STAND
Copyright: South Bay Community Church
Sermon Reflections: Stand
Date: 15 October 2023
Speaker: Director of Family Ministries Ashley Watson
Sermon Texts: Ephesians 6:10-17
Sermon Reflections: Stand
Date: 15 October 2023
Speaker: Director of Family Ministries Ashley Watson
Sermon Texts: Ephesians 6:10-17
Sermon Preamble
We know we have the power of the almighty God behind us, but what are we doing on our part to be prepared for the struggles in our life journey? However, we often go into a life journey battle feeling defeated and feel like sitting down and giving up. The Apostle Paul writes for us to have an active faith because there are things we need to do on our part to prepare and protect ourselves. The Lord strengthens us so that we can be in the best position in our mission of serving God. Like the missions that soldiers take on, our mission in our life journey requires preparation, sacrifice, submission to authority, and the right equipping of weapons. It is going to take actions to constantly arm ourselves each and every day so that we may be ready to defend ourselves against the devil’s schemes and ultimately be able to STAND!
Stand with an active faith, not sitting down like we are defeated
There are many times we think we have lost because things just don’t seem to go our way. We often go into battle already feeling defeated. Then during the battle we may know we are losing and feel like giving up. Even after you’ve done all you can, your feelings are, “I’m tired, let me go ahead and sit down!”
As soon as we get down on ourselves and start speaking these false narratives, we give the devil a foothold to come in and destroy us. It all starts with our mindset and our character of who we believe ourselves to be. Going to battle with a defeated mindset is like going to battle without any armor on. And going to battle without any armor on you can be sure that you will not be standing firm when it’s all over.
God must have known that we could not stand alone. so he instructed Paul to write a letter to the church of Ephesus. Throughout the book of Ephesians, we learn about ways that the Lord strengthens us so that we can be in the best position in our mission of serving God. In 2 Timothy, Paul compares the Christian mission to the mission of a soldier in military service. Just like the missions that soldiers take on, our mission also requires preparation, sacrifice, submission to authority, and the right equipping of weapons.
This comparison of a Christian mission and a soldier’s mission leads us to these instructions in Ephesians from Paul. “(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (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. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6: 10-13).
An action step for us is to put on God’s armor and use God’s mighty weapons to stand against the devil
How do we stand? Paul commands us to have an active faith. Active meaning there are things we need to do on our part to prepare and protect ourselves.
Verse 11 says we must first put on all of God’s armor. God’s armor is the spiritual protection that has been afforded to us by God through certain spiritual disciplines. Once we put on the armor, then in the midst of any battle, we will be able to hold our position against the enemy and not waiver through any of the devil’s wiles or strategies. Strategies in Greek translate to craftiness. The devil is very crafty and smart. He knows how to look for our weaknesses so he can exploit them. But what are the strategies of the devil?
We know Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan will do all that he can to tempt, accuse, and deceive us if we allow the devil to do so. A large way that Satan does this is through our minds.
Satan tries to control our thoughts, making us think that we are helpless victims in the battle, but we are anything but helpless. We have the capability to renew our minds, but we have to WANT to do it. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” We often think that these rebellious thoughts we have are just our mental perception. The word “thoughts” in this context in this verse translates from the Greek word noema. Noema in this verse means an evil purpose. So, it’s the devil that’s taking hold of our minds giving us these rebellious thoughts that go against God.
Thankfully for us, God has already provided all that we need to take captive those -thoughts and win the battle in our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” God’s mighty weapons include prayer, faith, hope, love, God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit.
Our enemy that we are fighting is not flesh and blood but is a spiritual being that uses the physical world
When going to battle it’s important to know who is fighting alongside us and who we fighting against. Ephesians 6:12 declares, “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.”
Paul uses “we” to signify that I am not in this war alone. It is a shared experience for all believers. No one is exempt from not fighting in these battles, but the question is how much each of us are fighting back.
