Message Notes

YAG 16th RETREAT                                                                                         Saturday, 27 October 2012
(Time: 11.00am)
Message #7
Text: Ephesians 6; 1 Corinthians
Title: “Put on the whole armour of God”

EVALUATING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DOCTRINE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

A. UNDERSTANDING OUR ENEMY

1. The influence of the Evil One

a) He is described as the prince of the power of the air    Ephesians 2:2b

b) He works in the sons of disobedience     Ephesians 2:2c

c) He tempts people to walk according to the course of this world   Ephesians 2:2a

2. Organization of Satan’s forces
They are not disorganised!

a) Principalities

b) Powers

c) Rulers of the darkness of this age

d) Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places

3. Understanding the Gravity of the Spiritual Conflict

a) Wiles                  Ephesians 6:11

b) Wrestling           Ephesians 6:12

c) The evil day       Ephesians 6:13

4. The Consequences are deadly

a) Many are deceived/deluded

b) Many are discouraged/ in despair

c) Many are defeated

d) Some are destroyed

B. DETERMINED TO BE ENGAGED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

1. Understanding and appreciating God’s provision of Spiritual Armour

a) We can give battle to the enemy

b) We can fight valiantly and win

c) We were meant to give battle to the enemy

2. What it takes to have spiritual victory

a) Knowledge of each piece of our Spiritual Armour

i) Waist girded with truth              Ephesians 6:14a

ii) Breastplate of righteousness      Ephesians 6:14b

iii) Feet shod with the gospel of peace         Ephesians 6:15

iv) Shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one             Ephesians 6:16

v) Helmet of salvation       Ephesians 6:17a

vi) Sword of the Spirit         Ephesians 6:17b

b) Being strong in the Lord              Ephesians 6:10

i) Unafraid of the Devil

ii) Unafraid of battle wounds

iii) Unafraid of hard and long battles

iv) Unafraid of suffering

c) Being prayerful

i) In close touch with God

ii) Calling upon Him

iii) Cultivating dependence on the Lord

iv) Learning how to intercede for others

d) Actual engagement in spiritual battle

i) Doctrinal battles

ii) Personal battles

iii) Ecclesiastical battles

iv) Battle for the Lord

v) Battle for family

vi) Battle for friends

vii) Battle for our own soul

BECOMING OVERCOMERS

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,
“Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”            Revelation 12:10-11

1. Power in the Blood of the Lamb

2. Power of the word of our testimony that we are prepared to lose our lives for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ!