Sermon Notes:
Things are going wrong. Tell me what to do!
1. You have a source of strength and power that is greater than anything you will ever face. Think of it as a suit of armor. But you have to take hold of it and apply it to your life. (Ephesians 6:10-11)
2. The opponents and obstacles you face are not what they appear; spiritual forces lie behind them. Those forces are purposeful and evil. They want to rob you of the life God has for you. (Ephesians 6:12)
3. God has power and strength for you to resist those forces and find victory—which is the ability to have the life God wants for you and not be flattened! But you have to do something. (Ephesians 6:13)
a) Belt of truth: Believing the truth in a world of deception (Ephesians 6:14a; see John 8:44)
b) Breastplate of righteousness: Choosing goodness in a culture of corruption (Ephesians 6:14b)
c) Feet fitted: Pursuing peace in a culture of conflict (Ephesians 6:15; see Ephesians 2:14-17; 4:3)
d) Shield of faith: Trusting God in a culture of autonomy (Ephesians 6:16)
e) Helmet of salvation: Maintaining perspective in a culture of distraction (Ephesians 6:17a)
f) Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Speaking God’s truth in the face of fear, temptation, and pain (Ephesians 6:17b)
Speak God’s word against fear – Psalm 23:4; 118:6
Speak God’s word against hopelessness – Romans 8:35-39
Speak God’s word against rage – Ephesians 4:31-32
Speak God’s word against temptation – Matthew 4:1-4
Questions
1. Read Isaiah 59:15-17. This is a messianic passage and refers to Jesus as the “arm” of the Lord. This is the source of our armor and Paul’s imagery in Ephesians 6. What does this tell you about the armor God has provided for you? How powerful is this armor, do you think? How can you learn more about the kind of life that comes from wearing this armor?
2. Paul tells us how to stand against the powers of this dark world, but he doesn’t tell us to defeat them because they were already defeated. Read Colossians 2:13-15 and 1 Corinthians 2:8. How did Christ’s death and resurrection foil the plans against him (and against those who have faith in him)? How can this “big picture” view of our lives help us, in light of our day- to-day struggles?
3. The first piece of armor Paul lists is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, where Paul talks about combatting the lies in our minds with the truth. What does it mean to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”? When a lie pops into your mind (regardless of its source), how can you take it captive?
4. The second piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness. Living life God’s way is a cornerstone of the wisdom literature. Read Proverbs 11:3-6, 8; 13:6. How does living a holy and obedient life protect you from disaster? Think of a time in your life when these principles were proven true.
5. Read Ephesians 6:17. In ancient times, the sword was a weapon with both offensive and defensive capabilities. In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus faces Satan in the wilderness by responding to each temptation with a scripture verse. In each case, the desire Satan was appealing to was something we all struggle with, but his solution means not trusting God with our needs. In the end, Satan leaves. Why would it be useful to have verses ready when you struggle? What verse do you have ready to speak during moments of frustration, anger, pain, or fear?
6. Read 1 Peter 5:8-9. Peter has similar recommendations to Paul and paints a picture that is intended to spur us to action. If there were a hungry lion loose in the room, would you ignore it? Why do we ignore Satan as we live our lives in today’s world?