Standing Your Ground
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION: Ancient wrestling.
Use God’s power.
Use God’s power.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Finally - Wrapping up, but still three more weeks haha.
Be strong …In the Lord - (don’t cry story.)
Strength of his might - You can only be strong in God’s might.
Some of you have been trying to be strong in your own might.
The strength you need to fight the battles you face is not in you, but in Him.
The strength you need to fight the battles you face is not in you, but in Him.
Use God’s Tools.
Use God’s Tools.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Put on - never says to take it off.
ILLUSTRATION: Norm in Vietnam.
Whole armor of God - (not just a helmet like a goat) God will give you the tools you need to be strong.
That (purpose) you may be able to stand (resist) the schemes of the devil - accuser. Slanderer. Your job is not to defeat the devil, but to resist Him. Jesus will defeat him.
Schemer - job is to deceive. Scheme or methdos. He is trying to knock you down.
God has already provided the tools you need.
God has already provided the tools you need.
Fight God’s opponents.
Fight God’s opponents.
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.
do not wrestle - poly - gladiators. hand to hand fight to the death.
HAHA fight the wrong person…or can’t remember why we are fighting.
Now, this is a confusing verse, because Paul certainly wrestled against actual flesh and blood.
○ He was beaten 4× by flesh and blood;
○ criticized by flesh and blood;
○ imprisoned by flesh and blood;
○ he was abandoned by flesh and blood friends.
against flesh and blood - If you can see them, they aren’t your enemy. Poke the person beside you. Say “you aren’t my enemy”.
Acts 19 story of demon.
When we focus to much on earthly enemies the devil is happy becuase he is off the hook.
rulers - obviously not human rulers.
authorities -
cosmic powers over the present darkness -
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places -
Stand Firm.
Stand Firm.
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.
Therefore - because we are in fight, he tells us against to take up armor. But he never says to put it off.
withstand in the evil day - it easy to stand when things are good.
CONCLUSION: drifting vs standing firm.
2 Chronicals 20 story
Thomas - lost son and wife.