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Whole-Heartedly Rely on God’s Strength
 
vv.10-12

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”

Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Why should we rely on Christ’s Strength and Wage Warfare?  Because Satan doesn’t want you to follow Jesus!  He doesn’t want your marriage to last, your children to trust Christ, or for you to enjoy God forever.  He wants to paralyze you in your past sin, pull you into a pit, and render you powerless in your own strength.  He knows that in your own strength, mankind is useless.  He wants to paralyze you with addictions, chains, and bondage, but praise be to Christ that those chains can be broken!  Praise be to God that He has given us a way to wage warfare!

Whole-Heartedly Rely on His Strength!  You cannot do warfare unless you’re all in!
 

Wear the Right Armor

vv.13-17a
1)  Belt of Truth
– Holds Everything Together!  John 8:31-32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
2)  Breastplate of RighteousnessJ
– Protects Our Relationship with God! Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
3)  The Boots of the Gospel of PeaceJ
– Carries the Message of Hope! Romans 10:15 “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
4)  The Shield of FaithJ
– Shields Unbelief, and Satan’s Schemes of Slavery!
5)  The Helmet of SalvationJ
– Without it you cannot do battle!

 

Wield the Right Weapons of Warfare

vv.17b-18

According to 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 we need spiritual weapons.  “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

1) The Word

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

2) Prayer

1 John 3:22 “and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”

3) The name of Jesus

John 14:12-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Acts 16:16-18 “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.”
 

Witness to All About His Power vv.19-20

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

During WWII they’d send highly decorated soldiers home to promote the cause.  They’d share with the American people that what our boys were doing, was effective.  In honesty, it was to sell war bonds.  As Christians, Ambassadors for Christ, we are to share our story from the front-lines just how mighty, majestic, and powerful Christ Jesus really is!  If you have nothing to share, you may not be one of His soldiers!