Fighting translates to wrestling. And if any of you have played a sport or been in a competition or even just play fighting with friends or siblings, you understand that it is a constant struggle. In Jiu Jitsu specifically, the moment that you let up or stop resisting is when the opponent will put you in a hold that will be very hard to escape from. This is why it’s important to know that we are called to understand and accept that the Christian life is a struggle.
To make things even more complicated, Paul says that it’s not flesh and blood that we are fighting, but our enemy is a spiritual being, something that we can’t see. But the enemy will use the physical world to fight.
Put on every piece of God’s armor
Ephesians 6:13 instructs, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” We are to put on every piece of God’s armor. Every piece, of as the King James translation says the “whole armor,” means not just one piece here and another piece there. It is not a buffet line of choosing your armor. We put on all of God’s armor, so that we can withstand the evil of today and after we’ve done all we will stand.
Paul mentions “standing firm” here as referring to standing for judgment. We resist the enemy in our days here on earth, the evil day. When it comes time for our judgment and we have done everything we could to win the battle, we are able to communicate that we executed according to the battle plan. We are hoping for a good report.
We know that we need God’s armor; we know that all believers are fighting; we know we are fighting against the rulers and authorities of the unseen world and evil spirits in heavenly places. Paul continues a practical approach informing about the elements of God’s armor.
The elements of God’s armor
Continuing to verses 14-17, Paul uses the armor of a Roman soldier in his day to explain and provide a visual on how we can arm ourselves for battle. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 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” (Ephesians 6: 14-17).
The Belt of Truth armor
The scripture says to “have your loins girt about with truth.” In other words the belt of truth means we must equip ourselves with the knowledge of truth.
Why use a belt, and why is truth first? A belt on a soldier wasn’t just a thin leather strap, but it was a thick heavy leather and metal band that held the sword and other weapons. It held everything together. Truth is first because without truth we are lost, and the devil’s schemes are sure to overpower us. Our fight in this battle depends on our spiritual understanding which comes from God’s word and the rest of the spiritual protection depends on this first element of armor, the belt.
Another question is what will be your standard of truth? Will your standard of truth be feelings, moral standards, or the Word of God? Our feelings change every day. Therefore, it is not to be used as a reliable source of our standard of truth. Our moral standards also can change often. We should not allow feelings or moral standards to be the determining factor of truth. The principles of the Word of God are never changing. For followers of Christ, truth is the word of God.
The Breastplate of Righteousness armor
The breastplate was used to protect vital organs and to ensure a soldier can survive if attacked from the front. The righteousness is our life’s testimony of obedience to the word of God. Righteousness is the standard God requires for people to be acceptable to him. We are called to display God’s righteousness in our everyday lives, and it is through our faith in Christ that we are able to access it.
Shoes of Peace armor
Verse 15 says, “Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Roman soldiers wore very sturdy sandals with strong soles on their feet for battle. The sandals were equipped with spikes on the bottom as well, similar to soccer cleats, football cleats or even golf shoes. This was used for traction so they wouldn’t slip and fall during battle. The soldiers needed to have solid footing on the ground. What Paul is saying is that we need to have solid footing in the Gospel as part of our preparation for battle. We can’t be wishy washy. This means we have one foot in the Gospel and one foot in the world. Some people waver back and forth so often that you don’t know where they stand. God is looking for men and women ready to stand in battle by having a solid footing in the Gospel. Now the question here is “Are you standing on solid rock or on sand?”
Shield of Faith armor
Verse 16 declares, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Roman soldiers carried a shield large enough to hide away their entire body, it was covered in leather to resist flames, and to withstand the impact of arrows. Our shield is our confidence and faith in the promises of God. Think of the arrows of life that you have coming at you: fear, a closed door on a job, a loss, health challenges, and false teachings. These flaming arrows have the potential to wound our faith in the promises of God which leave us to question God’s promises. We will still feel the impact of these arrows, but we will not be shaken down from them because our abiding faith, our confidence in God’s promises, extinguishes those arrows and reminds us that our eternal future is secure. When you think about the story of Job, he did not enjoy his time of grieving after everything he lost. His faith in God’s promises brought him hope and confidence in the midst of his losses.
