God's Mission Advancement Plan

Most built structures require some power to accomplish what it intends to do. I was watching a short clip the other day on where a quarterback’s ability to throw comes from, and while I’m not a coach or have expertise like some in this room, it’s not so much simply arm strength but the rotation of the torso that gives a quarterback’s throw the zip. The same holds in baseball, where a batter’s strength comes not from a flat-footed swing but from a torso rotation. If the sports illustrations don’t do it for you, we’re told singing is best done through your core, as it helps your breath and voice have more power. On and on, I could go with opening illustrations of where strength comes from, and often, it’s not from where we expect.

We’ve pursued a short, 7-week series through the book of Ephesians, thinking about God’s plan for His people, the church. You might remember when Jesus came to Paul on the Damascus Road in the book of Acts. His charge was, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Paul asked who it was, and Jesus showed Himself, but don’t miss what Jesus was also saying: persecuting the church was the equivalent of persecuting Jesus. So, the church (not the building, the people) is very dear to God’s heart and calls for more than a hat tip from our lives. We began this series a few weeks ago, seeing God’s rescue plan was something He initiated, accomplished, and invited us into. This rescue plan led to seeing God’s purposeful plan in saving people: to move them into life together. God’s plan was decidedly a people plan, taking all kinds of people and putting them together so that His glory shines. God isn’t shy about the details of how these people grow either; He intends for them to keep progressing toward Him. We saw God’s plan to make His people distinct through their life and love together in the church. This life was clarified last time so that God’s working to unfold all of this in our marriages, families, and workplaces, as well as the everyday, day-to-day living most of us pursue. This letter ends today, helping us see how God intends to advance His mission for people through us. I hope this final section helps draw you into God’s plan for good here and everywhere we go.

My purpose this morning is to help you realize that you need others. On one level, I want you to see that you need the church in your life. Secondly, we often think spiritual health is a “me and Jesus” thing, but this book colors our view differently. I’d love for you to be curious about how your strength is built around others who share all that Jesus has done for you. This is where we’re headed today.

Maybe you don’t have a relationship with Jesus today. This passage will show us that the primary identity people Jesus has rescued have is all that they get from Him. I wonder what your identity is built on. How is this holding up through thick and thin? When life or your spiritual enemies kick hard, how can you stand? I hope today that you’ll see how effectively Jesus rescues you. So, join me this morning as we wrap up the book of Ephesians and see 4 sources of the church’s strength as we stand firm in the Lord…

Read Ephesians 6:10-24 (This is God’s Word; thanks be to God)

4 sources of the church’s strength as we stand firm in the Lord…

One source of our strength in the Lord is I. We are strong in Gospel realities. (10-17)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

We know Paul’s nearing the end of this book as he says, “Finally,” and commands us to be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. This is the broad heading that all of the following points will get to. We are strong in Him and His might. This heading dictates all the points of application we get in this passage. Considering all that God has said about what Jesus has done in this book, concluding by saying we should be strong in Him is directing us to find our identity or make-up in Jesus. 

We pursue the strength of our Lord, as v.11 says, so that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. And, make no mistake, the devil is scheming. He doesn’t want you in life together. He doesn’t want your life to be centered in Jesus and full of joy. He wants you beat down. If we put this series in reverse, we could see that the devil wants to keep Jesus out of our workplaces, our families, and our marriages. He would love to know how we live and love one another to be so complicated that we can’t value what Jesus values. He would love to distract our world from seeing how glorious Jesus is in His accomplishments and plan for His people in life together. And none of us thinks that the devil’s schemes are at work in us; it’s always the other person. I’ve had people in this church allege that Satan was at work in others and not be willing to consider how they might be part of his schemes. 

I don’t know if you’ve ever read C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters. The demon Screwtape corresponds with his “nephew” demon Wormwood, whose assigned human “patient” has recently become a Christian. Not to worry, counsels Screwtape, there’s still plenty of time to win his patient back to the camp of “Our Father Below.” And the best way to start is by fostering within his patient the natural sense of pride he feels against his fellow worshipers at church.

“[I]f the patient knows that the woman with the absurd hat is a fanatical bridge player or the man with the squeaky boots a miser and an extortioner—then your task is so much easier. All you then have to do is to keep out of his mind the question, “If I, being what I am, can consider that I am in some sense a Christian, why should the different vices of those people in the next pew prove that their religion is mere hypocrisy and convention?” You may ask whether it is possible to keep such an obvious thought from occurring even to a human mind. It is, Wormwood, it is!… What he says, even on his knees, about his own sinfulness is all parrot talk. At bottom, he still believes he has run up a very favourable credit-balance in the Enemy’s [God’s] ledger by allowing himself to be converted, and thinks that he is showing great humility and condescension in going to church with these “smug” commonplace neighbors at all. Keep him in that state of mind as long as you can.”

This series reminds you of the spiritual consequences we face when we go selfish at the expense of other believers. After all, as v.12 counsels us, we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers over this present darkness and against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. How do we manage then? How do we keep from being so suspicious of brothers and sisters and focus on our real spiritual enemy? We nurture strength in Gospel realities.

