How Do You Survive?
Spiritual Warfare • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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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
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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
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
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
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
2. Truth vs 14
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Ephesians 6:14
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
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
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
3. Righteousness vs 14
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Ephesians 6:14
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
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
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
4. Peace vs 15
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Ephesians 6:15
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
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
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
5. Faith vs 16
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Ephesians 6:16
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
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
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
6. Salvation vs 17
Ephesians 6:17
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
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
Romans 3:23
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“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 6:23
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
7. Word of God vs 17
Ephesians 6:17
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
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
8. Prayer vs 18
Ephesians 6:18
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!
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Invitation
STOP STREAMING