Equipping for Spiritual Warfare: Victory Through Christ

 

Summary

In our journey through life, we often encounter challenges that seem insurmountable. However, it's crucial to understand that everything visible and physical is first preceded by something invisible and spiritual. To address issues in our physical realm, we must first identify and tackle their spiritual causes. This understanding is vital in spiritual warfare, as described in Ephesians 6:10-12. The spiritual realm, or heavenly places, is where the real action and conflict occur. If we remain focused solely on the physical realm, we miss the root cause of our struggles.

Victory in spiritual warfare is already assured through Jesus Christ, who defeated the devil on the cross. However, while this victory is positional, it is our responsibility to make it practical by putting on the full armor of God. The armor includes the belt of truth, which counters Satan's lies, and the breastplate of righteousness, which protects our hearts from unrighteousness. The gospel shoes bring peace, providing calm in the midst of life's storms, while the shield of faith acts as a defense against doubt and fear. Faith is more than a feeling; it is acting as if God is telling the truth, which pleases Him and draws His attention.

The helmet of salvation guards our minds, ensuring our thoughts align with our saved status rather than our unredeemed past. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is our offensive weapon. It is not enough to know or study the Word; we must wield it actively, as Jesus did during His temptation. Finally, prayer is essential, serving as earthly permission for heavenly interference. By inviting God into our battles, we align ourselves with His power and are equipped to win the war.

Key Takeaways:

1. Spiritual Causes of Physical Issues: Understanding that every physical issue has a spiritual cause is crucial. By addressing the spiritual root, we can effectively tackle the physical manifestation. This perspective shifts our focus from merely treating symptoms to addressing the core issues. [00:20]

2. Victory Through Christ: Jesus has already secured victory over the devil on the cross. Our role is to make this victory practical in our lives by utilizing the armor of God. This involves actively engaging in spiritual warfare with the tools God has provided. [00:53]

3. The Power of Truth and Righteousness: The belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness are essential in spiritual warfare. Truth counters Satan's lies, while righteousness protects our hearts. By making right decisions, we align ourselves with God's will and resist the enemy's attacks. [01:28]

4. Faith and the Word of God: Faith is acting as if God is telling the truth, which pleases Him and draws His attention. The Word of God, when wielded actively, becomes a powerful weapon against the enemy. It is not enough to know the Word; we must use it in our spiritual battles. [02:58]

5. The Role of Prayer: Prayer is vital in spiritual warfare, serving as earthly permission for heavenly interference. By inviting God into our battles, we align ourselves with His power and are equipped to win. Prayer covers all our actions and ensures we are not fighting alone. [04:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:20] - Spiritual Causes of Physical Issues
- [00:53] - Victory Through Christ
- [01:28] - The Power of Truth and Righteousness
- [02:02] - Gospel Shoes of Peace
- [02:28] - Shield of Faith
- [02:58] - Acting on God's Truth
- [03:26] - Helmet of Salvation
- [03:53] - Sword of the Spirit
- [04:18] - The Role of Prayer
- [04:49] - Ready for Spiritual Warfare

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:10-12
- Ephesians 6:13-18

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Ephesians 6:10-12, where does the real conflict occur, and why is it important to recognize this? [00:20]

2. What are the components of the armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6:13-18, and what purpose does each serve in spiritual warfare? [01:28]

3. How does the sermon describe the role of truth in spiritual warfare, and why is it significant? [01:28]

4. What is the relationship between faith and God's attention, as explained in the sermon? [02:58]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding the spiritual causes of physical issues change the way believers approach their struggles? [00:20]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest believers can make the victory of Christ practical in their lives? [00:53]

3. How does the sermon explain the concept of peace that surpasses understanding, and how is it connected to the gospel shoes? [02:02]

4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of prayer in spiritual warfare, and how does it serve as "earthly permission for heavenly interference"? [04:18]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a current challenge in your life. How might identifying its spiritual root change your approach to resolving it? [00:20]

2. The sermon emphasizes making Christ's victory practical. What specific steps can you take this week to actively engage in spiritual warfare using the armor of God? [00:53]

3. Consider a situation where you are struggling with doubt or fear. How can you use the shield of faith to address these feelings? [02:28]

4. Think about a time when you experienced peace in a chaotic situation. How did this align with the concept of the gospel shoes of peace? [02:02]

5. Identify an area in your life where you need to apply the belt of truth. How can you counter any lies or deceptions you are facing? [01:28]

6. How can you incorporate more prayer into your daily routine to invite God's power into your battles? What specific times or methods might work best for you? [04:18]

7. Reflect on your thought patterns. How can the helmet of salvation help you align your thoughts with your identity in Christ rather than your past? [03:26]

Devotional

Day 1: Unseen Roots of Visible Struggles
Understanding that every physical issue has a spiritual cause is crucial. By addressing the spiritual root, we can effectively tackle the physical manifestation. This perspective shifts our focus from merely treating symptoms to addressing the core issues. The spiritual realm is where the real action and conflict occur, and if we remain focused solely on the physical realm, we miss the root cause of our struggles. Recognizing the spiritual dimension of our challenges allows us to engage in spiritual warfare with greater awareness and effectiveness. [00:20]

"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: Identify a recurring challenge in your life. What spiritual root might be contributing to this issue, and how can you begin to address it today?


