The Benefits of Spiritual Battles part #3
part
2
Spiritual battles test our armor
(Eph.
6:10-17; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)
1- Spiritual
Warfare is real and you are in it!!!!
·
Notice: proximity of S.W. teaching to family in
Ephesians? It is because most S.W.
happens in the home!!!
2- S.W.
is profitable: part 1: It causes us to target our enemies- world, flesh and
devil..
·
I hope no one took my message last week out of context:
“Admire the Devil”.
·
I might admire several aspects of his character but I
HATE him! “No suppose to hate!” Where???
3- The
Bible teaches us that God has given absolutely sufficient armor. (Gr. panopia)
·
Defensive and offensive. (Remember - Paul was chained
to a soldier)
4- You
can have these incredibly powerful weapons in your life! (Must for VICTORY)
5- This morning
we are going to look at a second benefit of Spiritual battles. (cont.)
·
Satan means for bad c God will use for our good! (Rom.
8:28)
It is
beneficial that spiritual battles test our armor on three fronts…
1 -
Spiritual Battles Are Going to Test Your Armor in the Area of Truth.
1.
Victory over the devil is not mystical (sensory) it is
“truth” based.
Jn. 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free. (KJV)
2.
“Lions
girt about with truth.” (v. 14)
3.
Freedom from the devil comes from an encounter with the
truth!
4.
Truth is a rare commodity in our world. (Look for truth
find lies)
5.
The “sword of the Spirit c the Word of
God”. (v. 17b)
Jn. 17:17 Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (KJV)
·
Illus. Accounts of bear attack related to garbage.
Satanic attacks are too! (Not always)
2 -
Spiritual Battles Are Going to Test the Level of Your Commitment.
1.
If you pass the test of “Truth” your
commitment will be tested!!!
2.
“Stand” = Gr. Histemi which means, to set,
fix, or establish, to make a stand!!!
·
Blood, Word of Testimony and LOYALTY to Christ. (Rev.
12:10-11)
Rev. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his
Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before
our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and
by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
(KJV)
3.
“Breastplate
of righteousness” (v. 14)
4.
“your
feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (in
S.W.).” (v. 15) (NIV)
5.
“Prayer”
(v. 18) -- Use the Name of Jesus!
(Jn. 14:12-14)
3 -
Spiritual Battles Are Going to Test Your Dependence on God.
1.
“The
shield of faith.” (v. 16)
·
Above all”
·
What if your “faith” is based on something
less than “truth”? (1
Jn. 4:4)
2.
“Helmet
of salvation” (v. 17a)
·
Illus. A minister asked a little converted boy,
“Does not the devil tell you that you are not a Christian?”
“Yes, sometimes.” “What do you say?” “I tell
him,”, “whether I am a Christian or not is none of his business.”
3.
“The
breastplate of righteousness” (AGAIN)
Rom.
13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out
of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The
night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works
of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (KJV)
q
Which piece of armor should you work on most right
now?
q
What can you do right now to help in your spiritual
warfare?
q
What actions can you take this week to apply the
armor of God to your life?
Copyright © 1977-2002 by Dr. C. David White
Email openarms@openarmsbaptist.com Web Site openarmsbaptist.com