Our Struggle Is Not Against Flesh And Blood

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you struggling lately?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that our struggles in life came from the enemy not from GOD.

IV. TEXT:

Ephesians 6:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

V. THESIS:

Our struggles in life came from the enemy not from GOD.

VI. TITLE:

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 60 A.D. to 64 A.D.

C. Purpose: To show believers their position in CHRIST and encourage them to walk accordingly

D. To whom written: church at Ephesus

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Be strong in the LORD and in His Mighty Power

"In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]"

Haggai 2:4 (Amplified Bible)

Yet now be strong, alert, and courageous, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; be strong, alert, and courageous, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, alert, and courageous, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (Amplified Bible)

Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!

2 Timothy 2:1 (Amplified Bible)

SO YOU, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (Amplified Bible)

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

Depend on GOD's Grace not on ourselves, depend on Him, that's about it to be successful for GOD is the One who is Strong and Powerful in us.

B. Put on the full armor of GOD

"Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies]"

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (Amplified Bible)

But we belong to the day; therefore, let us be sober and put on the breastplate (corslet) of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:6-7 (Amplified Bible)

By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;

By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend];

Romans 13:12 (Amplified Bible)

The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

By faith, it's all put on by the HOLY SPIRIT in us.

We can only depend on GOD, and these armors are activated by our faith in His finished work on the Cross, that's why we are undeafeatable. We are spiritual goliath of these last days who rely not on their height or strength but on the full armor of GOD, that is our overcoming faith.

1 John 5:4 (Amplified Bible)

For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.

C. Our enemies are not physical

" that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere"

Our enemies are the spiritual forces of darkness.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (Amplified Bible)