Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

This is a well known section of scripture so be thinking about what God is saying to you this morning…

A Final Plea

Wake Up!!

If we were aware of a serpent nestling by our bed, we would take the trouble to kill him.

But when the devil nestles in our souls, we fancy that we take no harm, but lie at our ease; and the reason is that we do not see him with the eyes of our body.

And yet this is why we should rouse ourselves even more and be alert.

For against an enemy whom one can perceive, one may easily be on guard; but one that cannot be seen, if we are not continually in arms, we will not easily escape.

JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Find your strength in the LORD

Do not neglect anything

Message

The Believers Adversary

the Devil = Satan = Adversary

Demonic forces

Do not think that because you have fled from the fight, you have escaped from the hands of the enemy.

The adversary overtakes you with more pleasure when flying than he resists you when combating, and strikes more boldly at your back than he attacks face to face.

BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

The devil does not sleep, nor is the flesh yet dead; therefore, you must never cease your preparation for battle, because on the right and on the left are enemies who never rest.

THOMAS À KEMPIS

Spiritual Reality

The Believers Armor

Belt of Truth

Breastplate of Righteousness

Shoes of The Gospel of Peace

Shield of Faith

Helmet of Salvation

Sword of the Spirit

The Christian’s armor decays two ways: either by violent battery, when the Christian is overcome by temptation to sin, or else by neglecting to furbish and scour it with the use of those means which are as oil to keep it clean and bright.

WILLIAM GURNALL

The Believers Attack

Pray, Pray Always, Pray in the Spirit, Keep Praying, Pray for ALL the Saints, Pray for the Gospel to go forward… boldly

Souls without the exercise of prayer are like a body that has the palsy, or that is lame; and though it has feet and hands, it cannot use them.

TERESA OF ÁVILA

Bear up the hands that hang down; by faith and prayer support the tottering knee; reprove, encourage.…

Storm the throne of grace, and persevere therein, and mercy will come down.

JOHN WESLEY

A Faithful Promise

Yours is the Peace of Christ

Yours is the Love of the Father

Yours is Life Everlasting

Yours is the Victory

There are no works of power, dearly beloved, without the trials of temptations; there is no faith without proof, no contest without a foe, no victory without conflict.

This life of ours is in the midst of snares, in the midst of battles; if we do not wish to be deceived, we must watch.

If we want to overcome, we must fight.

LEO THE GREAT

Close

Group Questions

This is a well known passage of scripture for most people, was there anything that stood out to you from this weeks message?

Do you have any books, sermons, podcasts, videos, devotions or anything to recommend to others dealing with spiritual warfare that has helped you in the past… If so what?

Tell the group about the season you were going through that prompted you to study this and how God ministered to you during that time.

Why might some scoff at this passage about warfare?

How would you respond?

Who are our real enemies?

What does Paul tell us about them?

Explain the nature and work of the enemy, based on this passage.

How does Paul express ‘the proper combination of divine enabling and human co-operation’ in the area of spiritual warfare?

What do you think about this?

How would you answer someone who said that ‘principalities and powers’ refers to economical, social and political forces rather than to personal, demonic intelligences?

How does Paul summarize many ideas from the previous chapters with this final section on the armor of God?

What is the purpose of the ‘armor of God’?

What weapons of the devil do they protect us against?

Can you identify any chinks in your armor?

What do you need to do in order to become fully equipped?

How is “standing” significant in literal warfare?

What does Paul’s frequent use of “stand” signify in spiritual warfare?

‘What is needed in the pulpits of the world today is a combination of clarity and courage, or of “utterance” and “boldness” ’ (p.

286).

Spend some time praying for Christian ministers known to you in the light of this claim.

What else can you do to help them?

How does it encourage you that Paul asked others to pray for him as he proclaimed the gospel?

‘What is needed in the pulpits of the world today is a combination of clarity and courage, or of “utterance” and “boldness” ’ - Stott.

Spend some time praying for Christian ministers known to you in the light of this claim.

What else can you do to help them?

What does this passage say about praying comprehensively?

Unpack Paul’s final prayer and greeting.

How does what he asks for summarize the message of the whole letter?