Untitled Sermon

Spiritual Warfare

Many of us are serious about God but not so serious about the devil. but if you want to grow, you can’t discount.

This is something that’s just hard to fit with our modern life and what we know

Or, there’s just so much you can’t know because details are missing

I just don’t know.

Here’s what you believe about the devil if bible is your thing:

They were created by God in beautity, intellegince, and glory

They fell away from the glory of God

Their leader is Satan (Rulers)

They are called by many names but their bent on destroying, stopping God (Purpose) Ephesians

Jesus defeated Satan definitively, his judgement is coming, and in the mean time we can walk victoriosu

Why me? Badge of humility wrong, it’s not you, it’s about the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead inside of you.

Schemes of the devil can fall into two categories (he’s an accuser):

Deceiption - father of lies, how he introduces himself, not small little lies, but foundational lies, about your identity, your worth, your very existence - whether you should have been born in the first place. Whether he exists. Whether you have a God given purpose. Whether your time is up to be effective for God. Whether you’ve messed up so much, Not sure if God loves you. lies.

Temptation - Pride, Self-worship, Disobedience, Gossip, Lying, Envy, Selfishness.

Schemes - comes at the right time, highlights the best parts, offers at your greatest weakness.

SO HOW DO WE STAND?

3 Things:

Armor of God (Good News Armor) not an insgifnicant matter.

You can’t dress up in try - harderism, and self-help advice. Live with a different question: How can i try harder, but have I put on the armor of God. When we stumble, I’ll try harder. 12 Rules of Jordan Peterson.

When in front you is dangled an instant pleasure moment - cat-petting doesn’t help.

When in front you is dangled an option not to pray for your enemies as Jesus Prayed -

When in front of you is dangled an opportunity to be selfless -

When the deception that you are an accidnt shouldn’t be

When the deception is that you can’t be forgiven.

This armor is God’s equipment, it belongs to GOd. But here’s something so incredible.

This is not Roman Soldier, but armor of a warrior God primarily in Isaiah.

Go over this armor from OT

And now a resurrected King, who defeated, he doesn’t need the armor where he is at, he takes it off and shares the eqiupment.

Put on

Truth - Jesus died for you/

Righteousness - is this the righetousness

Belt

Sandels

Shield

Sword

Good News

Sufficiently armed with Good News

Sacrifice - shield

Forgiving Enemies - Jesus didn’t just pray, he died for me.

Pleasure moment - God’s power and protection

Doubts - I know who I am

The devil comes and tempts you not to make something - but you have a salvation perspective, This is just the beginning. and when you do act doing the right thing, he comes again, this time for the better prize, for you pride, you need to feel good about yousefl, look at you, look at what you have been able to achieve. you have the perspective.

So you don’t feel like your giving everythign up - FOMO Scarcity - this life is all there is, but Heavenly perspective

When you have put on.

Being saved is not enough, wearing the Good News.

you thought falling into sin was his real prize, no you not falling into sin and then walking in religious pride is the real prize.

Makes your good deeds invisible/

Knowing the Good News, and not waring it.

The devil will always try to keep it off of you. SOme of you are carrying the armor, but not wearing it.

Putting on the armor of God

Commit to wrestle with implications of your salvation

Remind yourself daily

Tread carefully in prayer

Ask God for help.

One of the most important waysfor you to recognize gospel is to share it. Use it or lose it.

Standing Firm

Fall

Fall out of purposes of God for your life.

That God wouldn’t work through you.

Prayer

I want to know GOd.

I want to suit up. I’ve kind of let the armor of God hang there in my closet. But I need to dust it off. For this upcoming week, I want to be clothed in the Good News Armor.

Amen.

Putting on the armor of God is to committ and experiecne glorious truths of the Good News in all of their vibrancy and implication, by which we are able to stand against all the schemes of deception and temptation.