         Heartfelt crying out to God.

h.        Asking Him to intercede.

i.          Asking the Holy Spirit to change hearts.

j.          To break through the darkness.

20.   Our prayers need to be for God to show us what the real issue is.

a.        What the real battle is.

b.       That He helps us to know where the fight is.

c.        And how we are to fight.

21.   I mentioned earlier that the people who want things opposite of what the Bible teaches are not our enemy.

a.        They are not.

b.       They are our mission field.

c.        We need to pray.

d.       We need to stand.

e.        We need the whole armor of God.

f.          Abiding in Jesus.

g.        So when the time is right, we can be witnesses to them.

22.   I want to finish with one more verse.

23.   Micah 6:8

24.   Act Justly.

a.        To be fair with them.

b.       Even if they are saying or doing things that might truly annoy us.

c.        It simply can start by modeling the behaviors we want them to give to us.

d.       It is the only way to build bridges where there are currently disagreements.

25.   Love faithfulness or to care for the needs of others.

a.        If our cause or political agenda or anything but God interferes with our loving others or meeting a need, we need to step back and fix our priorities.

b.       We need to make sure God first, loving others second, everything else after.  

26.   The third is to walk humbly with God.

a.        We have to remember we are not God.

b.       We do not have all the answers.

c.        God knows how things are going to play out.

d.       He knows the future.

e.        We need to trust Him.

27.   There is a lot in this world that we may not like.

a.        There is a lot in this world that we do not understand.

b.       But our God is in control.

c.        Our job is to put on the Armor of God.

d.       Love Him to the best of our ability.

e.        Love Others.

f.          And trust in our God.

g.        If there is someone you have been battling your way.

h.        I encourage you to ask God for help.

i.          Our battle is not with others it is with the devil.

j.          Let’s make sure we are Loving Others.