Helmet of Salvation armor
A helmet is something used to cover and protect our heads. Paul uses the helmet as a metaphor for the spiritual protection that covers us which is our salvation. No matter what comes at us we have an assurance of eternal life which gives us again confidence to face the enemy without holding back. Romans 8:18 says “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” We have nothing to lose because everything we have here on earth will be left behind anyways. So what good is it?
The toughest opponents to beat in war are those who have nothing to lose. We need not fear anything, no fear of failing, no fear of embarrassment or fear of dying because that is nothing compared to what we will gain in eternity through our salvation.
Sword of the Spirit armor
The sword is the Word of God. It is used for both offense and defense. Notice how this list of armor starts and ends with the word of God. The word of God prepares us to defend ourselves as we arm ourselves with the belt of truth, and it is also a tool used on the offensive side to neutralize the enemy.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – S: Stand in God’s protective armor
God’s protective armor is active faith, not just sitting back. God promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Active faith is doing by training and getting prepared.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – T: Tap into the help of God and church community
Submit to God. When your back is against the wall without a way to escape, submit to God. Do not wait. Submit to God, and God will bring you through.
An example of this principle of submission is the sport of Jiu Jitsu. If you do not submit at the right time, you will experience a severe injury. In this sport, you do not want to take the struggle too far. It sport can severely damage you if you battle on your own for too long. At a certain point, you are forced to submit and go into further training and preparation.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – A: Awareness
We must have awareness and knowledge of the devil’s schemes so we can combat those schemes. Jiu Jitsu is often referred to as human chess. In chess, you must be 3-4 steps ahead of your opponent. It is the same thing in Jiu Jitsu and a similar concept in life. You must always be prepared so that you don’t have to get ready.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – N: Notice who you are in Christ
Establishing our relationship with God before we attempt to live it out is key. How we behave is dependent upon our inner self. We often skip over the “who we should be” part and go straight to “what we should do.” How can we hope to stand firm against the devil’s schemes if we have not already internalized that we are victoriously raised up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus as stated in Ephesians 2:6. We have to abide in Christ. Being comes before doing, character comes before career, and maturity comes before ministry.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – D: Deepen your understanding of God’s promises
When we struggle with our faith in God it’s not because our faith in God has failed or is insufficient. God has never failed, will never fail, and God is always sufficient enough. But maybe we struggle because we don’t have a true and complete knowledge of God and God’s ways. Scripture says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). A limit to your faith is your knowledge and understanding of God which grows when we pick up His word and read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it.
The Can Do’s of Success
In the book, Victory Over the Darkness: Realize the Power of Your identity in Christ, author Neil Anderson made statements called the “twenty cans of success.” We do not have time to discuss all twenty, but these are a few that stood out. (1)Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32). (2) Why should I allow Satan control over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). (3) Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in victory (2 Corinthians 2:14). (4) Why should I feel helpless in the presence of others when I know that if God is for me, who can be against me (Romans 8:31). (5)Why should I feel like a failure when I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loved me (Romans 8:37). (6) Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its problems (John 16:33).
Application for activation
We know we have the power of the Almighty God behind us. What are we doing on our part to be prepared for battle? We are doers of God’s Word, not just hearers. It is going to take some pro-activeness on our part to constantly arm ourselves each and every day so that we may be ready to defend ourselves against the devil’s schemes and ultimately be able to STAND!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Preamble
-What are your reactions when you may feel defeated and feel like giving up? What do you think God wants you to be and do in such circumstances?
Stand with an active faith, not sitting down like we are defeated
-In what ways do you stand, instead of sitting down with inaction?
An action step for us is to put on God’s armor and use God’s mighty weapons to stand against the devil
-In what ways does Satan try to control us through our minds?
-Why is it important to know who we are fighting against?
