SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 51

TITLE: THE BELIEVER'S BATTLE

TEXT: EPHESIANS 6:10-11

INTRODUCTION: (1) SOONER OR LATER, EVERY BELIEVER DISCOVERS THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A BATTLEGROUND, NOT A PLAYGROUND.

* SOONER OR LATER WE DISCOVER THAT THE ENEMY WE FACE IS MUCH STRONGER THAN WE ARE, APART FROM THE LORD’S.

** BELOVED, THE FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A BATTLE; IT IS WARFARE ON A GRAND SCALE, THE REASON BEING WHEN GOD BEGINS TO BLESS, SATAN BEGINS TO ATTACK.

*** SO WE MUST DEVELOP A WARTIME MENTALITY IN THIS BATTLE WE FACE WITH OUR 3 ENEMIES, THE FALLEN WORLD SYSTEM, THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL.

**** AND THAT’S WHY PAUL GAVE TIMOTHY THESE WORDS IN II TIMOTHY 2:3&4 (QUOTE THEM).

(2) NOW WE NEED TO BE GOOD SOLDIERS IN THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE THAT WE ARE IN AS BELIEVERS.

* YET THERE ARE THOSE TODAY WHO WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO THINK POSITIVELY AND PEACEFULLY AS IF THERE WERE NO SPIRITUAL BATTLES AT ALL.

** THEY SEE CHRISTIANITY NOT AS AN ENTRANCE INTO WARFARE BUT AS AN EXIT FROM IT.

*** THEY SEE CHRISTIANITY AS THE SOLUTION TO ALL THEIR DIFFICULTIES. IF YOU ARE SICK, JESUS WILL MAKE YOU WELL, AND HE MIGHT, BUT HE MAY NOT.

**** IF YOU HAVE A LOW STANDARD OF LIVING, JESUS WILL GIVE YOU A HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING.

(3) IF YOU ARE DISCOURAGED, JESUS WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY, ALL YOUR PROBLEMS WILL BE RESOLVED.

* WELL, OUR GREATEST PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED THROUGH TURNING TO CHRIST, OUR SIN PROBLEM THAT SEPARATES US FROM A HOLY GOD.

** BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN EVERYTHING WILL FALL IN LINE THE WAY WE WANT IT TO. IT WILL NOT ALWAYS BE A SMOOTH PATH AND SMOOTH SAILING.

*** IT WILL NOT BE A BED OF ROSES, IF IT IS, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF THORNS IN THAT ROSE PATCH.

**** YET THE TRUE CHRISTIAN KNOWS NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US FROM CHRIST’S LOVE, THAT HIS GRACE WILL BE SUFFICIENT IN EVERY PROBLEM, THAT CHRIST WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US AND THAT GOD CAUSES ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR HIS OWN.

(4) AND ON TOP OF THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME, HEAVEN, AND THE BURDEN OF SIN HAS BEEN LIFTED NOW AND WE LIVE IN SURE HOPE.

* BUT THE FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT EASY, IT’S DIFFICULT, IT’S WARFARE, IT’S A BATTLE, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN TRIALS COME.

** IN FACT, PETER WAS INSPIRED THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GIVE US THESE WORDS IN I PETER 4. HE SAID IN I PETER 4:12&13 (QUOTE THEM). ALSO QUOTE I PETER 4:16, I PETER 4:19 AND I PETER 1:6-9.

*** NOW MY POINT FROM THESE VERSES AND THE THINGS I’VE BEEN SAYING IN MY INTRODUCTION TODAY IS, THE CHRISTIAN WHO CONTINUALLY SEEKS TO GROW IN HIS KNOWLEDGE OF AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD AND TO SERVE THE LORD MORE FAITHFULLY WILL NOT FIND MINISTRY BECOMING EASIER.

**** AND AS THE LORD, BY HIS GRACE, GIVES MASTERY OVER CERTAIN TEMPTATIONS AND WEAKNESSES, SATAN WILL ATTACK ELSEWHERE, IN OTHER AREAS.

(5) FAITHFUL WITNESSING, USING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS, PRACTICING THE ONE ANOTHERS, GIVING, VISITING AND EVERY OTHER FORM OF SERVICE AND MINISTRY NOT ONLY WILL BRING VICTORIES, BUT WILL ALSO BRING THEIR OWN SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES AND OPPOSITION.

* A CHRISTIAN WHO NO LONGER HAS TO STRUGGLE AGAINST THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL IS A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS FALLEN EITHER INTO SIN OR INTO COMPLACENCY.

