Equipping for Spiritual Warfare: Armor and Victory
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we delve into the profound topic of spiritual warfare, a subject you all expressed a desire to understand more deeply. Spiritual warfare is not just a concept from movies like Star Wars; it is a real and significant battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. The Bible speaks of three heavens: the physical heavens, the spiritual heavenlies where spiritual battles occur, and the third heaven where God resides. Our focus today is on the second heaven, where spiritual warfare takes place.
We explored Ephesians 6, where Paul instructs us to put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Notably, the sword of the Spirit is our only offensive weapon, emphasizing the power of God's Word in spiritual battles.
We also examined 2 Corinthians 10, which speaks about demolishing strongholds—areas in our lives where we are deceived and held in bondage. Spiritual warfare involves breaking these strongholds by exposing lies and replacing them with God's truth. The devil is a liar, and when we believe his lies, we empower him. Therefore, our task is to expose these lies and replace them with the truth of God's Word.
To effectively engage in spiritual warfare, we need to understand three realities: the devil is real, his goal is to destroy us, and he responds to a higher authority—God. We have three powerful weapons at our disposal: the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, and the Word of God. Jesus has already won the battle, and we fight from a place of victory.
Finally, we discussed three daily practices to maintain our spiritual readiness: submitting ourselves to God, closing any open doors to the enemy, and confronting the enemy through prayer and worship. By staying submitted to God, we align ourselves with His authority and protection. Closing open doors involves avoiding anything that gives the enemy a foothold in our lives. Confronting the enemy means being active in prayer and worship, standing firm in our faith, and wielding the sword of the Spirit.
### Key Takeaways
1. Understanding the Reality of Spiritual Warfare: Spiritual warfare is a real and ongoing battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. It takes place in the spiritual heavenlies, where angels and demonic forces operate. Recognizing this reality helps us stay vigilant and prepared for the spiritual battles we face. [02:35]
2. The Armor of God: Ephesians 6 outlines the full armor of God, which includes both defensive and offensive elements. The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit are essential for standing firm against the devil's schemes. The Word of God, our offensive weapon, is crucial for combating lies and strongholds. [07:56]
3. Breaking Strongholds: Strongholds are areas in our lives where we are deceived and held in bondage. These can be addictions, past hurts, or negative emotions. Spiritual warfare involves exposing these lies and replacing them with God's truth. By doing so, we break free from the chains that hold us back and live in the freedom Christ offers. [11:17]
4. The Power of Jesus' Name and Blood: The name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus are powerful weapons in spiritual warfare. Jesus has already won the battle, and His name carries authority over all demonic forces. The blood of Jesus signifies the completed work on the cross, ensuring our victory. By invoking His name and remembering His sacrifice, we stand firm against the enemy. [19:11]
5. Daily Practices for Spiritual Readiness: To stay prepared for spiritual warfare, we must submit ourselves to God daily, close any open doors to the enemy, and actively confront the enemy through prayer and worship. Submission to God aligns us with His authority, closing open doors prevents the enemy from gaining a foothold, and active confrontation through prayer and worship keeps us spiritually alert and strong. [22:23]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:35] - Introduction to Spiritual Warfare
[04:24] - The Three Heavens
[06:08] - Ephesians 6: The Armor of God
[07:56] - Defensive and Offensive Armor
[09:37] - Understanding Strongholds
[11:17] - Breaking Strongholds
[12:17] - Practical Examples of Spiritual Warfare
[13:27] - The Devil's Lies
[14:25] - Three Realities to Believe
[15:33] - The Devil's Rebellion
[17:29] - The Devil's Goal
[18:17] - Three Weapons to Use
[19:11] - The Power of Jesus' Name
[20:37] - The Blood of Jesus
[21:34] - The Word of God
[22:23] - Daily Practices for Spiritual Readiness
[25:40] - Closing Open Doors
[27:12] - Confronting the Enemy
[28:16] - Stand Firm in Spiritual Warfare
[29:14] - Worship and Warfare
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
> Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
2. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
> For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
3. James 4:7 (NIV)
> Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
### Observation Questions
1. What are the different components of the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6? ([06:08])
2. According to 2 Corinthians 10, what kind of power do the weapons we fight with have? ([09:37])
3. What does James 4:7 instruct us to do in order to make the devil flee from us? ([22:23])
4. In the sermon, what are the three realities we need to believe about the devil? ([14:25])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding the reality of spiritual warfare change the way we approach our daily lives? ([02:35])
2. Why is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, considered our only offensive weapon in spiritual warfare? ([07:56])
