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Sermon . Know your ENEMY Eph 6:10-12 Introduction. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
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Sermon • Know your ENEMY • Eph 6:10-12 • Introduction
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV)
Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”) Sola Fide (“faith alone”) • Sola Gratia (“grace alone”) • Solus Christus (“Christ alone”) • Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”)
“Sola Bootstrapus” • “It does not do to leave a dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” (The Hobbit)
OUR ENEMY IS REAL • OUR ENEMY is powerful • Don’t enter the battle unarmed or unaware of the enemy. • Make use of the means of grace even when the battle doesn’t seem to be raging around you.
OUR ENEMY is wicked • See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. (Heb 3:12-13)
MIC 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. • And what does the LORD require of you? • To act justly and to love mercy • and to walk humbly with your God.
OUR ENEMY is cunning • Satan would have us focus on the external appearance of godliness or the life that is “together” rather than on the invisible issues of righteousness- the inner attitudes and affections of the heart that motivate us.
OUR ENEMY is defeated and is no match for the believer equipped with the armor of God. • The Christian is one who knows that the battle has been won by Christ and that we only enter into his victory by being united to him by grace through faith.
THE ARMOR OF God is not a thing. It is not a substance that can be measured or a commodity to be distributed. • It is the “grace of the Lord Jesus Christ”. • In essence, it is Jesus Himself.