** A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS NO CONFLICT IS A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS RETREATED FROM THE FRONT LINES OF SERVICE AND IS AWOL.

*** AND SOME PEOPLE ARE TEMPTED TO RUN WHEN THINGS GET DIFFICULT AND SLACK OFF OR BACK OFF OR OUT IN MINISTRY.

**** BUT AN EASY MINISTRY MAY BE A WEAK MINISTRY, BECAUSE WHERE THE LORD’S WORK IS GENUINELY BEING DONE SATAN WILL NOT FAIL TO OPPOSE IT.

(6) SO BE REMINDED TODAY, THAT AS BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE NOT ONLY GOD’S SONS AND SERVANTS BUT ALSO HIS SOLDIERS THAT ARE IN BATTLE AND THE BATTLE IS NEVER EASY.

* IN LIGHT OF THAT, I’VE TITLED OUR STUDY TODAY, “THE BELIEVER’S BATTLE”.

** AND AS WE EXAMINE EPHESIANS 6:10&11 WE’LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS. NO. 1 THE PREPARATION FOR THE BATTLE – STRENGTH IN THE LORD, V. 10; NO. 2 THE PROVISION FOR THE BATTLE – THE ARMOR OF GOD, V. 11A; AND NO. 3 THE PURPOSE OF THE PROVISION – TO STAND FIRM AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL, V. 11B.

*** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE TO WORK FROM, LET’S MOVE INTO OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE PREPARATION FOR BATTLE AS WE DEVELOP A WARTIME MENTALITY, LOOK AT EPHESIANS 5:10 PLEASE.

I. THE PREPARATION, (READ V. 10)

A. NOW THE FIRST WORD IN V. 10, FINALLY, TELLS US THAT PAUL IS NOW STARTING HIS CONCLUSION TO THIS GREAT LETTER, HIS FINAL THOUGHTS.

* FINALLY, INTRODUCES THE FINAL PORTION OF THE LETTER, WHICH CONTAINS SOME VERY PRACTICAL EXHORTATIONS ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND HOW TO WIN IT.

** AND THE FIRST EXHORTATION, THE FIRST IMPERATIVE, THE FIRST COMMAND IN THIS CONCLUSION IS, “BE STRONG IN THE LORD”.

*** AND BASIC TO THE EFFECTIVE SOLDIER IN BATTLE IS PREPARATION.

**** FOR THE UNPREPARED BELIEVER BECOMES THE DEFEATED BELIEVER WHO SEEKS TO SERVE THE LORD IN HIS OWN WISDOM AND STRENGTH.

1. BUT THE STRENGTH OF THE CHRISTIAN WARRIOR IS DEPENDENCE ON GOD, BEING STRONG IN THE LORD. AND ANY OTHER STRENGTH PROVES TO BE IMPOTENT.

* AND THE CARDINAL REALITY PRESENTED IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS IS THAT, AS TRUE BELIEVERS, WE ARE IN CHRIST AND ARE ONE WITH HIM. HIS LIFE IS OUR LIFE, HIS POWER OUR POWER, HIS TRUTH OUR TRUTH, HIS WAY OUR WAY, AND AS PAUL GOES ON TO SAY HERE, HIS STRENGTH IS OUR STRENGTH.

** BELIEVERS DO NOT EMPOWER THEMSELVES, OUR STRENGTHENING COMES FROM AN EXTERNAL SUPERNATURAL SOURCE, THE LORD.

*** AND WE NEED TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT, NOT OURS.

**** BUT IN THE MIGHT OF HIS STRENGTH, SUPERNATURAL POWER OR MIGHT THAT HAS ITS SOURCE IN THE LORD’S STRENGTH.

2. AND BELOVED THIS STRENGTH AND TRUTH HAS ALREADY BEEN USED IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS IN CHAPTER 1:18-20 WHERE PAUL PRAYS THAT HIS READERS MIGHT UNDERSTAND AND EXPERIENCE THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF GOD WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF.

* POWER THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD AND EXALTED CHRIST TO THE PLACE OF HONOR, FAR ABOVE ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY.

** FOR IN EPHESIANS 1:18-20 PAUL PRAYED: “I PRAY THAT THE EYES OF YOUR HEART MAY BE ENLIGHTENED, SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, WHAT ARE THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS.”

