*************************************************************************************************Key Verse: Ephesians 6

Summer at Waters Part 6 | Wisdom to Win – Pastor Jim Shekleton

Key Verse Ephesians 6 ESV

Everyone likes to win, everyone likes the winner, and enjoys a winning underdog story. We all want to win, we want our kids to win.  No one wakes up and says: “I want to be a loser, to be defeated, to be conquered.”  Some people want their kids to win so badly, that they give their kids a trophy for losing! We may not be able to win at certain things but we want to be on the winning side.

There are winners and losers in the Bible too. The losers are Lucifer and his crew.  The winners are God and all those in Christ.  Paul probably wanted the church in Ephesus to know that in Christ, they are a winning team.

Icebreaker question:

Q. What is an underdog story that stands out in your mind (either personal or even a movie you may have seen) and why?

1. Wisdom to win comes when I acknowledge there’s an enemy that seeks to harm me.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (ESV)

There appears to be two precursors before explaining the enemy, armor, and action.  The armor of God begins with an emphasis on being strong in the Lord, not in our own strength or anyone else’s strength.  The might is Christ’s, but by faith it becomes our might. 

There is an enemy: 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV); John 10:10 (ESV); John 16:33 (ESV)

Q. What battle have you overcome because you were able to discern it was a spiritual battle?

Q. On the flip side, when have you been defeated because you did not realize you were fighting a spiritual battle?

JESUS IS THE OVERCOMER AND IN CHRIST I AM AN OVERCOMER 

1 John 5:1-5 (ESV)

2. Wisdom to win comes when I am rightly equipped.

Ephesians 6:13-17 (ESV)

Paul instructs we put on the whole armor of God.  We are not to choose which piece we need or which is appropriate for the struggle or season we are experiencing.  Some people are convinced they cannot stand against the attack, can’t even get out of bed in the morning etc.  We need to know that in the strength of the Lord’s might, God’s amour makes us able to stand.  It is a daily struggle to put on the armor of God but we must and in all circumstances, not when we think it fits, in the strength of the Lord’s might, not our own or someone else’s faith, put on the armor of God.

Q. What pieces of armor are you missing (read through the passage again and see what piece you may be lacking or having a hard time with)?

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO EQUIP AND PROVIDE EVERYTHING I NEED

Ephesians 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:13

3. Wisdom to win comes when I use my equipment.

Ephesians 6:18-20 (ESV)

Paul tells us the spiritual battle is in prayer.  Prayer is where we use the armor of God.  We are to pray ‘at all times.’  Some may say: “I don’t know what to pray for.” Pray all prayers, all supplications.  The definition of supplication is heart-felt petition arising out of a deep personal need.  Perseverance prevails by interacting with God.  We often attribute the application of God’s armor to our personal/individualistic struggles in the faith.  Pauls does not specify if that way.  He says: ‘to withstand in the day of evil”, “standing firm…”  Paul says for all the saints and himself (leader/pastor).  We should be praying for our leaders and pastors to bodly proclaim the mystery of the Gospel, that our pastor will declare the Gospel boldly.  We are to put on the whole armor of God, in strength of the Lord’s might as we pray for ourselves, our brothers and sisters, and our pastors.

SERMON IN A SENTENCE:

WISDOM TO WIN BEGINS WITH RECEIVING JESUS, HE THEN CONTINUALLY REVEALS HIS VICTORY IN MY LIFE WHEN I PUT ON HIS FULL ARMOR.

Ephesians 1:7-10 (ESV)

Pray for the leaders and pastors and for those in your group who are feeling defeated that they may put on the whole armor of God.