What to Always Do Until the End (Ephesians 6:10–18) 6/8/2025
What to Always Do Until the End (Ephesians 6:10–18) 6/8/2025
We live in increasingly difficult times with strained relationships in every area of life. Yet, God has given us the perfect and eternal answer. He sent His Son as the Christ to deliver us from sin, death, destiny, and the power of hell. In Christ, He also changed our identity. We are no longer those who belong to darkness or the world, but as are now His children, people, and household. He has also taught us how to live together in unity, compassion, and blessing (covered in the last 4 weeks’ messages).
The problem is that even though we have this blessed identity and authority and know how to live, our thoughts, hearts, and actions remain unchanged. When problems arise, we are still consumed by worry, fear, oppression, and our relationships remain difficult at church, at home, and at work. Eventually, this affects our health, our careers, businesses, and even our finances.
Why is this? Even after salvation, hidden wounds and traumas linger in us. Long-standing habits and nature also cause problems. But there is a more fundamental reason. There is an enemy who attacks these things by deceiving, breaking us down, and making us lose all blessings. This is the devil that today’s passage speaks of.
- The devil will use “schemes” (evil deception) to deceive us (Verse 11)
1) Satan had already lost his power when Christ came.
① From the moment man was deceived and fell into sin and curse, God gave the first promise (Protoevangelium, Gen 3:15). “The offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head.” This means Satan will be dealt a fatal blow.
② Jesus confirmed this in the field of evangelism to the 70 disciples who returned with the news of overcoming demons (Luke 10:18–19). “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven… I have given you authority…”
③ With this authority, we are promised a victorious life even amidst problems, suffering, or failure (1 Corinthians 15:55–57, Romans 16:20, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8–9, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 21:7).
2) What remains of Satan is his last desperate attempts. He will muster up every last bit of his strength to do more evil things (Revelation 12:12). He uses our weaknesses, wounds, traumas, environment, and broken relationships to deceive us.
① Even after being freed from 400 years of slavery, the Israelites still had a “slave mindset.” This is what Satan targeted. When the ten spies gave a negative report, most of the people fell into unbelief and could not enter Canaan (Numbers 14:22–23). They later fell into idolatry, sexual sin, and were bitten by snakes. The answer God gave then was the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:7–9).
② Israel’s kings also failed. Saul failed due to continued unbelief and disobedience (1 Sam 16:14). David fell into sexual sin and even murder (2 Samuel 11:2–4). Solomon failed of falling into idolatry by taking many foreign women as concubines (1 Kings 11:9–11).
③ Even Jesus’ disciples were not exempt. Judas was deceived by Satan, sold Jesus for 30 silver coins, and committed suicide (John 12:6, 13:27). Peter was deceived by Satan (Luke 22:31–32). Ananias and Sapphira, who gave their possessions, still fell due to Satan (Acts 5:3).
- There are three secrets in today’s passage by which we can overcome the devil’s schemes and have victory.
1) Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (verse 10). Receive the strength that Christ gives. When we are weak, even small problems make us unable to see and crumble. Satan knows very well when we are weak.
① When do we gain strength? When we fix our eyes only on Christ. When we fix our eyes on Christ who saved us, who reigns at the throne, and who is with us through the Holy Spirit (Colossians 3:1), we gain that strength. The moment we fix our eyes on the world or people, we get deceived.
② How do we fix our eyes on Him? Do it in your daily lives. Spend just 10 minutes in the morning meditating on God’s Word and praying. During the day, in all events and problems, seek for His help. In the evening, give thanks and pray for the Holy Spirit’s work in tomorrow’s plans, and for the Holy Spirit to work even as you asleep.
③ When problems or incomprehensible things happen, pray to grasp His deeper purposes.
Acknowledge that His will, His works, and His power are deeper, greater, and broader than ours (Proverbs 3:5, Ephesians 3:19).
2) Put on the full armor of God (repeated twice in verses 11 and 13). What has He given us? The Gospel. Buckle your waist with belt of truth, wear the breastplate of righteousness (14),
shoes of the gospel of peace (15), shield of faith (16), and helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit (17).
① Reflect on the Gospel until it becomes imprinted enough to change your way of thinking. Then, the darkness in your thoughts will break. If Gospel-centered thinking takes root, God will do beyond all you ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
② Hold on to the Gospel and pray until it becomes rooted in your soul. Then, when life’s storms come, you will not be shaken. Times of crisis will become your greatest testimony.
③ Apply the Gospel, even just one aspect of it, to your real problems until it becomes your nature. Then you will save yourself and others. Religion and law cannot save anyone and only bring more burden (Matthew 12:44–45).
3) Pray in the Spirit continuously (18). Raise a bartizan of prayer.
A bartizan is established for battle. When this is built, God sets up watchmen who do not rest (Isaiah 62:6–7).
① Be alert and always pray (1 Peter 5:8–9). When even one person stays alert in prayer, all can be protected. Prayer is when we can remain alert and awake. When God gives important answers, He first awakens us to go into prayer and prepares us. Even when Satan schemes, God prepares us ahead of time to be awake and pray. Only then will everything turn into blessing.
② Pray for fellow believers (Matthew 18:18–19). This is the blessing of intercessory prayer. When you pray for someone, someone else will also pray for you. When this flow is in a church, the church will surely be revived, and Satan will have no foothold to work.
③ Pray for evangelists and God’s servants (19). Evangelists and pastors are Satan’s top targets. Helping them revives the age and brings answers for the age. But if Satan brings them down, the doors to evangelism close and the world is covered in darkness. If he brings down pastors, church doors close, future generations suffer, and the future becomes dark.
Conclusion – Know the schemes of Satan. With the faith that fixes your eyes on Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, may you always have victory until the very end.
6.8.25 What to Always Do Until the End