Rick Renner:

In its very oldest sense, the word adelphos (“brother”) was used by physicians in the medical world to describe two people who were born from the same womb. So when the early Greeks addressed each other as “brethren,” they meant to convey the idea: “You and I are brothers! We came out of the same womb of humanity. We have the same feelings; we have similar emotions; and we deal with the same problems in life. In every respect, we are truly brothers!”

But the word “brethren” also had another very significant meaning during New Testament times, a meaning that it doesn’t have in our world today. It was used during the time of Alexander the Great to describe faithful soldiers. These fighting men were true brothers, comrades, and partners who were united to fight the same fight, handle the same weapons, and win the same wars!

From time to time, Alexander the Great would hold huge public ceremonies where he would give awards to soldiers who had gone the extra mile in battle. When the most coveted awards were given, Alexander the Great would beckon the most faithful soldiers on stage to stand next to him. Before an audience of adoring soldiers, Alexander would embrace each faithful soldier and publicly declare, “Alexander the Great is proud to be the brother of this soldier!”

That word “brother” was this same Greek word adelphos, but in this instance, it referred to military men who were brothers in battle. This was the highest and greatest compliment that could be given to a solider during the time of Alexander the Great.

Thus, to be a “brother” meant that a person was a true comrade. Through the thick and thin of battle, these soldiers stood together, achieving a special level of brotherhood known only by those who stay united together in the heat of the fray. This was also part of what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the Early Church.

be strong - endunamoo - to empower, to increase in strength, to enable, to infuse with strength

The "dunamoo" is from the word "dunamis" which means explosive miraculous force, the ability to do miracles. Endunamoo means to be be infused with supernatural power.

How are you going to be strong in the Lord? To be empowered by the supernatural power that comes from the Lord?

You must abide (remain connected) if you want to be empowered by the supernatural power of God.

power - vigor, dominion, strength
might - force, ability

In this verse we are commanded to be empowered and filled with God's supernatural power and the strength of His ability.

If you are not empowered with God's supernatural power, the strength of His ability, and wearing the full armor of God, you will not be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Wiles - cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery, schemes, strategies

What are the wiles and strategies of the devil?

The first two issues are self-inflicted defeats, the last 5 are the only tactics or wiles Satan has. These tactics and wiles are clothed in and operate in deceit: Affliction, Persecution, Cares of this World, Deceitfulness of Riches, Lust of Other Things.

If you do not let the Word of God take root in your life, you will not endure long in this life.

In attempt to stop the Word from working in your life, Satan stirs up affliction and persecution.


Affliction - a pressing together, pressure - pressure brought by circumstances

Not all circumstances that bring pressure are from the enemy, some are self-inflicted.

persecution- pressure brought by people - not all pressure from people is from Satan, some people may bring pressure your way because you were a jerk. Understand the range of persecution from the light to the extreme.

offended- trapped, stumbled, enticed to sin, fall into sin. Why? They let go of the Word. - Your production is scorched and withers away. No evidence you ever received the Word in the first place!It whithers away. Why? They are no longer abiding.

Enter In! How? They are sown.

Seeds - The Word, Care (anxiety, worry), lies about money, lust of other things are all sown. Satan will attempt to sow seeds of care, lust, and deception about money in your heart and mind.

choke - crowd out

cares - worry or anxiety through the idea of distractions , that which draws you in a different direction and causes an anxious care

Don’t let worry, care, anxiety, or distractions crowd out the Word in your life.

Deceitfulness of Riches


- if you are deceived, it means you believe a lie.
- Believing lies about money will choke and crowd out the production of the Word in your life.
- If you do whatever you have to do to get it - you are deceived by it.
- If you think money will solve all your problems - you are deceived by it.
- If you think money is evil - you are deceived by it.



lust - longing or desire after what is forbidden

If you sow the Word, your heart will produce the Word.

If you sow or allow the seeds of worry, money deception, and lust to be sown, that is what it will produce.

Wrestle - wrestling (a contest between two in which each endeavours to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck)

Remember who your real enemy is.

There is a dual kingdom system. There is an invisible war that is raging around you.

