23-0716p - Detailed Summary

The speaker reflects on the morning’s session, noting that Roger and Tom had easier readings, and introduces that this session is a continuation of the morning’s discussion on spiritual warfare and the unseen spiritual world’s influence.

The narrative shifts to describe the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, portraying Satan as the aggressor in this spiritual battle.

The speaker recounts Satan’s initial deceit with Adam and Eve, leading to their fall and the ongoing war against humanity and God.

The discussion continues on how Satan works to keep people from believing in God or to corrupt believers, and how protective spiritual forces work in accordance with God’s will to aid believers.

God is described as providing necessary tools for spiritual survival against worldly corruption, with faith being the key to victory, linking back to a song sung before the lesson.

The speaker outlines how to develop a resilient faith through deep engagement with the Bible, through reading, studying, discussing in church, and applying what is learned, supplemented by constant prayer.

The speaker refers to 2 Peter 1:2-8, discussing the importance of increasing knowledge of God for grace, peace, and godliness, and listing virtues that believers should cultivate to be effective in their faith.

This part emphasizes that knowledge of God comes from scripture, which is crucial for receiving divine power to resist evil, equating knowledge with divine power.

The virtues from 2 Peter are further discussed, focusing on goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and using the example of boxer Randall Tex Cobb to illustrate perseverance.

The narrative continues with the importance of not giving up, urging believers to keep fighting in faith despite setbacks, likening it to Cobb’s resilience in the ring.

The virtues of brotherly kindness and love are added to the list, discussing how practicing these virtues leads to becoming more Christ-like and escaping the ruts of sin through adherence to God’s word.

The speaker stresses the practical application of biblical knowledge in spiritual warfare, encouraging constant prayer, study, and readiness to face spiritual challenges daily, promising success through these practices. They plan to go through Ephesians 6:10-18 verse-by-verse in more detail.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of being strong in the Lord through trust, belief, and prayer. Establishing a relationship with God, as the psalmist suggests, involves seeking His strength and face continually, akin to gaining strength through exercise but in a spiritual context.

Continuing from the previous point, the speaker likens spiritual strengthening to physical exercise, noting that one becomes stronger by regularly engaging with God through prayer and practice.

The discussion of Ephesians 6:10 continues, highlighting the necessity of relying on God’s mighty power rather than personal strength, as human efforts will fail in the face of spiritual challenges.

The speaker references 2 Corinthians 12:9, illustrating how God’s power is perfected in human weakness. Trusting in God’s strength during personal struggles transforms this divine power into personal strength.

Paul’s metaphor of spiritual armor is introduced, explaining that these are the tools God provides for spiritual warfare, both for defense and offense, mirroring the equipment of a Roman soldier.

The armor is described as metaphorical, not literal, used against spiritual adversaries rather than humans. The armor includes both offensive and defensive elements for engaging with spiritual enemies.

The speaker explains that the term 'devil' means adversary, emphasizing the need to know one’s enemy, which in this context is Satan, not humans.

It’s stressed that believers should stand against the schemes of Satan rather than flee from him, acknowledging Satan’s long history of using deceit.

The scripture clarifies that the struggle is not against people but against spiritual forces. Even though humans might be influenced by Satan, they are not the true adversaries but rather victims needing salvation.

The battle is described as spiritual, involving unseen forces, which the believer engages with directly, though these beings are not visible.

Verse 12 lists the true adversaries as rulers, authorities, powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms, emphasizing their non-human nature.

The speaker admits the mystery of how these spiritual forces influence individuals, mentioning how negative thoughts can suddenly appear, urging believers to dismiss and not dwell on such thoughts.

Encouragement is given to actively resist and dismiss negative or evil thoughts, even if it means one might look silly in doing so.

The need to be prepared for spiritual attacks is highlighted, noting that evil days are inevitable, thus reinforcing the necessity of the armor of God.

The speaker stresses the importance of understanding the enemy’s tactics, as detailed in scripture, to prepare for spiritual warfare.

The narrative of Adam and Eve is used to illustrate Satan’s ultimate goal to lead humanity to death through sin, emphasizing the need for repentance to avoid unrepentant sin.

The first piece of armor discussed is the belt of truth, likened to a Roman soldier’s girdle, which holds everything together, symbolizing how truth integrates all virtues and supports the believer.

The breastplate represents righteousness, protecting vital areas, both frontally from direct temptation and from behind from unexpected attacks. This righteousness comes from Christ, not oneself.

Further discussion on how the righteousness of Christ protects believers from Satan’s accusations and temptations, encouraging believers to practice righteousness as they walk in faith.

The speaker elaborates on how believers are to practice righteousness, which strengthens the metaphorical breastplate, while salvation comes from Christ’s righteousness, not one’s own.

The footwear in the armor metaphor is explained, providing grip and stability, symbolizing readiness to spread the gospel of peace, both defensively and offensively.

The feet are prepared for both standing firm in defense of the gospel and advancing it, ready to share the message of Jesus Christ at any moment.

The shield of faith is crucial for extinguishing the flaming arrows of the evil one, offering comprehensive protection against spiritual attacks from all directions.

The speaker explains that faith, which overcomes the world, comes from hearing the message of the gospel, as stated in Romans 10:17. To increase faith, one must be deeply engaged with the Bible.

The helmet of salvation is described as protecting the believer’s mind, offering assurance that salvation cannot be lost when one walks in faith. Romans 8:38 is cited to show that nothing can separate believers from God’s love in Christ.

Further emphasis on the helmet of salvation, reinforcing that through faith, believers are secure in God’s love. John’s first letter is cited to affirm that Christians can know they have eternal life, not merely hope for it.

The sword of the Spirit, identified as the word of God, is likened to the primary offensive weapon of a soldier. Hebrews 4:12 describes the word as living and active, able to discern between soul and spirit, with Revelation adding imagery of a sharp, double-edged sword from Christ’s mouth.

The speaker recounts how Jesus used scripture as a weapon against Satan’s temptations, as described in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Jesus' responses to Satan’s temptations are all from scripture, demonstrating its power as a spiritual weapon.

The narrative highlights that while Satan must retreat when confronted with scripture, he will return, emphasizing the need for continuous spiritual readiness.

The speaker advises using scripture to resist temptation, citing Peter and James for guidance on standing firm in faith and resisting the devil, which leads to his flight.

Paul’s command for constant prayer is discussed, stressing its importance in the Christian life. Prayer is not just suggested but commanded, fostering dependence on God and mutual support among believers.

The sermon wraps up by encouraging constant engagement with God’s word, wearing spiritual armor, and maintaining prayer, emphasizing God’s desire for believers to depend on Him for strength in spiritual battles.

The speaker uses humor to drive home the point of always being spiritually prepared, not to be caught unprepared like a soldier without gear. The message closes by affirming the reality of spiritual warfare and the need to apply these teachings.

A prayer is offered, asking for God’s help in preparing for spiritual battles, trusting in His strength, and fostering love and prayer among believers for mutual support and protection against evil.