Grace World Outreach Church
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Greetings from Grace World
Thank you for joining us today at Grace World. Whether you are joining us in person or watching online, we are so glad you are here! It's our prayer that you discover life in all its fullness.
If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests
Every week we place these request on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.
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Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV
Fight With Faith, Not Fear
Spiritual Warfare Series
Ephesians 6:10–20 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
You are engaged in a fight for your life, the life of your family, community and our nation.
There are no works of power, dearly beloved, without the trials of temptations; there is no faith without proof, no contest without a foe, no victory without conflict. This life of ours is in the midst of snares, in the midst of battles; if we do not wish to be deceived, we must watch. If we want to overcome, we must fight. - Leo the Great, 440AD
8 Signs you are facing spiritual opposition
Apathy (lost your spiritual passion and fervor)
Lack of energy and vitality are often the result of an extended attack.
Frustration (on the edge, irritable, anxious)
During a spiritual attack, the enemy uses a variety of circumstances to oppress the mind and bring great frustration.
Confusion (lack of spiritual direction)
During a spiritual attack there is often great confusion about spiritual direction. This is one of the chief goals of an attack to get a believer out of destiny.
Stress (no peace)
The enemy bombards the mind with various thoughts and ongoing temptation to rob peace. The mind becomes irritated and exhausted. The enemy does all that he can to bring mental fatigue.
Weariness (no energy, sluggish, tired)
A lack of energy and vitality are often the result of an extended attack.
Resignation (strong desire to quit assignment)
The enemy hates when a believer is boldly walking out their purpose and plan. He does all that he can to MOVE the BELIEVER away from their destiny. During an attack he will overwhelm them with thoughts and desires to give up and abandon their post!
Temptation (especially to old bondage)
In a long spiritual battle, a person is often pulled back towards negative cycles that they broke free from. The enemy wants to enslave them once again in the same old bondages.
Questioning (deconstruction, questioning faith, long held belief, direction)
A person who is under attack may find themselves deeply questioning the road that they are traveling. Usually, they begin to reexamine decisions that were once crystal clear.
3 TRUTHS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO BATTLE…
#1 YOU HAVE AN ADVERSARY IN THE DEVIL UNLIKE ANY OTHER
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. v12
1 Peter 5:8–11 (ESV)
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Three things you need to know about your enemy
a) He is your adversary not God’s
b) He is only like a lion, a lion without teeth
Fear will always cause you to overestimate your adversary while underestimating your ability
c) He desires to devour you by deceiving you
How does he devour? Through deception! All Temptation is rooted in deception. You are a slave to whom ever you serve
Ephesians 5:6 (ESV) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
To win in spiritual warfare I just need to fear and obey the one who is greater than my foe!
Before You Go To Battle Know this…
# 2YOU HAVE AN ALLY IN GOD LIKE NO OTHER
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Read Isaiah 40: 9-31
9 Go on up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
If you are discouraged, distressed, devastated… don’t go attack the devil… run to your God, look to him. He is an ally unlike any other!
Before You Go To Battle Know this
#3 YOU HAVE AN ARSENAL IN THE ARMOR OF GOD LIKE NO OTHER
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (ESV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
Paul says, God has given you this arsenal to devastate your spiritual enemy
He uses the image of the roman solider, fully armed and ready for battle
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
3 battle ready strategies
A) WHEN GOING INTO BATTLE KEEP YOUR SHEILD UP
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one
How do I get my shield up… you Pray and you Pray in the Spirit
“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
The reason why many fail in the battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. RA Tory
B) WHEN GOING INTO BATTLE KEEP YOUR SWORD SHARP
“Sharpen Your Sword on the WORD
C) WHEN GOING INTO BATTLE KEEP YOUR LINE STRONG
SWORD SHARPENING SCRIPTURES
Fear
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Sickness
Psalm 103:2–3 (ESV)
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
Depression
Psalm 42:5–6 (ESV)
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.
Loneliness
Joshua 1:5 (ESV)
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
Apathy
Ephesians 5:14 (ESV)
14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Frustration
Philippians 4:4–7 (ESV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Confusion
James 1:5 (ESV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Stress
Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Weariness
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Resignation
Jeremiah 29:10–11 (ESV)
10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Temptation
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Questions
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.