Introduction: God is Great. God is Good.

• He has a kingdom. God has an army.
• There is a war going on and we're in it.
• Calvary and Christ's resurrection are the results of a long war against sin. This is also God's war against Satan.
• Whose side are we on?
• Are we involved with this war? Are we ready?

Christ is captain of the Lord's Army. Let's take a closer look at Spiritual Warfare.

• It is a war between God & Satan
• It is a war fought on Earth - for the souls of men and the Glory of God.
• The evidence of this Spiritual war is
• Unbelief.
• Evil & sin.
• Pain & death.
• The spirit of anti-christ that is clearly operating in this world (I John 2:18, 21-23; 4:1-6; II John 1:7-9).
• The way to fight this war is through faith in the Son of God - God's strength, not our own (Ephesians 6:10; II Timothy 2:1; James 3:13-18).
• The weapons must be spiritual, not carnal (II Corinthians 10:3-5).
• We have spiritual enemies:
  • Satan (meaning "Enemy" - Acts 26:18).
  • He was also called The Devil (meaning "Accuser" - John 8:44; I Peter 5:8-9).
  • Demons (fallen angels - wicked spirits in high places / Ephesians 6:12).
  • Note: What are we to think of wicked & unreasonable men - Men that have not faith (II Thess. 3:1-2).
    Men are not the enemy. The enemy is using them. We must rescue them - not destroy them (Luke 9:54-56).
  • To fight this war, spiritual choices must be made daily:
    • Prepare for the evil day (Ephesians 6:13)
      - battles, difficulties, temptations.
    • Stand for God & His Word. Stand with God & His people.
      - This is a daily decision.

  We need the Lord's strength. Ephesians 6:10-13

  He describes our battle-readiness as armor that we have to put on.

  • To put on this armor is actually to apply Christ and His Word to our lives (Romans 13:11-14; I Thessalonians 5:1-8; II Peter 1:2-8; 3:18).
  • To be filled with His Spirit (Ephesians 5:14-21).
  • To have our lives regulated by His Word (John 8:30-32; 14:23; 15:3-8; Colossians 3:16; II Timothy 3:16-17).

  Description of the Armor. Ephesians 6:14-19
  • The Belt / Girdle of Truth.
    (Practical understanding of Scripture - untangled / ready for action Romans 12:2; II Timothy 2:2-4; Hebrews 5:12-14; I Peter 1:13-16.)
  • The Breastplate of righteousness.
    (Protect your heart with practical obedience - Proverbs 4:23-27.)
  • Feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
    (Testimony - Where ever you go, be prepared to tell and to demonstrate the truth of Christ - II Corinthians 2:14-17; 4:6.)
  • Shield of Faith.
    (Prepared for the enemy's attack - I John 5:4-5.)
  • Helmet of Salvation.
    (AKA "the hope of salvation" - full assurance. You need to maintain confidence in Christ - Hebrews 10:14-23, 35.)
  • Sword of the Spirit.
    (Prepared to attack / confront lies with truth - II Timothy 2:15.)
  • Prayer for all saints.
    (Staying focused on God, the war, and fellow-soldiers - Romans 15:30.)

  Victory in Christ - when we follow Him as the captain of our salvation. I John 5:4-5

  See Romans 8:28-39; John 16:33; Philippians 4:13. Perhaps we should understand Philippians 4:13 this way: "I can do all things (that I'm supposed to be doing) through Christ who strengthens me." Our job, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, is to keep ourselves untangled with the affairs of this world.

  • To overcome the world (its unbelief, sin, and temptation).
  • To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
  • To rescue others from the kingdom of darkness and lead them to the kingdom of God's dear Son.

  How to enlist in the Lord's army.

  Faith in the Captain: There would be no personal victory - No human soldiers in the Lord's army, except for the fact that we have a Redeemer. See I Corinthians 15:1-4

  • Our Redeemer has washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5). And rose from the dead (Revelation 1:18).
  • Our Redeemer has delivered us from the present evil world (Galatians 1:4).
  • "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…" (Galatians 3:13)
  • "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…But God commends (demonstrates) His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6, 8).

  Respond to the call:

  • Believe what God says about His Son.
  • Believe Christ and obey His call to escape the wrath to come and be joint-heirs together with Him in His kingdom.
  • Repent of your sins (change your mind about your love for the world and your disobedience to God.
  • Receive the free gift of His grace. Call on the Lord and ask Him to save you.

  See John 3:16-21; 5:21-25; 6:27-40; 14:6; Matthew 3:7-8 (cp. Isaiah 55:6-7); Romans 3:20-26; 10:9-13; Acts 3:19; Ephesians 2:1-10; Revelation 22:12-13, 16-17.