Equipped for Spiritual Warfare: Living in Holiness

 

Summary

In Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul urges believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. This passage highlights the spiritual battle we face, not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. The devil's tactics are subtle and multifaceted, targeting our minds, experiences, and conduct. Understanding these tactics is crucial for living a life that honors God and reflects our identity as His people.

Throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, there is a consistent emphasis on holiness and conduct. The Israelites were called to be holy because they were God's people, and this call to holiness continues in the New Testament. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, and the apostles in their epistles, emphasize that our conduct should reflect our relationship with God. The world judges Christianity not by our words but by our actions, and any failure in conduct can discredit the gospel.

The devil exploits this by pushing us to extremes. On one hand, there is antinomianism, where grace is misunderstood as a license to sin, neglecting the call to holiness. On the other hand, there is legalism, where the focus shifts to self-imposed rules and ascetic practices, missing the freedom and grace found in Christ. Both extremes are dangerous and distort the true essence of the Christian life.

A balanced Christian life involves discipline and self-examination. We must apply the truth to ourselves, not just intellectually but practically, ensuring our faith is alive and active. This requires a disciplined approach to time, prayer, and study of God's Word. However, we must avoid a carnal zeal that relies on our activities rather than a genuine relationship with God. True Christian living is about following in the steps of Jesus, maintaining a divine balance, and being a light to the world.

Key Takeaways:

- Spiritual Warfare Awareness: Recognize that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. The devil's schemes are subtle, targeting our minds, experiences, and conduct. We must be vigilant and equipped with the full armor of God to stand firm. [00:49]

- Holiness and Conduct: Our conduct as Christians is crucial because the world judges the gospel by our actions. We are called to live holy lives that reflect our identity as God's people, as emphasized throughout the Bible. [05:19]

- Avoiding Extremes: The devil pushes us to extremes—antinomianism, where grace is misused as a license to sin, and legalism, where self-imposed rules overshadow the freedom in Christ. Both distort the true Christian life. [12:30]

- Discipline and Self-Examination: A balanced Christian life requires discipline in prayer, study, and self-examination. We must apply the truth to ourselves, ensuring our faith is active and not just intellectual. [31:32]

- Genuine Relationship with God: Avoid relying on activities or a carnal zeal. True Christian living is about a genuine relationship with God, following in Jesus' steps, and maintaining a divine balance in life. [45:49]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10-13
- [01:07] - The Devil's Schemes Against Our Minds
- [01:41] - The Devil's Schemes Against Our Conduct
- [03:02] - Holiness in the Old Testament
- [04:51] - Holiness in the New Testament
- [06:16] - Importance of Conduct in the Epistles
- [07:06] - The World's Judgment of Christians
- [09:43] - The Devil's Attack on Conduct
- [11:10] - The Devil's Tactics: Extremes
- [12:30] - Antinomianism Explained
- [22:40] - Legalism Explained
- [30:09] - General Slackness in Conduct
- [36:44] - Discipline in the Christian Life
- [45:49] - Avoiding Extremes and Following Jesus

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:10-13

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean by "the full armor of God" in Ephesians 6:10-13, and why is it necessary for believers? [00:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the devil's tactics against our conduct and behavior? [01:41]
3. What examples from the Old and New Testaments are given to emphasize the importance of holiness and conduct? [03:02]
4. How does the sermon explain the world's judgment of Christians based on their actions? [07:06]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-13 relate to the daily challenges faced by Christians? [00:49]
2. In what ways can antinomianism and legalism distort the true essence of the Christian life, according to the sermon? [12:30]
3. How does the sermon suggest believers maintain a balance between discipline and a genuine relationship with God? [45:49]
4. What role does self-examination play in living a balanced Christian life, as discussed in the sermon? [31:32]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be leaning towards antinomianism or legalism? How can you find a balance? [12:30]
2. How can you actively put on the "full armor of God" in your daily life to stand against spiritual challenges? [00:49]
3. Think of a recent situation where your conduct might have been judged by others. How did it reflect your identity as a Christian? [07:06]
4. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your faith is not just intellectual but also active and alive? [31:32]
5. Identify one area in your life where you need more discipline. What specific actions can you take to improve in this area? [36:44]
6. How can you cultivate a genuine relationship with God that goes beyond mere activities and routines? [45:49]
7. Consider the influence of your actions on those around you. How can you be a light to the world in your daily interactions? [46:59]

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Warfare: A Battle Beyond the Physical
In Ephesians 6:10-13, believers are reminded that the true battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. This passage calls for vigilance and preparation, urging Christians to put on the full armor of God to stand firm against the devil's schemes. The devil's tactics are subtle, often targeting our minds, experiences, and conduct. Recognizing these tactics is crucial for living a life that honors God and reflects our identity as His people. By understanding the nature of this spiritual warfare, we can better equip ourselves to resist the devil's influence and remain steadfast in our faith. [00:49]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel most vulnerable to spiritual attack, and how can you actively put on the armor of God to protect yourself today?


