Spiritual Warfare 2

The Invisible War Spiritual Warfare

How to Prepare Yourself for Spiritual Battle Ephesians 6:13-15

Introduction: The South Pacific after World War II Was Won

• Pockets of guerilla warfare continued on hundreds of islands.

• The victory had been won, but battles continued and lives were lost; the bullets were real.

• The same is true spiritually:

1. Satan was defeated at the Cross.

2. Sin’s penalty was paid for all people for all time.

3. Sin’s power was broken.

4. Yet, Satan and his host of fallen angels engage in guerilla warfare to discourage, deceive, divide, and destroy God’s people and God’s program.

5. Believers are commanded to equip and prepare themselves in the strength of the Lord and in His mighty power to stand firm against the enemy’s schemes, repel his multi-faceted attacks, and engage and defeat him in specific battles. Ephesians 6:10-12

The Question: How Does This Work?

The Answer: Four Keys to Spiritual Victory

1. We must become aware of the Invisible War.

2. We must learn to appropriate God’s protection for daily living.

3. We must learn to engage the enemy with supernatural weapons.

4. We must utilize God’s means of deliverance when spiritually attacked.

How Can You Prepare Yourself for Satanic Attack?

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace . . . “ Ephesians 6:13-15

Ephesians 6:13

· Our commander (Jesus Christ) “urgently” commands us to “pick up” our spiritual armor and put it on.

Why? = For the purpose of being fully prepared and enabled to withstand the grave and difficult “dark times” when the enemy attacks. Ephesians 6:14a

· After picking up our armor in preparation for battle, we are then commanded to consciously and vigorously make a decisive act (or succession of acts) to stand our ground firmly and fearlessly against the enemy’s assaults as he seeks to deceive, accuse, and discourage us. Ephesians 6:14b-15

· Using the metaphor of a Roman soldier’s armor (which protected him in battle), we are given three specific pieces of spiritual armor that must be “put on” by us as believers as a prerequisite to standing firmly and fearlessly against demonic attack.

1. “Having girded your loins with truth”

· Metaphor Explained
· “Truth” = Candor, sincerity, truthfulness rooted in the objective reality of the truth of God’s Word, but here refers to the subjective practical application of openness and honesty in all things with God and men.
· Satan’s first attack on mankind was deception, which was followed by man’s hiding, denial, and blame-shifting.
· The best of truth is the man or woman whose “mind will practice no deceit and attempt no disguises” in their walk with God. – Kenneth S. Wuest

** Application: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:23-24

2. “Having put on the breastplate of righteousness”

· Metaphor Explained
· “Righteousness” = Uprightness, right living, integrity in one’s lifestyle and character – conforming of our will with God’s will. Although rooted in the object righteousness that we already possess in our standing before God through the work of Christ, this breastplate of righteousness (that guards and protects our heart) is the practical application of the truth to our lives – i.e. Lordship of Christ.
· Satan’s attacks are not merely deception, but accusation (resulting in guilt and condemnation) of the believer. When we willfully turn away from what we know is God’s will, we open ourselves to demonic influence in our lives.

~ Old Testament = Saul
~ New Testament = Peter

** Application: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin..” James 4:17

Personal area to address = ___________________________________________

3. “Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace”

· Metaphor Explained
· “Preparation” = Establishment – the means of a firm foundation; also conveys the idea of readiness to share the Gospel which brings peace between man and God.
· Satan not only uses deception and condemnation to neutralize believers, but also specializes in casting doubt on the very basis of God’s goodness and the means by which we have received it – the Gospel.

Attacks Grace – How? “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

** Application:

1. Know and understand the content of the Gospel.
a. 1Corinthians 15:1–5;
b. Ephesians 2:1–9
2. Know the basis for your eternal security and the assurance of your salvation.
a. Security – Romans 8:38–39; Ephesians 1:13–14.
b. Assurance – 1 John 5:11-13
3. Faith is based on facts, not feelings.
4. Sharing your faith is one of the most powerful faith-builders available – Often “the best defense is a good offense.”

Conclusion:
God has objectively defeated Satan and his agenda. He has delivered us from sin’s penalty and power and ultimately will deliver us from sin’s very presence. In the interim, we are involved in guerilla warfare with demonic forces.

As believers, we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light with all the rights, privileges, and position that being a child of God entails.
The spiritual battle we fight involves a responsibility on our part to “put on” the spiritual protection that God has provided for us. We can and will resist the enemy’s attempts to “deceive”, “accuse”, and “cast doubt” when we stand firm against him by:

1. Being honest with God, ourselves and others as a prerequisite to all spiritual battle.

2. Responding to the truth that God shows us about His will for our lives – righteous living.

3. A clear understanding of “the Gospel” and the habitual sharing of this message of grace.

The great majority of spiritual warfare need never go beyond the regular practice of living out our position in Christ by faith. Our practice of Paul’s metaphor of the spiritual armor protects us from Satan’s ongoing attempts to break our fellowship with Jesus and, as a result, greatly minimizes any impact by the enemy.

There are times however, when we must move beyond “standing firm” and engage the enemy in actual combat. This will be the topic of our next study, Ephesians 6:16–20.