INTERCESSION -
SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Ephesians 6:10-18 - Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, where-with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1. Ephesians 6:10 - Finally, my brethren, be strong (1743) in the Lord, and the power (2904) of His might (2479).
   
   
   1. Spiritual warfare is waged by those who are strong in the Lord.
      
      
      • Strong 1743 endunamoo from 1722+1412; to empower :- enable, (increase in) strength (-en), be (make) strong.
        
        
      • 1722 en position (in place, time, or state) and (by impl.) instrumentality, ie. a relation of rest.
        
        
      • 1412 dunamoo from 1411; to enable :- strength.
        
        
      • 1411 dunamis from 1410; force; spec. miraculous power (usually by impl. a miracle itself) :- ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -deed), (workers of) miracles, power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
        
        
      • 1410 dunamai to be able or possible :- be able, can (do, +-not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.
        
        
   2. Hebrews 11:34 - Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong (1743), waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
      
      
      • Principle - the phrase out of weakness were made strong occurs in the middle of passage on war - one of the instruments of weakness, therefore, is the warfare, itself.
        
        
   3. II Corinthians 12:9,10 - And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient (contentment) for thee: For my strength (1411) is made perfect (complete) in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory (boast) in my infirmities, that the power (1411) of Christ may rest (tent upon) me. Therefore, I take pleasure (agree with, approve) in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong (1415).
      
      
      • For my grace is sufficient for thee:
        
        
        1. Grace - Greek word charis - means graciousness in manner or action, the divine influence upon the heart - this influence is the operation on the heart that removes the last threads of the encasement of the flesh and opens the heart to love deeply.
           
           
        2. Sufficient - Greek word arkeo - means to ward off, ie. to avail - root word for contentment. For my strength is made perfect in weakness.
           
           
        3. Strength (1411) means miraculous power, force.
           
           
        4. Weakness (769) means feebleness of body or mind - the root word means to be strengthless.
           
           
           • Feeble in Latin means lamentable, wretched, in other words, to weep. It is translated inferior, inadequate, weak.
             
             
        5. Weakness and infirmities are the same Greek word - astheneia.
           
           
        6. Strength and power are also the same Greek word - dunamis.
           
           
        7. In I Corinthians 15:42-58 the Apostle Paul tells us what is made weak - the corruptible flesh - that encasement around the heart.
           
           
      • will I glory in my infirmities - agents of weakness are:
        
        
        1. Infirmities (769) - feebleness, strengthlessness in soul and/or body (scriptural truth)
           
           
           1. God's goal - set the inner man totally free. (Psalm 116:15 - Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.)
              
              
           2. This death is the death of the rule of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (the law of sin and death) in man's members.
              
              
        2. Reproaches (5196) - Greek word means insolence (as overbearing) ie. insults, injury - comes from the root word that means 'over', above, beyond, superior.
           
           
           1. Man must learn obedience to the authority of the Holy Spirit during sanctification.
              
              
           2. Man must have a submissive attitude to the authority of Jesus during transformation (Submission is not possible without obedience for it monitors resistance to rule - how quick is obedience.)
              
              
           3. During perfection man must learn to love being ruled - learn to love Father so much that he longs for Father's sovereign rule over his life.
              
              
        3. Necessities (318) - Greek word means constraint - comes from two Greek words - one means up, the other means bend (as bending an arm).
           
           
           1. Constraint means to draw tight, strain at, compel, confine, to hold back by force, restrain, check, to constrict.
              
              
           2. The English word necessity does not fit with the Greek word - for need (necessity) and constraint are two different things.
              
              
        4. Persecution (1375) - Greek word means persecution - comes from a root word that means to flee, to pursue, to persecute.
           
           
           1. Persecution has a purpose - it makes the flesh weak.
              
              
           2. Persecution has several degrees to it - on the milder side is being pursued, nagged, hassled.
              
              
        5. Distresses (4730) - Greek word means narrowness of room - comes from two words - one means standing, the other means a chasm or vacancy.
           
           
           1. Confinement - being a prisoner for Christ's sake - will learn that truly are His prisoner - His total slave. Slavery has negative connotations, but the Apostle Paul many times declared his slavery.
              
              
           2. Restraint - accepting the limitations that God places on each design.
              
              
        6. All these things Father will use during your growth in Him. They are meant for your good, not evil. Embrace His dealings and let the flesh be dealt with - for Father truly does love and accept you.
           
           
      • for when I am weak, then am I strong (1415).
        
        
        • Strong 1415 dunatos from 1410; powerful or capable; possible :- able, (that is) mighty (man), possible, power, strong.
          
          
   4. I Peter 4:1,2 - Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
      
      
      • Principle - one who suffers in the flesh ceases from sin because the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - the tree of the law of sin and death - is weakened and crucified through suffering.
        
        
   5. Hebrews 12:1,2 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set at the right hand of the throne of God.
      
      
      • Principle - we are to lay aside the sin that besets us - the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life - the corruption of John, Paul and Peter.
        
        
   6. Philippians 3:10 - That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.
      
      
      1. Weakness deals the flesh its death blow = cease from sin.
         
         
      2. Weakness conforms us to His death.
         
         
      3. Weakness delivers us from the law of sin and death to the law of life.
         
         
   7. Romans 8:1-4 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak (770) through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
      
      
2. Spiritual warfare is waged in the power (2904) of His might (2479).
   
   
   • Power 2904 kratos, prim. word, vigor, ('great') :- dominion, might, power, strength.
     
     
     • I John 2:14b - I have written to you, young men, because ye are strong (2478), and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
       
       
   • Strong 2478 ischuros from 2479, forcible :- boisterous, mighty, powerful, strong, valiant.
     
     
     • 2479 ischus (force) forcefulness :- ability, might, power, strength.
       
       
   • Zechariah 4:6b - Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
     
     
     1. His Spirit does the work of warfare.
        
        
     2. The 'young men' are those whose flesh is dealt with so that the Spirit only is doing the work - they are strong in the Spirit - spiritual teenagers.
        
        
     3. The word of God abides in them - written on the heart not the soul.
        
        
        • Psalm 40:8 - I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
          
          
        • Ezekiel 11:19,20 - And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
          
          
        • Jeremiah 31:33 - But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; 'After those days,' saith the Lord, 'I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
          
          
     4. They have overcome the wicked one.
        
        
        1. They have passed from death to life.
           
           
           • I John 3:14 - We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
             
             
        2. They have been transfered from the law of sin and death to the law of life.
           
           
           • Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
             
             
        3. Grounds for sin (yielding to the wicked one) has been removed.
           
           
           • Hebrews 12:1b - ...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us,
             
             
        4. Death has been conquered.
           
           
           • I Corinthians 15:54 - The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
             
             
        5. Therefore the wicked one is overcome.
           
           
           • Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.
             
             
3. Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand (2476) against the wiles (3180) of the devil.
   
   
   • Stand 2476 histemi prim. to stand :- abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up).
     
     
   • Wiles 3180 methistano from 3326+2476; traveling over, ie. travesty (trickery) :- wile, lie in wait.
     
     
     • 3326 denoting accompaniment; 'amid', + 2476 to stand.
       
       
   • Principle - stand against the counter stand of the devil.