3. What are some examples of strongholds in our lives, and how can we use God's truth to break them? ([11:17])
4. How does submitting to God daily help us in our spiritual battles? ([22:23])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there any areas where you feel you are in bondage or deceived? How can you use the truth of God's Word to break free from these strongholds? ([09:37])
2. The sermon mentioned the importance of daily practices for spiritual readiness. What specific steps can you take to submit yourself to God each day? ([22:23])
3. Are there any "open doors" in your life that might be giving the enemy a foothold? What actions can you take to close these doors? ([25:40])
4. How can you actively confront the enemy through prayer and worship in your daily routine? ([26:22])
5. Think about a time when you believed a lie from the enemy. How did it affect you, and what truth from God's Word can you use to counteract that lie in the future? ([13:27])
6. The sermon emphasized the power of Jesus' name and His blood. How can you incorporate the invocation of Jesus' name and remembrance of His sacrifice into your spiritual practices? ([19:11])
7. How can you ensure that you are always wearing the full armor of God, especially the sword of the Spirit, in your daily spiritual battles? ([06:08])
Devotional
Day 1: The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is a real and ongoing battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. It takes place in the spiritual heavenlies, where angels and demonic forces operate. Recognizing this reality helps us stay vigilant and prepared for the spiritual battles we face. Understanding that we are in a constant spiritual battle can change how we approach our daily lives. It reminds us to be spiritually alert and to rely on God's strength and protection.
The Bible speaks of three heavens: the physical heavens, the spiritual heavenlies where spiritual battles occur, and the third heaven where God resides. Our focus is on the second heaven, where spiritual warfare takes place. By acknowledging this, we can better understand the importance of being spiritually equipped and ready to face the enemy's schemes. [02:35]
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Think about a recent challenge or conflict in your life. How might recognizing it as part of a spiritual battle change your approach to dealing with it?
Day 2: The Armor of God
Ephesians 6 outlines the full armor of God, which includes both defensive and offensive elements. The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit are essential for standing firm against the devil's schemes. The Word of God, our offensive weapon, is crucial for combating lies and strongholds.
Each piece of the armor of God serves a specific purpose in protecting us from the enemy's attacks. The belt of truth grounds us in God's truth, the breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts, the gospel of peace readies us to share God's message, the shield of faith extinguishes the enemy's fiery darts, the helmet of salvation guards our minds, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, allows us to strike back against the enemy's lies. [07:56]
Ephesians 6:13-17 (ESV): "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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Reflection: Which piece of the armor of God do you feel you need to strengthen in your life right now? How can you begin to do that today?
Day 3: Breaking Strongholds
Strongholds are areas in our lives where we are deceived and held in bondage. These can be addictions, past hurts, or negative emotions. Spiritual warfare involves exposing these lies and replacing them with God's truth. By doing so, we break free from the chains that hold us back and live in the freedom Christ offers.
The devil is a liar, and when we believe his lies, we empower him. Therefore, our task is to expose these lies and replace them with the truth of God's Word. This process of breaking strongholds requires us to be vigilant in identifying areas of deception in our lives and actively seeking God's truth to replace those lies. [11:17]
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV): "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Reflection: Identify a stronghold in your life—an area where you feel stuck or deceived. What is a specific truth from God's Word that you can use to combat this stronghold?
Day 4: The Power of Jesus' Name and Blood
The name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus are powerful weapons in spiritual warfare. Jesus has already won the battle, and His name carries authority over all demonic forces. The blood of Jesus signifies the completed work on the cross, ensuring our victory. By invoking His name and remembering His sacrifice, we stand firm against the enemy.
Understanding the power of Jesus' name and blood gives us confidence in spiritual battles. When we call on Jesus' name, we are invoking His authority and power. The blood of Jesus reminds us of the victory He secured for us on the cross, giving us the assurance that we are fighting from a place of victory, not defeat. [19:11]
Revelation 12:11 (ESV): "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."
Reflection: How can you incorporate the power of Jesus' name and the remembrance of His sacrifice into your daily prayers and spiritual practices?
Day 5: Daily Practices for Spiritual Readiness
To stay prepared for spiritual warfare, we must submit ourselves to God daily, close any open doors to the enemy, and actively confront the enemy through prayer and worship. Submission to God aligns us with His authority, closing open doors prevents the enemy from gaining a foothold, and active confrontation through prayer and worship keeps us spiritually alert and strong.
