SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 52

TITLE: OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE

TEXT: EPHESIANS 6:12-13

INTRODUCTION: (1) THERE ARE TWO EXTREMES IN CHRISTIANITY TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE SUBJECT OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE, OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE AND BATTLE WE FACE AGAINST SATAN AND HIS UNHOLY ARMY.

* ONE IS EXTREME – DENIAL OR DELUSION THAT LEAVES BELIEVERS OPEN FOR ATTACK.

** IT IS IGNORANCE OF THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE, THE SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE THAT RAGES BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN.

*** BECAUSE OF THAT, ONE OF SATAN’S MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES, AND THEREFORE ONE OF A BELIEVER’S GREATEST DANGERS, IS THE DELUSION THAT NO SERIOUSLY THREATENING CONFLICT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS REALLY RAGING IN THE INVISIBLE AND SUPERNATURAL REALM.

**** BUT THAT SORT OF THINKING NOT ONLY IS NAÏVE AND DANGEROUS, BUT INEVITABLY LEADS TO LETHARGY, INDIFFERENCE, SPIRITUAL STAGNATION AND DECEPTION.

(2) WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND THE BATTLE IS FEVER HOT, IT IS RAGING, IT IS NUCLEAR IN ITS CAPACITY TO CAUSE DAMAGE.

* THE WAR BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN HAS NOT DIMINISHED BUT INTENSIFIED AS WE DRAW CLOSER TO THE COMING OF CHRIST.

** AND THAT’S THE ONE EXTREME. DENIAL, DELUSION, NO SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

*** NOW THE OTHER EXTREME IS IN A SENSE A NEW PHENOMENA OR AN OLD ONE WITH A NEW FACE.

**** AND THIS DISASTROUS WRONG TURN HAS DEVELOPED A PREOCCUPATION WITH DEMONS AND GIVES TOO MUCH CREDIT TO SATAN AND HIS ARMIES.

(3) IT IS THE MENTALITY THAT THERE IS A DEMON UNDER EVERY ROCK AND THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, THE DEMON OF CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL MUST BE CAST OUT WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS.

* AND SADLY AS A RESULT OF THE SO-CALLED “THIRD WAVE OF THE SPIRIT” SOME ARE FOCUSING MORE FREQUENTLY ON THE DEVIL, DEMON POSSESSION AND EXORCISM, TERRITORIAL SPIRITS AND THE ISSUE OF BINDING DEMONS.

** AND OFTEN THE TERMINOLOGY THAT IS USED IN THIS DESCRIPTION OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE BEARS LITTLE RESEMBLANCE TO THE LANGUAGE OR TERMS OF THE N.T.

*** FOR EXAMPLE SHOULD ANYONE SPEAK OF “HORDES OF DEMONS” OR THE “SWARMING PRESENCE OF BEELZEBUB AND HIS MINIONS”?

**** SHOULD ANYONE ATTEMPT TO LIST 323 TYPES OF DEMONS OR DESCRIBE TERRITORIAL SPIRITS IN A PARTICULAR LOCALE?

(4) IS IT FAIR TO SAY A “SPIRIT OF GREED” ENTERED CALIFORNIA DURING THE GOLD RUSH AND STILL LURKS AROUND SAN FRANCISCO?

* NOW I REALIZE THAT ALL THESE THINGS SOUND GREAT TO A SOCIETY ENAMORED WITH STAR WARS, VIDEO GAMES AND MOVIES LIKE THE EXORCIST AND FRIDAY THE 13TH, BUT ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE THINGS LIKE GREED COMES OUT OF THE HUMAN HEART.

** I DON’T NEED A DEMON AROUND ME TO BE GREEDY, ALL I HAVE TO DO IS YIELD TO THE LUSTS, THE DESIRES OF MY OWN HEART, READ JEREMIAH 17:9 AND JAMES 1:13-15.

*** AND BELOVED THIS EXTREME FOCUS ON DEMON POSSESSION, TERRITORIAL SPIRITS AND BINDING SATAN IS WRONG.

**** IT IS ALSO STRANGE THAT WHAT IS CLAIMED AS A MOVEMENT OF THE SPIRIT FOCUSES SO MUCH ATTENTION ON THE DEVIL.

(5) AND IN THE PROCESS, THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF CREATION IS DEMEANED, FOR MATERIAL OBJECTS BECOME RESIDENTS FOR DEMONS.

* AND POSSIBLY ALL THE TALK ABOUT DEMONS AND BINDING SATAN IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE, BUT THE EXTREMISM WITH THE TERMINOLOGY HAS LED VIRTUALLY TO A RETURN TO ANIMISM WHICH IS THE BELIEF THAT NATURAL OBJECTS, NATURAL PHENOMENA AND THE UNIVERSE ITSELF POSSESS SOULS.

** AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF EXTREMES LIKE THAT AND REMEMBER SATAN AND HIS DEMONS CANNOT MAKE US SIN, THEY TEMPT AND USE OUR FLESH AND THE WORLD SYSTEM, BUT THEY CANNOT MAKE US SIN, WE SIN BECAUSE WE YIELD TO LUST, WE DO REAL WELL ON OUR OWN.

*** NOW WHAT IS THE BALANCED BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE WHEN WE COME TO THE SUBJECT OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE?

**** WELL, PAUL’S ADMONITION IN EPHESIANS 6:10-20 IS FOR BELIEVERS TO RECOGNIZE THE NATURE AND DIMENSION OF THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE IN WHICH WE ARE ENGAGED, AND TO APPROPRIATE GOD’S ARMOUR IN ORDER TO RESIST VIGOROUSLY THE WILES, THE SCHEMES, THE ONSLAUGHTS OF THE DEVIL.

(6) THERE IS A WAR IN PROGRESS AGAINST THE GOD OF THIS WORLD, SATAN AND SO OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD ON A PURELY HUMAN LEVEL AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE, BUT AGAINST SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL HEADED UP BY SATAN HIMSELF.

* BUT GOD’S OWN ARMOUR HAS BEEN FORGED AND FURNISHED BY HIM FOR OUR USE SO THAT WE MAY OBEY HIS INJUNCTION TO STAND FIRM.

** WE ARE NOT TO LIVE IN FEAR AND BE PARANOID ABOUT DEMONS, WE ARE ACCORDING TO JAMES 4:7 TO SUBMIT OURSELVES TO GOD (READ IT).

*** AND BELOVED SATAN IS A DEFEATED FOE AND WE FIGHT NOT FOR VICTORY, BUT FROM VICTORY, SO WE MUST STAND FIRM PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD FOR THE BATTLE IS REAL.

**** BECAUSE OF THAT, I’VE TITLED THE MESSAGE TODAY, “OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE”.

(7) AND AS WE EXAMINE EPHESIANS 6:12&13 TO EQUIP US IN THIS BATTLE, WE’LL LOOK AT TWO THINGS: NO. 1 THE PLURALITY OF POWER WE ARE UP AGAINST, V. 12; AND NO. 2 THE PROVISION TO OVERCOME THAT POWER, V. 13.

* AND WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INTRODUCTION, LOOK AT V. 12 WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE PLURALITY OF POWER. LOOK AT EPHESIANS 6:12 PLEASE.

I. THE PLURALITY, (READ V. 12)

A. NOW TO BEGIN WITH, WE FIND OUT IN V. 12 THAT WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE.

* AND THIS WORD “STRUGGLE” TRANSLATED “WRESTLE” IN THE KJV AND NKJV IS A GREEK WORD USED ONLY HERE IN THE ENTIRE N.T. AND WAS USED TO TALK ABOUT HAND TO HAND COMBAT AND ESPECIALLY OF WRESTLING IN THAT DAY.

** IT CARRIES THE IDEA OF CONFLICT.

*** THAYER DEFINES THIS WORD AS “A CONTEST BETWEEN TWO IN WHICH EACH ENDEAVORS TO THROW THE OTHER, AND WHICH IS DECIDED WHEN THE VICTOR IS ABLE TO PRESS AND HOLD DOWN HIS PROSTRATE ANTAGONIST, NAMELY HOLD HIM DOWN WITH HIS HAND UPON HIS NECK.”

**** SO WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A FIGHT, A BATTLE, A STRUGGLE HERE, HAND TO HAND COMBAT.

1. NOW THIS STRUGGLE WE ARE INVOLVED IN IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, LITERALLY IT’S NOT AGAINST HUMAN OPPOSITION, IT IS NOT A PHYSICAL STRUGGLE, BUT A SUPERNATURAL STRUGGLE, IT’S NOT PHYSICAL, BUT SPIRITUAL.

* IN OTHER WORDS OUR GREATEST ENEMY IS NOT THE WORLD WE SEE, CORRUPT AND WICKED AS IT IS, BUT THE WORLD WE CANNOT SEE, READ II CORINTHIANS 10:3-5.

** NOW OUR STRUGGLE IS AGAINST A PLURALITY OF SPIRITUAL POWERS, A SPIRITUAL MAFIA, IT’S NOT A HUMAN PHYSICAL STRUGGLE, BUT A SPIRITUAL SUPERNATURAL STRUGGLE.

