How Do You Survive?

Good morning. What a wonderful morning it is to be in God’s house this morning as brothers and sisters in Christ....fellowshiping and worshipping Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior

Yesterday was wonderful. It was the second Saturday so it was men’s breakfast

we had a wonderful time of fellowship and thank you James Washburn for bringing the Word yesterday.

Let’s Pray

START RECORDING

How Do You Survive spiritual warfare? That is what we are looking at here this morning. This is week 3 of our Spiritual Warfare sermon series which is preparing us for IT

IT is the only two things that matter salvation and discipleship

We are experiencing spiritual warfare both as a church and individually

many are in the midst of some serious spiritual warfare right now as we speak this morning

Stand.

I pray this series so far has been good for you. I pray God is moving in a mighty way in every one of you

God desires for you to know Him

for you to place your full and complete trust in Him

Despite circumstances

despite situations

even despite your own human emotions

despite all of those temporary things you have your eyes focused and fixed on God Almighty

Before we dive into how do you survive spiritual warfare I want to address something that God laid on my heart

John 16:33

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“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

God is moving

Jesus is delivering

When you come here on Sunday mornings

Monday nights

Wednesday nights or

Fridays at noon

you see redemption

you see deliverance

Man and women delivered from

addiction

sin

death

Amen!!!!

Praise the Lord!!!!

Anytime you see redemption

true redemption there will be reconciliation needed

The redeemed are reconciled to God and now must work through the power of the Holy Spirit to be reconciled with others

You are changed but your circumstances and left over consequences from your sinful behavior remain

trust was shattered

relationships harmed and broken

emotional hurts run deep

sin has devastating consequences that take time to heal and reconcile

stay in the fight

your spouse is worth it

you marriage is worth it

your kids are worth it

your grand-kids are worth it

I am here to give biblical counsel

the elders are here to give biblical counsel

We are here to pray with you and dive into God’s Word together

reconciliation and maturing in Christ is never easy

staying on the narrow road is never easy

we are family and family stays together

Back to this morning’s message

How do you survive?

How do you survive spiritual warfare?

That is what we will talk about and wrestle with this morning

You will not avoid spiritual warfare

spiritual warfare is fought by spirits much more powerful than you or I and if you and I try to fight on our own we will be defeated and destroyed

so how do we survive

Jesus

He is always the answer

God gives us direct instruction in His Word on how to survive

It begins with repentance leading to salvation

you are doomed to death and hell without Jesus

Until you respond to the Holy Spirit’s calling and leading you to your need for Jesus you have no chance or way of surviving spiritual warfare

Jesus’ blood must be applied to your sin

you must be redeemed

until that happens you are on your own and will taste spiritual death and hell

Once you are saved you must grow and mature in Christ under His protection and providence

if you attempt to survive spiritual warfare on your own you will be destroyed

satan is much more powerful then you are

if you try to fight him and his demons on your own with your weapons and defenses you will be no match and will lose

So this morning we will look to God for direction and instruction

He has provided all you need in His Word

Turn to

Ephesians 6:10–18

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“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 the 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, wherewith 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;”

Now as we get going here this morning I want to say something

There is a time and place to dissect this and really look at why Paul used roman armor to describe the armor of God. I think it is fascinating and time well spent to do so but not this morning. That doesn’t mean I think it is not important it is just not what God wanted brought out to you this morning

Instead I felt God leading me to talk about the why, what is going on behind the armor, what is being protected and how it is being protected

1. Be Strong In The Lord vs 10

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He is your rock

He is your refuge

He is your priority

He is where you place your trust

You stand upon His Word

His Truth

How....the armor of God

The only way to withstand…survive Spiritual warfare is God

He lays out right here what we need to do to survive

So many read scriptures like this…nod in agreement and go on about their day....week…year…life

They never ask God through the Holy Spirit to apply them to their lives....to search their hearts to find what needs to be let go of....removed…edified....or continued

Some take notes…write down things God says to them during the message and never go back and revisit them

they never pray about those things

they never ask God to help them do what was written

God doesn’t want your intellect He wants your heart

God doesn’t want your knowledge He wants your love and devotion

How you respond to God

How you respond to His Word

How you respond to His Truth reveals your love and devotion

You will be destroyed by spiritual warfare if you do not have God

He is telling you exactly what to do to survive....are you willing to do it?

Be strong in the Lord

Notice that is your job to be strong in the Lord

Stand

Believe God

truly know Jesus is enough

Stand

God does the rest

2. Truth vs 14

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Ephesians 6:14

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“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

God’s Word is Truth

Jesus is God’s Word

John 1:1

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The Word is Jesus

Jesus Himself says He is the only way and He is the life and He is the TRUTH

John 14:6

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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

He is the way

He is the Truth

He is the life

no one comes to the Father except by Him

We looked last week at who satan is…deceiver....you can check that out in the app or website if you missed it or want to go back over it

When he speaks he lies

there is no truth in him at all

The only way to combat that is Truth..

Not your truth......

Not the world’s truth.......

