Equipped for Spiritual Battle: Strength and Vigilance
Summary
In Ephesians 6:10-13, we are called to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, putting on the whole armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. This passage emphasizes the importance of understanding that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. We must actively engage in this spiritual battle, empowered by God's strength, rather than adopting a passive stance. Faith involves believing God's word and acting upon it, as illustrated by the man with the withered hand who was healed when he obeyed Jesus' command to stretch forth his hand.
To grow spiritually, we must focus on both positive and negative aspects. Positively, we nurture our spiritual life through prayer, scripture, and active service. Negatively, we must avoid anything that weakens us spiritually. This includes the dissipation of energy through thoughtless activity or excessive talking, which can lead to spiritual exhaustion. We must also avoid enervating atmospheres that sap our spiritual vitality, such as spending too much time in worldly environments or engaging in foolish talk and jesting.
Furthermore, we must be cautious of spiritual diseases and infections, which can come from bad company, harmful reading, or false teachings that undermine our faith in the Bible as the word of God. The Apostle Paul warns against being unequally yoked with unbelievers and encourages us to avoid those who deny essential Christian doctrines. We must maintain our spiritual armor and remain vigilant, even after victories, to prevent overconfidence and spiritual complacency.
Key Takeaways:
1. Active Faith and Empowerment: Faith is not passive; it requires active engagement and reliance on God's strength. We must believe God's word and act upon it, trusting that His commands carry the power to enable us. This active faith is essential in our spiritual growth and victory over the enemy. [02:07]
2. Avoiding Dissipation of Energy: Spiritual vitality can be lost through the dissipation of energy in thoughtless activities or excessive talking. We must be disciplined in our actions and conversations, ensuring that our activities are purposeful and spiritually edifying. [12:42]
3. Guarding Against Enervating Atmospheres: Spending too much time in worldly environments or engaging in foolish talk can sap our spiritual strength. We must balance our interactions with the world, ensuring that we maintain a strong spiritual edge and a vibrant relationship with God. [23:55]
4. Avoiding Spiritual Infections: We must be cautious of spiritual infections from bad company, harmful reading, or false teachings. These can undermine our faith and spiritual vitality. We are called to avoid such influences and remain grounded in the truth of God's word. [35:01]
5. Maintaining Spiritual Vigilance: Even after spiritual victories, we must remain vigilant and keep our spiritual armor on. Overconfidence and complacency can lead to spiritual downfall. We must continually stand firm in our faith, always ready for the next challenge. [44:12]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10-13
- [01:03] - The Call to Be Strong in the Lord
- [02:07] - Active Faith and Empowerment
- [03:33] - Positive and Negative Aspects of Spiritual Growth
- [05:33] - Avoiding Dissipation of Energy
- [09:48] - The Danger of Activism
- [12:42] - The Perils of Excessive Talking
- [19:54] - Enervating Atmospheres
- [23:55] - Balancing Worldly Interactions
- [29:59] - Avoiding Spiritual Infections
- [35:01] - The Importance of Sound Doctrine
- [39:01] - Guarding Against False Teachings
- [44:12] - Maintaining Spiritual Vigilance
- [45:51] - Closing Hymn and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 6:10-13
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 6:10-13 say about the nature of our struggle as Christians? How does this passage describe the forces we are up against? [00:28]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the command to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might"? [01:03]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of active faith using the story of the man with the withered hand? [02:07]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of activities or behaviors that can lead to the dissipation of spiritual energy? [06:09]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the balance between positive and negative aspects of spiritual growth? Why is it important to focus on both? [03:33]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that worldly environments can sap our spiritual strength? How can believers maintain a strong spiritual edge while interacting with the world? [23:55]
3. What does the sermon say about the dangers of spiritual infections, and how can believers guard against them? [35:01]
4. How does the sermon emphasize the importance of maintaining spiritual vigilance even after experiencing victories? What are the potential dangers of overconfidence and complacency? [44:12]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are there any areas where you might be adopting a passive stance rather than actively engaging in your faith? How can you change this? [02:26]
2. Consider your daily activities and conversations. Are there any that might be dissipating your spiritual energy? How can you ensure that your actions and words are more purposeful and spiritually edifying? [12:42]
3. Think about the environments you spend time in. Are there any that might be enervating your spiritual vitality? How can you balance your interactions with the world to maintain a vibrant relationship with God? [23:55]
4. Identify any influences in your life that might be undermining your faith, such as bad company or harmful reading. What steps can you take to avoid these spiritual infections and remain grounded in God's word? [35:01]
5. After experiencing spiritual victories, how do you ensure that you remain vigilant and keep your spiritual armor on? What practices can help you avoid overconfidence and complacency? [44:12]
6. Reflect on your relationships and interactions. Are there any that might be unequally yoked or leading you away from essential Christian doctrines? How can you address these relationships to maintain your spiritual health? [29:59]
7. How can you actively rely on God's strength in your daily life? Identify one area where you need to trust in His power more fully and take a specific action to demonstrate that trust this week. [01:33]
Devotional
Day 1: Active Faith Requires Action
Faith is not merely a belief but an active engagement with God's word and commands. It involves trusting in God's strength and acting upon His instructions, as demonstrated by the man with the withered hand who was healed through obedience. This active faith is crucial for spiritual growth and overcoming the enemy's schemes. By relying on God's power, believers can stand firm in their spiritual battles, knowing that His commands carry the power to enable them. [02:07]
Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV): "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,"
Reflection: What specific command from God have you been hesitant to act upon, and how can you take a step of faith today to obey it?
