Our text is from Ephesians chapter 6, our Epistle reading for today. Let me read verses 10-11, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Here ends our text.
St Paul says that we struggle “against the schemes of the devil.” We also wrestle “against the spiritual forces of evil.” We are also attacked by “the flaming darts of the evil one.” The devil is our enemy.
Who is the devil? Where did he come from?
Satan was originally a holy angel, but he rebelled against God. We learn from Isaiah 14:12-14 that Satan wanted to raise his throne above God. He said, “I will make myself like the Most High [God].” Notice that Satan wanted to be above God Himself. 2 Peter 2:4 tells us that other angels also sinned as well and joined Satan in his rebellion.
The devil, then, appeared in the form of a serpent in the Garden of Eden. He tempted Eve to doubt God’s Word. He said to her, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” Then, he lied saying that she would not die if she ate the fruit. Eve and then Adam gave into the temptation and ate. As a result, we suffer from sin and death, and from the devil himself.
The name “Satan” means “accuser” or “adversary.” He tries to accuse us of our sin, and he is our adversary. Scripture also calls him the great dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, and the deceiver of the whole world. Jesus calls him the father of lies.
The devil seeks to pull us away from faith in Christ by tempting us with drugs, alcohol, pornography, sexual immorality, gambling, greed, and much more. He also tempts us to seek hidden knowledge by the use of occult magic, seances, Ouija boards, fortune-telling, and palm readings.
The devil lies. He wants us to doubt God’s Word. He wants us to follow false doctrine. He deceives us and misleads us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. He does not want us to attend the Divine Service, to receive the Lord’s Supper or to read or study God’s Word.
When we have given into Satan’s temptations and have fallen in sin, may the Holy Spirit move us to repent and to receive the forgiveness of sins in Christ.
Who will make the payment for our sin? Who will defeat our enemy the devil? Who will overcome our enemy death?
The Son of God came down from heaven and took upon himself our human flesh in order to pay for our sin, to destroy the devil, and to overcome death.
Jesus’ ministry began with his baptism in the Jordan river. Then, Jesus was led up into the wilderness. There, Satan tempted Jesus three times to sin, but Jesus responded with the Word of God. Jesus withstood Satan and won.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus made people whole again by casting demons out of them. The Gospels record Jesus casting out demons from people on seven different occasions. All of this proves that Jesus has power over the devil and his demons.
Jesus’ greatest victory came on the cross. There He shed innocent blood as a payment for the sin of the whole world. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb of God. Three days later Christ rose from the dead. 1 John 3:8 says that the reason why the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. And Hebrews 3:8 says that Christ became human “so that by His death, He might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil.”
The devil is defeated. Jesus destroyed him by means of the cross and open tomb. Jesus won victory over Satan.
After God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, they were up against the Red Sea fearing Pharaoh and his army behind them. But Moses said, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Ex 14:13-14). The battle is the Lord’s. God fought for the Israelites. He sent 10 plagues in Egypt. He parted the Red Sea and had the Israelites cross over on dry ground and God destroyed Pharaoh and his army in the waters of the Red Sea.
So also, Jesus fought for you against the devil. Jesus defeated Satan by means of the cross and open tomb. Stand firm. Look at the cross and see the salvation of our Lord. Jesus has won victory over Satan.
Dearly beloved in the Lord, you were baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus. Your baptism was like an exorcism. Satan was cast out, and you became a child of God. You were brought out of darkness and into the light of Christ. Galatians 3:27 says that in baptism you “put on Christ.” You put on Christ’s weapons and armor.
When you were confirmed, you were asked, “Do you renounce the devil?” and you said, “Yes, I renounce him.” Then you were asked, “Do you renounce all his works and all his ways?” and you said, “Yes, I renounce them.”
The good news is that you are baptized. You confess Christ as your one and only Savor. But this also means that the devil now attacks you. He wants to take you out of God’s kingdom.
The devil lost the battle against Jesus, but he refuses to quit. 1 Peter 5:8-9 reads, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.”
The devil is your enemy, not God. God is for you and with you. He brings you to repentance and to faith in the forgiveness of sins. God feeds you at this altar with the body and blood of Christ. This mean strengthens and perseveres you in the one true faith.
The devil is your enemy. He will do everything to destroy the truth of God’s Word and God as creator. The devil will advance the false teaching of Darwinian evolution. He seeks to divide the Church. He seeks to destroy the sanctity of life in the womb, the institution of marriage, the family as the foundation of society, and even good government and godly leadership.
Paul says in our text for today, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (v 10). It’s easy for us to rely on our own strength, but Paul reminds us to rely on the Lord’s strength. We cannot resist the devil’s temptations or overcome evil by our own power. To those who think themselves spiritually strong, Paul warns, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12).
We are in a battle. Not an offensive battle, but a defensive battle. We are being attacked by the devil. God gives us the armor to protect the Gospel and His church.
What tools does God give us to defend the Gospel and His church? Like a Roman soldier, we are equipped with six pieces of armor: a belt, a breastplate, shoes, a shield, a helmet, and a sword. These are not physical weapons, but spiritual weapons.
We fight the devil with the belt of truth. God’s Word is true, while the devil is the father of lies.
We fight the devil with the breastplate of righteousness; not our own righteousness, but Christ’s righteousness. We are declared righteous through faith in Christ.
We fight against the devil with the shoes of the Gospel of peace. We have peace knowing that Christ has defeated Satan, paid for our sins, and destroyed death.
We fight against the devil with the shield of faith. We were given the gift of faith in Christ who is our one and only Savior.
We fight against the devil with the helmet of salvation. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ and not by our works.
And finally, we wield the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Just as Jesus resisted Satan’s temptations with Scripture, so we also respond to the devil with God’s Word.
So, we stand firm against the devil with the truth of God’s Word, the righteousness of Christ, the Gospel of peace, with faith in Christ, with the message of salvation in Christ alone, and with the Word of God.
Dearly beloved in the Lord, it may at times appear that the devil is winning. Immorality is increasing, the visible church is declining, persecution is growing, and our Christian freedoms are diminishing. Yet, count it all joy. Forgiveness, life, and salvation are yours in Christ.
Stanza three of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” goes like this,
Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not over pow’r us.
This world’s prince may still, Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.
The Word of the Gospel causes the devil to fall.
The good news is that you are not alone. God will never leave you nor forsake you. Christ is your refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. There is nothing to fear. God will make sure that the gates of hell will never prevail against His church.
The good news is that Jesus has won victory over the devil. The devil lost. You are on the winning side. The victory is yours in Christ. And there will come a day when we will join the Church Triumphant in heaven above. Amen.
