Westshore Christian Church
Everyday an invisible war rages around you. You have an enemy who is seeking to kill, steal, and destroy. He will do whatever he can to make you futile and unproductive in your walk with Christ. He wants you suffocating in sin, insecurity, fear, and discouragement so that you cannot live freely or fully. He is crafty.
He is deceitful, and he wants to take you down and take you out.
But, this enemy has also already been disarmed, embarrassed, overuled, mastered, rendered powerless, and has had all of his hard work destroyed because of the victory of Christ over sin and death. Christ's victory is your victory.
We are in spiritual batter. Standing in the power of God, we win. Fighting with God's weapons, infused with God's power, we overcome.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
The devil has been:
• Disarmed and embarrassed (Col. 2:13-15).
• Overruled (Eph. 1:19b-22).
• Mastered (Phil. 2:9-11).
• Rendered powerless (Heb. 2:14-15).
• And all his hard work has been destroyed (I John 3:8).
Ephesians 6:10 NIV
Ephesians 1:18-23 NIV
Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV
So What?
1. What is your current battle?
2. What scriptural truths can you cling to and pray through?
· Fear
- Not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind ().
- Find specific promises relating to your fear (provision, comfort, wisdom, direction, peace, etc.).
· Apathy
- I want to know Christ…
(Phil 3:7-14).
- I am God’s ambassador.
He is callingpeople to Himself through me! (II Cor. 5:16-21).
· Lust
- I have the mind of Christ
(I Cor 2:10-16).
- God himself is sanctifying me
(I Thess 5:23-24).
- Read the many warnings about lust in the book of Proverbs.
· Condemnation
- There is no condemnation for those in Christ (Rom 8:1-4).
- The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me (Heb 9:11-14).
- Christ’s one sacrifice is enough (Heb 9:28 and 10:10-14).
· Selfishness
- I have been crucified with Christ… (Gal 2:20).
- Look not for own interests only, but also the interests of others (Phil 2:3-11).
· Pride
- Have an accurate view of yourself (Rom 12:3,16).
- Boast in knowing God (which is a gift) not what you possess
(Jer 9:23-24).
- Read the many warnings about pride in the book of Proverbs.
· Past hurts
- God is near to brokenhearted
(Psalm 34:18).
- Read up on your identity as a beloved Child of God.
· Unforgiveness and bitterness
- Forgive as Christ forgave you (Eph 4:32).
- Don’t let bitterness grow and fester (Heb 12:14-15).
· Anxiety and/or depression
- Don’t be anxious—instead, pray. God promises peace that will guard your heart
(Phil 4:4-9).
- “[God] will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in [Him]” (Isaiah 26:3).
- God please give me joy and peace in believing You that I may overflow with hope
(Rom 15:13).
The Enemy's Strategies
Strategy #1—Against Your Passion
He seeks to dim your whole desire for prayer, dull your interest in spiritual things, and downplay the potency of your most strategic weapon
(Eph. 6:10-20).
Strategy #2—Against Your Focus
He disguises himself and manipulates your perspective so you end up focusing on the wrong culprit, directing your weapons at the wrong enemy (2 Cor. 11:14).
Strategy #3—Against Your Identity
He magnifies your insecurities, leading you to doubt what God says about you to and to disregard what He’s given you (Eph. 1:17-19)
Strategy #4—Against Your Family
He wants to disintegrate your family, dividing your home, rendering it chaotic, restless and unfruitful
(Gen. 3:1-7).
Strategy #5—Against Your Confidence
He constantly reminds you of your past mistakes and bad choices, hoping to convince you that you’re under God’s judgment rather than under the blood (Rev. 12:10).
Strategy #6—Against Your Calling
He amplifies fear, worry, and anxiety until they’re the loudest voices in your head, causing you to deem the adventure of following God too risky to attempt (Josh 14:8).
Strategy #7—Against Your Purity
He tries to tempt you toward certain sins, convincing you that you can tolerate them without risking consequence, knowing they’ll only wedge distance between you and God (Isa. 59:1-2).
Strategy #8—Against Your Rest and Contentment
He hopes to overload your life and schedule, pressuring you to constantly push beyond your limits, never feeling permission to say no
(Deut. 5:15).
Strategy #9—Against Your Heart
He use every opportunity to keep old wounds fresh in mind, knowing that anger and hurt and bitterness and unforgiveness will continue to roll the damage forward (Heb. 12:15).
Strategy #10—Against Your Relationships
He creates disruption and disunity within your circle of friends and within the shared community of the body of Christ (I Tim. 2:8).