V. 19 – “AND WHAT IS THE SURPASSING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US WHO BELIEVE. THESE ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORKING OF THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT”

V. 20 – “WHICH HE BROUGHT ABOUT IN CHRIST, WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.”

*** SO PAUL PRAYED THAT BELIEVERS, BY KNOWING GOD INTIMATELY WOULD UNDERSTAND HIS MIGHTY POWER DISPLAYED THROUGH CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION.

**** NOW AS WE GO BACK TO EPHESIANS 6:10, PAUL EXHORTS, HE COMMANDS HIS READERS TO APPROPRIATE THIS POWER IN THEIR OWN LIVES.

3. ALL BELIEVERS MUST APPROPRIATE THIS POWER IN THEIR LIVES IN THEIR SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND BATTLE.

* AND APPROPRIATION OF THAT STRENGTH COMES THROUGH PRAYER, KNOWLEDGE OF AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD AND FAITH IN THE PROMISES OF GOD.

** AND THEN THE LORD’S STRENGTH IS ALWAYS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FOR THE BATTLE. BUT OUR OWN STRENGTH IS NEVER STRONG ENOUGH TO OPPOSE SATAN.

*** AND IT IS WHEN WE TRY TO DO THINGS IN OUR POWER, IN OUR STRENGTH AND IN OUR SUFFICIENCY THAT WE LOSE THE BATTLE.

**** AND TRYING TO DO THINGS IN OUR STRENGTH IS A BY-PRODUCT OF PRIDE AND SELF-DECEPTION AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

4. AND APART FROM GOD’S POWER AND MIGHT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH NOTHING AT ALL, WE ARE LIKE BRANCHES SEVERED FROM THE VINE.

* AND THAT’S THE ANALOGY THAT JESUS USED IN JOHN 15:1-5 (QUOTE JOHN 15:3-5).

** NOW WHEN WE SEE WE CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT CHRIST’S GRACE AND POWER AND WE MOVE FROM AN INDEPENDENT SELF-SUFFICIENT ATTITUDE TO AN ACTION OF DEPENDENCE UPON HIS STRENGTH, WE WIN THESE BATTLES, THESE EVERYDAY SKIRMISHES WE GO THROUGH.

*** AND IT’S AMAZING TO ME HOW OFTEN IN SCRIPTURE WE ARE REMINDED TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.

**** QUOTE PSALM 46:1, PSALM 19:14, PSALM 37:39, PSALM 118:14, II SAMUEL 22:33, II CORINTHIANS 12:7-10, ACTS 1:8 AND PHILIPPIANS 4:13.

5. NOW YOU CAN SEE HOW IMPORTANT THE TRUTH OF BEING STRONG IN THE LORD AND THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT IS MADE IN SCRIPTURE BY THE REPETITION OF THIS TRUTH.

* SO PREPARATION FOR BATTLE BEGINS WITH STRENGTH IN THE LORD. NOW THAT PRINCIPLE LEADS US TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE PROVISION FOR OUR BATTLE, LOOK AT V. 11 PLEASE.

II. THE PROVISION, (READ V. 11A)

A. NOW IN V. 11 PAUL BEGINS BY EXPLAINING WHY BELIEVERS NEED TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND HOW HIS MIGHTY POWER IS TO BE APPROPRIATED.

* WE MUST REALIZE WE ARE ENGAGED IN A DEADLY SPIRITUAL WARFARE ON THE SIDE OF GOD AGAINST THE DEVIL, AND IF WE ARE TO PREVAIL WE MUST PUT ON GOD’S FULL ARMOR.

** NOW “PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD” IS ANOTHER IMPERATIVE IN THE GREEK, ANOTHER COMMAND.

*** AND IN THE FLOW OF THIS TEXT, THE IMPERATIVE OF PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD EXPLAINS HOW THE ADMONITION OF V. 10 TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD IS TO BE CARRIED OUT.

**** SO IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE STRENGTH OF GOD’S MIGHT, WE MUST “PUT ON” THE FULL SPIRITUAL ARMOR OF GOD.

1. AND THE VERB “PUT ON” CARRIES THE IDEA OF ONCE AND FOR ALL, OF PERMANENCE.

* MEANING: THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE PUT ON AND TAKEN OFF OCCASIONALLY, BUT IS SOMETHING TO BE PUT ON PERMANENTLY.

** BELOVED, THE FULL ARMOR WHICH YOU SEE PICTURED ON THE SCREEN WITH A SOLDIER WEARING IT IS NOT A UNIFORM TO WEAR ONLY WHILE PLAYING A GAME AND THEN TO REMOVE WHEN THE GAME IS OVER.