Not self help books

no sir that truth is a lie…it is evil....it is fleshly…it is worldly

it leads to death and destruction

The only truth is Jesus who is God’s Word

Period

God’s Word is absolute truth....it never changes....circumstances don't change it

situations don't change it

people don't change it

diagnosis don't change it

addiction doesn't change it

nothing changes God’s Word because it is absolute truth....never changing always true regardless of what is happening or what you feel

Stand on Truth

3. Righteousness vs 14

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Ephesians 6:14

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“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

Romans 3:10

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“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

You cannot be righteous on your own

It is only God who is righteous

You are made righteous through the Holy Spirit living inside of you after you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior

Then you live God’s way not your way

You walk in the truth not in the lies of yourself and the world and satan

God’s ways are designed to bring you in close relationship with Him

John 10:10

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“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Jesus came to give life and life abundantly

what is that life....relationship with God

As a Christian through the Holy Spirit you are walking with God

you are being sanctified by the Truth

You are being made holy as He is holy

You are righteous....not because of anything you do but because of Jesus

Stand on that Truth

4. Peace vs 15

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Ephesians 6:15

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“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

Through Jesus you have access to peace....a peace so powerful

a peace so engulfing

a peace so earthshaking

a peace beyond understanding

Philippians 4:7

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“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Jesus is peace and you have access to Him through repentance leading to salvation.

The peace of God.......peace that you can not explain or even understand but you truly know you have

It keeps your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

It protects you from spiritual warfare

How

Philippians 4:6

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“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Truly trusting in God

careful for nothing

anxious for nothing

giving everything to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

living out what you say you believe

full and complete trust in God

You take it to Him and you leave it with Him and you leave with a peace you cannot understand nor explain but is evident to anyone you come in contact with

5. Faith vs 16

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Ephesians 6:16

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“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

It is faith.....true faith in Jesus that quenches.....stops....satans fiery darts

what are those darts

anxiety

depression

fear

shame

guilt

addiction

pride

love of money

evil thoughts

doubts

just to name a few

Faith says those are not true therefore not from Jesus so I stand on the truth and let them go

2 Corinthians 10:5

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“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

This is how you have faith in your thought life

every sin begins as a thought

if you take your thoughts captive and make them obey Christ....what does that mean to obey Christ

You keep the thoughts that match the Word and you cast down....cast away…get rid of the ones that do not match the Word!

This needs to happen thousands of times a day

Don’t let the enemy, satan, tell you that just because you are battling here

that because you have so many evil thoughts

that because you don’t have it all under control

that you are a failure

that you are beyond God’s reach

That is condemnation and not from God

Romans 8:1

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“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Condemnation pushes you away from God and conviction draws you near God

As you take thoughts captive you realize where they come from then you have a decision to make

allow the evil thoughts to stay and result in sin and separation from God

or

Stand and cast those thoughts away and be drawn nigh to God

6. Salvation vs 17

Ephesians 6:17

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“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

What is salvation

Romans 10:9–10

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“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The Holy Spirit begins to work in a person’s life

Begins to show them truths like

Romans 3:23

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“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 6:23

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“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

As one realizes their issue…their sin issue and that they can do nothing about that sin issue they are lead by the Holy Spirit to repentance that leads to salvation

Without that you are doomed

Salvation is the only way to be safe and secure spiritually

Salvation is the only way to survive spiritual warfare

the only way to be saved is through Jesus!!!!!

If you have not found repentance leading to salvation making Jesus your Lord and Savior I pray today is the day

7. Word of God vs 17

Ephesians 6:17

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“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

Our foundation

our defender

notice it is also the only offensive weapon

God doesn’t need you to fight His fight

He wants you to stand on Him and His Word

Matthew 28:18–20

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“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Notice He didn’t say go unto all the world and fight for me

He didn’t say go unto all the world and defend me

He didn’t say go unto all the world and destroy the enemy in your power and might

No he said go

teach

baptize

disciple

Take the Word of God to them and let Me do the work

That is what He said

God’s Word is the sword you stand He fights

Let God through the Word do the talking and convicting

Present His Word and watch Him work!!!!!

8. Prayer vs 18

Ephesians 6:18

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“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Praying always

prayer and supplication

Supplication comes from a Greek word desis (deh-ay-sis) it is a noun and means petition, prayer, request

Take everything to God in prayer

Both for you and all the saints....brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus

When God is who you truly trust He will always be where you turn....in fact…if you fully trust God He will be the only place you ever turn

Here is the deal

These are perfect

The armor of God is perfect

However if you never use them

If you are not seeking them

Being in the Word

Praying them into your life they don't do you much good!

How you survive spiritual warfare is relationship

A true

deep

intimate

committed

personal relationship with Jesus

Jesus is the way

Jesus is the truth

Jesus is the life

No one comes to the Father except through Him

Without Jesus you will never survive spiritual warfare

When satan speaks you have a choice

accept his lie as truth

or know and stand on Truth and reject it as the evil lie it is

When anxiety strikes you have a choice

when the world and your flesh say you are not enough you have a choice

when satan says you are too bad

too dirty

to sinful for God to save you have a choice

when the world says you are just a no good used up addict and no one could love you let alone love you enough to die for you.......you have a choice

when the lies of satan come you have a choice

Stand on the Word of God depend upon God’s armor to protect you and allow the Word to drive those things away from you or

accept them and accept death and hell

that is the choice and that is also

How do you survive spiritual warfare

Stand on God’s Truth!

STOP RECORDING

Invitation

STOP STREAMING