Empowered for Victory: Strength in Spiritual Warfare
Summary
In Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul exhorts believers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. This strength is not a passive reliance on God but an active engagement in the spiritual life, utilizing the power given to us through the new birth. As Christians, we are endowed with divine life, which inherently contains power. Like a newborn babe, this power must be nurtured and developed through spiritual disciplines such as feeding on the Word, prayer, and practical application in daily life. This ongoing development is crucial for living a victorious Christian life.
However, there are times of unusual stress and difficulty, referred to as "evil days," when the enemy's attacks are particularly intense. During these times, additional power is available to us. One way to access this power is by invoking the name of the Lord, as demonstrated by Michael the Archangel in his confrontation with the devil. Another way is through the active realization of God's presence, which has been a source of strength for believers throughout history.
This presence is not constant but is experienced in exceptional moments, providing comfort and support. In these times, God grants us special grace, as promised in Deuteronomy 33:25, where our strength will match the challenges we face. We are encouraged to boldly approach the throne of grace to receive timely help in our time of need. Additionally, the anointing of the Holy Spirit empowers us with insight and understanding, enabling us to discern the enemy's strategies and respond with the appropriate scriptures.
Moreover, God sometimes makes His presence felt directly, as seen in biblical accounts where He intervenes in moments of crisis. This divine intervention provides assurance and peace, allowing us to stand firm even in the fiercest battles. The testimonies of saints throughout history affirm that God continues to manifest His presence in times of extreme agony and crisis, offering comfort and strength.
Key Takeaways:
- The Christian life is not passive but requires active engagement in spiritual disciplines to develop the power inherent in the new birth. This power is nurtured through feeding on the Word, prayer, and practical application in daily life. [01:40]
- In times of unusual stress, known as "evil days," additional power is available to believers. Invoking the name of the Lord and realizing His presence can provide strength and victory over the enemy. [06:27]
- God's promise in Deuteronomy 33:25 assures us that our strength will match the challenges we face. We are encouraged to approach the throne of grace boldly to receive timely help in our time of need. [12:04]
- The anointing of the Holy Spirit empowers believers with insight and understanding, enabling them to discern the enemy's strategies and respond effectively. This anointing is a special endowment of power for times of crisis. [21:08]
- God sometimes makes His presence felt directly in moments of crisis, providing assurance and peace. This divine intervention allows believers to stand firm even in the fiercest battles, as testified by saints throughout history. [32:07]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10-13
- [01:03] - Active Engagement in Spiritual Life
- [02:00] - Developing the Power Within
- [03:39] - Additional Power in Evil Days
- [04:45] - Invoking the Name of the Lord
- [07:01] - Realizing God's Presence
- [11:25] - Special Grace for Challenging Times
- [17:32] - The Anointing of the Holy Spirit
- [24:58] - Direct Divine Intervention
- [32:38] - Biblical Examples of Divine Help
- [36:01] - The Promise of Christ's Presence
- [39:47] - Testimonies of Saints
- [43:19] - Assurance in Crisis
- [48:42] - Conclusion and Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 6:10-13
- Deuteronomy 33:25
- Hebrews 4:14-16
---
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he instructs believers to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" in Ephesians 6:10? How is this strength different from a passive reliance on God? [01:03]
2. According to the sermon, what are the "evil days" mentioned in Ephesians 6:13, and how do they affect a believer's spiritual life? [03:55]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit's anointing in empowering believers during times of crisis? [21:08]
4. What examples from the Bible were given in the sermon to illustrate God's direct intervention in moments of crisis? [28:26]
---
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "feeding on the Word, prayer, and practical application" contribute to developing the power inherent in the new birth, as discussed in the sermon? [02:45]
2. In what ways does invoking the name of the Lord provide strength and victory over the enemy, as illustrated by the example of Michael the Archangel? [06:27]
3. How does the promise in Deuteronomy 33:25, "as thy days, so shall thy strength be," offer comfort and assurance to believers facing challenges? [12:04]
4. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit's anointing in helping believers discern the enemy's strategies, and how can this be applied in daily life? [21:43]
---
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual disciplines. How can you actively engage in "feeding on the Word, prayer, and practical application" to nurture the power within you? [02:45]
2. Think of a recent "evil day" or time of unusual stress in your life. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time to invoke the name of the Lord for strength? [06:27]
3. Consider a situation where you felt overwhelmed by challenges. How can the promise of Deuteronomy 33:25 encourage you to trust that your strength will match your challenges? [12:04]
4. Identify a time when you felt the Holy Spirit's anointing in your life. How did it help you discern and respond to a difficult situation? How can you seek this anointing more regularly? [21:43]
5. Have you ever experienced a moment where you felt God's direct presence during a crisis? How did it impact your faith, and how can you remain open to such experiences in the future? [28:26]
6. How can you cultivate a habit of approaching the throne of grace boldly, as encouraged in Hebrews 4:14-16, to receive timely help in your time of need? [16:27]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually weak. What steps can you take to ensure you are "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" in future challenges? [01:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Active Engagement in Spiritual Life
The Christian life is a dynamic journey that requires active participation in spiritual disciplines to cultivate the power inherent in the new birth. This power, akin to the life of a newborn, must be nurtured through consistent feeding on the Word, prayer, and practical application in daily life. By engaging in these disciplines, believers develop the strength needed to live a victorious Christian life. This process is not passive but involves a deliberate effort to grow and mature spiritually. [01:40]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What specific spiritual discipline can you commit to this week to nurture the power of your new birth in Christ?
Day 2: Strength in Evil Days
In times of unusual stress, known as "evil days," believers have access to additional power. This power can be accessed by invoking the name of the Lord and realizing His presence, which provides strength and victory over the enemy. These moments of intense spiritual warfare require believers to draw on the resources available to them through their relationship with God. By doing so, they can stand firm and overcome the challenges they face. [06:27]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: When you face a challenging situation today, how can you intentionally invoke the name of the Lord to access His strength?
Day 3: Boldly Approaching the Throne of Grace
God's promise in Deuteronomy 33:25 assures believers that their strength will match the challenges they face. This promise encourages them to boldly approach the throne of grace to receive timely help in their time of need. By doing so, they can experience the special grace that God provides for challenging times, enabling them to persevere and overcome. This bold approach to God's throne is an act of faith that acknowledges His ability to provide exactly what is needed. [12:04]
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you need to approach God's throne of grace boldly today?
Day 4: The Anointing of the Holy Spirit
The anointing of the Holy Spirit empowers believers with insight and understanding, enabling them to discern the enemy's strategies and respond effectively. This anointing is a special endowment of power for times of crisis, providing believers with the wisdom and strength needed to navigate difficult situations. By relying on the Holy Spirit, believers can gain the clarity and direction necessary to overcome the challenges they face. [21:08]
1 John 2:27 (ESV): "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him."
Reflection: How can you seek the Holy Spirit's anointing today to gain insight into a specific challenge you are facing?
Day 5: Assurance in Divine Intervention
God sometimes makes His presence felt directly in moments of crisis, providing assurance and peace. This divine intervention allows believers to stand firm even in the fiercest battles, as testified by saints throughout history. By experiencing God's presence in this way, believers can find comfort and strength, knowing that they are not alone in their struggles. This assurance is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and His ability to intervene in the lives of His people. [32:07]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to seek God's direct intervention today, and how can you open your heart to experience His presence?
Quotes
Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and we are considering how this can be done how this is to be interpreted in actual practice and our main contention is this that this does not just mean a kind of passivity in which we do nothing and as it were hand it all over to the Lord and leave it to him it isn't that we find rather that it's a call to Great activity on our part but in his strength and in the power that he gives us. [00:00:57]
In other words the fundamental contention is that according to the teaching of the New Testament in the New Birth we are all given power we are given life from God we are made partakers of the divine nature and in that gift there is power the seed of eternal life in us all is power it's the analogy of course of a newborn Babe the Babe is very weak but the Babe has life and because of that has power and what is needed is that this should be fostered and developed that it should be encouraged to grow. [00:01:38]
Now it's exactly like that in the Christian Life it's no you saying that the Christian has no power and that the power is entirely in the Lord and that apart from the Lord the Christian is powerless that's not the teaching the Christian has this new life which is power and what is needed therefore is that this should be developed and that is the meaning of this exhortation and we've been considering the ways in which this can be done we've seen the need of food and drink the need of exercise and the need of practical application. [00:02:20]
There are times and seasons in the Christian life the Apostle talks here about the evil day of course life is always evil but there are some days that are worse than others there are evil days there are times and occasions when the fight is particularly hot when the enemy makes an unusual attack upon us it's always a Warfare but there are times when he concentrates and masses his attack upon us now at such times I say in addition to what we are always doing there are certain other things that we can do. [00:03:58]
The name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe and I gave you other examples and illustrations of this same thing in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up walk said Peter and John to that impotent men at the beautiful gate of the temple the sword of the Lord and of Gideon that's it now there is one other word about that which I'd like to add because it's such a striking one a notable one you find it in the book of Jude in verses 8 and N. [00:04:45]
Yet Michael the Archangel when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses do not bring against him a railing accusation but said the Lord rebuke me now that's a very striking example because it's something we are told about Michael the Archangel in this tremendous contest between the Archangel and the devil concerning the body of Moses Michael the Archangel realized the power that was confronting him and the greatness of the power and uh he didn't speak evil of dignities. [00:05:42]
The active realization of his nearness and of his presence now here I say is something that is most exalted and yet most comforting for us all something which is taught in the Bible very fre frequently found in the Old Testament and in the New Testament and something thank God which appears very prominently in Christian history in the history of the church and in the biographies of men whom God has used notably in the advancement of his kingdom. [00:07:14]
Now the fundamental promise with regard to this is to be found in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 33:25 where we are told this as thy days so shall thy strength be now what that means is this that we shall always be given the Grace and the strength that is adequate to whatever situation that we are in whatever our day May chance to be the our strength will be corresponding to them as thy days so shall thy strength be now that was the promise of God you see to his ancient people to the church in the Old Testament. [00:11:37]
Let Us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need now then there it is again you see this time of need you can translate that if you like timely help timely help well the suggestion is that all times are not the same time and what we stand in need of is the grace to help in our time of need just what we need at that point we we need timely help we're always being helped we're always being given Grace we couldn't live for a day without it but there are times when we need something extra. [00:15:21]
We are told that we receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit and this anointing of the spirit is a very practical matter and particularly in this very context in which we're looking at the Battle of the Christian Life what's it mean well let's see what we are told about our Lord himself in Acts 10:38 Peter is preaching in the to Cornelius and his household and he says how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him he anointed him with the Holy Ghost and with power. [00:17:32]
Now then this is something that happens in two main ways and we must look at both of them I'm emphasizing that it is unusual it is not the regular it is not the normal this can be put into the same kind of category as Miracles Miracles are not constant and not usual Miracles are unusual Miracles are exceptional well this kind of experience I say goes into that category and is something which is unusual you mustn't expect this to happen to you every day or many times during a day this is something that is given to us when we need it most all and it it comes in two ways. [00:10:49]
He himself makes his presence known to us you don't see him but you know that he's there this is more than the strength he gives this is more than the grace that he gives he comes himself you aware that he's by your side he's he's surrounding you don't forget the teaching about the Angels Hebrews 1114 tells us that the angels are ministering Spirits sent by God to help us who are the Earth of Salvation you don't see them but you feel their presence you know that you're not alone you're given words you're given Assurance you're given peace you're given certainty. [00:43:27]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?