Against - face to face

Principalities - those who have held chief positions since ancient times, military term - highest ranking generals

Powers - those given authority by those above them to do whatever they desire

Rulers of darkness - boot camp - marshaled, trained troops

Spiritual wickedness in high places - wicked, twisted spirits operating in the air above us

High places - heavenly places - the second and third heavens - the stars and the air above us

Vrs 13

Withstand - resist, to set one’s self against

Evil day - the day of trouble, testing, attack

Having done all stand - stand victoriously

Spiritual warfare must be viewed through the triumph of Jesus Christ. You are not warring to get the victory, you are enforcing the victory Jesus won for you.
It's hard to be effective in spiritual warfare if you are bound yourself.

How do people become bound?

Through allowing the enemy seeds of Mark 4 to grow unchecked. By thinking on the wrong thoughts.

Imaginations - reasonings

If you do not control your thought life, the enemy will have an open door to build a strong hold or a mentality that is against Christ.

Another way people are bound is by making a lifestyle of the works of the flesh.

Verse 16 Spirit - reborn human spirit

Lusteth - put pressure on

Verse 18 Spirit - The Holy Spirit

Your body versus your spirit. Whatever your mind decides is who wins. That is why it is so important to renew your mind with the Word of God and build your spirit man.

The first four are sex related

Fornication - sexual immorality- having sex with someone you are not married to, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, prostitution, and pornography

Uncleaness - impurity of lust,

Lasciviousness - lack of self-control, Total irresponsibility

Idolatry - putting things in God's place, extreme greed, vices springing from idolatry and peculiar to it ( including prostitution, or in today's sense, sleeping around in order to get ahead)

Witchcraft - drug use, sorcery

Variance - contention, quarreling, always fighting, strife

Emulations - envious and contentious rivalry

Strife - self seeking of political office by unfair means, putting yourself up while tearing people down

Seditions - dissension, division

Heresies - factions, always breaking up into different cliques and excluding others

Revellings - late night drinking parties, clubbing

These previous 17 are all works of the flesh. But if a person makes it their habit, practice, or lifestyle - demon spirits that specialize in this area (the marshaled bootcamp demonic spirits) will join themselves to them and put the individual into bondage.

A Christian cannot be possessed. They can be oppressed, obsessed, and depressed, but not possessed. Why? The Holy Spirit lives in them and the Holy Spirit does not have room mates.

A Christian may be afflicted by a spirit, develop addictions, or could be bound by their thought life and associated actions.

So how do they become free?

The anointing is the burden removing, yoke destroying power of God.

Jesus is anointed! The Word is anointed and is able to cause you to live free from all oppression and bondage.

destroy - to loose any person one bound, tied, or fastened

Jesus came to set people free! He sent His Word to set people free and enable them to live free.

Wherever the Holy Spirit is, there is liberty.

Everything needed for you to be freed and live a life of liberty has already provided. How do you access it?

If you want to be free, you have to decide to be free!

1. Make A Quality Decision

- A quality decision is backed up by multiple daily, sometimes hourly and moment by moment decisions.

- It is a decision where you decide to consistently resist temptation and the desires of your flesh.

- It is a decision where you open your mouth and tell the devil, “No!”

2. Repent and turn from your sin and wrong doing.

3. Control your Thought Life and Bring It In Line With The Word of God

4. Continue in the Word and Abide in God

The Belt

The belt held all of the armor together. Without the belt all of the armor would fall off.

The belt that holds all of your spiritual armor together so that you can stand victorious in the day of attack and temptation is the Truth.

Jesus said in John 17:17 that thy Word is truth. In order to live free, stay free, and be victorious you must continue, stay, remain, and abide in the Word. The Word builds your faith, keeps you on the path of liberty, regulates your mind, and keeps all of your armor in place.

The Breastplate

The breastplate protects your vital organs. In the same way the revelation of righteousness protects you spiritually and enables you to walk in victory.

The breastplate was the most beautiful piece of the Roman soldier’s armor. Because of the material of the breastplate, the more the soldier walked in their breastplate, the more glorious it would look.

God has made you the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You will never become more righteous than you are right now. You became the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus when you made Jesus the Lord of your life.

That revelation of righteousness is held in place by the belt of the truth of God’s Word. The more you study and think on being the righteousness of God, you will see your self differently.

The Shoes

These shoes had greaves that wrapped around the legs. These shoes also had 1 to 3 inch nails on the bottom that could hold the soldier in place while standing in difficult terrain.

bruise - crush