*** NO, THE ARMOR OF GOD IS TO BE THE CHRISTIAN’S LIFELONG COMPANION, HIS NORMAL WARFARE DRESS. WE ARE ALWAYS IN BATTLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE “RESTING”.

**** AND AS YOU SEE THESE PICTURES OF SOLDIERS ON THE SCREEN WITH THEIR ARMOR, REALIZE THAT PAUL WAS PROBABLY CHAINED TO A ROMAN SOLDIER WHEN HE PENNED THE WORDS OF EPHESIANS.

2. AND LOOKING AT THE SOLDIER’S ARMOR, HE WAS INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SEE IN IT THE ANALOGY OF GOD’S SPIRITUAL PROVISION FOR OUR BATTLE WITH SATAN.

* FOR WE WILL SEE IN THE REST OF V. 11 THAT WE NEED TO PUT ON THE ARMOR TO STAND FIRM AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL.

** SO LOOK BACK AT V. 11 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 3’D POINT TODAY, THE PURPOSE FOR PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD.

III. THE PURPOSE, (READ V. 11)

A. NOW THE PURPOSE OR GOAL FOR WHICH BELIEVERS ARE CLOTHED WITH THE DIVINE ARMOR IS “SO THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL”.

* AND THE WORD STAND AND ITS VARIOUS FORMS ARE USED 4 TIMES IN VV. 11-14, ONCE IN V. 11, TWICE IN V. 13 AND ONCE IN V. 14.

** AND THIS VERB LIT. MEANS TO RESIST OR TO HOLD ONE’S POSITION. AND WHEN USED IN A MILITARY SENSE, HAD THE IDEA OF HOLDING A CRITICAL POSITION WHILE UNDER ATTACK.

*** SO THE ONE WHO STANDS IS NOT PUSHED AROUND, BUT FIRMLY HOLDS HIS OR HER POSITION.

**** AND IN TERMS OF WARFARE, IT DOES NOT COMMUNICATE AN OFFENSIVE, BUT RATHER A DEFENSIVE STANCE TO HOLD ONE’S GROUND.

1. SO WE PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AND NOT GIVE IN.

* WE ARE TO HOLD THE GROUND CHRIST HAS ALREADY CONQUERED. WE DON’T GO AFTER SATAN, WE DEFEND THE GROUND ALREADY WON BY CHRIST.

** WE DON’T FIGHT FOR VICTORY, WE FIGHT FROM VICTORY, FOR IN THE ULTIMATE SENSE, OUR BATTLE AND THE CHURCH’S BATTLE WITH SATAN ARE ALREADY WON.

*** FOR IN HIS CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION JESUS DESTROYED SATAN AND HIS POWER OF SIN AND DEATH, QUOTE I CORINTHIANS 15:56&57.

**** AND TURNING FROM SIN TO CHRIST INITIATED A PERSON INTO THAT VICTORY.

2. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT A CHRISTIAN IS STRONG IN THE LORD, HIS VICTORY OVER THE WORST THE SATAN HAS TO OFFER IS GUARANTEED.

* WE WILL HAVE ULTIMATE VICTORY, BUT PRACTICAL VICTORY COMES BY BEING STRONG IN THE LORD AND PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR SO THAT WE MIGHT STAND NOW.

** AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO STAND FIRM AGAINST?

*** THE ANSWER IS IN THE LAST PART OF V. 10 “THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL”.

**** NOW THE WORD TRANSLATED SCHEMES OR WILES IS A GREEK WORD FROM WHICH COMES OUR ENGLISH WORD METHOD.

***** AND SATAN HAS MULTIPLE METHODS TO DO BATTLE WITH US, FOR HE TRIES TO ATTACK GOD THROUGH US.

1. HE HAS MULTIPLE SCHEMES, AND THE MEANING BEHIND HIS METHOD CARRIES THE IDEA OF CRAFTINESS, CUNNING AND DECEPTION.

* THIS TERM WAS OFTEN USED OF A WILD ANIMAL WHO CUNNINGLY STALKED AND THEN UNEXPECTEDLY POUNCED ON HIS PREY.

** AND LIKEWISE SATAN’S EVIL SCHEMES ARE BUILT AROUND STEALTH AND DECEPTION. HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT.

*** AND HE CONSTANTLY IS THROWING THESE FIERY ARROWS, THESE FIERY DARTS AGAINST US.

**** AND WE MUST HAVE ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD TO WITHSTAND, TO HOLD OUR POSITION AGAINST THESE FIERY DARTS, THESE SCHEMES THAT SATAN THROWS OUR WAY.

