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Key Verse: Ephesians 6

You have two choices, to live COURAGEOUSLY or to live COWARDLY

There is a battle going on all around us.  It is a battle for our souls, for our attitudes in the spiritual realm. We see the effects of this battle daily.

 A courageous life is standing firm in this evil day. Its standing firm on what we know is right even when the world is telling us that our morals are obsolete. Its proclaiming truth boldly even when culture is full of lies.

A cowardly life is someone who trusts in things of this world instead of trusting in the Lord. It means trading the truth for the lies so that people won’t speak badly about them. It means that they will think and act however the world tells them to think and act if it means that they can keep their career, their bank account, and their position, etc.  

 (Revelation 21:8 NIV)

The person that leads this list is the cowardly. 

If we claim to believe in Christ, we must be prepared to live a courageous life. 

It is GOD’S resources that give us the strength to live a COURAGEOUS LIFE.

Q. When have you been courageous and when have you been cowardly when it comes to proclaiming the truth (why did you act cowardly)?

There are 3 main resources that God gives us. 

1. He Identifies Our Enemy

Ephesians 6:10-12

Our enemy is in the Spiritual realm, not flesh.  Our enemy is not the main stream media, people in Washington, nor our boss.  We cannot fight courageously if we don’t know our enemy.

The reason why we don’t understand what others are doing is because we are not under the control of the enemy, the cosmic powers of evil.  Jesus has already given us victory over that. The enemy has no control over us that are in Christ Jesus!

Q. When have you found it difficult not to view another person as the enemy and why?

2. He gives us his ARMOR

(Ephesians 6 [The Armor of God) broken down in each point below.)

1. The Belt of TRUTH and Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS prove that we are a new creation in CHRIST JESUS.

Ephesians 6:14

Paul is saying that the Church’s basic equipment in this spiritual battle is integrity and righteous living, they are effective because they bear the stamp of Jesus and the new creation He brings.  How we live shows what we believe. The rest of the world looks at us and sees Christ in us. We are to be like Christ to show the world who we serve.  We are called to live a life of integrity.

Q. What is an example of something you believe in, but is not being reflected by what you do and why (Josh gave the example believing you need to lose weight but buying all the half-priced leftover Halloween candy)?

The breastplate protects the heart which is the most vital organ. 

Q. What are you doing that is not guarding your heart (I.e.something that brings self-righteous anger into your heart)?

Isaiah 11:5 (NLT) 

B.The GOSPEL gives us FIRM FOOTING.

Ephesians 6:15 

Soldiers needed a good grip, they would have nails driven through the soles of their shoes so they wouldn’t be sent reeling from the enemy’s charge.  As Christians, we need a deep spiritual understanding of the Gospel of peace.  This gives us a firm grip which is the readiness for battle.  Sometimes, as long time believers, we can almost take the Gospel for granted.  We might get so theological that we lose the excitement of the Gospel.

Q. In light of the above statement, how might have you lost the excitement of the Gospel? 

C. Our FAITH and DEPENDENCE on the Lord coupled with others’ FAITH and DEPENDENCE deflects any attack.

 We need full dependence on God with everything in our lives.  Even the smallest things.  We need to trust Him and fully surrender what he has given us. An example is someone who wants their small business to grow, but is not faithful with the small business they have.  

Ephesians 6:16

Faith in the Lord, full surrender to God, brings a deep grasp of His unfathomable Love. We are to have firm dependence of God for everything. The shields that the Roman soldiers used would connect with other shields.  We connect with others so that when our faith grows weary someone else will encourage us and uplift us.

Q. Other than in Small Group, how are you coupling with others faith and dependence to deflect the enemies attack?

**serving is a great way to couple with others**

D. We have complete CONFIDENCE and ASSURANCE of our union with Christ.

We don’t need to ask Jesus in our hearts more than once.  Some believers raise their hands many times but it is not necessary.   We cannot be effective if we think we cannot pray because we did some bad things today.  We have to stop allowing the enemy to put these foot holes in our life.  It does not matter what the enemy says to us, we have complete confidence and assurance in our union with Christ. 

E. We attack the enemies’ lies with GOD’S WORD.

Ephesians 6:17

This is the only part of the armor that is an attacking tool, all others are for protection. This is where we can attack the lies and deception with Truth.  This is the Gospel of peace.  We speak truth in people’s lives.  When the enemy starts telling us we are nothing or that we are failures, we use God’s promises to tell the devil what we have is God’s not his. God defeats the giants when the devil try to destroy us.  We use the Word of God to strike back at the enemy and false teachings. But we must remember Paul calls it the Gospel of peace, we are not to use the Word to smash people with it but to stand up fo what is true.

Q. What pieces of the armor are you lacking?

3. He gives us open COMMUNICATION to HIM.

Ephesians 6:18 

We are to keep alert and not get distracted or let our guards down.  We are not to get comfortable in this world.  Our goal should not be comfort in this life.  This is where the enemy wants us.  This is when he attacks us.  Stay alert and pray,

Q. What might be lacking in your prayer life (I.E maybe you are not confident God hears you , etc.)?

Challenge: Read and memorize Ephesians 6:13-17  and lean on the Holy Spirit’s help in doing battle for the kingdom of God daily.