Discipleship Series-SPIRITUAL WARFARE

For Bethel's Thursday night Bible Study, the Discipleship Series was continued. Bro. Tony Miller did a great job teaching on Spiritual Warfare. I also enjoy it when he teaches.  As I have done in the past, I will pull the lesson covered directly from the Bethel App. Due to the length of the lesson, I will only use portions of it in this blog. 

 The first part of our spiritual warfare is an inward battle – against our old, carnal nature. • Romans 7:23 – “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” • Galatians 5:17 – “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” Ephesians 6:11-18 – “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 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; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

The second part of our spiritual battle is an outward battle – against the opposition and hindering efforts of people who oppose our walk with God – (not against people, but against their efforts). • 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” C. The third part of our spiritual battle is an invisible battle – against ”unseen forces,” spirits, and powers of darkness. • Ephesians 6:12 – “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” 

. In our scripture text, Ephesians 6:11-18, we read our military orders. The apostle Paul, who was very familiar with the Roman army, compared our spiritual warfare with the armament and procedures of the Roman soldier. B. Amplified version of Ephesians 6:11-18: • “Put on God’s whole armor – the armor of a heavy-armed soldier, which God supplies – that you may be able successfully to stand up against (all) the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood – contending only with physical opponents – but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day (of danger), and having done all (the crisis demands), to stand (firmly in your place). Stand therefore – hold your ground – having tightened the belt of truth around your loins, and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God: And having shod your feet in preparation (to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produced by the good news) of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the (covering) shield of “saving” faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked (one). And take the helmet of salvation and the sword the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times – on every occasion, in every season – in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).” C. Mission Outline: (This is what we have been commissioned to do.) 1. Put on the whole armor of God. 2. Stand against the wiles (strategies) of Satan. 3. Wrestle against spiritual wickedness in high places. 4. Withstand (survive) in the evil day. [quality of our strength] 5. Stand. (continue, remain, survive) [quantity of our strength] 6. Pray. D. Armor Inventory: (This is the equipment we have been given to accomplish the mission.) 1. Belt of Truth 2. Breastplate of Righteousness 3. Greaves (Brass Boots) of the Preparation of the Gospel 4. Shield of Faith 5. Helmet of Salvation 6. Sword of the Spirit

Spiritual warfare requires spiritual weapons – it cannot be accomplished with carnal weapons. • 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.)”

The Helmet Of Salvation: • Ephesians 6:17 – “And take the helmet of salvation, …” 1. The soldier’s helmet was designed to protect or secure the brain, the mind, the “command center” of the warrior. • 1 Thessalonians 5:8 – “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on…for an helmet, the hope (confidence) of salvation.” 2. The helmet protects our thinking processes – it allows us to “think straight.” It protects what we know. The Biblical meaning of “hope” is better understood as confidence or expectation. 3. When we are confident in our hope of salvation, our priorities, attitudes and thinking are anchored and secure. • 2 Timothy 1:12 – “… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” • Hebrews 6:19 – “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, …” 

The Belt of Truth: • Ephesians 6:14 – “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, …” 1. The purposes of the belt: a. To bind the flowing garments that would hinder the soldier’s movements in battle b. To hold the soldier’s weapons close to the body c. To give support, strength, and protection to the middle body during the fatigue of war 2. The belt is symbolic of truth – there are two types of truth to consider here. a. Doctrinal truth: protects us from false doctrines and ideologies of men and devils. • Proverbs 23:23 – “Buy the truth, and sell it not …” • 1 Timothy 4:16 – “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself ...” • 2 Thessalonians 2:10 – “... them that perish...they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

 The Breastplate of Righteousness: • Ephesians 6:14 – “Stand therefore, …having on the breastplate of righteousness;” 1. This piece of armory, the breastplate, protects the vital organs of the torso. The full Roman breastplate (cuirass) came in two pieces – one part to cover the chest, one to cover the back. • 1 Thessalonians 5:8 – “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love ...” 2. In Ephesians the breastplate is called “righteousness”; in 1 Thessalonians the breastplate is labeled as faith and love – faith and love incorporate all the virtues of righteousness. • By faith we are bound to Jesus Christ • By love we are bound to each other (the brotherhood)

The Greaves, (Brass Boots) of the Preparation of the Gospel: • Ephesians 6:15 – “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

The Shield of Faith: • Ephesians 6:16 – “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” 1. The soldier’s shield was used as a movable buckler or a cover that protected the soldier from an opponent’s weapons regardless of the direction of the attack. 2. The shield of faith is the most important defensive weapon of all: “… above all, taking the shield of faith.” 

 The Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God: • Ephesians 6:17 – “And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” 1. This powerful offensive weapon is used to strike the enemy with an overwhelming blow. 2. This is not an ordinary sword – it is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. 3. The Word of God, the Sword of God, is unlimited in its power. • Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,

. Whom He calls – He qualifies – whom He qualifies – He enables. • Romans 8:35-39 – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God is good!