Our enemy that we are fighting is not flesh and blood but is a spiritual being that uses the physical world
-What is the role of the community in fighting battles against the devil? Why is it not simply an individualized, lonesome struggle with the devil? Why is it important to know who is fighting alongside?
Put on every piece of God’s armor
-Why is it important to put on every piece of armor and to stand firm?
The elements of God’s armor
-What are some of God’s mighty weapons to knock down the strongholds of our sinful human nature that still resides within our inner-self?
The Belt of Truth armor
-Why is to know the truth of the Word of God like a belt that holds everything together?
The Breastplate of Righteousness armor
-What does your life’s testimony of obedience to God reveal?
-How do we access our righteousness?
Shoes of Peace armor
-Is your foundation built upon solid rock or built upon sand? Why?
Shield of Faith armor
-What are some arrows from the devil in your life journey for which you take the shield of faith?
Helmet of Salvation armor
-Why does the assurance of salvation and eternal life give us confidence to face the devil without holding back?
Sword of the Spirit armor
Why is the Word of God as the Sword of the Spirit both an offensive and a defensive tool?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – S: Stand in God’s protective armor
-What are you doing to train and get prepared to stand as God never leaves you nor forsakes you?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – T: Tap into the help of God and church community
When have you had your back against the wall without the capability to escape on your own and you needed to submit to God?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – A: Awareness
-What schemes of the devil have you gained awareness? Why is this important in preparation for struggles with the devil?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – N: Notice who you are in Christ
-In establishing our relationship with God, why is it a priority of who you are in your inner self that then enables you to do what God desires for you?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – D: Deepen your understanding of God’s promises
-What tools and actions are available to help you grow in your understanding of God’s promises?
The Can Do’s of Success
-Which of the six listed can do’s of success are most resonating with you?
Application for activation
-What will you intentionally do in the near future to daily arm yourselves with God’s armor in order to defend yourself against the devil’s schemes and ultimately be able to STAND?
We know we have the power of the almighty God behind us, but what are we doing on our part to be prepared for the struggles in our life journey? However, we often go into a life journey battle feeling defeated and feel like sitting down and giving up. The Apostle Paul writes for us to have an active faith because there are things we need to do on our part to prepare and protect ourselves. The Lord strengthens us so that we can be in the best position in our mission of serving God. Like the missions that soldiers take on, our mission in our life journey requires preparation, sacrifice, submission to authority, and the right equipping of weapons. It is going to take actions to constantly arm ourselves each and every day so that we may be ready to defend ourselves against the devil’s schemes and ultimately be able to STAND!
Stand with an active faith, not sitting down like we are defeated
There are many times we think we have lost because things just don’t seem to go our way. We often go into battle already feeling defeated. Then during the battle we may know we are losing and feel like giving up. Even after you’ve done all you can, your feelings are, “I’m tired, let me go ahead and sit down!”
As soon as we get down on ourselves and start speaking these false narratives, we give the devil a foothold to come in and destroy us. It all starts with our mindset and our character of who we believe ourselves to be. Going to battle with a defeated mindset is like going to battle without any armor on. And going to battle without any armor on you can be sure that you will not be standing firm when it’s all over.
God must have known that we could not stand alone. so he instructed Paul to write a letter to the church of Ephesus. Throughout the book of Ephesians, we learn about ways that the Lord strengthens us so that we can be in the best position in our mission of serving God. In 2 Timothy, Paul compares the Christian mission to the mission of a soldier in military service. Just like the missions that soldiers take on, our mission also requires preparation, sacrifice, submission to authority, and the right equipping of weapons.
This comparison of a Christian mission and a soldier’s mission leads us to these instructions in Ephesians from Paul. “(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (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. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6: 10-13).
An action step for us is to put on God’s armor and use God’s mighty weapons to stand against the devil
How do we stand? Paul commands us to have an active faith. Active meaning there are things we need to do on our part to prepare and protect ourselves.
