A “Field Manual” For Spiritual Warfare

1 Message for the LORD'S DAY MORNING, December 11, 2016 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolinaby Reggie A. Braziel, MinisterMessage 16 in Ephesians Sermon Series ( Rags To Riches )Message 16 in Ephesians Sermon Series ( Rags To Riches )Message 16 in Ephesians Sermon Series ( Rags To Riches )Message 16 in Ephesians Sermon Series ( Rags To Riches ) A Field manual For Spiritual Warfare A Field manual For Spiritual Warfare A Field manual For Spiritual Warfare A Field manual For Spiritual Warfare Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV)Today we will conclude our series from Paul's Letter to The Paul's Letter to The Paul's Letter to The Paul's Letter to The Ephesians, Ephesians, Ephesians, Ephesians, that we began almost four months ago. Please openyour Bibles to today's scripture text in Ephesians chapter six.

2 Ephesians chapter six. Ephesians chapter six. Ephesians chapter six. Andlet's read verses 10-18. verses 10-18. verses 10-18. verses 10-18. EPHESIANS 6:10-18 (NKJV)EPHESIANS 6:10-18 (NKJV)EPHESIANS 6:10-18 (NKJV)EPHESIANS 6:10-18 (NKJV)10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

3 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints P R A Y E RP R A Y E RP R A Y E RP R A Y E R**I N T R O D U C T I O NI N T R O D U C T I O NI N T R O D U C T I O NI N T R O D U C T I O NOne of the predominant themes in movies and TV shows is thethethethebattle between GOOD VS. EVIL. battle between GOOD VS. EVIL. battle between GOOD VS. EVIL. battle between GOOD VS. EVIL. *For BATMAN it was THE JOKER*For BATMAN it was THE JOKER*For BATMAN it was THE JOKER*For BATMAN it was THE JOKER* For SUPERMAN it was LEX LUTHER* For SUPERMAN it was LEX LUTHER* For SUPERMAN it was LEX LUTHER* For SUPERMAN it was LEX LUTHER* For LUKE SKY WALKER and HAN SOLO it was DARTH VADER* For LUKE SKY WALKER and HAN SOLO it was DARTH VADER* For LUKE SKY WALKER and HAN SOLO it was DARTH VADER* For LUKE SKY WALKER and HAN SOLO it was DARTH VADER* For POPEYE it was BLUTO* For POPEYE it was BLUTO* For POPEYE it was BLUTO* For POPEYE it was BLUTO* And for THE SMURFS it was GARGAMEL* And for THE SMURFS it was GARGAMEL* And for THE SMURFS it was GARGAMEL* And for THE SMURFS it was GARGAMELOf course all of these are fictional characters fictional characters fictional characters fictional characters engaged in fictional battles.

4 Fictional battles. fictional battles. fictional battles. But in our scripture text this morning, theapostle Paul warns the Ephesians as well as all of us, that we arewe arewe arewe areengaged in a very REAL BATTLE with a very REAL enemy . engaged in a very REAL BATTLE with a very REAL enemy . engaged in a very REAL BATTLE with a very REAL enemy . engaged in a very REAL BATTLE with a very REAL enemy . Many Christians do not take Spiritual Warfare seriously or at do not take Spiritual Warfare seriously or at do not take Spiritual Warfare seriously or at do not take Spiritual Warfare seriously or at least seriously enough. least seriously enough. least seriously enough. least seriously enough. In fact, a great number of Christians dismiss Spiritual Warfare Spiritual Warfare Spiritual Warfare Spiritual Warfare as fantasy. But brothers and sisters, the truth is Spiritual Warfare is very real! Spiritual Warfare is very real!