*** NOW OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD AND THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED “AGAINST” IS USED 5 TIMES IN V. 12.

**** SO IT’S NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, SO TO WHOM IS IT AGAINST?

2. WELL, THE FOUR OTHER USES OF “AGAINST” SEEM TO REPRESENT A PARTICULAR CATEGORY OF DEMON ACTIVITY AND LEVEL OF AUTHORITY.

* MEANING: SATAN’S FORCES OF DARKNESS ARE HIGHLY ORGANIZED AND STRUCTURED FOR THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE STRUGGLE POSSIBLE.

** AND THESE 4 CATEGORIES LISTED HERE FORM A VAST ORGANIZED HIERARCHY.

*** AND IT APPEARS THAT THE 4 DESIGNATIONS OF (1) RULERS, (2) THE POWERS, (3) THE WORLD FORCES OF DARKNESS AND (4) THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN HEAVENLY PLACES, DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENT STRATA, LEVELS AND RANKINGS OF THOSE DEMONS (FALLING ANGELS) AND THE EVIL SUPERNATURAL EMPIRE IN WHICH THEY FUNCTION AND OPERATE.

**** SO SATAN’S FORCES OF DARKNESS ARE HIGHLY STRUCTURED FOR THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE PURPOSES.

3. NOW SPECIFICALLY TO WHOM IS OUR STRUGGLE AGAINST?

* WELL, AGAINST THE RULERS OR PRINCIPALITIES. AND THOUGH EACH OF THESE 4 CATEGORIES ARE NOT EXPLAINED, RULERS OR PRINCIPALITIES APPEARS TO REFLECT A HIGH ORDER OF DEMONS, LINKED WITH AUTHORITIES IN COLOSSIANS 2:15 WHERE IT SAYS SPEAKING OF CHRIST’S VICTORY ON THE CROSS,

** COLOSSIANS 2:15 – “WHEN HE HAD DISARMED THE RULERS AND AUTHORITIES, HE MADE A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF THEM, HAVING TRIUMPHED OVER THEM THROUGH HIM.”

*** NOW AGAIN THESE CATEGORIES ARE NOT EXPLAINED SO I’M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYMORE ABOUT THESE RULERS OR PRINCIPALITIES EXCEPT THAT THE GREEK WORD BEHIND OUR ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS SIGNIFIES PRIMACY IN POWER, LEADERS.

**** SO JUST IMAGINE AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND THESE DEMONS ARE ON THE TOP.

4. NOW NEXT IS AGAINST POWERS OR AUTHORITIES IN THE NIV WHICH APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER RANK OF DEMONS MENTIONED IN I PETER 3:22.

* I PETER 3:22 – “WHO IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, HAVING GONE INTO HEAVEN, AFTER ANGELS AND AUTHORITIES AND POWERS HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO HIM.”

** NOW ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME ABOUT THESE FIRST TWO GROUPS THAT ARE AGAINST US IS OUR STRUGGLE IS AGAINST SUBJECTED POWERS.

*** THEY ARE SUBJECT TO CHRIST, HE HAS TRIUMPHED OVER THEM, SO WE NEED NOT FEAR THEM, THEY ARE POWERFUL, BUT NOT ALL POWERFUL, THEY ARE MIGHTY, BUT NOT ALL-MIGHTY.

**** AND DEMONS LIKE SATAN ARE DEFEATED FOES, I’M REMINDED OF I JOHN 4:4 AT THIS POINT, (READ IT).

5. AND BELOVED I REMIND YOU OF THAT TRUTH TO ENCOURAGE YOU, WE ARE ON THE WINNING TEAM, THE WAR HAS BEEN WON, WE ARE JUST IN THESE SKIRMISHES, THESE STRUGGLES UNTIL OUR FAITH WILL BE SIGHT.

* WITH THAT ENCOURAGEMENT IN MIND, THE 3’D CATEGORY IS AGAINST THE WORLD FORCES OF THIS DARKNESS WHICH CAN LIT. BE TRANSLATED WORLD RULERS OF THIS DARKNESS.

** AND PERHAPS THIS REFERS TO DEMONS WHO HAVE INFILTRATED AND INFLUENCED VARIOUS POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF THE WORLD, ATTEMPTING TO PATTERN THEM AFTER SATAN’S REALM OF DARKNESS.

*** AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE SEEN WICKED POLITICAL RULERS THAT WERE INFLUENCED AND POSSIBLY POSSESSED BY DEMONS IN WORKS OF DARKNESS.