By staying submitted to God, we align ourselves with His authority and protection. Closing open doors involves avoiding anything that gives the enemy a foothold in our lives, such as sinful habits or negative influences. Confronting the enemy means being active in prayer and worship, standing firm in our faith, and wielding the sword of the Spirit. [22:23]
James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What is one specific step you can take today to close an open door to the enemy in your life? How can you make prayer and worship a more integral part of your daily routine?
Quotes
1. "The concept of spiritual warfare is prevalent throughout the Bible. We have a battle going on between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this dark world. And did you know that the Bible actually talks about three heavens? Like we're going deep theology today. Okay. So the first heaven the Bible talks about is the sun and the stars and the clouds, you know, the physical heavens, right? I look up to the heavens and I see the stars. The second heaven the Bible talks about is the heavenlies, the spiritual heavenlies. And this is where we see spiritual activity like angels and demonic activity. And this is where the spiritual battles take place." [04:24] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So many people in this world are not aware that there's even a battle. Think of the men and women here who have served in the military. They understand battle. They understand training. They understand being prepared for battle. But I sit here in my cushy suburban house, live in my beautiful life, and I can be blind to the fact that there is a battle in the heavenlies. That is, until I get attacked. Paul says, when the day of evil comes. Not if, when. So what do we do when the battle comes? Paul uses a metaphor here of armor. Put on the full armor of God. Not just some of it, the full armor." [06:08] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Spiritual warfare is not getting a bunch of people in a room and screaming at the devil. Spiritual warfare is breaking strongholds. Back to 2 Corinthians. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. And we take captive every thought. We break the law and we make it obedient to Christ. Those arguments, those lies, they're not even true. We want them demolished. You break the lie and you make it obedient to Christ." [11:17] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sometimes spiritual warfare is coming to church when you're full of depression and getting filled with the Holy Spirit and hearing the truth preached to your soul and seeing that depression broken off of you. It's turning on worship music and filling your mind with words of his goodness and faithfulness so that you can tell those lies in your mind to shut up. It's joining a small group even though you're petrified and being surrounded by broken people all on a journey together toward freedom." [12:17] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The devil is nothing but a liar. John 8, 44. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Translation, liar, liar, pants on fire. I mean, there's a lot of lives. How many times do you have to, he's a liar, his native language, he's a liar and father of lies. But we are giving him power. When we believe a lie, we empower the liar. Let's stop it. Spiritual warfare is exposing the lie and replacing it with truth." [13:27] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The devil has authority on this earth, on this broken world, in that second heaven with his angels, demons. It's real. Don't be afraid. But we need to understand. The second reality we need to believe is the devil's goal is to destroy us. John 10 10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Do not freak out. But this is the truth. The devil is real and he hates you. And wants to destroy you. Now before you run screaming from the room, we're going to go to the next point. Number three. The devil responds to a higher authority." [17:29] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The name of Jesus is powerful. Luke chapter 10 verse 17. Jesus had sent out 72 disciples to go and share the good news. And heal people. And cast out demons and all the things. And they came back to Jesus. So the 72 returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. Then Jesus replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions. And to overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you." [19:11] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "When Jesus was in the wilderness after his baptism, he was tempted by Satan. And each time his response was to quote scripture at him. Jesus used scripture as a weapon. As an example for us. So, John 8, 31. Jesus said, if you hold, if the Jews who had believed him. No. Okay. Jesus said, if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free. Back to the armor of God. Remember that sword of the spirit. That word of God. That is the offensive weapon. It's not some piece of nice poetry to start your day with. Okay. It is a powerful weapon." [21:34] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Submit myself to God. Submit to God. The more you stay submitted to God, the more authority you have in spiritual warfare. When we do what Satan refused to do. Submit to God and worship him. God gives us authority over him. Look at James 4, verse 7. And I want you to notice the order of things. In this verse in James 4. Submit yourselves then to God. That's first. Resist the devil. And he will flee from you. You get to send the devil running. But submit yourselves to God." [22:23] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Be self-controlled and alert. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him. Stand firm in the faith. We're told he's after us. But guess what? He's got no power. Because we're submitted to God. Because we're proclaiming the name of Jesus. And we're covered by the blood of Jesus. Because we have the sword of the spirit in our hands that pierces through the lies. And fills our minds and our hearts and our souls and our bodies with truth. So stand firm with your armor on. Stand firm in the name of Jesus." [27:12] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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