TRUTH WARS (Raymond Johns Jr.)
Ephesians 6:10–16 (CSB)Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
1. When You are Growing Spiritually.
First, Satan attacks us when we’re taking significant steps of faith for spiritual growth.
2. When You Begin Invading Enemy Territory
3. When You Begin Exposing the Enemy
Satan attacks directly is when we’re exposing him for who he really is.
4. When You Break Away From Your Relationship with the Ways Of The World
5. When God’s Blessings Are Coming
In truth often spiritual opposition is a good sign that we are worthy of the attention of the kingdom of darkness.
Unexplained spiritual opposition can be an excellent indicator that God has something very special around the corner.
Faith means absolute confidence in God, his promises, his power, and his plan for our lives.
Faith’s purpose is to quench all the fiery missiles hurled at us by the enemy.
Claiming God’s promises by faith, trusting in his unchanging character, and holding up his truth will deflect and extinguish all the enemy’s lies.
Faith Overcomes.
The fiery darts of the adversary are the schemes, temptations, lies, and attacks aimed at God’s people.
Their goal is to get us to shift our focus from God onto something or someone else.
Both with Eve and with Jesus, Satan began by suggesting that the verdict is still out on God’s truth.
Satan’s second step is to cause us to focus on our own identity or worth.
1 John 2:15–16: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Every temptation in Scripture falls into one of those categories.
When we sense the darts of doubt and deception, we raise the shield of faith, which can extinguish everything the enemy flings at us.
We apply the specific truth of God’s Word to our personal situation as soon as we’re aware of an incoming missile.
We don’t evaluate our situation by visible circumstances, moods, or suspicions.
We insist on God’s truth regardless of any other message we’re receiving, and we trust it implicitly.
Trust in God’s character and the fact that he always has our best in mind.
Psalm 84:11 “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things.”
If we hold up the shield of faith by trusting in God’s character, we can extinguish the flames of that arrow.
Numbers 23:19 (NLT) God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
2 Peter 1:3–4 (NLT) By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
Have faith in God and His promises and his Word will dispel the darkness. Trust in God’s purposes and timing.
Love is not a feeling; it’s giving someone what he or she needs most when it is least deserved.
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