Verse 11 says we must first put on all of God’s armor. God’s armor is the spiritual protection that has been afforded to us by God through certain spiritual disciplines. Once we put on the armor, then in the midst of any battle, we will be able to hold our position against the enemy and not waiver through any of the devil’s wiles or strategies. Strategies in Greek translate to craftiness. The devil is very crafty and smart. He knows how to look for our weaknesses so he can exploit them. But what are the strategies of the devil?
We know Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan will do all that he can to tempt, accuse, and deceive us if we allow the devil to do so. A large way that Satan does this is through our minds.
Satan tries to control our thoughts, making us think that we are helpless victims in the battle, but we are anything but helpless. We have the capability to renew our minds, but we have to WANT to do it. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” We often think that these rebellious thoughts we have are just our mental perception. The word “thoughts” in this context in this verse translates from the Greek word noema. Noema in this verse means an evil purpose. So, it’s the devil that’s taking hold of our minds giving us these rebellious thoughts that go against God.
Thankfully for us, God has already provided all that we need to take captive those -thoughts and win the battle in our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” God’s mighty weapons include prayer, faith, hope, love, God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit.
Our enemy that we are fighting is not flesh and blood but is a spiritual being that uses the physical world
When going to battle it’s important to know who is fighting alongside us and who we fighting against. Ephesians 6:12 declares, “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.”
Paul uses “we” to signify that I am not in this war alone. It is a shared experience for all believers. No one is exempt from not fighting in these battles, but the question is how much each of us are fighting back.
Fighting translates to wrestling. And if any of you have played a sport or been in a competition or even just play fighting with friends or siblings, you understand that it is a constant struggle. In Jiu Jitsu specifically, the moment that you let up or stop resisting is when the opponent will put you in a hold that will be very hard to escape from. This is why it’s important to know that we are called to understand and accept that the Christian life is a struggle.
To make things even more complicated, Paul says that it’s not flesh and blood that we are fighting, but our enemy is a spiritual being, something that we can’t see. But the enemy will use the physical world to fight.
Put on every piece of God’s armor
Ephesians 6:13 instructs, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” We are to put on every piece of God’s armor. Every piece, of as the King James translation says the “whole armor,” means not just one piece here and another piece there. It is not a buffet line of choosing your armor. We put on all of God’s armor, so that we can withstand the evil of today and after we’ve done all we will stand.
Paul mentions “standing firm” here as referring to standing for judgment. We resist the enemy in our days here on earth, the evil day. When it comes time for our judgment and we have done everything we could to win the battle, we are able to communicate that we executed according to the battle plan. We are hoping for a good report.
We know that we need God’s armor; we know that all believers are fighting; we know we are fighting against the rulers and authorities of the unseen world and evil spirits in heavenly places. Paul continues a practical approach informing about the elements of God’s armor.
The elements of God’s armor
Continuing to verses 14-17, Paul uses the armor of a Roman soldier in his day to explain and provide a visual on how we can arm ourselves for battle. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 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” (Ephesians 6: 14-17).
The Belt of Truth armor
The scripture says to “have your loins girt about with truth.” In other words the belt of truth means we must equip ourselves with the knowledge of truth.
Why use a belt, and why is truth first? A belt on a soldier wasn’t just a thin leather strap, but it was a thick heavy leather and metal band that held the sword and other weapons. It held everything together. Truth is first because without truth we are lost, and the devil’s schemes are sure to overpower us. Our fight in this battle depends on our spiritual understanding which comes from God’s word and the rest of the spiritual protection depends on this first element of armor, the belt.
Another question is what will be your standard of truth? Will your standard of truth be feelings, moral standards, or the Word of God? Our feelings change every day. Therefore, it is not to be used as a reliable source of our standard of truth. Our moral standards also can change often. We should not allow feelings or moral standards to be the determining factor of truth. The principles of the Word of God are never changing. For followers of Christ, truth is the word of God.
The Breastplate of Righteousness armor
The breastplate was used to protect vital organs and to ensure a soldier can survive if attacked from the front. The righteousness is our life’s testimony of obedience to the word of God. Righteousness is the standard God requires for people to be acceptable to him. We are called to display God’s righteousness in our everyday lives, and it is through our faith in Christ that we are able to access it.
