BE STRONG IN THE LORD part 3

SLIDE 1 “BE STRONG IN THE LORD”

As we have been discussing in the last two message series, its gets tiring to battle the influences that cause us to sin

SLIDE 2

STRATEGIES BY THE ENEMY

1) Impatience and pressure

SLIDE 3

STRATEGIES BY THE ENEMY

1) Impatience and pressure

2) Cravings / Greed / Lust

SLIDE 4

STRATEGIES BY THE ENEMY

1) Impatience and pressure

2) Cravings / Greed / Lust

3) Spiritual influence (lies / deception)

These next few verses really explain influences from the enemy

SLIDE 5

Ephesians 6:10 (NASB95)

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

SLIDE 6

Ephesians 6:11 (NASB95)

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

SLIDE 7

Ephesians 6:12 (NASB95)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Look how the apostle Paul describes his battles with temptation and sin

we would think that Paul would not have had any trouble

take a look at this in Romans 7

SLIDE 8

Romans 7:18–19 (NASB95)

18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

SLIDE 9

Romans 7:20–21 (NASB95)

20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

SLIDE 10

Romans 7:24–25 (NASB95)

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

notice the exclamation point on the end of wretched man that I am in verse 24

So lets start our plan of action according to God’s word

Look again at this previous verse to remind us before seeing the game plan

I have underlined to reveal the all that we struggle against, I’ve been saying against principalities and things of the air, but look at all this

SLIDE 11

Ephesians 6:12 (NASB95)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Then Paul is given these words by Holy Spirit to write for us in the next verses

His heavenly place is above these heavenly places, we are seated with him above places of wickedness. We seated with the power of God and must always remember is available to us through the indwelling Spirit

SLIDE 12

Ephesians 6:13 (NASB95)

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

SLIDE 13 “FULL ARMOR OF GOD”

we are instructed or encouraged to take up the full armor, the NLT tells says all the armor of God

It is important that we do not give a place for the devil, to leave any area unprotected so that satan cannot get a foothold

Each part of the spiritual armor God gives us is important

Lets take a look at these spiritual armor pieces

SLIDE 14

Ephesians 6:14 (NASB95)

14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

There is stand firm again just like we are told in verse 13

SLIDE 15 “DESCRIPTIVE PARTS OF THE ARMOR OF GOD”

gird our loins with truth, our first assignment, satan is a liar, stand firm we are reminded twice, that also means to be on the offense

How is being on the offense better than defense, defense we are being knocked backwards, that is just like “its easier to deceive someone than to convince them they have been deceived”

Standing firm is offensive and going towards the goal God has before us

SLIDE 16

GIRDED WITH THE BELT OF TRUTH

1) major part of our core strength

2) protect against deception (lies of the world vs God’s truth for us)

3) we speak truth / the enemy hates truth / hates being around us

4) truth defines our decision making / found in God’s word

5) sanctifies and purifies us / sets us free / shared with others

SLIDE 17

Ephesians 6:14 (NASB95)

14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

SLIDE 18 “DESCRIPTIVE PARTS OF THE ARMOR OF GOD”

SLIDE 19

PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

1) major part of our core strength

2) armor covering in Christ (His righteousness)

3) cannot be accused by satan / assured of salvation

4) practical (self) righteousness gives satan place of attack

SLIDE 20

Ephesians 6:15 (NASB95)

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

SLIDE 21 “DESCRIPTIVE PARTS OF THE ARMOR OF GOD”

SLIDE 22

SHOD YOUR FEET WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

1) assured footing against the world (cleats)

2) we have peace with God

3) we are ambassadors of peace (with us wherever we go)

SLIDE 23 “SHOES OF GOSPEL OF PEACE”

CLOSE/ PRAYER

SLIDE 24 “BE STRONG IN THE LORD”