Our Offense

Introduction

I’ve been pastoring this church for a little over four years now.

I’ve learned a lot...

But, there’s still much more I don’t know.

Here’s what I know for sure about this moment in time in the life of our church:

As a church, we been engaged in a time challenging spiritual warfare for a few months now.

That it’s likely a result of good things that have been happening in our congregation (some you all know about, others you do not yet).

That a greater battle than this will probably come in the future.

That a church that commits to being engaged in spiritual warfare, who stands firm in the midst of the attacks of the evil one, will come out stronger and better prepared to fulfill the purposes God has for us today and into the future.

Thus, we’ve taken a few weeks to look at what God’s Word teaches us about spiritual warfare from Ephesians 6.

What we’ve learned so far:

Followers of Jesus will surely experience spiritual warfare

Our battle is never with each other or with people outside the church.

Our strength for the battle comes from the Lord alone.

So, because spiritual warfare is the normal condition of the Christian, then how do we experience the Lord’s strength for the battle?

We must recognize that we are soldiers in the Lord’s army.

We must utilize the defensive armor the He has supplied for us.

The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes that are quick to bring the gospel of peace into a hostile world, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation.

Everything we’ve seen so far is defensive. But, God has not called His church to simply play defense.

The church was always meant to be defending against the attacks of the devil and his emissaries. But, it was also meant to push back the forces of darkness as well.

We are not pacifists when it comes to spiritual warfare.

Psalm 44:5 ESV

Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 ESV

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

However, unlike a earthly battle, we do not go out looking to conquer land or the devil and his emissaries. In fact, it’s the Lord who does the fighting, as we shall see.

Deuteronomy 3:22 ESV

You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.’

Body: Ephesians 6:10-20

God has given His people two ways to battle back against the forces of this present darkness.

God’s people fight spiritual warfare by using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Like a sword, the Word of God is both a defensive and an offensive weapon.

It’s defensive, in that we use the Word of God as Jesus used it to deflect temptations.

Remember, when Jesus was tempted by the devil, each time He responded with Scripture.

It is offensive, in that it is the only weapon we need in the battle against external enemies of Christ and internal temptations.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

External enemies -

We have to battle against the temptations from others, heretical teaching all around, and the influence of a godless world. The sword of the Spirit must be always at hand, ready to do battle.

My sociology of religion class...

Internal temptations -

Knowing God’s Word is the best weapon against our internal temptations.

Psalm 119:11 ESV

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

So What?

Read God’s Word consistently

Study God’s Word alone and with others

Memorize God’s Word

God’s people fight spiritual warfare by being committed to prayer.

While not technically a weapon, prayer is the energy the soldier of the Lord’s army must have to take up the whole armor of God.

Why do I say “committed to prayer”? Why is that important and what does that look like?

Because most Christians will say they pray. This can mean the person is a prayer warrior, continually coming to the throne of grace with prayers and petitions to the Lord. Or, it can mean that the person prayed once today, or this week, or this month, or this year, or this one time when they were young and were about to take a test they didn’t study for...

Clearly, there is a difference between praying and being committed to prayer.

A commitment to prayer understands the priority and necessity of prayer in the Christian life and acts on that understanding.

The “alls” of Paul’s call to prayer:

All Times - “...praying at all times in the Spirit...”

This means that a believers should be always ready to pray.

“in the Spirit”?

This doesn’t mean in tongues or through some other charismatic utterances…

It is prayer that realizes that the Holy Spirit is present and active, hearing our prayers and responding exactly right every time.

The point is, we cannot have a full prayer life without reliance on the Holy Spirit.

There is never a wrong time to pray!

All Prayer - “...with all prayer and supplication.”

The point being, all types of prayers.

Intercession;

Confession;

Petition;

Praising.

All Perseverance - “...keep alert with all perseverance...”

This is aware prayer…

It is also persistent prayer…

Too often people’s prayer life is only super active when life is challenging.

What ruins our persistence in prayer more than anything else? When we don’t get the answer we want.

However, we must remember that God’s timing is always perfect...

All the Saints - “…making supplication for all the saints...”

Church members must constantly pray for one another.

Pray immediately when someone asks;

Pray for someone when you think about them;

Share prayer needs with one another.

Pray for Christian leaders.

Paul asked for prayer for himself.

What does Paul ask for in prayer?

To be released? No. To be kept physically safe? No. To be well nourished? No.

That he will have the right words for people to explain the Gospel to them.

That he will proclaim the Gospel boldly.

So What?

Commit to having an active prayer life.

Come together with the church to pray.

Pray for leaders, church members, and yourself.

Pray for boldness to share the Gospel for leaders, church members, and yourself.