INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE Ephesians 6:10-13

THE CALL TO BATTLE

I TIMOTHY 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…”

II TIMOTHY 2:3 “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

II TIMOTHY 2:4 “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.”

I CORINTHIANS 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

I TIMOTHY 1:18 “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy…that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.”

A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT The strength and power we need for this battle are given to us by God “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power…” (II Tim. 1:7) God has given us “armor” that we are to wear into battle

ISAIAH 11:4-5 “But with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist.”

ISAIAH 59:17 “He put on righteousness as His breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak.”

THE CALL TO BE STRONG We are doing battle against the “wiles” of the devil We are not called to “WIN” the war, because Jesus has already defeated Satan We are called to “STAND” (Eph. 6:11, 13-14)

A WORD OF EXPLANATION We are “wrestling” against an enemy who has already been disarmed and defeated (Col. 2:15) Our enemies are NOT people Satan commands an army of fallen angels, and his army is organized (Eph. 6:12)

THE COVERING IN BATTLE Our Commander-in-Chief has already won the war; he wants us to get in on the victory every day that we live It is our responsibility to put on the armor God has provided

EPHESIANS 6:13 “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.”