Empowered for Victory: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare

Devotional

Day 1: The Power and Necessity of the Holy Spirit

Living for God is impossible without the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 19, Paul encounters disciples in Ephesus who had not even heard of the Holy Spirit, revealing that their discipleship was incomplete. After explaining the gospel more fully, Paul baptizes them in the name of Jesus and lays hands on them so they receive the Holy Spirit, resulting in them speaking in tongues and prophesying. This shows that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a vital, subsequent work after salvation, equipping believers for the spiritual battles they will face. Just as the early disciples needed the Spirit’s power to stand firm in a culture hostile to the gospel, so do we today; we cannot “white-knuckle” our way into effective Christian living. Instead, we must seek to be immersed in the Spirit, relying on His strength and guidance for every aspect of our walk with God. [13:00]

Acts 19:1-7 (ESV)
And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need the Holy Spirit’s help and empowerment today, and how can you intentionally invite Him to fill and guide you in that area?

Day 2: Boldly Declaring the Whole Truth of God’s Word

Transformation comes when the Word of God is boldly and faithfully proclaimed, even in the face of opposition or cultural resistance. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was marked by his unwavering commitment to teaching the whole counsel of God, both publicly in the hall of Tyrannus and privately from house to house. Despite persecution and the temptation to compromise or water down the message, Paul did not shrink back but continued to reason and persuade about the kingdom of God. As a result, the entire region heard the Word, and faith was stirred in many hearts. When believers boldly declare God’s truth without compromise, God moves powerfully, and lives are changed. [22:00]

Acts 20:20-21, 27 (ESV)
...how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ... For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Reflection: Where are you tempted to shrink back or compromise in sharing God’s truth, and what would it look like to boldly declare the whole counsel of God in your relationships or community this week?

Day 3: Costly and Public Repentance Breaks Chains

True repentance is more than feeling sorry—it is a costly, public turning from sin that breaks spiritual strongholds and becomes a powerful witness to others. In Ephesus, many new believers who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them publicly, despite the great financial loss. This act of costly repentance demonstrated a complete change of mind and direction, showing that Jesus was now their highest treasure. Their willingness to lay down compromise and sin not only freed them spiritually but also caused the Word of God to prevail mightily in their city. When believers are willing to repent openly and lay down what once held them, it brings freedom and testifies to the world of God’s transforming power. [33:12]

Acts 19:18-20 (ESV)
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

Reflection: What is one area of compromise or sin you need to lay down before God and others, and how could taking a step of public repentance bring greater freedom and witness to those around you?

Day 4: Spiritual Warfare Is Both Defensive and Offensive

Spiritual warfare is not just about surviving attacks; it is also about advancing God’s kingdom and taking ground from the enemy. Many Christians view spiritual warfare only as a defensive struggle, but Jesus described the church as attacking the gates of hell, not merely withstanding them. The story of Ephesus shows that spiritual warfare is a long campaign, not just a single battle, and that believers are called to both stand firm and move forward in faith. Recognizing the reality of the supernatural battle and our role in it prevents the enemy from gaining the element of surprise and enables us to live with purpose and authority. [40:09]

Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can go on the offensive in spiritual warfare this week—whether through prayer, sharing your faith, or serving others—and how can you prepare for both defense and offense in your walk with Christ?

Day 5: Our Victory Is in Christ—We Fight From, Not For, Victory

Because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, believers do not fight for victory but from a place of victory. The moment we submit to the lordship of Jesus, we are rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. The enemy’s legal claim over us is broken, and we are empowered to stand in the authority Christ has given us. This assurance changes how we approach spiritual battles; we can thank God for the victory already won and reject the lies of the enemy about our identity and future. Living from victory means walking in confidence, gratitude, and the freedom Christ has secured for us. [50:46]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Reflection: What lie about your identity or your future do you need to reject today in light of Christ’s victory, and how can you remind yourself to live from a place of victory rather than striving for it?

Sermon Summary

As we prepare to journey through the book of Ephesians and explore the topic of spiritual warfare, it’s important to first understand the context and story of Ephesus as found in Acts 19. The spiritual hunger in our community for deeper understanding of spiritual warfare is not accidental; God is stirring hearts for this season. Many of us tend to view spiritual warfare as isolated battles—moments of hardship or attack—but the reality is that we are part of a much larger, ongoing war that began long before us and will continue after us. Our struggles are not just about surviving attacks; we are also called to take ground, to be on the offensive, advancing the kingdom of God.

Paul’s arrival in Ephesus marked the beginning of a spiritual campaign in a city deeply entrenched in pagan worship and systemic opposition to the gospel. The first thing Paul did was ensure that the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizing that we cannot live for God or stand in spiritual battle without His empowerment. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not just a theological point—it is a necessity for living victoriously and advancing God’s purposes.