**** MEN LIKE SADDAM HUSSEIN, HITLER, LENIN, STALIN, MUSSOLINI AND OTHERS.

6. AND BELOVED WE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT SATAN IS ACTIVE BEHIND THE SCENES OF CHRISTLESS DARK ENDEAVORS.

* AND THEN FINALLY THE FOURTH CATEGORY THAT WE STRUGGLE AGAINST IS SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES OR REALMS.

** AND THIS IS POSSIBLY MAKING REFERENCE TO DEMONS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE MOST WRETCHED AND VILE IMMORALITIES, SUCH AS EXTREMELY PERVERSE SEXUAL PRACTICES, THE OCCULT, SATAN WORSHIP AND THE LIKE.

*** THESE ARE HOSTILE SPIRITS WHOSE SPHERE OF WORK IS IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS, THAT’S THEIR PLACE OF OPERATION.

**** THE BATTLE WE ARE INVOLVED IN IS PLAYED OUT IN THE HEAVENLIES AND ON EARTH, IN THE REALM OF THE PRINCE AND POWER OF THE AIR, SATAN. THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE MOVE.

7. SO WE ARE IN A REAL SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE AGAINST RULERS, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE WORLD FORCES OF THIS DARKNESS AND AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLIES.

* AND LET ME REVIEW WHAT WE HAVE STUDIED UP TO THIS POINT LAST SUNDAY AND THIS SUNDAY.

** PAUL HAS COMMANDED BELIEVERS TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD IN V. 10; TO PUT ON THE ARMOUR OF GOD, V. 11A; TO STAND AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL, V. 11B; AND IN V. 12 THAT WE HAVE A PLURALITY OF POWERS WE STRUGGLE WITH.

*** NOW AS WE MOVE ON TO V. 13, HE REMINDS US OF THE PROVISION TO RESIST AND TO STAND FIRM, SO LOOK AT V. 13 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE PROVISION.

II. THE PROVISION, (READ V. 13)

A. NOW THE PROVISION FOR OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE IS THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD.

* AND THE COMMAND HERE IS TO “TAKE UP” THE FULL ARMOR. AND THE VERB IS AN IMPERATIVE SO IT IS A COMMAND AND LIT. MEANS TO PUT IT ON, TO USE SOMETHING, TO TAKE UP SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF SO IT CAN BE USED.

** LIKE TAKE UP YOUR WEAPONS IN A MILITARY CONTEXT. AND HERE WHAT WE ARE TO TAKE UP IS THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, WHICH SPECIFICALLY WILL START TO BE DESCRIBED BEGINNING IN V. 14.

*** AND WE HAVE THE EMPHASIS OF REPETITION IN THIS COMMAND IN V. 13, FOR THE COMMAND TO PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR WAS GIVEN IN V. 11.

**** SO THIS MUST BE VITALLY IMPORTANT. THE EMPHASIS OF REPETITION COMMUNICATES THE IMPORTANCE, IN HOW VITAL IT IS FOR US TO PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD. THIS IS GOD’S PROVISION FOR OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE.

1. NOW THE REASON WE ARE TOLD TO DO THIS IN V. 13 IS FIRST OF ALL, “SO THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RESIST IN THE EVIL DAY”.

** AND THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED “RESIST” OR “WITHSTAND” OR “STAND YOUR GROUND” IS USED IN TWO OTHER CONTEXTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEVIL.

*** FIRST IN JAMES 4:7 WHICH I QUOTED EARLIER WHICH SAYS: (QUOTE IT). ALSO READ JAMES 4:8.

**** AND THEN THIS GREEK WORD IS USED AGAIN IN

I PETER 5:8&9, SPECIFICALLY V. 9, BUT VERSE 8 GIVES US A CONTEXT, READ THEM.

2. NOW PLEASE GET THIS. DEALING WITH DEMONS IN ONE’S CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT A MATTER OF FINDING THE TECHNIQUE TO SEND THEM AWAY, BUT OF PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR, OF BEING COMMITTED TO THE SPIRITUAL MEANS OF GRACE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO RESIST THE DEVIL.

* IN OTHER WORDS WE HAVE THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT, THE POWER OF THE WORD, AND THE POWER OF THE CHURCH TO SAY NO TO THE DEVIL, TO RESIST HIM AND SAY YES TO THE SPIRIT.

** AND WHEN WE DO YIELD TO TEMPTATION, WHICH IS SIN, WHEN SIN IS CONFESSED AND PUT AWAY, SATAN AND HIS DEMONS ARE EXPELLED.