Shoes of Peace armor
Verse 15 says, “Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Roman soldiers wore very sturdy sandals with strong soles on their feet for battle. The sandals were equipped with spikes on the bottom as well, similar to soccer cleats, football cleats or even golf shoes. This was used for traction so they wouldn’t slip and fall during battle. The soldiers needed to have solid footing on the ground. What Paul is saying is that we need to have solid footing in the Gospel as part of our preparation for battle. We can’t be wishy washy. This means we have one foot in the Gospel and one foot in the world. Some people waver back and forth so often that you don’t know where they stand. God is looking for men and women ready to stand in battle by having a solid footing in the Gospel. Now the question here is “Are you standing on solid rock or on sand?”
Shield of Faith armor
Verse 16 declares, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Roman soldiers carried a shield large enough to hide away their entire body, it was covered in leather to resist flames, and to withstand the impact of arrows. Our shield is our confidence and faith in the promises of God. Think of the arrows of life that you have coming at you: fear, a closed door on a job, a loss, health challenges, and false teachings. These flaming arrows have the potential to wound our faith in the promises of God which leave us to question God’s promises. We will still feel the impact of these arrows, but we will not be shaken down from them because our abiding faith, our confidence in God’s promises, extinguishes those arrows and reminds us that our eternal future is secure. When you think about the story of Job, he did not enjoy his time of grieving after everything he lost. His faith in God’s promises brought him hope and confidence in the midst of his losses.
Helmet of Salvation armor
A helmet is something used to cover and protect our heads. Paul uses the helmet as a metaphor for the spiritual protection that covers us which is our salvation. No matter what comes at us we have an assurance of eternal life which gives us again confidence to face the enemy without holding back. Romans 8:18 says “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” We have nothing to lose because everything we have here on earth will be left behind anyways. So what good is it?
The toughest opponents to beat in war are those who have nothing to lose. We need not fear anything, no fear of failing, no fear of embarrassment or fear of dying because that is nothing compared to what we will gain in eternity through our salvation.
Sword of the Spirit armor
The sword is the Word of God. It is used for both offense and defense. Notice how this list of armor starts and ends with the word of God. The word of God prepares us to defend ourselves as we arm ourselves with the belt of truth, and it is also a tool used on the offensive side to neutralize the enemy.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – S: Stand in God’s protective armor
God’s protective armor is active faith, not just sitting back. God promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Active faith is doing by training and getting prepared.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – T: Tap into the help of God and church community
Submit to God. When your back is against the wall without a way to escape, submit to God. Do not wait. Submit to God, and God will bring you through.
An example of this principle of submission is the sport of Jiu Jitsu. If you do not submit at the right time, you will experience a severe injury. In this sport, you do not want to take the struggle too far. It sport can severely damage you if you battle on your own for too long. At a certain point, you are forced to submit and go into further training and preparation.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – A: Awareness
We must have awareness and knowledge of the devil’s schemes so we can combat those schemes. Jiu Jitsu is often referred to as human chess. In chess, you must be 3-4 steps ahead of your opponent. It is the same thing in Jiu Jitsu and a similar concept in life. You must always be prepared so that you don’t have to get ready.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – N: Notice who you are in Christ
Establishing our relationship with God before we attempt to live it out is key. How we behave is dependent upon our inner self. We often skip over the “who we should be” part and go straight to “what we should do.” How can we hope to stand firm against the devil’s schemes if we have not already internalized that we are victoriously raised up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus as stated in Ephesians 2:6. We have to abide in Christ. Being comes before doing, character comes before career, and maturity comes before ministry.
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – D: Deepen your understanding of God’s promises
When we struggle with our faith in God it’s not because our faith in God has failed or is insufficient. God has never failed, will never fail, and God is always sufficient enough. But maybe we struggle because we don’t have a true and complete knowledge of God and God’s ways. Scripture says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). A limit to your faith is your knowledge and understanding of God which grows when we pick up His word and read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it.
