Equipping for Spiritual Warfare: Trusting God Amidst Trials
Summary
In Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul urges believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. This passage reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. The devil's tactics are varied and often target our minds and emotions, leading to discouragement, worry, and anxiety. These feelings can paralyze us spiritually, distracting us from our relationship with God and our spiritual growth.
One of the devil's strategies is to exploit our natural tendencies, such as worry and anxiety, which can be exacerbated by our temperament. The devil knows our weaknesses and uses them to burden us with legitimate concerns, like family and work, to the point where they overshadow our spiritual life. Jesus warned against the cares of this world, as seen in the example of Martha, who was distracted by her duties while Mary chose to focus on Jesus. This teaches us the importance of prioritizing our spiritual life over worldly concerns.
To combat these tactics, we must first recognize the devil's hand in our circumstances. We should reprimand ourselves for allowing worry to take control, as a Christian should never be out of control. Self-discipline and a sense of proportion are crucial. We must keep our priorities straight, with God at the center of our lives, and trust in His provision and care.
Fear of the future is another area where the devil attacks. This fear is often rooted in unbelief, as it shows a lack of trust in God's promises and care. We must remind ourselves of God's faithfulness and His promises, knowing that He will not abandon us. The prayer of faith is not about claiming what we want but about submitting to God's will and trusting in His guidance.
In matters of guidance, healing, and prayer, we must avoid a mechanical view. The Christian life is not automatic or magical; it involves growth and development. Guidance comes through the Scriptures, an enlightened mind, and the Holy Spirit's leading. We must commit our concerns to God, trust in His will, and avoid acting against our inner convictions.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize the devil's tactics in your life, especially in areas of worry and anxiety. Understand that these are not just circumstances but spiritual attacks designed to distract you from God. [10:10]
- Prioritize your spiritual life over worldly concerns. Like Mary, choose the "good part" by keeping God at the center and allowing everything else to fall into its rightful place. [15:21]
- Combat fear of the future by trusting in God's promises and care. Remember that fear often stems from unbelief, and reaffirm your faith in God's provision and love. [25:28]
- Understand that the Christian life is not mechanical. Growth and guidance come through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and an enlightened mind, not through automatic answers. [34:51]
- Commit your concerns to God and trust in His will. Avoid claiming outcomes but instead submit to God's guidance, trusting that He will lead you in His perfect timing. [47:22]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10-13
- [01:09] - The Devil's Schemes
- [02:28] - Discouragement and Introspection
- [03:24] - Worry and Anxiety
- [05:00] - The Cares of This World
- [07:31] - Jesus' Warnings
- [09:06] - Recognizing the Devil's Hand
- [10:54] - Reprimanding Ourselves
- [12:32] - Self-Discipline and Proportion
- [15:21] - Prioritizing Spiritual Life
- [17:15] - In Nothing Be Anxious
- [20:25] - Fear of the Future
- [29:30] - The Problem of Guidance
- [34:51] - The Christian Life is Not Mechanical
- [47:22] - Committing to God's Will
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:10-13
Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he instructs believers to "put on the whole armor of God"? How does this relate to standing against the devil's schemes? [00:12]
2. How does the sermon describe the devil's tactics in targeting our minds and emotions? What are some specific examples given? [02:28]
3. In the sermon, how is the story of Martha and Mary used to illustrate the importance of prioritizing spiritual life over worldly concerns? [15:21]
4. What role does self-discipline play in combating worry and anxiety according to the sermon? [12:32]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does recognizing the devil's hand in our circumstances change the way we approach worry and anxiety? [10:10]
2. What does it mean to prioritize spiritual life over worldly concerns, and how can this be practically applied in daily life? [15:21]
3. How does fear of the future relate to unbelief, and what steps can be taken to reaffirm faith in God's promises? [25:28]
4. How does the sermon suggest we should view the Christian life in terms of growth and guidance, rather than as a mechanical process? [34:51]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where worry or anxiety distracted you from your spiritual life. How can you recognize the devil's tactics in similar situations in the future? [10:10]
2. Like Mary, how can you choose the "good part" in your daily routine? What specific changes can you make to ensure God remains at the center of your life? [15:21]
3. Identify a specific fear you have about the future. How can you actively trust in God's promises to combat this fear? [25:28]
4. Consider a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's demands. How can self-discipline and a sense of proportion help you manage these demands while keeping your spiritual priorities in check? [12:32]
5. How can you commit your concerns to God in prayer without falling into the trap of trying to control the outcomes? What does it mean to truly submit to God's will? [47:22]
6. Think of a decision you are currently facing. How can you seek guidance through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and an enlightened mind, rather than expecting an automatic answer? [34:51]
7. Reflect on a time when you acted against your inner convictions. How can you ensure that your future actions align with your faith and inner guidance? [49:33]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Spiritual Distractions
In our daily lives, we often face challenges that seem purely circumstantial, but Ephesians 6:10-13 reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. The devil's tactics are subtle and often target our minds and emotions, leading to feelings of discouragement, worry, and anxiety. These emotions can paralyze us spiritually, distracting us from our relationship with God and hindering our spiritual growth. By recognizing these tactics as spiritual attacks, we can begin to address them with the strength and armor of God. [10:10]
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: Identify a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed by worry or anxiety. How might this have been a spiritual distraction, and how can you address it with prayer and God's truth today?
