Spiritual Warfare: Standing Firm Against the Enemy
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth that life, especially for believers, is a battlefield. We are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare against an unseen enemy who seeks to destroy what God has declared good. This enemy, Satan, is not a mere figment of imagination but a real adversary who prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us. Our relationships, particularly marriages, are often the target of his attacks. We must recognize that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness.
We delved into Ephesians 6:11-12, which calls us to put on the full armor of God to stand firm against the devil's schemes. This passage reminds us that our struggle is not against people but against spiritual forces. We are soldiers in this spiritual battle, and we must be vigilant, recognizing that life is not meant to be a leisurely stroll but a constant fight against the forces of evil.
Two primary strategies of the devil were highlighted: desire and distraction. Desire, or seduction, involves tempting us with things that appeal to our flesh, while distraction involves false teachings that lead us away from the truth. We must be alert to these strategies and not allow even a hint of immorality or impurity in our lives. We are called to be "devil-kicking," actively resisting the enemy's attempts to infiltrate our lives and relationships.
We also discussed the importance of recognizing where we are most vulnerable to spiritual attacks. This requires honesty and openness, both with ourselves and with others, so that we can stand firm together. We must distance ourselves from any desires or distractions that could compromise our spiritual integrity.
Finally, we were reminded that we have one offensive weapon in this battle: the Word of God. It is our sword, given by the Spirit, to fight back against the enemy's strategies. We must draw this sword and declare that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. With God's power, we can stand firm and resist the devil's schemes.
Key Takeaways:
- Life as a Battlefield: As believers, we are engaged in a constant spiritual battle. Our lives are not meant to be easy and carefree but are marked by conflict between our sinful nature and the righteousness of God. Recognizing this reality helps us stay vigilant and prepared for the enemy's attacks. [36:03]
- The Role of Desire and Distraction: Satan uses desire and distraction to lead us away from God. Desire involves tempting us with things that appeal to our flesh, while distraction involves false teachings that seem harmless but ultimately lead us away from the truth. We must be alert to these strategies and resist them. [48:13]
- People Are Not the Enemy: Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. We must remember that our spouse or others are not our enemies. Instead, we are fighting against the devil's schemes, which seek to destroy our relationships. [42:20]
- The Importance of Vigilance: We must stay alert and be on guard against the enemy's attacks. Just as we would prepare for a physical threat, we must prepare spiritually by putting on the full armor of God and using His Word as our weapon. [47:06]
- The Power of God's Word: Our primary weapon in this spiritual battle is the Word of God. It is our sword, given by the Spirit, to fight back against the enemy's strategies. By declaring God's truth and standing firm in His power, we can resist the devil and protect our relationships. [14:33]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [24:20] - God's Sovereignty and Love
- [25:43] - Introduction to Relationship Goals
- [26:25] - The Reality of Relationships
- [28:05] - Common Pitfalls in Relationships
- [29:26] - Marriage as God's Design
- [30:21] - Being Christ-Centered
- [31:02] - The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
- [32:04] - Understanding the Battle
- [35:00] - Ephesians 6: Armor of God
- [36:03] - Life as a Battlefield
- [37:03] - The Believer as a Soldier
- [42:20] - People Are Not the Enemy
- [47:06] - Stay Alert Against the Enemy
- [48:13] - Strategies of the Devil: Desire and Distraction
- [14:33] - The Power of God's Word
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:11-12
- 1 Peter 5:8
- Proverbs 4:14-15
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 6:11-12, what are believers instructed to do in order to stand firm against the devil's schemes? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual warfare discussed in the sermon? [35:00]
2. In the sermon, the pastor mentioned two primary strategies of the devil: desire and distraction. Can you identify examples of these strategies from the sermon? [48:13]
3. How does 1 Peter 5:8 describe the devil, and what does this imply about the nature of spiritual warfare? [44:35]
4. What does Proverbs 4:14-15 advise regarding the path of the wicked, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about avoiding temptation? [06:11]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. The sermon emphasized that life is a battlefield for believers. How does this perspective change the way one might approach daily life and relationships? [36:03]
2. The pastor mentioned that people are not the enemy, but rather spiritual forces of darkness are. How might this understanding affect the way conflicts in relationships are handled? [42:20]
3. The sermon highlighted the importance of vigilance in spiritual warfare. What practical steps can believers take to stay alert and prepared for the enemy's attacks? [47:06]
4. The Word of God is described as the primary weapon in spiritual warfare. How can believers effectively use this "sword" in their daily battles against temptation and distraction? [14:33]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life. Where do you feel most vulnerable to spiritual attacks, and what steps can you take to protect yourself in those areas? [12:43]
2. The sermon discussed the strategies of desire and distraction. Identify a specific desire or distraction in your life that might be leading you away from God. What can you do to resist it? [48:13]
3. Consider a recent conflict in a relationship. How might viewing the other person as not the enemy but rather as someone also under attack change your approach to resolving the conflict? [42:20]
4. The pastor encouraged being "devil-kicking" by actively resisting the enemy. What is one practical way you can be more proactive in resisting temptation this week? [53:36]
5. The sermon emphasized the power of God's Word as a weapon. How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine to strengthen your spiritual defenses? [14:33]
6. Think about a time when you were distracted by seemingly harmless teachings or ideas. How can you discern and avoid these distractions in the future? [57:06]
7. The pastor mentioned the importance of discussing vulnerabilities with others. Who can you talk to this week about your spiritual vulnerabilities, and how can they help you stay accountable? [13:35]
Devotional
Day 1: Life as a Spiritual Battlefield
Life for believers is a constant spiritual battle, not a leisurely stroll. We are engaged in a war against spiritual forces of darkness, and this reality requires us to be vigilant and prepared. Our adversary, Satan, is not a mere figment of imagination but a real enemy who seeks to destroy what God has declared good. Recognizing this truth helps us stay alert and ready to defend ourselves against his attacks. We must understand that our struggle is not against people but against spiritual forces, and this understanding should shape our approach to life and relationships. [36:03]
"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 unprepared for spiritual battle? How can you begin to equip yourself with God's armor today?