Day 2: Living Out Christ's Victory
Jesus has already secured victory over the devil on the cross. Our role is to make this victory practical in our lives by utilizing the armor of God. This involves actively engaging in spiritual warfare with the tools God has provided. The victory is positional, but it becomes practical when we put on the full armor of God and stand firm against the enemy's schemes. By doing so, we align ourselves with the victory that Christ has already won and experience it in our daily lives. [00:53]

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." (2 Corinthians 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: What piece of the armor of God do you need to focus on today to make Christ's victory more practical in your life?


Day 3: Truth and Righteousness as Defense
The belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness are essential in spiritual warfare. Truth counters Satan's lies, while righteousness protects our hearts. By making right decisions, we align ourselves with God's will and resist the enemy's attacks. Truth and righteousness serve as our defense, guarding us against deception and unrighteousness. As we embrace these virtues, we stand firm in the face of spiritual battles, knowing that we are protected by God's truth and righteousness. [01:28]

"Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness." (Ephesians 6:14, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to embrace truth and righteousness more fully to resist the enemy's attacks?


Day 4: Faith and the Word as Weapons
Faith is acting as if God is telling the truth, which pleases Him and draws His attention. The Word of God, when wielded actively, becomes a powerful weapon against the enemy. It is not enough to know the Word; we must use it in our spiritual battles. Faith and the Word of God are our offensive weapons, enabling us to stand firm and overcome the enemy's schemes. By actively engaging with God's truth and promises, we strengthen our faith and wield the Word effectively in our spiritual warfare. [02:58]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively wield the Word of God in your current spiritual battles, and what step of faith can you take today to act on God's truth?


Day 5: Inviting God into Our Battles
Prayer is vital in spiritual warfare, serving as earthly permission for heavenly interference. By inviting God into our battles, we align ourselves with His power and are equipped to win. Prayer covers all our actions and ensures we are not fighting alone. It is through prayer that we invite God's presence and power into our struggles, acknowledging our dependence on Him and seeking His guidance and strength. As we pray, we open the door for divine intervention and experience the victory that comes from aligning ourselves with God's will. [04:18]

"Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: What specific battle are you facing today that you need to invite God into through prayer, and how can you make prayer a more integral part of your spiritual warfare strategy?

Quotes

Everything visible and physical is first preceded by something invisible and spiritual. So if you want to rectify something in the visible physical realm, you must identify and address its invisible spiritual cause. Failure to identify the invisible spiritual cause will leave you lacking in properly addressing the visible physical cure. [00:00:05]

In the spiritual realm, of what Paul calls heavenly places, that's where all the action is. That's where all the activity is. That's where the conflict exists according to Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 to 12. And Paul wants us to understand that it's that realm that's causing chaos in this realm. [00:00:32]

The beautiful thing about victory in spiritual warfare is that God has already gone before us and created the victory. So you see, the Scripture says that on the cross Jesus defeated the devil. But even though he's been defeated positionally, it's our responsibility to defeat him practically. [00:00:63]

There's this belt called truth. Why? Because Satan is a liar, and he can't handle the truth. So when you hit him with the truth, he's got to back up, because he and truth don't jive together, they don't get along. There is this breastplate of righteousness. Why? Because the devil is unrighteous. [00:01:88]

As you make your steps in life, movements in life, the way God confirms that you're moving the right way is by the calm He gives you in the middle of a storm. This is not talking about peace with no conflict. This is talking about peace when you're not supposed to have peace, the peace that passes understanding. [00:02:129]

Faith is more than a feeling. It's acting like God is telling the truth. When you act like God is telling the truth, you're exhibiting faith. And when you exhibit faith, then you get God's attention. For without faith, it's impossible to please God, and who cometh to God must first believe that He is. [00:02:165]

Most of our wrong actions come from wrong thinking, so that's why you've got to think salvifically. That's just a big word that means think in concert with your saved status not your unredeemed status. Then pick up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. [00:03:212]

The word for "Word" there is the word Rhema. That means the Word of God used, not the Word of God merely known, understood, studied, or repeated. It means you must wield it like a sword, like Jesus did in the temptation when He had a Bible study with the devil. [00:03:226]

By the way, when's the last time you've had a Bible study with the devil? When you actually quoted Scripture to him? Most Christians have Bible studies with one another or with themselves—and while that's appropriate—in spiritual warfare, it's not enough. You need a dagger. [00:03:241]

Prayer is earthly permission for heavenly interference. You're telling God up there to join you down here cause something's happening down here that you can't handle, and you need up there to partner with you. You put on the full armor, you're ready to go to war. [00:04:275]

In fact, you're more than ready to go to war. You're ready to win one. [00:04:289]

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Transcript
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