Day 2: Guard Your Energy
Spiritual vitality can be drained by engaging in thoughtless activities or excessive talking. It is essential to be disciplined in our actions and conversations, ensuring that they are purposeful and spiritually edifying. By avoiding the dissipation of energy, believers can maintain their spiritual strength and focus on activities that nurture their relationship with God. [12:42]
Proverbs 10:19 (ESV): "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you tend to waste energy. How can you redirect that energy towards something that strengthens your spiritual life today?
Day 3: Balance Worldly Interactions
Spending too much time in worldly environments or engaging in foolish talk can deplete spiritual strength. Believers must balance their interactions with the world, ensuring they maintain a strong spiritual edge and a vibrant relationship with God. By being mindful of the atmospheres they engage in, they can protect their spiritual vitality and remain focused on their faith journey. [23:55]
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: Consider your daily interactions. How can you ensure that your conversations and environments are spiritually uplifting and not draining?
Day 4: Avoid Spiritual Infections
Believers must be cautious of spiritual infections that can come from bad company, harmful reading, or false teachings. These influences can undermine faith and spiritual vitality. By remaining grounded in the truth of God's word and avoiding such negative influences, believers can protect their spiritual health and continue to grow in their faith. [35:01]
2 Timothy 2:16-17 (ESV): "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene."
Reflection: What influences in your life might be undermining your faith? How can you take steps to distance yourself from these influences today?
Day 5: Stay Spiritually Vigilant
Even after spiritual victories, believers must remain vigilant and keep their spiritual armor on. Overconfidence and complacency can lead to spiritual downfall. By continually standing firm in their faith and being prepared for the next challenge, believers can maintain their spiritual strength and readiness. [44:12]
1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV): "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent spiritual victory. How can you ensure that you remain vigilant and prepared for future challenges without becoming complacent?
Quotes
Faith means that we believe this word we therefore act as our lord said to the men with a withered hand who couldn't move his hand at all stretch forth thine hand the man made the effort and found he could do it so this great principle here Works in actual daily practice. [00:01:57]
We must rid ourselves of any notion of passivity and of doing nothing and of handing it over a false notion of the rest of Faith the rest of faith means that you will rest in the word of God that you have faith to believe that as your day so your strength will be. [00:02:38]
We must avoid in general anything that tends to weaken us to sap our energy or to Rob us of our spiritual health out of which comes our spiritual energy and vigor so that I want to call attention this morning to certain things that we've got to avoid also. [00:05:22]
Dissipation of energy doesn't matter how much energy you've got if you misuse it dissipate it throw it away the result will be that you'll have less of it and you'll become less effective and efficient this is I think quite obvious in the Physical Realm many of men has become weak. [00:05:59]
Our activities must be thoughtful they must be disciplined they must be governed they must be directed now one can well understand this danger and how it come comes in uh of course it happens to be the whole popular teaching at the present time we must all be doing something. [00:08:43]
Spending too much time in wrong company now I don't mean of necessity Bad Company at the moment I'm not thinking of Bad Company I'm just thinking of company that is not rarely positively helpful in a spiritual sense course we've got to be clear again about this. [00:22:19]
If you spend too much of your time in a worldly atmosphere you'll find that you lose the edge of your spiritual life there's nothing wrong inherently in looking at a television or listening to a radio but if you spend too much time at it I'll guarantee you you won't be able to pray so well. [00:23:25]
Avoid Bad Company If I've told you of the danger of more or less innocent company which isn't spiritual well how much more is that true about Bad Company listen to the psalmist in Psalm 1 blessed is the man that walketh not in the Council of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of Sinners. [00:31:00]
Avoid Bad Company avoid it as the plague as the expression puts it for it is the plague the plague of Hell the plague of the devil all that is foul he clear of it I like the apostles term flee run away from it get as far away from it as you can this is the only thing to do. [00:32:23]
Avoid bad reading and now I mean General reading polluting reading there's a lot of nonsense being talked about this at the present time that Christians must read this kind of Filth in order to be able to help people nonsense you need wallow in the filth in order to be able to understand something. [00:34:54]
There is nothing of course that is so fatal to spiritual Vigor and energy and power than this wrong attitude to the word of God and to these particular doctrines that's why the Apostle you see ever wrote the first chapter the F the first epistle to the Corinthians chapter 15. [00:40:11]
Having done all what's he mean well this this is it having done all he means having fought he's put on the whole armor of God he is filled with the strength and the power and he's fought the Battle in the evil day now then here's the having done all here's the danger to take off your armor. [00:43:17]
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