Sunday Service | Breathe Again: God's Path to Healing and Strength #2 | Pastor Shawna Thomas

This morning, we explored the reality of spiritual warfare and how it often manifests not in dramatic or frightening ways, but in subtle, everyday battles for our peace, our minds, and our hearts. Sometimes, the heaviness we feel isn’t just stress or circumstance—it’s a spiritual attack meant to drain our hope and distract us from God’s truth. Yet, we are not called to live in fear or to magnify the enemy, but to magnify Jesus, who has already secured our victory.

We looked at Ephesians 6 and the armor of God, recognizing that our struggle is not against people, but against spiritual forces that seek to sow confusion, division, and discouragement. The enemy is real, but he is not God’s equal—he is loud, but limited, and his power is ultimately broken by Christ’s finished work on the cross. Our call is not to fight harder in our own strength, but to stand firm in the victory Jesus has already won, relying on His power and presence.

Through practical illustrations and scripture, we saw how the enemy’s favorite tactic is to get us fighting each other, or to believe lies about ourselves and our circumstances. But when we put on the armor of God—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word—we are equipped to stand, to breathe again, and to live from a place of rest and confidence in God’s love. Even in the midst of real pain and injustice, like the recent tragedy in our community, we are called to respond with prayer, unity, and truth, refusing to let the enemy divide or distract us.

Ultimately, the invitation is to stop living in reaction to life’s pressures and start breathing again in God’s strength. We are reminded that God is not worried, so we don’t have to be. He holds us fast, even when we stumble, and His presence is the breath we need in every battle. Before we step into each day, we are encouraged to check our spiritual “outfit,” to put on the armor, and to let praise and prayer become our weapons. In doing so, we find peace, strength, and the ability to stand firm, knowing that overwhelming victory is already ours through Christ.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Enemy Is Real, But Not God’s Equal The devil is a fallen angel, not an equal rival to God. His power is limited, and he can only operate within the boundaries God allows. Jesus’ victory on the cross disarmed the enemy, rendering him powerless except for the lies we choose to believe. Our confidence comes not from our own strength, but from the authority and triumph of Christ. [57:10]
• 2. The True Battle Is Spiritual, Not Personal Our struggle is not against people, but against spiritual forces that work through fear, division, and offense. The enemy’s strategy is to get us fighting each other, distracting us from the real battle. When we recognize the “strings” behind the conflict, we can stop fighting people and start fighting for them in prayer and truth. [62:26]
• 3. We Stand in Victory, Not Striving for It Because of Jesus, we don’t fight for victory—we fight from it. The cross and resurrection have already secured the outcome, and our role is to stand firm, trusting in God’s faithfulness. Even when we stumble or feel overwhelmed, God never lets go; His grip is sure, and our victory is certain in Him. [76:32]
• 4. God Provides Armor for Every Attack The armor of God is not just a metaphor, but a daily spiritual reality. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word are not just defenses—they are our identity and our means of standing strong. When we intentionally “put on” each piece, we are equipped to face every scheme of the enemy and to breathe again, even in the midst of battle. [77:14]
• 5. Breathing Again Means Resting in God’s Presence Spiritual warfare is not always about striving or shouting; sometimes the greatest act of faith is to pause, breathe, and rest in God’s presence. Stillness before God brings peace that circumstances cannot shake. When we stop reacting to life and start responding to God’s truth, we find the strength to stand, to praise, and to live in the fullness of His victory. [92:56]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [48:01] - Men’s Retreat Update
• [49:00] - Introduction: Breathe Again
• [49:46] - Recognizing Spiritual Warfare
• [50:44] - What Is Spiritual Warfare?
• [51:35] - The Enemy’s Subtle Tactics
• [52:17] - The Fight Is Real, Victory Is Won
• [55:02] - God’s Power vs. Our Willpower
• [55:56] - Point 1: The Enemy Is Not God’s Equal
• [57:10] - The Devil’s Limits in Scripture
• [59:35] - Resist the Devil, Stand Firm
• [61:52] - Point 2: The Real Battle Is Spiritual
• [64:13] - Seeing the Unseen: Elisha’s Story
• [67:38] - Real-World Example: Responding to Injustice
• [72:48] - Point 3: We Fight From Victory
• [77:14] - Point 4: The Armor of God Explained
• [79:39] - Visual Illustration: Getting Dressed for Battle
• [88:25] - Praying On the Armor
• [89:53] - Breathe Again: Standing in God’s Strength
• [92:56] - Personal Story: Learning Stillness
• [94:50] - Responding: Prayer, Praise, and Breathing Again
• [97:46] - Closing Prayer and Worship

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.

Colossians 2:15 (ESV) — > He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Romans 8:37 (ESV) — > No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 6:12, who or what is our real struggle against? What does this mean for how we view conflict with other people?
2. In the sermon, what are some of the subtle ways the enemy tries to attack us in daily life? ([51:15])
3. What are the different pieces of the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6, and what does each one represent? ([01:17:14])
4. How does Colossians 2:15 describe what Jesus accomplished over the enemy? What does it mean that the enemy is “disarmed”? ([57:23])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says the enemy is “loud but limited.” What does it look like to live as if the enemy is defeated, rather than being afraid of him? ([57:10])
2. The speaker shared that sometimes the heaviness we feel is not just stress, but a spiritual attack. How can someone tell the difference between normal life stress and a spiritual battle? ([50:26])
3. The armor of God is described as more than just a metaphor. What does it mean to “put on” the armor in practical, everyday terms? ([01:18:18])
4. The sermon talked about responding to pain and injustice with prayer, unity, and truth instead of division. Why is this so important in spiritual warfare? ([01:09:43])

Application Questions

1. The sermon encouraged us to “check our spiritual outfit” before stepping into each day. What is one piece of the armor of God you tend to forget or neglect? How can you intentionally “put it on” this week? ([01:18:18])
2. When you feel weighed down or anxious, do you usually see it as a spiritual battle? How might your response change if you did? ([50:26])
3. The enemy’s favorite tactic is to get us fighting each other or believing lies about ourselves. Can you think of a recent situation where you were tempted to fight a person instead of recognizing the real battle? How could you have responded differently? ([01:02:26])
4. The sermon said, “God is not worried, so we don’t have to be.” What is one area of your life where you need to rest in God’s presence instead of striving in your own strength? ([01:01:31])
5. The speaker shared a story about learning to be still and breathe again in God’s presence. What is one practical way you can pause and “breathe again” this week when you feel overwhelmed? ([01:32:56])
6. Praise and prayer were described as spiritual weapons. What is one way you can use praise or prayer as a weapon in your current struggles? ([01:14:00])
7. The sermon challenged us to respond to injustice or pain in our community with prayer and unity, not division. Is there a situation in your life or community where you need to stop reacting and start responding with God’s truth and love? ([01:09:43])