Your Weapon of Choice
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Pre-sermon reading
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
Learn Adult | Volume 1 Session 4 Video
Introduction
The Bible is my weapon? We are in an arms race with the enemy — defense/protection we need is found in the doubled-edged sword of God’s Word
It pushes back darkness
It was the weapon Christ used when He was tempted in the wilderness, “It is written”
The arms race consists of the lies of the enemy vs our stockpile of God’s word
We may suffer at times, but God promises to restore, support, and strengthen us
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
PRAYER
What is your weapon of choice?
How do you maintain your relationship with God? How do you fight the battle we all face?
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Big Idea: By hiding God’s Word in your heart and living according to its truth, you expose your own selfish desires, shatter the darkness, and defeat the enemy of your soul.
Transition: We do not have to live in darkness; God’s Word is the sword that shatters the darkness
GOD’S WORD DEFEATS TEMPTATION
GOD’S WORD DEFEATS TEMPTATION
Exposition
During His 40 days fasting and praying in the wilderness, Jesus responded to each temptation by saying “It is written” — quoting scripture
Yes…Jesus experienced temptation, just like we do
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Luke 4:1–4 (ESV)
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” (Dt. 8:3)
Application
When are you most vulnerable to temptation?
When you are tired, angry, disillusioned, and (most obvious) not spending time in the Word
When you are over confident and thinking you have everything under control
When you neglect your walk with God
Transition: We are often tempted because of our own selfish ambition or lust
GOD’S WORD SLAPS DOWN SELFISH DESIRES
GOD’S WORD SLAPS DOWN SELFISH DESIRES
Luke 4:5–8 (ESV)
And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” (Dt. 6:13)
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
Application
Watch out for the temptation to prioritize people, places, or things above God
In what areas of your life are tempted to elevate other priorities above the Lord?
GOD’S WORD PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON DECEPTION
GOD’S WORD PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON DECEPTION
Luke 4:9–13 (NIV)
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Dt. 6:16) When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Satan often twists truth in order to trap you into sinning
Satan quoted Psalm 119…twisting it for his purposes
Knowing the truth of God’s Word prepares you for battle
Jesus quoted God’s Word — weaponized it against the enemy
Application
Why does the enemy tempt us so often?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Never let your guard down...the enemy is determined to destroy you
What was Jesus’s weapon of choice when faced with temptation?
The Word of God — “It is written”
CHALLENGE
What is your weapon of choice?
Spiritual battle is high stakes…people’s eternal destinies are at stake
Ephesians 6:10–17 (ESV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. 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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
As soldiers of the Cross, it is up to us to familiarize ourselves with the Word of God and recognize it as our primary offensive weapon against the enemy’s lies.
We can only become familiar with the Word of God through reading, study, and memorizing important passages
Declare the Word — speak it out
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.