HOW TO WIN THE WAR AGAINST YOU? Pt. 1
(Eph 6:10-17)
Greg Denham Series: Fall Forward: Restart. Renew. Revive!
You are in a war and you have three enemies!
You will go through life facing these enemies in one of three ways:
#1 You’ll refuse to acknowledge that there are influences that will harm you but this will not make the threat go away. You’ll inevitably and unnecessarily suffer.
#2 You’ll recognize that you do have an enemy but at the same time will not responsibly protect yourself in order to keep from being harmed unnecessarily.
#3 You’ll go through life recognizing that you do have an enemy, understand who or what that enemy is, and take the necessary steps to protect yourself from being harmed.
What are these three enemies you face?
Enemy #1 Sinful Nature(“flesh”, self). The act of sin is selfishness! (Gal 5:19-21; Rm 8:13; 1 Peter 4:2)
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt 16:24) “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God” (Matt 5:4) “I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live …” (Gal 2:20) “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin …” Roman’s 6:6
Enemy #2 Worldliness (Culture) (John 1:10; 1Jn 2:15-17; Rom12:2; Jn 17:15-16; 2 Cor 4:4) Jesus said we’re to be “in the world but not of the world!” (Jn 17:15-16) “I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19. The Bible says that “satan is the god of this world” (1 Cor 4:4). The Bible says we’re not to “love the world!” (IJn 2:15-17)
“How should we wrap our minds around these things?” The Bible speaks of the world in three ways: the planet, the population, and the priorities/ values of our world(culture). I John 2:15-17 tells us “not to love the world!” #1 the lust of the eyes = the World’s Treasure; #2 the lust of the flesh = the World’s Pleasure; #3 the pride of life = the World’s Measure.
Enemy #3 The Devil (2 Cor 4:4; Jn 10:10; Eph 2:2; Jn 16:11)
One of the chief ways the devil influences is by inserting bad or harmful ideas into the heart of man (like a computer virus that ends up making a mess!) The Bible says satan is the “god of this world …” (2 Cor 4:4). I Jn 5:19 “the whole world is under the sway of the wicked one”
How do we protect ourselves? By living in the strength of Jesus Christ!
“…my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ….Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth …” (Eph 6:10-18)
What does it mean to wear the “belt of truth?” (Pastor Rick Warren did a great job nailing this!)
Wearing the belt of truth is living out your profession of faith in Jesus Christ. It means that the truth is being practiced in all areas of your life. This is what integrity is. The word “integrity” comes from the word “integer,” which means a unit of one.
Wearing the belt of truth is wearing integrity!
It means that you not only know the truth, but that you also act on the truth. It doesn’t mean that you are perfect but it does mean you are honest and authentic. If I know the truth but don’t act on it, then I don’t have integrity but hypocrisy. God says if you are a hypocrite, you have no defense against satan. Don’t give any room to the devil. NONE! If you give a foothold to satan in your life, he will turn it into a stronghold.
Have you compartmentalized your life? Are there some areas where you lack integrity? God wants you wrapped in the truth. Confess your sins to Him and ask Him to help you wear the belt of “truth!”
Prayer: “Father, teach me to live in a manner not according to self, culture or the devil. Guide me to live—even in fighting, arguing or in conflict —with weapons of the Spirit and not weapons of the flesh. Help me to fasten the belt of truth, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ permeates every area of my life to Your glory!”