The Can Do’s of Success
In the book, Victory Over the Darkness: Realize the Power of Your identity in Christ, author Neil Anderson made statements called the “twenty cans of success.” We do not have time to discuss all twenty, but these are a few that stood out. (1)Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32). (2) Why should I allow Satan control over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). (3) Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in victory (2 Corinthians 2:14). (4) Why should I feel helpless in the presence of others when I know that if God is for me, who can be against me (Romans 8:31). (5)Why should I feel like a failure when I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loved me (Romans 8:37). (6) Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its problems (John 16:33).
Application for activation
We know we have the power of the Almighty God behind us. What are we doing on our part to be prepared for battle? We are doers of God’s Word, not just hearers. It is going to take some pro-activeness on our part to constantly arm ourselves each and every day so that we may be ready to defend ourselves against the devil’s schemes and ultimately be able to STAND!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Preamble
-What are your reactions when you may feel defeated and feel like giving up? What do you think God wants you to be and do in such circumstances?
Stand with an active faith, not sitting down like we are defeated
-In what ways do you stand, instead of sitting down with inaction?
An action step for us is to put on God’s armor and use God’s mighty weapons to stand against the devil
-In what ways does Satan try to control us through our minds?
-Why is it important to know who we are fighting against?
Our enemy that we are fighting is not flesh and blood but is a spiritual being that uses the physical world
-What is the role of the community in fighting battles against the devil? Why is it not simply an individualized, lonesome struggle with the devil? Why is it important to know who is fighting alongside?
Put on every piece of God’s armor
-Why is it important to put on every piece of armor and to stand firm?
The elements of God’s armor
-What are some of God’s mighty weapons to knock down the strongholds of our sinful human nature that still resides within our inner-self?
The Belt of Truth armor
-Why is to know the truth of the Word of God like a belt that holds everything together?
The Breastplate of Righteousness armor
-What does your life’s testimony of obedience to God reveal?
-How do we access our righteousness?
Shoes of Peace armor
-Is your foundation built upon solid rock or built upon sand? Why?
Shield of Faith armor
-What are some arrows from the devil in your life journey for which you take the shield of faith?
Helmet of Salvation armor
-Why does the assurance of salvation and eternal life give us confidence to face the devil without holding back?
Sword of the Spirit armor
Why is the Word of God as the Sword of the Spirit both an offensive and a defensive tool?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – S: Stand in God’s protective armor
-What are you doing to train and get prepared to stand as God never leaves you nor forsakes you?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – T: Tap into the help of God and church community
When have you had your back against the wall without the capability to escape on your own and you needed to submit to God?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – A: Awareness
-What schemes of the devil have you gained awareness? Why is this important in preparation for struggles with the devil?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – N: Notice who you are in Christ
-In establishing our relationship with God, why is it a priority of who you are in your inner self that then enables you to do what God desires for you?
An acronym for S.T.A.N.D. to help us remember – D: Deepen your understanding of God’s promises
-What tools and actions are available to help you grow in your understanding of God’s promises?
The Can Do’s of Success
-Which of the six listed can do’s of success are most resonating with you?
Application for activation
-What will you intentionally do in the near future to daily arm yourselves with God’s armor in order to defend yourself against the devil’s schemes and ultimately be able to STAND?
Posted in Stand Alone Sermon
Posted in Ephesians 6: 10-17, Stand, battle, armor, mission, faith, 2 Corinthians 10, thought, Jui Jitsu, wrestle, enemy, devil, Satan, belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the spirit, protection, community, awareness, notice, deepen, Can Do\\\'s of Success
Posted in Ephesians 6: 10-17, Stand, battle, armor, mission, faith, 2 Corinthians 10, thought, Jui Jitsu, wrestle, enemy, devil, Satan, belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the spirit, protection, community, awareness, notice, deepen, Can Do\\\'s of Success
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