5 Spiritual Warfare is very real! Spiritual Warfare is very real! Spiritual Warfare does exist! Our enemy is REAL! Our battles areSpiritual Warfare does exist! Our enemy is REAL! Our battles areSpiritual Warfare does exist! Our enemy is REAL! Our battles areSpiritual Warfare does exist! Our enemy is REAL! Our battles areREAL! REAL! REAL! REAL! And if you and I are going to be victorious in the Christianlife we must take Spiritual Warfare very, very seriously!we must take Spiritual Warfare very, very seriously!we must take Spiritual Warfare very, very seriously!we must take Spiritual Warfare very, very seriously! illustration: illustration: illustration: illustration: Over the years the United States Army has distributed fieldmanuals to every soldier. These field manuals field manuals field manuals field manuals are basically instructionson how to survive in battle. Included in the manual is such informationas: what to do if captured by the enemywhat to do if captured by the enemywhat to do if captured by the enemywhat to do if captured by the enemy , and what to do if trapped behindwhat to do if trapped behindwhat to do if trapped behindwhat to do if trapped behindenemy lines, enemy lines, enemy lines, enemy lines, and what to do if tortured or interrogated by the enemy .

6 What to do if tortured or interrogated by the enemy . what to do if tortured or interrogated by the enemy . what to do if tortured or interrogated by the enemy . These field manuals provide the soldier with vital information that may makethe difference between life and death on the scripture text this morning is basically A Field manual For A Field manual For A Field manual For A Field manual ForSpiritual Warfare . Spiritual Warfare . Spiritual Warfare . Spiritual Warfare . In these verses, Paul provides us with vitalinformation that will make the difference between victory anddefeat in our Spiritual battles. First of all, Paul tells us Our Our Our ADVERSARYADVERSARYADVERSARYADVERSARY (vs. 10-12) (vs. 10-12) (vs. 10-12) (vs. 10-12)10101010 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His , my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His , my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His , my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

7 The wiles of the devil. the wiles of the devil. the wiles of the devil. 12121212 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 1.

8 One of the keys to victory in any conflict is that you have to know your enemy . In the field of athletics, coaches prepare for a game by studying game film of their opponent for hours, seeing if they can find their greatest weaknesses and vulnerabilities. When it comes to Spiritual Warfare we must know our When it comes to Spiritual Warfare we must know our When it comes to Spiritual Warfare we must know our When it comes to Spiritual Warfare we must know our adversary if we are to be victorious. adversary if we are to be victorious. adversary if we are to be victorious. adversary if we are to be victorious. 2. Paul clearly identifies our adversary our adversary our adversary our adversary in verse 2. verse 2. verse 2. verse 2. It is none other than the devil himself. the devil himself.

9 The devil himself. the devil himself. The devil is the arch- enemy of God and all of God's children! 3. In verse 10, verse 10, verse 10, verse 10, Paul reveals a very important truth that we must firmly grasp if we are to be be victorious in our daily battles with Satan; and that is: We cannot, I repeat, We cannot, I repeat, We cannot, I repeat, We cannot, I repeat, we cannot fight our adversary by our own human power or we cannot fight our adversary by our own human power or we cannot fight our adversary by our own human power or we cannot fight our adversary by our own human power or strength! We cannot defeat him by sheer will power or strength! We cannot defeat him by sheer will power or strength! We cannot defeat him by sheer will power or strength! We cannot defeat him by sheer will power or raw determination.

10 We cannot out wit or out smart our raw determination. We cannot out wit or out smart our raw determination. We cannot out wit or out smart our raw determination. We cannot out wit or out smart our adversary! adversary! adversary! adversary! This is a Spiritual battle not a physical one. Spiritual battle not a physical one. Spiritual battle not a physical one. Spiritual battle not a physical one. And the only way we can be victorious in our dailybattles is to rely upon the strength and power of the to rely upon the strength and power of the to rely upon the strength and power of the to rely upon the strength and power of the LORD. LORD. LORD. LORD. 4. Throughout this Ephesian letter Ephesian letter Ephesian letter Ephesian letter Paul has been reminding us that everything we are and everything we have is becauseeverything we are and everything we have is becauseeverything we are and everything we have is becauseeverything we are and everything we have is because of Christ.