Day 2: Choosing the Good Part
In the story of Martha and Mary, we see a clear example of the importance of prioritizing our spiritual life over worldly concerns. Martha was distracted by her duties, while Mary chose to focus on Jesus. This teaches us that while legitimate concerns like family and work are important, they should not overshadow our spiritual life. By keeping God at the center, everything else will fall into its rightful place. We must strive to choose the "good part" by prioritizing our relationship with God above all else. [15:21]
Luke 10:41-42 (ESV): "But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to prioritize your spiritual life over your daily tasks and concerns?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Promises
Fear of the future is a common struggle, often rooted in unbelief and a lack of trust in God's promises. When we allow fear to take hold, it reveals a gap in our faith in God's provision and care. To combat this, we must remind ourselves of God's faithfulness and His promises, knowing that He will not abandon us. Trusting in God's promises means reaffirming our faith and choosing to believe in His love and provision, even when the future seems uncertain. [25:28]
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: What specific promise of God can you hold onto today to combat a fear you have about the future?
Day 4: Embracing Spiritual Growth
The Christian life is not a mechanical process but involves growth and development through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and an enlightened mind. It is not about automatic answers or a formulaic approach to faith. Instead, it requires a commitment to seeking God's guidance and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us. By embracing this process, we can grow in our faith and understanding, trusting that God will guide us in His perfect timing. [34:51]
2 Peter 3:18 (ESV): "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
Reflection: How can you intentionally seek spiritual growth today through Scripture and prayer, rather than relying on automatic or routine practices?
Day 5: Submitting to God's Will
In our prayers and desires, it is important to commit our concerns to God and trust in His will. This means avoiding the temptation to claim specific outcomes and instead submitting to God's guidance. Trusting in His perfect timing and plan requires faith and patience, knowing that He will lead us according to His will. By committing our concerns to God, we can find peace in His provision and care. [47:22]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one concern you can commit to God today, trusting in His will and timing rather than your own understanding?
Quotes
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you 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." [00:00:12]
"The Apostle gives a very solemn warning to these Ephesians and through them to all other Christians to bear in mind always that they are confronted by the Ws of the devil. The author of the Christian is not just that he believes and is converted and saved and never has another problem unless that isn't true. He wages a fight." [00:01:09]
"Another way in which the devil produces that General discouragement very frequently is through worry and anxiety. Now here again of course is a very great subject. Temperament comes in once more. We've seen that the devil is an expert on our temperaments. He knows us, knows us much better than we know ourselves, and he trims his particular Temptation, his particular approach along the line of our temperament." [00:03:24]
"The devil knowing this presses them along that very Point. What he does of course he doesn't do it openly but what he does is this: he knows that the conscientious, he knows that they're sensitive people, highly strung people, people who are never content to do a thing anyhow. Somehow they're perfectionists, they're never content with anything less than a of absolute perfection." [00:04:07]
"Now the Bible's got a great deal to say about this. There is a great deal of warning in the Bible against what it calls the cares of this world. Clearly it's something that has always Afflicted God's people, this type in particular, the cares of this world. Or if you like, you've got a classic example of this in the case of Martha." [00:05:00]
"Recognize the hand of the devil. That's all important. The trouble is you see that we tend to look at the problems, the circumstances, and the conditions, and we fail to see the hand behind them. Now the whole secret of Victory is to realize that it is the devil and not the circumstances. We must realize that it is he who's trying to get us into this paralyzed spiritual condition." [00:10:54]
"The Christian of all people should always have a sense of proportion, but it doesn't come to us automatically. We have to do it quite deliberately. Now that's it's because we fail to do that the devil gets his opportunity. But the Christian is one who should always be reconsidering his or her whole position in life and in this world." [00:12:32]
"Mary has chosen that good part. It's a question of CH Martha, says our Lord. It isn't that it's illegitimate to prepare a meal such as Martha was doing. She was concerned to entertain our Lord and she feels it must be done. Everything of the best must be brought forward and she needs the help of her sister." [00:15:21]
"Fear of the future is not only lack of faith, it's worse, it's unbelief. And let's pull it out and look at it and put the appropriate label on it and let's just tize ourselves. The whole art of defeating the Ws of the devil is to see that he's at the back of it all and having seen that to look at yourself and to say what a fool you are to listen to him." [00:25:28]
"The Christian life would be machine-like, mechanical, automatic. It would be just like pulling a lever and the signal drops. But you know the Christian life is not like that. That makes it into something almost magical. Not only that, if it were as simple as that there'd never be any growth in the Christian Life." [00:34:51]
"Commit everything to God: illness, future, guidance, everything. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Tell him that your one desire is to know his will and to do it. Now if you can't be honest at that point, you might as well stop. You start with yourself and you say, can I honestly say to God that I desire nothing but to know his will and to do that will?" [00:47:22]
"Never act against that inner voice. In other words, you may find yourself as the result of doing what I've been saying that you've come to a point when everything seems to indicate that you should do that thing, but if there is a feeling within you that you shouldn't, don't do it. Always act as a whole, never move until you're unanimous." [00:49:33]
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