Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints…
-Ephesians 6:10-18
1. You need to be aware there is a cosmic struggle.
- The struggle is supernatural:
Principalities: Powers / Authorities: world forces or rulers of darkness: satan’s representatives, possessed by his power for his purposes; and Spiritual forces: Demonic forces all around us.
- The struggle is personal:
The word for struggle indicates hand-to-hand combat.
- The struggle is futile if fought in and by our flesh.
This struggle is too much for the twentieth century, one-dimensional materialist and indeed for many who think themselves Christian. Our enemy is subtle and powerful.
-R.K Hughs
2. There will be an evil day.
3. Paul tells you to stand / stand firm.
Stand Firm/Resist - both words in the original language mean - to stand against an enemy, to endure, to stand fast.
How do you stand firm, as a Christian, against principalities, rulers, authorities, and spiritual forces when they come against you?
Stand Firm With The Right Allegiance
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
-Ephesians 6:10
Possession is about ownership.
God must have the right to own you if He is going to strengthen you.
Stand Firm With Truth
Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth,…
-Ephesians 6:14
In other words without truth, the whole armor will not work.
Believe there is objective spiritual truth in Jesus, and in His scriptures: truth about God, ourselves, history and the future.
-R.K Hughs
Who is God? What has He done? What does He declare over you?
-Jon Thompson
Resisting the devil / standing firm against spiritual forces means accepting Biblical definitions for words.
Effective Christian warriors are bound with God’s truth.
Stand Firm With Power Through Prayer
With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance.
-Ephesians 6:18
For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God…
-1 Corinthians 2:11-12
But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.
-1 Corinthians2: 14-15
What happens when you don’t resist?
1. Foothold: Insecurity and fear.
‘…I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I worked up the courage and offered the burnt offering.’ But Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have acted foolishly!’
-1 Samuel 13:12-13
2. Fear and insecurity led to disobedience and people pleasing.
But the people took some of the spoils, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things designated for destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.’ Samuel said, ‘Does the LORD have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.’
-1 Samuel 15:21-23
Then Saul said, ‘I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before all Israel, and go back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.’
-1 Samuel 15:30
3. Consistent disobedience leads to oppression.
…an evil spirit from the Lord came upon / rushed on Saul.
-1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 16:14-15 (paraphrased)
4. Oppression led to the occult.
When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.
-1 Samuel 28:5
Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.’
-1 Samuel 28:7
I've read them (apologetic explanations) but in that moment and still when I take myself back to that place those answers feel deeply dissatisfying and that was a lynchpin. I felt like a very big part of my belief was was yanked out from under me through that experience.
-Jonathan Steingard, lead vocalist of Hawk Nelson
How do we apply what God commanded us to do through Paul’s letter?
First: Cement your allegiance.
‘How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people did not answer him so much as a word.
-1 Kings 18:21
If the Lord is your God, the strength of His might will be at your disposal against evil and temptation.
Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you.
-James 4:7-8a
Have you fully submitted your life to God?
Second: Submit to objective truth.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
-John 17:16-17
Teach me Your way, LORD; I will walk in Your truth;…
-Psalm 86:11a
Who is forming you more - the WORLD or THE WORD?
Third: Activate a never-ceasing prayer life.
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CHALLENGE: Can you commit yourself to 7 days of prayer?
Prayer: Reveal to me any area of my life that needs deliverance.
‘...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’
-2 Chronicles 7:14
What were your main takeaways from this message?
Make a Decision
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day by P. Scazzero