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We are all in a battle. We have either just come out of one, we are in one now, or we will be facing one soon. This is because this planet is not spiritually neutral.

It is important that we don’t add drama to a battle that we are in. This will complicate and prolong the situation. It is also important that we don’t surrender – ever! The enemy is a liar and too many people have surrendered to his lies just before their victory.

Our text for this series is Ephesians 6:10–13 (NLT-SE), “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”

We know from this verse that there will be a battle. Our enemy is the devil with an hierarchy of evil that use their schemes and strategies against us. Our victory is available but not automatic.

The chief battle that Jesus encountered and won was on a hill called Golgotha. Golgotha is the place of the skull, which is symbolic of the mind. The battlefield for us today is our mind. The devil works his best to get darkness in there. He works and traffics in darkness.

Darkness is also figurative for a lack of knowledge, which is ignorance. When we are ignorant about something, we are easy to deceive. The devil is a deceiver and a liar.

Pastor Tim tells the childhood story of trading his sister pennies for dimes. He would trade her 2 pennies for 1 dime by telling her that pennies were bigger and shinier. This worked until his little sister was old enough to know the true difference between a penny and a dime. In her defense, she is a bright and wonderful teacher today!

As we look at our lives and observe the lives of others, we see that problems are tied to darkness. Virtually any problem area, in which we are bound, hindered, losing, defeated, have no peace and no joy, have strife, are confused, frustrated, struggling or stuck—there is darkness!

There is darkness when:
  • There is something we do not know or wrongly assume.
  • There is something we do not recognize or remember.
  • There is something we cannot “see.”
“The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.”
Proverbs 4:19 (NKJV)

Darkness is present when we do not know. As a result of darkness, we do not know what makes us stumble. When we have darkness and are in darkness we will mishandle things. We will also misbehave, go in the wrong direction and make wrong decisions. This is how we incur damage. It is when we are in the dark that we will put on socks that don’t match, etc. We need the light. We certainly appreciate a lot of light when we are getting a haircut or having surgery.

If the enemy can keep us in darkness then WE will destroy OURSELVES! We will make a mess of things and his work is done. We know from John 10:10 that the devil’s work is to kill, steal and destroy. Again, this is easy for him in darkness.

Pastor Tim called up a person sitting in the congregation to come on the stage to better illustrate our need for light. He blindfolded them and asked them to draw on his board. He asked for a black oval for the face, blue eyes, red lips and a green hat. (One can only imagine how funny the picture looked.)
The enemy will tell a person in darkness, “that’s fine, nice job!” or “that’s pathetic, why try?” Religion will say, “it will all be okay” or a harsh “do better!” What our “artist” needed was light. They took their blindfold off and drew the same picture. The job was much better once they were able to see. If only we can see!
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
(Eph. 1:18–23 NIV)
The above passage is actually a prayer that the Apostle Paul prayed for the church. He prayed that they would have light so that they would be able to see. The Amplified Bible says “that the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand…” When we know, then we are able to understand and to see.

His light comes from three sources: His presence, His Word and His people. Let’s look at the three areas that we need God’s light. We will call it HIP. We must be HIP, or in the know! Paul prayed for light so that they would know:
  • The HOPE of His calling: This has to do with our DESTINY!
  • The riches of His glorious INHERITANCE: This has to do with our IDENTITY!
  • The exceeding greatness of His POWER: This has to do with our ABILITY!
  • The HOPE is an invitation for us to participate in what He has planned. It is an expectation of good. It is the calling, plan and purpose for our lives. It is our DESTINY!
  • The INHERITANCE is who we are. It is His blessings and promises for us. There is a promise for every problem. We need to know who we are in Christ. It is our IDENTITY!
We are righteous and have right standing with God because of the great swap that took place (1 Cor. 5:21). We are delivered from the power of the devil and not under the control of sin (Col. 1:13; Rom. 6:12-14). We are blessed, because blessed and happy are the people whose God is the Lord (Ps. 144:15). We are wise in Christ, because He is made unto us wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30). We are winners, because He always causes us to triumph in Him (2 Cor. 2:14).

The POWER is what we can do because of His power working in and through us. God exerted His power that raised Jesus from the dead and this power still exerts itself over believers today. It is by this power that we endure, love people, overcome sin and temptation and depression. It is our ABILITY!

We need to know these things. The light puts the very things that we are wrestling against (Ephesians 6:12) under our feet (Ephesians 1:18-23). We are positioned far above all rule, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked… This hierarchy is all under our feet!

God made us in His likeness and image and we all have a destiny, an inheritance and ability. If we only knew!

The devil doesn’t mind church and religion and stuff. He’s not worried about us, if he can keep us busy, scattered and nominally religious. However, he is terrified of a church and a people who have light! He is terrified of people who can see their destiny, identity and ability! He is terrified of people who he knocks down and they keep getting up!
“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;?When I fall, I will arise;?When I sit in darkness,?The Lord will be a light to me.”
(Micah 7:8 NKJV)
If we only knew! If we could only see! We need light that comes from God’s presence, God’s Word and God’s people! Once we can see, it’s a whole new world and a whole new life!

Worship
Thank You that I have hope and destiny, inheritance and identity and power and ability in Christ!

Grow
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
(Eph. 1:18-19a NIV)

Serve
Pray the prayer in Ephesians 1:18-23 over those in your church family this week.

Meadowbrook Church
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Biography

Tim Gilligan
Web site: Meadowbrook Church Ocala
 
Tim and Alicia Gilligan founded Meadowbrook Church of Ocala in 1989, with an urgent desire to minister to the people of Central Florida. Three decades later, they continue to practically and passionately share the truth of God's word.
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