31 Jan The Battle is Real | First Wednesday Jan/Feb 2018
First Wednesday Re-Cap January 31, 2018
- THE BATTLE IS REAL.
Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV
The Devil is a schemer and a liar. We are in a raging battle.
Isaiah 54:17 ESV
The devil tries to keep us away from the Gospel. We have weapons forming against us but they don’t succeed.
- THE BATTLE IS NOT REAL.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
The enemy has power. Satan is real. We are not fighting people, we are fighting a spiritual battle. We love our enemies. We should not be surprised. Jesus said no one is greater than their master, meaning Jesus was persecute and so shall we be persecuted.
- THE BATTLE REQUIRES REAL WEAPONS.
Ephesians 6:13 ESV
Not every day is evil. We need to be ready. Nobody plans to fall, is not on our agenda. If we neglect what keeps us standing then we will fall. We need to get ourselves ready for that day, so we will stand. When we neglect to ready ourselves for this day, we are telling the devil we are worshipping God only for the goodies; but we worship God not for the goodies, but because we know what He did for us and will dor for us in the future.
GOD WANTS US:
- GOD WANTS US TO BE STRONG.
Ephesians 6:10 ESV
Take time in the Word, be in church, get with other Christians. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit who is our greatest Encourager. He is our Comforter. We are not alone.
- GOD WANTS US TO PARTNER WITH THE TRUTH.
Ephesians 6:14 ESV
Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). We are to prepare ourselves to speak about Jesus. We are to feed ourselves, it is for our health.
- GOD WANTS US SECURE IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Ephesians 6:14b ESV
Righteousness is judicial declaration. To be declared righteous. Our verdict is like life behind bars without Jesus. Jesus is our righteousness even when we fail He still loves us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
- GOD WANT US TO REST IN THE GOSPEL
Ephesians 6:15 ESV
We don’t come in prayer to God because we deserve it, we pray because we have freedom in the righteousness of Christ.
- GOD WANTS US PROTECTED FROM THE LIES AND ACCUSATIONS OF THE ENEMY.
Ephesians 6:16 ESV
A dart is small. The small things knock us off track. Don’t let little offenses take root and cause bitterness. Be careful of this. He chose the shield this is passage because the Romans would hold their shields up shield to shield to shield each other. We need community so we don’t cut ourselves off from the very thing that shields us. Don’t listen to a lie, know the truth. It will set you free (John 8:32).
- GOD WANTS US TO BE SKILLED IN HIS WORD.
Ephesians 6:17 ESV
Set our minds on things above. He uses a small sword because a small sword is a more tactical dagger. Much skill is required when using a small sword. When the enemy comes at us, we need to read the Word. When we are fearful, we need to read the Word.
Read Psalm 91. We put the Word in us so it comes out the moment of the attack.
- GOD WANTS US TO PRAY SUPERNATURALLY.
Ephesians 6:18-19 ESV
Pray in the Spirit. God wants to give us words to speak to Him in spiritual worship.
Having the Holy Spirit in us is better than having Jesus standing next to us. The enemy would know how powerful the Church would be if we were all filled with and pray in the Spirit.
Ask God to take that fear out of your mind and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
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