*** OUR TRUST IS IN THE LORD’S POWER, NOT OURS, TO RESIST AND STAND.

**** AND WE DO THAT IN THE EVIL DAY, IN THE DAY OF TEMPTATION, FOR EVERYDAY EVILS IN OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE, BUT NOT ONLY FOR EVERYDAY EVILS, BUT FOR TIMES OF HEIGHTENED AND INTENSIFIED SPIRITUAL BATTLES.

3. AND FOR ME IN MY CHRISTIAN WALK, THOSE INTENSE EVIL DAYS COME AFTER A GREAT VICTORY, AFTER A MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE AND WHEN I AM TIRED AND DROP MY GUARD.

* AND WHEN THERE IS VICTORY BY USING OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR, OUR SPIRITUAL RESOURCES, PRAISE GOD, BUT REMEMBER WHEN THERE IS A FAILED ATTEMPT BY SATAN, HE WILL RETURN.

** IN FACT, HE EVEN DID THAT WITH JESUS. FOR IN LUKE 4:13, AFTER JESUS WAS TEMPTED BY SATAN IN THREE AREAS, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE IT SAYS:

*** LUKE 4:13 – “WHEN THE DEVIL HAD FINISHED EVERY TEMPTATION, HE LEFT HIM UNTIL AN OPPORTUNE TIME.”

* SO WHEN VICTORY COMES, PRAISE GOD, BUT MAKE SURE YOU DON’T GET ALL PUFFED UP, FOR SATAN WILL USE PRIDE TO FURTHER TEMPT YOU, READ

I CORINTHIANS 10:12&13.

** AND BELOVED REMEMBER THIS, TEMPTATION IS NOT SIN, YIELDING TO IT IS, AND FOR EVERY TEMPTATION, THERE IS A WAY TO ESCAPE IT BY GOD’S GRACE.

*** WE NEED TO RESIST AND SAY NO TO THE FLESH AND TO WHATEVER EVIL, WRONG DESIRE IT IS AND SAY YES TO THE SPIRIT.

**** SO WE TAKE UP THE FULL ARMOR AND RESIST, AND AS WE GO TO THE LAST PART OF V. 13, “DO EVERYTHING TO STAND FIRM”.

3. AND THE IDEA HERE IS AFTER A CHRISTIAN IS STRENGTHENED IN THE LORD BY PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, THEN HE OR SHE IS ABLE TO STAND FAST AGAINST THE EVIL POWERS, TO HOLD HIS OR HER POSITION AND NOT GIVE IN.

* AND ONLY WHEN WE MAKE FULL USE OF GOD’S ARMOR WILL WE BE ABLE TO STAND OUR GROUND WITHOUT WAVERING OR FALLING IS THE GOAL.

** WE ARE NOT IN AN ATTACK MODE, BUT A DEFENSIVE MODE, HOLDING THE GROUND ALREADY WON BY CHRIST AND NOT WAVERING OR FALLING DOWN IN THE PROCESS.

*** WE STAND VICTORIOUS AND EVERYTHING IS DONE TO STAND. BELOVED, MAY WE STAND OUR GROUND.

IN WRAP UP AND REVIEW: PAUL COMMANDS BELIEVERS TO PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESIST IN THE EVIL DAY AND TO STAND DEFENSIVELY AGAINST SATANIC HOSTS.

* AND THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS HOLDING FAST TO TERRITORY ALREADY WON BY CHRIST.

** SO WE AS BELIEVERS NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS ARE UNIVERSAL AND STRONG, BUT NOT ALL-POWERFUL.

*** AND THE ALL-POWERFUL STRENGTH OF THE LORD GAINED BY UTILIZING THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD IS MUCH STRONGER THAN ALL OF THE POWER OF THE WICKED ONE.

**** AND BELOVED THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE LEARNED IN EPHESIANS 4:27, WHICH CAUTIONS US AGAINST GIVING PLACE OR GROUND TO THE DEVIL, READ IT.

(2) SO WE MUST STAND AND RESIST AND BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.

* LEWIS SPERRY CHAFER SUMMARIZED OUR ROLE WELL ALONG THIS LINE WHEN HE SAID ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: “AS PILGRIMS WE WALK, AS WITNESSES WE GO, AS CONTENDERS WE RUN, AND AS FIGHTERS WE STAND.” (END QUOTE)

** SO WE MUST FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.

*** AND THE GREATEST JOYS COME IN OUR GREATEST VICTORIES, AND THE GREATEST VICTORIES COME FROM THE GREATEST BATTLES – WHEN THEY ARE FOUGHT IN THE POWER AND WITH THE ARMOR OF THE LORD.

**** REMEMBER DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT A PLAYGROUND, BUT A BATTLEGROUND.