The Warfare of the Christian Believer

Introduction

(ESV)

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

On December 7, 1941, the United States was attacked by a surprising blow from Japanese military forces. President Roosevelt called it a "Day of Infamy." The world found itself at war as nations prepared to send their armies into battle. World War II finally ended years later at a great cost to life and property. The world would never again be the same. But has man learned from history? Learned how to prevent wars? No, history books are filled with wars and rumors of wars. The fact is, war between men is inevitable, and it will be until Jesus returns. As bad as World War II was, there was an even greater day of infamy many years ago. Satan, in all of his deceptive cunning, convinced Adam and Eve to sin, breaking their fellowship with God. Upon their choice to sin, mankind reeled in suffering. There are many today who act like this war is over. They do not believe that the devil is real. They do not take the time to put on the armor of God. They do not know how to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. This section of Scripture is a call to arms. To those who rest in the comforts and security of this world, this passage is a shock, an abrupt shock.

(ESV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

The Charge to the Christian Soldier

The believer must be strong in the Lord.

The word strong in the Gk. means power, might, strength.

The believer is to be strong in the sovereign unlimited power of the Lord.

The believer must put on the armor of God.

Be prepared

Be vigilant

(ESV) for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

How does these verses prepare us for spiritual warfare?

The Enemy of the Christian Soldier

(ESV)

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Schemes: deceits, craftiness, trickery, methods, strategies.

Formidable enemy

(ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The devil is just like a fisherman, he has a variety of lures to hook his catch. What lures does he use against us to catch us?

Shut the door keep out the devil.

The Battlefield of the Christian Soldier

(ESV)

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Wrestle: hand to hand

The forces of evil

Powerful

Numerous

Organized

In high places

Set against destroying God and His church

Have we not seen these forces at work recently?

The Armor of the Christian Soldier

(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.

The Belt of Truth (14)

Used to strengthen and support the body

What is truth?

Christ is truth: (ESV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word is truth: (ESV)Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

(ESV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The truth is our stability in life: (ESV) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

The Breastplate of Righteousness (14)

Covers the body of the soldier

Protects the vital organs, heart

Christians should

Strive to live with the righteousness of Christ

To live righteous in an evil world

(ESV) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

The Sandals of the Gospel (15)

Sign of readiness

Ready to march and do battle

Lehman Strauss: The soldier’s shoes are not the dancing slippers of this world, but the shoes of the Christian warrior who knows Christ and makes him known.

(ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(ESV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Don’t you feel better when you’re sharing the gospel?

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The Shield of Faith (16)

Great oblong shield used to fend of the fiery darts, small incendiary bombs

The darts that Satan throws at us every day

Evil thoughts

Temptation

Doubt and fear

(ESV) But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

(ESV) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

The Helmet of Salvation (17)

4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Covers head and mind

Mind: core of the soldier’s ability to wage war

Unless one is saved, he cannot have the protection and assurance of eternal security

No matter what, I’m saved

Hope

(ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

The Sword of Spirit (17)

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

The Word

Both defensive and offensive

Protect and slay

Remember Jesus overcame Satan by the Word (Mat 4:4,7,10)

(ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Prayer (18)

A constant spirit of prayer

In the Spirit: (ESV) Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Praying for each other, especially those who are our leaders.

Closing

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

(ESV)

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

In the end, there will be a day of rejoicing when He returns to rule and reign. Until then, Christian soldier...Carpe Diem! (Seize the day).