The Greatest Adventure
“A War We MUST Win”
Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Introduction:
Ø We are fighting to win spiritually and it is “A War We MUST Win!”
Ø We can’t afford to lose!
Ø Our souls, our families, our church, our community is at stake!
Ø Today, we are going to look at how many fight in this spiritual battle.
Ø Spiritual warfare has nothing to do with personality, gifting, calling, or background. When we signed up to be a Christian, we automatically entered into warfare.
1. There Are Two Extremes: Overemphasis or
Underemphasis!
A. Some see the devil in everything – Overemphasis…
1) They cast out demons of clumsiness, demons of tooth
decay, even demons of high mortgate payments!!!
Ø You can purchase Bibles with special spiritual warfare emphasis in the margins; spiritual warfare posters to hand on the wall; spiritual warfare study guides; spiritual warfare manuals; spiritual warfare T-Shirts; even spiritual warfare toys for the kids; etc. etc.
Page 2
2) Some become so obsessed with the spiritual warfare
issue that they really go to extremes:
Ø One group decided to rent the 60th story in a high-rise office complex so the “would be in the Devil’s territory.”
Ø Another group chartered an airplane so they could fly over a certain city and destroy the “Prince of the powers of the air” – the Devil!
Ø Makes you wonder how Jesus did it? He had no skyscrapers, no helicopters, or planes!
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
B. Others shy away from the subject entirely – Underemphasis…
1) “If we don’t talk about the Devil, maybe he’ll go away?”
Ø Like a child covering his own eyes and shouting, “You can’t see me now!”
2) If we can recognize the devil’s attempts to hinder us and those around us, we will know where, when, and how to act.
Page 3
2. There Must Be A Balance.
A. We must be aware of the Devil AND knowledgeable of
God’s Sovereignty.
B. If we are always focusing on evil and never endeavor to learn
about the power and provisions of God we will not win in
Spiritual Warfare.
C. We must be able to discern spirits and know the difference
between common circumstances and evil.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
3. Our Battle Had Three Dimensions.
Our text began with the word “finally.”
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Ø Finally is the last statement in a series of important ones
Ø Paul was indicating that there were principles he had stated earlier.
Ø So, what were the principles Paul had mentioned?
Page 4
A. Principal One is in Ephesians 1 – 3:
Recognize What God Had Done For Us!
· He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
· He adopted us as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ,
· He “lavished” grace upon us,
· In Him we have we have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”
· He made known to us the mystery of His will,
· We have obtained an inheritance,
· We were sealed in Him,
· We were dead but God made us “alive together with Christ”
· He washed us and has forgiven us,
· We have been saved “by grace…and that not of ourselves…not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
· Once separated and far off, we “have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
· Christ is our peace, and through Him we have “access tin one Spirit to the Father.”
· We are “no longer strangers” but “fellow-citizens…and are of God’s household.”
· And it culminates in: God making us “sit with Him in heavenly places.
1) Ephesians 1-3 establish in us an unshakeable confidence
2) But this is ONE DIMENSION of our preparation in
Spiritual Warfare
Page 5
B. Principle Two is in Ephesians 4 – 6:9:
We Have The Responsibility To Act According To The
Will And Word Of God.
Even though we know that our salvation is not a result of works so that one should boast, we are also told in these verses:
· “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”
· “Lay aside the old self… and put on the new self.”
· “…be renewed in the Spirit of your mind.”
· “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
· “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.”
· “Let all bitterness…be put away from you.”
· “Be kind one to another…”
· “Walk in love…” “Redeem the time…”
· “Give thanks always for all things…”
· Wives and Husbands submit to each other.
· “Children, obey your parents…”
· “…do the will of God from the heart…”
1) Just because we know that Jesus is in control does not give us
the opportunity to continue sitting idle…
2) It is our responsibility to do everything in our power to serve
Him, to walk in obedience, and to walk in the Spirit.
C. Principal THREE is in Ephesians 6:
Be Strong, Stand and Fight!
Page 6
· “Put on the whole armor of God…”
· “Gird your waist with truth…”
· “…put on the breastplate of righteousness…”
· “…shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
· “…take the shield of faith…”
· “…take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit…”
· Be an ambassador of Christ…
1) Paul told us in Ephesians to “lay aside the old self” and
to “put on the new self.”
2) Putting on our “new self” is not spiritual works, it is
simply our proper response to God and all that He has
done for us.
3) We must get ready to fight:
Conclusion:
Ø You win at spiritual warfare when you are on the winning side.
Ø When we live our life free from sin we win.
Ø When we stand firm in the power of the Lord and in the strength of His might we win.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.