This is the third message in Journey Church’s Life of Valor series
Today we are going to be talking about how to survive on the spiritual battlefield. We are often much closer to the front lines of battle than we realize.
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
One minute life is going along great and then suddenly it seems that our entire world is crashing down around us. We find ourselves in the midst of a tremendous spirtual battle. It would seem that at anytime spiritual warfare is indeed close at hand, it is just a shot away.
Ephesians 6:10–12 (NLT)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 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.
Daniel’s prayers set a spiritual battle into motion.
Daniel 10: 7-14 (NLT)
7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. 10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. 12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit princeof the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels,came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”
- Prayer is the method we use to communicate with our commander while on the battlefield.
Ephesians 6:13–17 (NLT)
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.* 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Roman soldiers were a common sight in Paul’s time. He used their uniforms and weapons to illustrate the principles of spiritual warfare
- Today’s soldier shares many of the same elements with the soldiers of ancient Rome
- Belt of Truth…truth pulls in all of the spiritual “loose ends”
- Body Armor of God’s Righteousness….living in obedience to Jesus produces daily righteousness in our lives
- Shoes of Peace…when we are at peace with God our strength comes from Him and we achieve that peace through the Good News
- The first three items were worn continuously on the battlefield
- Shield of Faith…we trust and have faith in God
- Helmet of Salvation…Satan tries to “get in our head” we must be confident of our salvation.
- Sword of the Spirit…the word of God is the only weapon we need. It can be used as an offensive or defensive weapon.
- Satan doesn’t attack those who are living outside of God’s Will. If you have a peace about something and it doesn’t agree with the Bible you are a casualty of spiritual warfare.
- Jesus knows how to battle the Enemy
Matthew 4: 4-11 (NLT)
The Temptation of Jesus
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.3 During that time the devil came and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.,”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”
11 Then the devil went away, and rangels came and took care of Jesus.
Armor Up!
Truth: We are always at battle. When we stop believing we are at battle, we have become casualties. God has given us a battle plan and armor to fight an unseen, spiritual enemy and the temptations that we all inevitably face. Only true disciples (learners) of Jesus will emerge victorious.
Bottom Line: Unseen enemies and temptations are always defeated by the armor of God. You must choose to put it on every single day.
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