We, as a collective whole, not merely as individuals; we, the church, put on the whole armor of God. And, as we find strength in our identity in Him, we can stand firm. Notice how all the armor pieces speak of the good news in Jesus. We fasten a belt of truth around our life together. The precious organs in our body are protected by a breastplate of righteousness, which is fixed because of the perfect life and sin-atoning death of Jesus. Our feet are clothed with a readiness for a Gospel that brings peace to others. Whenever we have challenging circumstances, we pick up the shield of faith, which extinguishes the flaming darts of the evil one by assuring us of who we believe in. Our head is protected with salvation. Our sword has been crafted by the Spirit who dwells within us, and its strength is found in what we know from God’s Word about this good news that clarifies our lives. So, our gatherings are building one another up, not on how resilient, cunning, or marvelous we are, but in how amazing, glorious, and wise our Father is in outfitting us, by His Spirit, in all that God the Son has accomplished for us. Our lives have been changed from the top of our heads to the soles of our feet. And this is what gives us strength to stand in evil days. We are strong in Gospel realities. And, lest I make these first seven verses the entire sermon, let’s see what else is communicated about God’s mission advancing through us. It’s not only Gospel realities but…

Secondly, II. We are strong through persistent prayer. (18)

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Without stopping, Paul continues that we always pray in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. This prayer is persistent, too, causing us to keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Translating this to the church he is writing to, Paul envisions their lives will be devoted to praying together. This is what the Spirit will do. Does that happen for you on a Sunday morning? What if we did less small talk and more praying? And I don’t know about you, but I need the Spirit’s help to keep me praying. I need Him to fire my perseverance. Supplication for the saints means praying for others. Use the tools we consistently give. At the first of the year, we produce a calendar to keep you praying for this community we love. We have provided a gratitude guide to nurture thankfulness to God over the past week and into this one. We showcase prayer in the View with requests and people who need prayer. We have a prayer chain for urgent requests. And we need more and more prayer. Could you craft something in your schedule to pray more with others so that you are spiritually strong?

I love how John Piper describes prayer in this verse: “Prayer is a war-time walkie-talkie, not a domestic intercom for ringing up the butler to change the thermostat. It is a war-time walkie-talkie to call in firepower because the enemy is greater than we are. If you try to turn this into a domestic intercom to bring another pillow, it malfunctions, and you wonder why. It’s not made to be an intercom. It’s made to be a war-time walkie-talkie.” Our enemy is bent on destroying us. If strength comes through prayer, how might we need to be praying? Nurture this communication with Our Father that we may have strength.

III. We are strong in bold speaking. (19-20)

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

As this mission advances, our strength is shored up by Gospel realities and prayer, leading to the strength to speak boldly. Paul asks for prayers that words would be given to him in speaking boldly of the mystery of the Gospel, which is why he is in chains, so that he may declare it boldly as he ought. So many fascinating elements show up here; one thing is how Paul wants the courage to speak the mystery of the Gospel. Listen to how Paul described this in chapter 3: “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” We need boldness to speak that the Gospel is for everyone. We need boldness to say that God’s eternal plan isn’t some lesser thing we could imagine but an open secret, a mystery, made known to all. We’re bold to speak in strength because this is making God’s heart known to all people. This isn’t easy (after all, Paul admits he’s an ambassador in chains), but speaking the Gospel is one source of the church’s strength as we stand firm in the Lord. 

Fourth and finally, IV. We are strong through unfailing love. (21-24)

21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Paul ends the letter by giving some standard introductions, greetings, and a benediction. To make sure the Ephesians knew how he was, Paul sent Tychicus to them with the letter, and he would tell them what they needed to know (after all, Paul didn’t have a mobile phone). Tychicus’s job was to give a report on Paul and encourage the Ephesians. Side note: I wonder who God has raised in this room to encourage our hearts. I hope you feel free to run wild with encouragement all over this body.

Paul speaks peace to all and love with their faith in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And, the final word is grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible or with undying love. And that’s undoubtedly what’s at play here. A love that never ends. It comes from God to us, His people, and spreads from us to others. We are strong as a body in the mission God’s given us, which is fueled by our unfailing love. I hope your love keeps you keeping on. 

In conclusion, today, we’ve seen 4 sources of the church’s strength as we stand firm in the Lord…

I. We are strong in Gospel realities. (10-17)

II. We are strong through persistent prayer. (18)

III. We are strong in bold speaking. (19-20)

IV. We are strong through unfailing love. (21-24)

On one level, today, I want you to know Jesus. In another letter, Paul describes what it’s like without Jesus. To you, it may seem like you can’t see Jesus. “In [this] case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Today, I hope you’ve seen Jesus, and we proclaim the good news to you today so that not only you know but all the spiritual enemies can hear where our confidence lays: in the face of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Will you turn from sin and blindness to the light and freedom offered you by Jesus? Believe in Him today.

And I hope this series has had an impact on you. We’ve seen many ways to build our strength in the Lord today: rehearsing Gospel realities, praying persistently, speaking boldly, and maintaining unfailing love. These aren’t easy, but we do have the Spirit’s help. To put it as simply as I can, considering all that Jesus has done for His bride, the church, will you commit to her? What would this look like for you? If you went one step deeper, what might that mean? I’m not the Spirit and don’t want to get in the way of what He wants to do in you today. We are all in when it comes to knowing Jesus and making Him known to you and everyone else. So, let’s go deep into His plan in the church so we may glorify and enjoy Him forever.