2. AND THESE TEMPTATIONS ARE SCHEMES AND LIES, THEY ARE DECEPTIONS. AND SATAN ATTEMPTS BY HIS STRATEGIES, HIS TACTICS, HIS METHODS TO TURN BELIEVERS ASIDE FROM PURSUING THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AND HINDERING THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

* A MAN NAMED SNODGRASS SAID THIS AND I QUOTE: “MENTION OF THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL REMINDS US OF THE TRICKERY AND SUBTERFUGE BY WHICH EVIL AND TEMPTATION PRESENT THEMSELVES IN OUR LIVES.

** EVIL RARELY LOOKS EVIL UNTIL IT ACCOMPLISHES ITS GOAL; IT GAINS ENTRANCE BY APPEARING ATTRACTIVE, DESIRABLE, AND PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE, IT IS A BAITED AND CAMOUFLAGED TRAP.” (END QUOTE)

*** AND HOW TRUE THAT IS. THE DEVIL’S APPLES LOOK GREAT FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT THE MOMENT YOU TAKE A BITE YOU FIND OUT THE APPLE IS FILLED WITH WORMS.

**** NOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE SCHEMES, SATAN’S METHODS, HIS DEVICES, WHICH ACCORDING TO II CORINTHIANS 2:11, “WE ARE NOT TO BE IGNORANT OF HIS SCHEMES”.

3. SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE SCHEMES? WELL JOHN MACARTHUR IN HIS COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS WRITES, THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL “INCLUDE THE PROPAGATION OF INDIVIDUAL BELIEFS AND LIFE-STYLES THAT CORRUPT AND DAMN.

* THEY INCLUDE EVIL NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT DECEIVE AND DESTROY. THEY INCLUDE THE DOUBTS PLACED IN BELIEVER’S MINDS TO LEAD THEM AWAY FROM TRUST IN THEIR HOLY AND LOVING FATHER.

** THEY INCLUDE TEMPTATIONS OF GOD’S CHILDREN TO IMMORALITY, WORLDLINESS, PRIDE, SELF-RELIANCE AND SELF-SATISFACTION.

*** THEY INCLUDE SLANDER, RIDICULE AND PERSECUTION OF SAINTS.” (END QUOTE)

**** AND THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES.

AND AS I WRAP UP THESE TWO VERSES TODAY: (1) I REMIND YOU THAT WE MUST OVERCOME LIES AND DECEPTION WITH TRUTH. WE MUST ENGRAFT TRUTH INTO OUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH READING THE WORD, STUDYING THE WORD, MEMORIZING THE WORD, MEDITATING ON THE WORD AND LISTENING TO THE WORD.

* AND AS LIES COME INTO OUR MINDS, WE TAKE TRUTH TO COUNTERACT THE LIE SO WE ARE NOT DECEIVED.

** WE MUST REALIZE WE ARE IN A BATTLE AND BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT BY PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.

*** AND WE’LL GET INTO THE SPECIFIC PIECES OF ARMOR, LORD WILLING, IN THE COMING WEEKS.

**** BUT FOR NOW WE MUST HAVE A WAR TIME, NOT A PEACE TIME MENTALITY, MEANING THAT MANY OF US HAVE WRONG GOALS AND IDEAS AND ATTITUDES.

2. FOR EXAMPLE, WE SEEK A CAREFREE LIFE, BUT IT DOES NOT EXIST IN WAR. WE WANT THINGS TO FALL IN LINE, BUT THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN BATTLE.

* OUR CONCEPTIONS OF LIFE AND RETIREMENT AND HAPPINESS MUST CHANGE. LIFE’S GOAL IS NOT ON “GOLDEN POND” AND CHRISTIANS ARE NOT CALLED TO A LIFE OF EASE.

** WE NEED A SENSE OF URGENCY, AN AWARENESS OF THE CONFLICT, AND A SENSE OF SPIRITUAL DANGER. WE CANNOT BE GUILTY OF FRATERNIZING WITH THE ENEMY.

*** WE MUST PAY ATTENTION AND BE ALERT BECAUSE WE CAN DRIFT INTO SIN, BUT NOT INTO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

**** SO WE MUST BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT, PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD SO WE STAND FIRM AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL.

3. I CLOSE WITH II TIMOTHY 2:3&4 WHICH I QUOTED IN MY INTRODUCTION TODAY.