Paul then boldly taught the word of God, both publicly and house to house, refusing to shrink back even in the face of persecution. His uncompromising declaration of the whole counsel of God led to extraordinary miracles, the kind that even seasoned observers of the miraculous called “extraordinary.” The power of God was so evident that even failures—like the seven sons of Sceva—became opportunities for Jesus’ name to be honored and for the fear of God to fall on the city.

A key moment in Ephesus was the costly, public repentance of new believers. They didn’t just quietly turn from their old ways; they burned their magic books and idols in front of the whole city, demonstrating that true repentance is both a change of mind and a change of direction. This act broke spiritual strongholds and became a powerful witness to outsiders.

Spiritual warfare is not just about personal struggles; it has systemic, cultural, and economic dimensions. The gospel challenges not only individual hearts but also the systems and idols that shape society. As we engage in this battle, we must remember that we fight from a place of victory—Jesus has already won. Our call is to walk in that victory, empowered by the Spirit, bold in truth, and quick to repent, so that the word of God may continue to prevail.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual warfare is a lifelong, multidimensional reality, not just a series of isolated attacks. We are part of a cosmic conflict that predates us and will outlast us, and our role is both defensive and offensive—standing firm against attacks and advancing the kingdom by faithfulness and boldness. [10:30]
2. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is essential for victorious Christian living and effective spiritual warfare. Just as Paul insisted the Ephesian believers receive the Holy Spirit, we too must seek to be immersed in His presence, recognizing that our own strength is insufficient for the battles we face. [15:40]
3. Bold, uncompromising proclamation of the whole counsel of God releases extraordinary power and transformation. When we refuse to water down the truth or shrink back in the face of opposition, God confirms His word with signs, wonders, and changed lives—even in the most resistant cultures. [22:10]
4. Costly, public repentance breaks spiritual strongholds and becomes a powerful witness to the world. When believers openly turn from compromise and sin, it not only frees them from bondage but also demonstrates the reality and holiness of God to those watching, inviting others to encounter His transforming grace. [33:12]
5. Spiritual warfare is not only personal but also systemic, challenging the cultural, economic, and traditional strongholds that oppose the gospel. The enemy often works through systems that shield people from truth, and part of our calling is to recognize and confront these, knowing that Christ’s victory is comprehensive and ultimate. [37:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Why Spiritual Warfare? Church Survey and Timing
[04:00] - Introducing Ephesus: The Larger War
[07:30] - Spiritual Warfare: More Than Just Attacks
[10:30] - The Ongoing Battle and Our Role
[13:00] - Paul’s Arrival in Ephesus and the Holy Spirit
[15:40] - The Necessity of the Holy Spirit’s Empowerment
[18:30] - Bold Teaching in the Synagogue and Hall of Tyrannus
[22:10] - Declaring the Whole Counsel of God
[25:00] - Extraordinary Miracles and Power Encounters
[28:30] - The Seven Sons of Sceva: Authority and Relationship
[31:15] - Costly Repentance and Public Witness
[34:47] - Deposing False Gods: Systemic Spiritual Warfare
[37:25] - Economic and Cultural Strongholds in Ephesus
[40:09] - The Rescue Mission: Switching Allegiance to Jesus
[44:06] - Invitation to Salvation and Repentance
[48:10] - Responding in Prayer: Fighting from Victory
[52:21] - Breaking Lies and Embracing Truth
[54:19] - Pursuing God and Right Thinking

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 19:1-41 (ESV) — (Read the whole chapter together as a group, or assign sections to different people to read aloud.)

Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV) — (The Armor of God and spiritual warfare)

Observation Questions

When Paul first arrived in Ephesus, what did he ask the disciples he met, and what was their response? (Acts 19:1-7)
What were some of the public and private ways Paul taught the word of God in Ephesus? (Acts 19:8-10)
What extraordinary things happened as a result of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus? (Acts 19:11-12)
How did the new believers in Ephesus demonstrate their repentance, and what was the impact on the city? (Acts 19:18-20)
According to the sermon, how did the economic and cultural systems in Ephesus react to the spread of the gospel? [37:25]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul made it a priority to ask about the Holy Spirit when he met the disciples in Ephesus? What does this reveal about his understanding of spiritual warfare? [15:40]
The sermon described spiritual warfare as both defensive and offensive. What does it mean to “take ground” spiritually, not just survive attacks? [10:30]
Why was public, costly repentance so significant in the story of Ephesus? How did it break spiritual strongholds and serve as a witness to others? [33:12]
The sermon mentioned that spiritual warfare is not just personal but also systemic, affecting culture and economics. How does this broader view of spiritual warfare challenge or expand your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus? [37:25]

