Intro: the other day a man said the biggest lie the devil would have people believe is that he doesn’t exist. Tonight, there is a warfare that goes on, it isn’t a physical one, but a spiritual battle, and to survive this warfare you must be equipped with spiritual things.
Surviving Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:11-18
v. 11—get the whole suit on—the first key to survival is to have all of your armor in place. God doesn’t place us in a war without the right tools for victory, but we must know what those tools are and how to put them in our lives.
Whatever part of the armor you don’t have on, is the area where the devil will concentrate to bring you down in defeat.
Remember his goal: is to kill, steal and destroy everything in your life. You must do everything to stand, and having done all, stand.
v. 12 Everything in life that you face has spiritual origin. This isn’t a carnal existence, but there are powers, rulers, and spiritual wickedness in high places that war against the soul.
· Don’t believe that everything that happens to you is of fleshly origin. There are forces that work against the Christian to defeat you. You must discern what is going on around you in every situation.
· You must see beyond the flesh, you must realize the spirit behind everything that happens in your life.
v.13—do everything to keep from being a casualty of war. You need to be standing when the battle is over.
v.14—put on the belt of truth which will hold things in place. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If you don’t know truth, then error or false teaching can cause you to fall.
Study to show thyself approved, a workman that won’t be ashamed.
v.15 wear your gospel shoes—walk in the good news, walk in the power of the gospel. Don’t let reason be your guide, don’t follow what the latest trend or fade is in the world, but follow after God
v. 16-shield of faith—faith blocks all the attacks against your spirit man
doubt, fear and unbelief are three of the enemies biggest weapons. But faith overcomes---faith believes that all things are possible with God.
Fiery darts of the enemy—the devil continually is firing things against your mind, heart and spirit, but faith in God’s Word, cast down imaginations and every thing that exalts itself against God.
17—Helmet of Salvation—you need to put on your blessed assurance. That you are saved to the uttermost. The enemy keeps people in condemnation over past sin, but when you put on salvation, your mind is renewed, you aren’t conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind
17b—sword of the spirit---the word of God—you have a weapon in your hand that can penetrate the enemies camp. You can be made more than a conqueror with the word of God. The more skillful you become in the Word of life, the more effective you can become in the battle.
You can pull down strongholds, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.
18—here is the key to spiritual warfare—pray, pray often, pray in the spirit and pray for others
close: and when the battle’s over we shall wear a crown in the New Jerusalem.
