Last Thursday, when President Bush gave his speech before Congress - sitting in the gallery was Lisa Beamer. Lisa’s husband, Todd, was a passenger on United flight 93 - the plane that went down in Pennsylvania.

Todd Beamer was sitting in the back of the plane with 27 other passengers when hijackers took over. At some point Todd and the other passengers realized that this wasn’t a normal hijacking. At 9:45 a.m., Todd called the GTE phone operator and began to tell her what was happening in the plane and that he didn’t thing he was going to make it. Todd then asked the operator to pray the Lord’s Prayer with him and then he prayed asking Jesus to help him. He asked the operator to call his family and tell them that he loved them. Then Todd went with the other passengers to take control of the plane which was intentionally crashed.

Last Tuesday - on CNN, Larry King interviewed Lisa - Todd’s wife. Larry asked if Lisa was surprised at anything Todd did.

Lisa said this: “Todd was a man of action and a man of thought….he would think through decisions before he made them…he would seek wise counsel. I think he sought wise counsel…calling on Jesus and saying the Lord's Prayer and getting his heart right…that was the way he lived his life, based on faith and action, and that's the way he ended his life as well…He knew this life was not all there is, and this life was just here to prepare him for his eternity in Heaven with God and with Jesus…people sometimes look at me, I think, and wonder, is she in shock, is she…unrealistic about what the situation is…But, certainly, the faith that I have is like Todd's, and it's helping me understand the bigger picture here and that God's justice will ultimately prevail and that we have more to look forward to than just what we see here around us on Earth.”

Hearing a testimony like this - of someone’s faith being lived out powerfully under such difficult circumstances - its inspiring and we wonder at what kind of relationship they must have with God to live like that. Could we live like that? With that kind of strength in our lives?

With the DOW falling through the floor - with the economy coming to a virtual stand still - thousands being laid off - including some in this congregation - with people living in fear of what war will bring - the uncertainty of these days - through the deeper issues in our lives - the deep issues that we all struggle with - how do we live in times like these? How can we find balance and confidence and strength to live each day - to live victorious and overcoming lives - even testifying of God’s life within us?

That’s why this series of messages. During the next few weeks we’re going to be looking at what Paul shares with the church in Ephesus about living by God’s strength. How do we live life being strong in God’s strength? If you’re with me at Ephesians 6 - look with me beginning at verse 10 - going through verse 12 - which is the section we want to look at this morning.

Ephesians 6:10-12: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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.

First: Paul begins: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” His might - not ours.

After Moses died - God spoke to Joshua - designating him as the new leader for the Hebrew nation. In Joshua, chapter one, God tells Joshua - and the Hebrews - that they should be strong and courageous - the land in front of them - the Promised Land of Canaan - is theirs. It’s a done deal. God is going to give it to them. All they need to do is trust God and obey His commands.

In Joshua, chapters 3 to 5, there’s a record - a recounting of how God has delivered His people from Egypt - brought them through the Red Sea - through 40 years wandering in the desert - a wandering brought about because their parents disobeyed God. Then the men are circumcised - the sign of God’s covenant with His people. All of this to remind the people of God’s presence and power and the importance of obeying Him. God saying, “Trust Me. Move forward in My strength.”

The first battle is at Jericho. Do you remember this? Jericho - the major fortified city in the region. A major powerful military opponent. How did God tell the people to conquer the city? For six days take the army and 7 priests with rams horns and walk around the city - once each day - in silence. On the seventh day - everybody gets to march - walk around the city 7 times and then the priest get to blow the horns and the people are going to shout. (Joshua 6)

Since we know what happens - the wall fell and God’s people completely destroyed the city - since we know what happened this doesn’t seem all that strange. But, imagine looking at the walls of Jericho and hearing this for the first time. God says, “Trust Me. Move forward in My strength.”

Over and over in Scripture we see this - God doing things God’s way - God saying, “Trust Me. Move forward in My strength.”

Moses - a man with trouble speaking - standing with a stick in the court of Pharaoh. The most powerful nation on earth is brought to its knees. Gideon - the timid and fearful - Gideon with 300 men armed with only trumpets, clay pots, and torches - routing a combined Midian and Amalekite army so large they’re described as locusts covering the valley. On and on it goes - account after account - life after life. Victory coming as people learn to trust God and follow His direction - even if it doesn’t make sense to us - learning to follow God’s direction for their lives.

Too often we’re struggling through things - focused on our issues - our ideas - our fears - our depression - all the things happening around us and to us - often in anger and bitterness and weakness - struggling to respond with our wisdom - to somehow muddle through with our own shear determination - struggling as God never intends for His children to struggle.

If we’re to live in God’s strength then when God says, “Trust Me” we need to trust Him - to put our entire lives into His hands. If we’re trusting in our own wisdom and understanding and ability - even just a little bit - we’re that much weaker. That much more open to discouragement - defeat - disaster.

Second, Paul writes, Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

The armor of God is how we are to live trusting God. In coming weeks we’re going to look at what this life of trust and strength is like. But, this morning we want to follow Paul’s main point in these verses. We need to see why we need to trust God - to be strong in Him. Why we need His armor. What is it that we are struggling against?