Day 2: Holiness: Reflecting Our Identity as God's People
Throughout the Bible, there is a consistent emphasis on holiness and conduct. The Israelites were called to be holy because they were God's people, and this call to holiness continues in the New Testament. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, and the apostles in their epistles, emphasize that our conduct should reflect our relationship with God. The world judges Christianity not by our words but by our actions, and any failure in conduct can discredit the gospel. As Christians, we are called to live holy lives that reflect our identity as God's people, ensuring that our actions align with our faith. [05:19]

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (1 Peter 1:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you ensure that your daily actions reflect your identity as a follower of Christ, especially in situations where you are tempted to compromise your values?


Day 3: Avoiding Extremes: Embracing True Freedom in Christ
The devil often pushes us to extremes, leading us away from the true essence of the Christian life. On one hand, there is antinomianism, where grace is misunderstood as a license to sin, neglecting the call to holiness. On the other hand, there is legalism, where the focus shifts to self-imposed rules and ascetic practices, missing the freedom and grace found in Christ. Both extremes are dangerous and distort the true Christian life. A balanced Christian life involves embracing the freedom and grace found in Christ while maintaining a commitment to holiness and obedience. [12:30]

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you lean towards either antinomianism or legalism? How can you find a balance that honors the freedom and grace found in Christ?


Day 4: Discipline and Self-Examination: Keeping Faith Alive
A balanced Christian life requires discipline in prayer, study, and self-examination. It is not enough to understand the truth intellectually; we must apply it practically, ensuring our faith is alive and active. This requires a disciplined approach to time, prayer, and study of God's Word. However, we must avoid a carnal zeal that relies on our activities rather than a genuine relationship with God. By regularly examining our hearts and aligning our actions with God's Word, we can maintain a vibrant and active faith. [31:32]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to incorporate more discipline in your spiritual practices, ensuring that your faith remains active and alive?


Day 5: Genuine Relationship with God: Following in Jesus' Steps
True Christian living is about a genuine relationship with God, following in Jesus' steps, and maintaining a divine balance in life. It is not about relying on activities or a carnal zeal but about cultivating a deep and personal connection with God. By focusing on our relationship with God, we can avoid the pitfalls of legalism and antinomianism and live a life that truly reflects the love and grace of Christ. This involves being a light to the world, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel through our actions and attitudes. [45:49]

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with God today, ensuring that your actions and attitudes reflect the love and grace of Christ to those around you?

Quotes


Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the Ws of the devil. 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. [00:11:40]

The devil for his own ends and purposes is concerned to bring us down at any point he can, and so he generally starts with the mind and then as we've seen he comes to that realm of experience causing his confusion and tending again to cause us to fail. [00:21:40]

The Israelites were called to be holy because they were God's people, and this call to holiness continues in the New Testament. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, and the apostles in their epistles, emphasize that our conduct should reflect our relationship with God. [00:36:40]

The world judges Christianity not by our words but by our actions, and any failure in conduct can discredit the gospel. The devil exploits this by pushing us to extremes. On one hand, there is antinomianism, where grace is misunderstood as a license to sin, neglecting the call to holiness. [00:49:40]

A balanced Christian life involves discipline and self-examination. We must apply the truth to ourselves, not just intellectually but practically, ensuring our faith is alive and active. This requires a disciplined approach to time, prayer, and study of God's Word. [01:01:40]

The danger always is not to take the word and its teaching as a whole but to extract certain favorite texts and conveniently to forget others. Let me put it then in this form, that it is if you like the failure to understand the teaching of the second chapter of the Epistle of James. [01:09:40]

Faith without works is dead. It isn't faith. Faith is not an intellectual Ascent. Faith is something much bigger than that. Faith involves the whole personality. It doesn't only involve the mind; it involves the heart, it involves the will and the practice and the behavior. [01:14:40]

The devil having failed to convince us of that and to have driven us to the position of the antinomian now comes to us in an entirely different guise, and here you see we see the Wilds of the devil. He now appears in a different form altogether and is concerned to drive us to the opposite extreme. [01:29:40]

The history of the church is replete with accounts of the way in which so many people have been pressed to this new kind of legalism. What do you mean, says someone? Well, I'm referring to what is commonly called asceticism or if you like the way in which asceticism has been manifested in the whole story of monasticism. [01:36:40]

There is no greater cause of failure in the Christian life than this general slackness and failure to discipline the life. You read the accounts of all the great revivals in the church, and at the beginning, you will always find that this idea of discipline was restored. [01:58:40]

The realization that it is essential that we should order our lives according to the scripture. In other words, the great message here is the application of the truth constantly to ourselves, and that means self-examination. A day should never pass that we've examined ourselves. [02:15:40]

May God give us such a sense of our responsibility with the world as it is today that we shall realize we are marked men and women. More than that, that we are the children of God, that we are the custodians of the faith, and that the world outside is judging even God himself by what it sees in us. [02:37:40]

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Transcript
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