Day 2: The Role of Desire and Distraction
Satan employs two primary strategies to lead us away from God: desire and distraction. Desire involves tempting us with things that appeal to our flesh, while distraction involves false teachings that seem harmless but ultimately lead us away from the truth. We must be alert to these strategies and resist them, ensuring that we do not allow even a hint of immorality or impurity in our lives. By staying focused on God's truth, we can avoid the pitfalls of desire and distraction and remain steadfast in our faith. [48:13]
"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (James 1:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: What desires or distractions are currently pulling you away from God? How can you refocus your attention on His truth today?
Day 3: People Are Not the Enemy
Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. It is crucial to remember that our spouse or others are not our enemies. Instead, we are fighting against the devil's schemes, which seek to destroy our relationships. By recognizing this, we can approach conflicts with grace and understanding, knowing that the true enemy is not the person in front of us but the spiritual forces working against us. [42:20]
"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." (Ephesians 6:12, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict with someone close to you. How can you shift your perspective to see the spiritual battle behind the conflict and respond with grace?
Day 4: The Importance of Vigilance
We must stay alert and be on guard against the enemy's attacks. Just as we would prepare for a physical threat, we must prepare spiritually by putting on the full armor of God and using His Word as our weapon. This vigilance requires us to be proactive in our spiritual lives, constantly seeking God's guidance and strength to stand firm against the devil's schemes. [47:06]
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate spiritual vigilance into your daily routine? What specific steps can you take to ensure you are prepared for the enemy's attacks?
Day 5: The Power of God's Word
Our primary weapon in this spiritual battle is the Word of God. It is our sword, given by the Spirit, to fight back against the enemy's strategies. By declaring God's truth and standing firm in His power, we can resist the devil and protect our relationships. The Word of God is not just a defensive tool but an offensive weapon that empowers us to overcome the challenges we face. [14:33]
"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 make the Word of God a more active part of your daily life? What specific scriptures can you memorize to help you in times of spiritual battle?
Quotes
We are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare against an unseen enemy who seeks to destroy what God has declared good. This enemy, Satan, is not a mere figment of imagination but a real adversary who prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us. Our relationships, particularly marriages, are often the target of his attacks. [00:31:02]
Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies but against evil rulers and authorities of the Unseen World, against Mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirits in the Heavenly places. [00:35:00]
Life is a battlefield and specifically I want to say the believer's life is a battlefield. It is a constant struggle, an unceasing fight, an unending War, a NeverEnding conflict. Life is a battlefield every day the believer goes to battle in this world. [00:36:03]
You are not called and should not expect a life of just ease and enjoyment where you just kick back and relax. The believer should expect a life of hard conflict. In Jesus everything is made perfect and whole and good and that is true, but it doesn't mean that we will not experience conflict in this life. [00:37:03]
We have to see ourselves as in a battle and needing to resist and push back against the right enemy. Sometimes we're fighting with The Wrong Enemy, we're fighting with somebody that's on our side and we're letting the enemy win. Sometimes we don't even realize we're in a battle or take the battle too lightly. [00:32:04]
The enemy hates God and he hates everything that matters to God. Everything that God says is good, the enemy hates. It's not enough for him to just hate it; he wants to kill and destroy the things that God says are good and the things that matter to God. [00:31:02]
Stay alert, stay alert. Don't let your guard down because the enemy is prowling around like a lion looking for someone to devour. Specifically, he is prowling around like a lion looking for a marriage to devour. This will be an unannounced attack; the lion is not going to send you a message. [00:47:06]
The first strategy of the devil is desire, and a lot of times we would see this as the word seduction. Seduction, the normal kind of connotation in our minds is something sexual, but it's really just anything that's tempting, anything that's attractive, anything that appeals to the lust of our eyes. [00:48:13]
The second strategy that Satan uses is distraction. Distraction really, I think biblically, this would be called false teaching. False teaching can we agree this morning Satan is not a red person with horns and a cape and a pitchfork, right? We all understand that is not who Satan is. [00:48:13]
We have one offensive weapon and it's the word of God and it's called The Sword of the Spirit. It's the thing the spirit gives you and I, the weapon the spirit gives you and I. We need to draw the sword, we need to fight back against the strategies of Satan. [01:14:27]
We must be honest. You cannot think it doesn't apply to me, you cannot think I just don't, I'm not facing many attacks right now. Most all of us are under attack most every day one way or another, right? Some way, somehow we're under attack and I want us to be alert. [01:12:43]
God is greater. He that is within us is greater than the enemy that is within this world, and with his power we can stand firm against the strategies of the devil. If you believe that this morning, would you give the Lord some Praise In This Place? [01:20:28]
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