Paul writes - we need God’s strength - His armor - so that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Last week the United States declared war on terrorists. Speaking at the prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., President Bush said this, “Our responsibility to history is already clear - to answer these attacks and rid the world of evil.” The evil President Bush is speaking of deals with the actions of terrorists and governments. But there is an evil that runs deeper.

For all the centuries of human history - leaders of nations - peoples - have cried out, “Why can’t we solve the basic problems of human kind? Why can’t we change human nature? Why is it that each generation seems to struggle - to fight - the battles of the previous generation?”

In Luke 8, there’s a record of the time Jesus and His disciples came to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. When they got out of the boat they were met by a man who was possessed by demons. This man - because he was so violent - this man had been chained up and kept under guard. And yet, time and again with the strength coming from the demons he broken free and ran away. Controlled by the demons he lived in the local cemetery and ran around naked.

When Jesus arrives this tormented - pitiful - man comes - falling at Jesus’ feet. He screams out, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.”

Jesus asks, “What is your name?” And the man - under control of the demons - the man said, “Legion” - because there were many demons possessing him. (Luke 8:26-39)

There was an article in one of our AEUNA publications where the writer gave an interpretation of this scene that implied that this man was not possessed of demons but he was physically sick. There are some people do not believe that Satan is a real being and that his demons are working evil in this world. Some people would rather just avoid the topic all together. Some think that discussing Satan and demons is only something that wacko “charismaniacs” do.

They’re free to believe that. But to do so is to miss the teaching of Jesus and Scripture that explains the struggle we’re all engaged in and the strength and victory that’s ours in Jesus Christ.

I recently read of a story that Billy Graham tells when he hears this idea that Satan doesn’t exist. It’s a story about a boxer who was in a boxing match and was begin badly beaten. Battered and bruised, he leaned over the ropes and said to his trainer, “Please throw in the towel! This guy is killing me!” The trainer said, “Oh no, he’s not. He’s not even hitting you. He hasn’t laid a glove on you!” And the boxer said, “Well then, I wish you’d watch that referee - somebody is sure hitting me!”

The Apostle Peter writes, “Your adversary - Satan - prowls around like a roaring lion, - scheming - plotting - deceiving - seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Behind the scenes of life is Satan who is looking for people he can get to - to place under his power - to ruin - to destroy - a malicious enemy who is looking for any opportunity to lead us away from God and to destruction.

Paul puts the supernatural and our struggles into perspective when he says in verse 12: 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.

The demonic army arrayed against us is powerful. It has authority. Its wicked. Its cunning. It seeks to distort truth and lead us into darkness. Only the strength - the power - of God can deliver us from the power and cunning of Satan and his legions.

There are two thoughts of application I’d like to share with you. Two questions for us to ask ourselves.

First, AGAINST WHICH ENEMY ARE YOU STRUGGLING?

Paul writes that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. One of the great tactics of deception that Satan uses is to get us to buy into the idea that our struggle is against people or even ourselves and not him. Satan loves for us to forget him and attack each other. To see our brothers and sisters in Jesus as the enemy. To see those who do not yet know Jesus as the enemy. Satan loves for us to feel bad about ourselves - to forget the value and worth and dignity that God - through Jesus Christ - has blessed each one of us with.

As individuals - as families - we get caught up in activity and circumstances and problems and forget that there is a spiritual battle going on. As a church its so easy to lose sight of the spiritual battle - to get caught up in buildings and budgets and programs and attendance and how ministry is being done and if everything is going smoothly. To struggle against each other for these things and not against Satan. What really matters - what we should be working together for - is to encourage each other to be built up in Jesus Christ. To encourage the teaching and study and application of God’s word. To draw closer together in service and love and cooperation because we’re encouraging each other to grow closer to Jesus. To share our faith with others to encourage them to trust in Jesus as their Savior and to mature spiritually with Him as their Lord.

Second application question, IN WHOSE STRENGTH ARE YOU STRUGGLING?

The Apostle Paul had tremendous ministry in Ephesus. In Acts we read that God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul. Through the miracles God was telling the people that Paul was His man - His spokesperson - to tell them about Jesus and His Gospel. In the name of Jesus people were healed of diseases. Demons were being cast out.

Some Jewish exorcists - seven sons of the local high priest - were traveling around from town to town casting out demons. They saw what Paul was doing in the name of Jesus. So, they thought they’d try it too. They came to a demon possessed man and said, “I command you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!”

But the demon replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul. But who are you?” The demon possessed man jumped on them - attacked them and beat them - so violently that they had to run for their lives. (Acts 19:11-16)

On the cross Jesus died for each of us - taking our sins on Himself - paying the penalty for our disobedience against God. When Jesus rose from the dead - He brought victory over Satan and sin and death and the powers and forces of spiritual darkness. That’s one reason why Jesus’ name is so powerful. It caries with it the authority of the One who is victorious over all of the evil around us in this world.

We have a choice. We can try to imitate God’s strength - trying to live the Christian life - struggling along trying to work all of this out on our own. Or we can trust in what Jesus has already done for us on the cross and with the empty tomb. That’s the beginning of living life in God’s strength.