Ephesians || This is How We Fight Our Battles || May, 12, 2024

Ephesians 6:1-13

Acts 19:13-16

Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 1:19-20

2 Cor. 4:4

2 Cor. 11:14-15

Eph 3:19

Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV): Finally,  be strong in the Lord and in the  strength of His might.  11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  12 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. 13 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.

FINALLY…

1. this word speaks to the fact that there has been instruction preceding this present plan for spiritual battle.
2. Understanding our relationship with God and His love and grace for us.
3. The need for unity with others in the church whose varying gifts help make us spiritually mature.
4. The beauty of loving and sacrificial relationships in our families that help us incorporate and reflect Christ’s grace.
5. These include all the patterns and belief and behavior that we would expect equipping us for godly living.

1. BE STRONG
2. This can mean YOU be strong or Be Made Stong
3. IN THE LORD
4. If you believe in Jesus, you are IN THE LORD
5. You are a NEW CREATION IN THE LORD
6. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
7. SO HOW HAS OUR LIFE CHANGED SINCE WE ARE IN THE LORD?
8. STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT: 
9. STRENGTH: Force, power, dominion
10. It is through God’s STRENGTH and HIS MIGHT
11. Ephesians 1:19–20 (NLT)
12. THIS IS GOD’S MIGHTY POWER
13. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD
14. THIS IS AN IMPERATIVE - COMMAND
15. STAND
16. Establish, Maintain, To cause to be in a place
17. AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL
18. Ephesians 4:14 (NLT): so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes
19. KNOW YOUR ENEMY
20. The Devil; The Enemy; the satan
21. His Helpers
22. Evil Rulers
23. Authorities of the Unseen World
24. Mighty Powers in this Present Darkness
25. Spiritual Forces of Evil in the Heavenly Places
26. WHAT ARE HIS SCHEMES
27. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
28. 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 (NLT)
29. Cultural Level
30. Women and children are abused while our entertainment is filled with sexual stimulation that supposedly hurts no one.
31. Racism is perpetuated in our culture and there is a significant divide between people unlike what God desires which is unity between Jew and Gentile who at one time hated one another.
32. War is everywhere and causes division
33. TRUTH IS RELATIVE: Our culture has bought into the lies of the deceiver and we are not longer able to live what is true in scripture regarding the basic principles of biology and relationships.
34. We can’t state what a man or a woman is.
35. CHAOS and CONFUSION regarding how people define themselves yet God is not a God of chaos or confusion
36. Family Level
37. THE FAMILY is being attacked and being undermined
38. Many spend little time raising our children in a Godly, Christ centered way in the home.
39. We are letting the world raise our children and tell them what is right and wrong.
40. Parents pursue more financial resources so they can do more but by doing so, at times their children are left to fend for themselves.
41. Respect to authority has disintegrated in our culture beginning in the family and moving outward.
42. Spiritual Level
43. Hidden sin is no longer hidden and no longer considered sin.
44. DEPRESSION AND MENTAL ILLNESS: There is more depression and struggles with mental health than ever before.
45. There is less inner peace than ever before.
46. DOUBT of the existence and power of God
47. DOUBT regarding Jesus
48. Yet the proof and existence of Jesus is not debatable.
49. WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD
50. The struggle is supernatural
51. The struggle is personal and close
52. Wrestling: this is hand to hand combat
53. Hand to the throat
54. The only weapons in this imagery is hand to hand combat 
55. The Struggle is FUTILE if fought in the and by our own flesh.
56. WHAT TO DO?
57. BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF GOD that is available to you BECAUSE you are in Christ.
58. SURRENDER TO JESUS: Acknowledge the futility of fighting your spiritual battles with natural strength.
59. Put on the full ARMOR OF GOD
60. PRAYERFULLY INHALE THE POWER OF GOD, asking Him to fill you with His fullness. 
61. Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)

Reflective/Application Questions:

1. What are the common spiritual battles you face in your everyday life?
2. How can you more effectively utilize God's strength in your struggles?
3. How can you discern between human and spiritual opposition in conflicts?
4. In what ways can you improve your alertness to spiritual attacks?
5. What does standing firm in your faith look like in practical terms?
6. How does submission to God empower you to resist the devil?
7. What specific steps can you take to strengthen your daily walk with God?

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHILE READING SCRIPTURE

What does this reveal about God?

What does this reveal about you in relation to God?

What do you need to do about it?