Havasu Christian Church
June 21, 2026
Study in Ephesians
Ephesians 6:10-24
“FINALLY!!”
INTRO: Today, we come to the end of our study in Ephesians. The whole book has been a reminder for Christians about how to live for Jesus in a Pagan world. Ephesians speaks to us just as much now as it did to the folks over 2000 years ago.
A few weeks ago we looked at the Armor of God in detail. Those sermon notes and the sermons themselves are archived on the Church website. havasuchristian.org. We won’t be going into that detail today, but it is available!
As Paul winds up the letter, he uses the word “Finally.” This tells us that Paul is coming to the end of his letter, but he has a few more important things to tell them before he sends his letter.
What was so important that Paul saved it for the end of the letter?
Ephesians 6:10-24 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
- Always remember that you are in the Army of God!
“I may never fight in the infantry…” “I’m in the Lord’s Army!”
- If you are in the Lord’s Army,, you’d better be strong!
- It’s the Lord’s strength, It’s HIS Might!
- My strength won’t cut it.
- Your strength won’t be enough either.
You may not be super strong, but how strong do you have to be to drive a tank?
The tank allows a soldier to project much more power than they have on their own.
- That Strength and might are on loan to you!
- We learn to “lean into” the Lord’s strength.
- When I can’t do it, HE CAN!
- Know the enemy!
- You aren’t fighting a visible enemy.
- Enemy #1: The Devil.
- He is in command of the enemy.
- Satan hates God but has no way to harm Him.
- So, he sets out to harm those made in the image of God!
- For the unbeliever, it’s eternal harm.
- For the Christian, the harm is only temporary!
- Satan has help! Enemy #2: Demons
- the rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- These are various evil spirits.
- Perhaps these are demonic levels of power.
- We know there are different kinds of Angels, so why not demons?
- These may have control of “flesh & blood” people, but they are spirits.
- I don’t have enough strength to fight them and stand a chance.
- You don’t have enough strength to fight them and stand a chance!
- But we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us.
- We have the Armor of God!
- With the help we have, we can stand firm!
- If you are in the Lord’s Army, you’d better be wearing your combat gear!
- The belt of Truth
- Know the truth!
- If you only know there IS truth, but you don’t KNOW the truth, you are unprotected.
- Live the truth!
- Our lives should be different because we are living in the Lord’s truth!
- Speak the truth!
- Be ready to share the truth!
2 Timothy 4:2 (NASB95) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
- This was written specifically to Timothy, but it is good advice for us too!
- This isn’t complicated.
- Here’s what Jesus did for me.
- He saved me
- He changed my life!
- Jesus can and will do the same for you if you are willing to let Him.
- The breastplate of Righteousness
- Do I live a life of righteousness?
- Do I make it my ambition to do the right things, at the right times?
- I depend on Jesus’ righteousness for the times when I’m not righteous.
- The preparation of the Gospel of Peace
- God’s Peace in your heart is Good news!
- No matter what happens, God is in control.
Romans 8:27–28 (NASB95) and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
- The shield of Faith
- Belief that I’ll do something about!
- Doing what God says to do because I trust Him for the outcome!
- THAT is a shield!
- When we truly trust God, we can enter any situation, knowing He has it all under control!
- The helmet of Salvation
- Knowing that I am saved by the Grace of Jesus takes the pressure off…
- I Won’t always measure up!
- But His Grace makes up the difference.
- I can take comfort in that, and continue on when I fail!
- The Sword of the Spirit… The Word of God!
- This is our main offensive weapon.
- God’s Word IS truth!
- God’s Word tells us what we need to know!
- God’s Word “cuts to the heart!”
- Put on your Armor and FIGHT!
- This isn’t a L.A.R.P (live action role play)
- Don’t back up! GO FORWARD!
- Stand firm!
- RESIST the devil and he will flee.
- Not because of you, but because of Jesus, standing behind you!
- Fight as a unit!
- This isn’t explicitly stated here, but we know the Romans trained to fight as a unit.
- There is strength in numbers!
- We encourage one another.
- We hold each other accountable.
- We console each other in times of difficulty.
- We rejoice together when things go well!
- PRAY!
- At ALL times!
- Constantly be in an attitude of prayer.
- On a drive with a friend. There is a flow of conversation.
- In the Spirit!
- We are to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our prayer life.
- If someone comes to mind… PRAY!
- If a situation comes to mind… PRAY!
- If an event or a place comes to mind…PRAY!
- For each other!
- With perseverance
- Give prayer for others your constant attention.
- This isn’t something we do for a while and then just “give up.”
- With Petition
- You keep coming back to the topic at hand.
- “You know Lord, I hate to bring it up again, but….”
- Stephen & family, housing… I’m sure God has gotten tired of hearing about it from me!
Luke 18:1–7 (NASB95) Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
- God DOES LISTEN! GOD ACTS!
- For our “fellow warriors” who are around the world, doing the Lord’s work.
- Paul asks the people of Ephesus to pray for HIM!
- Praying for Paul would serve no purpose now… He’s DEAD!
- But there are lots of folks doing the work that Paul did that we can pray for!
- Paul asked them to pray that he would have the right words for the right audience.
- People need the gospel. We can pray for the right words to convey the message!
- Paul asked them to pray that he would have boldness.
- Even the Apostle Paul needed people to pray for him to be bold!
- He needed boldness to share the Gospel!
- Paul ends his letter!
- He tells them that he’s sent Tychicus to give them a full report on how things are going.
- Missionaries still do this, don’t they?
- Paul asks God to bless them with Peace.
- Not “absence of war” peace, but internal, “I trust God” peace.
- Paul asks God to help them have love with faith.
- Love that you choose to give!
- You can give this kind of love when you have faith in the right God!
- Paul asks God to give them He Grace!
- Forgiveness that we don’t deserve.
- Also, all the blessings God gives… Which we don’t deserve either!
- He prays this for those who “love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.”
- Those who stick with Jesus for the “Long haul!”
Conclusion: Soldiers, put on your armor and fight!
- Fight as a unit!
- Pray!
- Don’t ever give up!
- Remember, “God’s got this!”
