Supernatural Week 1 – Spiritual Warfare

We had a fantastic time staring our new series Supernatural at Royal View this past weekend.  You can view the message by going HERE.  Below are the notes from the first message on Spiritual Warfare.  

Supernatural Week 1 – Spiritual Warefare

 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12

Verse By Verse

6.10 We cannot stand strong on your own.

6.11 The word for whole armor is panoplia meaning complete equipment of a fully armed soldier, consisting of both shields and weapons

(Roman weaponry – large door-shaped shied, short-stabbing sword)

6.12 Gives a sobering glimpse into the allies of the enemy 

Things we are not raging war against:

• people
• culture government
• Christians
• different Theology/ideology 
• anti-establishment

The devil is no match for the Lord, who has “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” Col 2:15

There is an enemy who wants to destroy our lives:

 

WHAT DOES THE DEVIL DO?

 

• HE BLINDS THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers…2 Corinthians 4:4

• HE STEALS GOD’S WORD FROM YOU.

“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” Matthew 13:19

• HE SETS TRAPS TO ENSNARE YOU.    

…and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:26

• HE FIGHTS TO STOP YOU.  

For we wanted to come to you-certainly I, Paul, did, again and again-but Satan stopped us. 1 Thessalonians 2:18

• HE PLANS TO DESTROY YOU.  

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

 

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:13-18 

6.13 - “when” the day of evil comes

Paul in Ephesians 5:16 views this whole age as evil days, yet the attack on Christians comes and goes until Christ returns.

The Full Armor Of GOD

BELT of truth

• first thing the soldier put on
• held a lot of equipment including different swords
• held ration sack

BREASTPLATE of righteousness

• protected the heart
• the heart is prone to be tempted

FEET fitted with the readiness that comes from gospel of peace

• had spikes on the soles which provided them a strong enough stance and balance that gave them a superior posture in battle on hills and uneven terrain
• your stance is important

SHIELD of faith

• often carried shields as big as a door

HELMET of salvation

• protects your head
• your mind is a battlefield

SWORD of the Spirit

• apply the word to our lives, maybe we should apply our lives to the word

 

Final Thought: Those in Christ are on the winning team!