Equipping for Spiritual Warfare: Putting on Jesus

It’s so good to be back with you all after my sabbatical, and I’m deeply grateful for this church family and the way you love and serve one another. Today, we wrapped up our “Battle Ready” series by focusing on what it truly means to put on the armor of God—not just to know about it, but to actually walk in it. The spiritual realm is real, and it impacts our everyday lives, especially our relationships. The enemy’s primary strategy is to sow division, strife, and bitterness in our relationships—whether in the church, in our marriages, with our children, or at work. That’s why Paul, in Ephesians, talks about relationships before he talks about spiritual warfare. The armor of God is given to us so we can stand strong in God’s power, not our own, and so we can protect and nurture the relationships that matter most.

But having the armor isn’t the end goal. It’s not about flexing spiritual muscles or accumulating knowledge. The armor is meant to lead us somewhere: into deeper relationship with God, and into a life of prayer and obedience. If you can’t remember all the pieces of the armor, just remember to “put your Jesus on.” Jesus is the truth, our righteousness, our peace, our faith, our salvation, and the living Word of God. When we focus on Him, we access the power and wisdom we need for every battle.

Putting on Jesus means making Him the focus of our lives—inviting Him into every moment, every relationship, every struggle. The armor leads us into prayer, which is how we access God’s power. Prayer isn’t just a ritual or a box to check; it’s an ongoing conversation with God about the real stuff of life. We pray in the Spirit, relying on God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and we pray with open hands—ready to surrender and obey. The power comes not just from praying, but from praying and obeying. Faith is trusting God enough to do what He says, even when it’s hard or doesn’t make sense. As we celebrate baptisms today, we’re reminded that following Jesus is both a one-time decision and a daily choice to put Him on, pray, and obey. That’s how we become truly battle ready.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The true battleground of spiritual warfare is in our relationships. The enemy’s primary strategy is to create division, bitterness, and strife among us, because in the end, what matters most is our relationship with God and with others. Recognizing this helps us stay alert to the real schemes at work behind our conflicts and challenges. [16:22]
• 2. The armor of God is not just a metaphor or a checklist; it’s a way to access the presence and power of Jesus in our daily lives. Each piece of armor points us to an aspect of who Jesus is—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word. When we “put on Jesus,” we are clothing ourselves with everything we need to stand firm. [29:30]
• 3. Prayer is the means by which we activate the armor and access God’s power. The armor is there to lead us into prayer, not just for ourselves but for all God’s people. Prayer is not about getting God on our page, but about surrendering to His will and inviting Him into every part of our lives. [34:04]
• 4. Praying in the Spirit means relying on both God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray the Scriptures back to God, knowing we are praying His will, and we also listen for the Spirit’s direction in the unique circumstances of our lives. This posture of open hands—both receiving and surrendering—keeps us aligned with God’s purposes. [41:31]
• 5. The power of God is released in our lives through the combination of prayer and obedience. It’s not enough to pray; we must also be willing to do what God says. Faith is not just believing harder, but trusting God enough to obey Him, even when it’s difficult. This is how we move from talking about spiritual victory to actually living it. [43:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:34] - Opening Prayer and Series Recap
• [09:12] - The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
• [11:48] - The Bodybuilder Story: Power with Purpose
• [14:12] - Ephesians: Relationships Before Warfare
• [15:06] - The Enemy’s Strategy: Relational Strife
• [18:49] - Accessing God’s Power, Not Willpower
• [21:33] - The Devil’s Tactics: Lies and Ideology
• [24:54] - The Armor of God: A Quick Review
• [26:47] - What If You Forget the Armor? Put on Jesus
• [29:30] - Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Armor
• [34:04] - The Armor Leads Us to Prayer
• [36:00] - Real-Life Prayer: Beyond Ritual
• [38:56] - Baptism: A Picture of Putting on Jesus
• [39:47] - Three Keys to Praying in the Spirit
• [42:28] - Pray and Obey: The Path to Power
• [45:45] - Baptism Celebration and Invitation

Bible Reading

Ephesians 6:10-18 (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. 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, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Romans 13:14 (ESV) — > But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

John 14:6 (ESV) — > Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 6:10-18, what is the purpose of the armor of God? What are the different pieces of the armor mentioned?
2. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the real battleground of spiritual warfare? ([16:22])
3. How does Paul describe the enemy’s strategy in Ephesians 6 and as explained in the sermon? ([21:33])
4. What does it mean to “put on Jesus” according to Romans 13:14 and the pastor’s explanation? ([27:27])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul talks about relationships before he talks about spiritual warfare and the armor of God in Ephesians? How does this order help us understand the enemy’s strategy? ([14:12])
2. The pastor says, “If you can’t remember all the pieces of the armor, just remember to ‘put your Jesus on.’” What does it look like practically to make Jesus the focus of your life in daily situations? ([27:27])
3. The sermon says that prayer is not just a ritual, but an ongoing conversation with God about the real stuff of life. How does this change the way you think about prayer? ([36:00])
4. The pastor mentions that the power comes not just from praying, but from praying and obeying. Why is obedience so important in experiencing God’s power? ([43:10])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says the enemy’s main strategy is to create division, bitterness, and strife in our relationships. Where have you seen this play out in your own life—at home, at work, or in church? What is one relationship where you sense the enemy might be at work? ([16:22])
2. The pastor challenges us not to just “talk about” the armor of God, but to actually “walk in it.” What is one area of your life where you tend to rely on your own willpower instead of God’s power? What would it look like to invite Jesus into that area this week? ([18:49])
3. “Putting on Jesus” means making Him the focus of your life. Is there a specific distraction or habit that keeps you from focusing on Jesus? What is one step you can take to shift your focus this week? ([30:19])
4. The sermon says the armor leads us into prayer, and that prayer is about inviting God into every part of our lives. What is one “real life” situation you haven’t prayed about yet? How can you start talking to God about it? ([36:00])
5. The pastor talks about praying in the Spirit—relying on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Have you ever tried praying Scripture back to God? If not, what is one verse you could use in your prayers this week? ([39:47])
6. The power comes from praying and obeying. Is there something you sense God has been asking you to do, but you’ve been hesitant to obey? What’s holding you back, and what would it look like to take a step of obedience this week? ([43:10])
7. Baptism is described as both a one-time decision and a daily choice to “put on Jesus.” If you’ve been baptized, how are you living out that daily choice? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about taking that step? ([38:56])