our theme verses for this series…
10A FINAL WORD: BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. 11PUT ON ALL OF GOD’S ARMOR SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST ALL STRATEGIES OF THE DEVIL. 12FOR WE ARE NOT FIGHTING AGAINST FLESH-AND-BLOOD ENEMIES, BUT AGAINST EVIL RULERS AND AUTHORITIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD, AGAINST MIGHTY POWERS IN THIS DARK WORLD, AND AGAINST EVIL SPIRITS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. 13THEREFORE, PUT ON EVERY PIECE OF GOD’S ARMOR SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST THE ENEMY IN THE TIME OF EVIL. THEN AFTER THE BATTLE YOU WILL STILL BE STANDING FIRM. 14STAND YOUR GROUND, PUTTING ON THE BELT OF TRUTH AND THE BODY ARMOR OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS. 15FOR SHOES, PUT ON THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM THE GOOD NEWS SO THAT YOU WILL BE FULLY PREPARED. 16IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THESE, HOLD UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH TO STOP THE FIERY ARROWS OF THE DEVIL. 17PUT ON SALVATION AS YOUR HELMET, AND TAKE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. 18PRAY IN THE SPIRIT AT ALL TIMES AND ON EVERY OCCASION. STAY ALERT AND BE PERSISTENT IN YOUR PRAYERS FOR ALL BELIEVERS EVERYWHERE. 19AND PRAY FOR ME, TOO. ASK GOD TO GIVE ME THE RIGHT WORDS SO I CAN BOLDLY EXPLAIN GOD’S MYSTERIOUS PLAN THAT THE GOOD NEWS IS FOR JEWS AND GENTILES ALIKE. 20I AM IN CHAINS NOW, STILL PREACHING THIS MESSAGE AS
GOD’S AMBASSADOR. SO PRAY THAT I WILL KEEP ON SPEAKING BOLDLY FOR HIM, AS I SHOULD.
Ephesians 6
10A FINAL WORD: BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. 11PUT ON ALL OF GOD’S ARMOR SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST ALL STRATEGIES OF THE DEVIL…. 13THEREFORE, PUT ON EVERY PIECE OF GOD’S ARMOR SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST THE ENEMY IN THE TIME OF EVIL. THEN AFTER THE BATTLE YOU WILL STILL BE STANDING FIRM. 14STAND YOUR GROUND, PUTTING ON THE BELT OF TRUTH AND THE BODY ARMOR OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS. 15FOR SHOES, PUT ON THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM THE GOOD NEWS SO THAT YOU WILL BE FULLY PREPARED.E
- EPHESIANS 6:10 –11,13-15 NLT
PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF PROBLEMS; IT’S THE ADDITION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER WITHIN THE PROBLEMS
15FOR SHOES, PUT ON THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM THE GOOD NEWS SO THAT YOU WILL BE FULLY PREPARED
The peace comes from the good news…what is the good news? It’s the promises of God.
Paul is telling us that we have to have a firm stance in our faith and spirituality if we want to have peace in our battles…let me say it this way… if you’re taking notes write this down:
THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION YOU HAVE GOING INTO THE BATTLE DETERMINES YOUR PEACE THROUGHOUT THE FIGHT.
DO NOT FEAR, FOR I AM WITH YOU; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND HELP YOU; I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND
1. WHO GOD IS
Colossians 1:15-20
15 CHRIST IS THE VISIBLE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD. HE EXISTED BEFORE ANYTHING WAS CREATED AND IS SUPREME OVER ALL CREATION,[E]6 FOR THROUGH HIM GOD CREATED EVERYTHING IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS AND ON EARTH. HE MADE THE THINGS WE CAN SEE AND THE THINGS WE CAN’T SEE—SUCH AS THRONES, KINGDOMS, RULERS, AND AUTHORITIES IN THE UNSEEN WORLD. EVERYTHING WAS CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM. 17 HE EXISTED BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, AND HE HOLDS ALL CREATION TOGETHER.18 CHRIST IS ALSO THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY. HE IS THE BEGINNING, SUPREME OVER ALL WHO RISE FROM THE DEAD.[F] SO HE IS FIRST IN EVERYTHING.19 FOR GOD IN ALL HIS FULLNESS WAS PLEASED TO LIVE IN CHRIST,0 AND THROUGH HIM GOD RECONCILED EVERYTHING TO HIMSELF. HE MADE PEACE WITH EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH BY MEANS OF CHRIST’S BLOOD ON THE CROSS.
Deuteronomy 20:4
“FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS THE ONE WHO GOES WITH YOU TO FIGHT FOR YOU AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES TO GIVE YOU VICTORY”
This same sovereign God that we just talked about goes WITH us to FIGHT FOR US against our enemies to give us a victory.
Can yall get excited about that today?
No matter what battle you’re in Deuteronomy says he GOES WITH YOU TO FIGHT FOR YOU! To give you victory….
2. WHO GOD THINKS WE ARE
Ephesians 2:10
“FOR WE ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE. HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO.”
“WE HAVE BECOME HIS POETRY, A RE-CREATED PEOPLE THAT WILL FULFILL THE DESTINY HE HAS GIVEN EACH OF US, FOR WE ARE JOINED TO JESUS, THE ANOINTED ONE. EVEN BEFORE WE WERE BORN, GOD PLANNED IN ADVANCE OUR DESTINY AND THE GOOD WORKS WE WOULD DO TO FULFILL IT”
IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE PURPOSE OF SOMETHING YOU WILL ABUSE IT
Let me tell you this:
LIFE WITHOUT PURPOSE IS TIME WITHOUT MEANING
3. IF YOU’RE STILL BREATHING GOD’S NOT DONE
PHILIPPIANS 1:6 “AND I AM CERTAIN THAT GOD, WHO BEGAN THE GOOD WORK WITHIN YOU WILL CONTINUE HIS WORK UNTIL IT IS FINALLY FINISHED ON THE DAY WHEN CRHIST JESUS RETURNS”
2 PETER 1:3 “BY HIS DIVINE POWER, GOD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIVING A GODLY LIFE. WE HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF THIS BY COMING TO KNOW HIM, THE ONE WHO CALLED US TO HIMSELF BY MEANS OF HIS MARVELOUS GLORY AND EXCELLENCE.”