Application Questions

The sermon said that many Christians see spiritual warfare as isolated attacks, but it’s actually a lifelong, ongoing battle. How does this change the way you view your current struggles or challenges? [10:30]
Paul insisted that the believers in Ephesus receive the Holy Spirit before anything else. Have you ever intentionally asked God for a fresh filling or empowerment of the Holy Spirit? What would it look like for you to seek this in your daily life? [15:40]
Paul boldly taught the whole truth, even when it was unpopular or led to opposition. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to “shrink back” from sharing or living out the truth? What would it look like to be bolder? [22:10]
The believers in Ephesus publicly burned their magic books and idols as a sign of repentance. Is there anything in your life—habits, possessions, relationships, or compromises—that you sense God is asking you to let go of or “burn” as a step of repentance? What would it take to do this openly? [33:12]
The sermon highlighted that spiritual warfare can involve confronting cultural or economic systems that oppose the gospel. Are there “systems” or cultural norms in your workplace, school, or community that you feel God is calling you to challenge or pray against? How might you do this practically? [37:25]
The pastor said, “We fight from a place of victory—Jesus has already won.” How does this truth affect your confidence or approach to spiritual battles? Is there a specific area where you need to remind yourself of Christ’s victory? [49:19]
The sermon ended with a call to break agreement with lies and embrace truth. Are there any lies about yourself, God, or your situation that you need to reject? What is one truth from Scripture you want to hold onto this week? [52:21]

Sermon Clips

Can I tell you the greatest element of surprise the enemy can have is if you don't even believe the war is real if you don't believe there is actual warfare that is going to come your way the enemy has the element surprise can I tell you that the vast majority of western christians do not have a supernatural worldview when it comes to our faith that sounds crazy when you say it out loud but we have a supernatural god that we serve a book full of supernatural stories full of warnings about a supernatural war that we're a part of but the vast majority of western christians do not have a supernatural world world view as it pertains to their faithfulness in jesus. [00:05:44] (41 seconds) #BelieveTheInvisibleWar

How many of you know, if the church would repent of sin publicly, not try to put on the church face and act like we're perfect all the time, admit when we're wrong, that might speak something to the outsiders looking in.That if we lay down our junk and say, hey, we've been messing up in this area as an individual, as a corporate body, as a denomination, as a nation. If we lay, the outsider looking in, seeing us repent publicly, that might cause something. Because, you know, everybody knows we're not perfect. I don't think we've fooled anybody yet, right? I don't think we've tricked anybody into believing we're perfect. So if we go around and act like we're perfect, they're like, yeah, not really. I know better. [00:32:56] (47 seconds) #AuthenticRepentanceSpeaks

There are systemic issues that are raised in spiritual warfare because what happens here is we see the cult of Artemis has established itself in the financial, cultural, and traditional aspects of this region. The more this intertwined itself into the Ephesians' life, the more it shields them from the gospel.There's a spiritual war that is occurring, has always been occurring since before you were born and will continue, like I said, until Jesus returns.And part of that spiritual warfare is genuine, direct spiritual attack.But some of it is the raising up of systems that shields people from the gospel.If a demonic principality can raise up a system that shields people from the gospel, then his job is on autopilot, keeping you away from the truth. [00:38:31] (66 seconds) #RescuedFromDarkness

Once upon a time before you had submitted yourself to the Lordship of Jesus, you were in dominion of darkness. You were a captive held behind enemy lines.The moment you said yes to Jesus, you were rescued from the dominion of darkness, and you became a full -fledged member of the kingdom of light.There was a switching of allegiance. There was a rescue mission that happened. I was held captive. You were held captive. I was in darkness, and I was brought into light. [00:40:49] (36 seconds) #SinfulPrideExposed

If you're here today and you think you're some sort of, like, moral free agent, you're not with God, but you're not with the enemy, you're being held captive by a truth, by a lie that is opposite to the truth of God.The Bible says that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.If you're going to sit here and tell me in the entirety of your life you've never, ever, ever, ever sinned, well, you just committed the sin of pride and the sin of lying all in one fell swoop. We've all sinned. We've all done it. Whether one time or one billion times, we've all done it.He had legal right over me.I was dead to rights. I was lost, and I was not found. But Jesus, when he died on the cross and was raised again on the third day, he was raised with the keys of death, hell, and the grave.And that wasn't just so he could show off and say, hey, look at these keys that I've got. Aren't they nice?No, those were because he had a rescue mission planned for you and I. [00:42:07] (61 seconds) #FightingFromVictory

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