The Spiritual War
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings...
This year, on these third Sunday afternoon lessons, we are going to focus on the theme, The Armor of God.
There are two realities at stake for every Christian and they are at war with each other.
Paul would describe this fight as a battle between his flesh and spirit.
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
This is because of the spiritual war we are in every day as God’s children.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
So, in Ephesians 6 Paul reminds the church of this war we are in that has God and Satan battling it out for our souls.
Paul reminds every Christian in this battle for our soul that we must seek the…
Strength In The Lord
Strength In The Lord
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
There Is No Spiritual Strength Without God
There Is No Spiritual Strength Without God
It takes the strength of Jesus’ blood to make us spiritually whole.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
It takes the strength of God’s Word to make us spiritually strong.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
There Is No Standing Firm Without God & His Armor
There Is No Standing Firm Without God & His Armor
Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
God has given us everything we need to stand firm against Satan.
God defeated sin and death.
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
God defeated Satan (Revelation 12).
Satan attempted to defeat Jesus and lost (Revelation 12:1-5).
Satan then attempted to defeat Jesus in His abode and lost (Revelation 12:7-12).
Satan then tried to defeat Jesus by destroying the church but lost again (Revelation 12:14-17).
Because God has defeated Satan at every turn we can rely on what He tells us is needed to stand firm.
God hasn’t left us without previsions to defend ourselves against Satan and his schemes He has given us the “very armor Jesus used” to defeat Satan.
Hence the “armor of God.”
Summary
Summary
However, to use the armor of God we have to understand not only the armor but our enemy.
This is why Paul warned against...
The Devil’s Schemes
The Devil’s Schemes
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
The Devil Meticulously Plans How To Destroy Us
The Devil Meticulously Plans How To Destroy Us
It isn’t some haphazard and random trial by error plan.
No, it’s been completely and thoroughly planned out how to best tempt us to turn away from God.
Also, Satan isn’t above using “any means possible” to devour us.
He used David’s lustful desires to kill a man and fornicated with a married woman.
He used Cain’s love of approval to murder his own brother.
He used Job’s wealth and family to get to Job’s wife.
He used Judas’ love of money to betray his own Savior.
Satan has meticulously and methodically planned our demise from the moment he met us and has been working toward that goal.
That’s why it is important we understand...
The Schemes Satan Uses
The Schemes Satan Uses
Satan uses lies better than anyone.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
He uses manipulation better than anyone.
Whether you think the enemy of the church, in the book of Revelation, is the Jews, Romans, or Catholicism no one can deny that Satan is the puppet master of the whole thing (Revelation 12).
He even has his demons helping him to deceive and destroy humanity, God’s creation.
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,
Satan and his messengers are so good at manipulating he is able, over and over, to get humans to do his work.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Some lies and manipulations Satan has gotten people to believe.
God doesn’t care what you do with your life as long as it feels right to you.
How many have succumb to this very lie.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
You can separate religion and spirituality.
“The mindset basically is this: everything that is associated with organized religion is ‘religions,’ whereas, everything that is associated with the individual person’s heart is spiritual.” 1
In other words they see spirituality as that which relates to the mind “meditation, prayer, devotion, etc,” while religion they see as church attendance, participation in church activities.
It’s not that the spiritual person is opposed to religion they just don’t see it as necessary often.
However, this is a lie and manipulation from the “father of lies” because Jesus clearly taught we must worship God in “spirit and truth.”
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
In other words we must be both spiritual and religious.
You can “love God” and not worship Him just because you don’t feel like it.
Someone once said that you don’t have to attend all the services and they would be right. We don’t “have to” but if we love God we will worship Him with like minded, heaven bound, souls every chance we get.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Summary
Summary
This side of heaven the devil isn’t going to stop scheming against you nor is he going to slow down.
We must understand that he will fire as many darts as we will allow him to.
Conclusion
Conclusion
But for those of us in Christ we can block those fiery darts and thwart the hungry lion with the “armor of God.”
With God’s armor made specifically for fighting Satan we can overcome our enemy and stand firm and strong with Christ.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Are You Spiritual, Religious, or Both? Kevin Cauley http://churchofchristarticles.com/blog/administrator/religious-or-spiritual/
