Standing In The Evil Day Series

Sermon Notes: May 24, 2009

Sermon Series: Sermon on Spiritual Warfare

Sermon #1: Standing in the Evil Days

Scripture Ref: Ephesians 6:10-18

10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

II Corinthians 10:3-4

{3} ‘For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: {4} For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.’

Introduction:

These verses are great verses to memorize & to keep in mind when we are battling something ---- that is BIGGER than we are. They assure us that these Spiritual Weapons which we have given to us ----as Christians ---have the power ---to DEMOLISH DEMONIC STRONGHOLDS. When the devil sends out his big forces ---- we can get out our big weapons in the LORD & then STAND ASSURED ---- that they are MIGHTY THROUGH GOD & they have THE POWER to give us ABSOLUTE VICTORY & ABSOLUTE TRIUMPH over DEMONIC STRONGHOLDS. There is NO STRONGHOLD ---- that is TOO BIG for GOD to BRING DOWN. We can WALK in VICTORY!

You might say: “That looks like a mighty ROSY PICTURE --- BUT --- it doesn’t look anything like MY LIFE. Hopefully these sermons centered upon SPIRITUAL WARFARE will help us to LIVE in the VICTORY---- CHRIST has PROVIDED for us.

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How many of you KNOW there is a devil out there – because you have come face to face with him a few times yourself? We KNOW that he is real. We may not have seen him face to face but we have most certainly experienced his influence & his impact. I wish there was a place of safety away from him but I don’t know of any. We cannot flee & escape his presence. Everywhere we turn there is the devil’s footprints & fingerprints. There are times when you can literally smell his foul & rank odor.

Why does the devil come about us? [ work – home – church – dark hours of night alone]

It’s NOT that he enjoys our company. It’s NOT that he was in the neighborhood & thought he’d stop by & say “hello.” NO, the devil comes with an agenda & a plan in mind.

John 10:10 ‘The thief comes not, but to steal & to kill & to destroy.’

I Peter 5:8 ‘Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary [enemy] the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.’

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Notice the way in which Paul writes in Ephesians 6:13 [N I V]

‘Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.’

The DAY of EVIL --- STANDING in the DAY of EVIL:

The apostle Paul writes about that day as IF it is a “specific day” that is on its way. A day that has been planned by the devil & has great design to it. A day which the devil has planned for our defeat & our destruction. The day of EVIL. It’s ABOVE & BEYOND any normal day, IF there are any normal days. There are some days when I can SENSE the devil’s presence MORE SO than at other times. You can SMELL a FOUL & RANK ODOR. I think that’s the WAY of the HOLY SPIRIT to tell us to be ON GUARD SPIRITUALLY. “Walk carefully!”

We live in a WORLD of EVIL. All around us every day there is EVIL taking place.

But there are those DAYS when the devil has called together all his demonic imps & demons & he has given them a plan to carry out – a spiritual trap has been set for us ---- & a BAIT has been set to LURE us in to it. It could be his most influential attack upon our lives IF we are NOT PREPARED for it.