Scripture
Intro Questions
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Series: Our Struggle “Engaging in Spiritual
Warfare”
We are in a battle. Not a battle of politics
or militaries or nations. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood; it is
against the powers of darkness that confront us daily. You don’t need to feel
defeated or discouraged. God has made a way to redeem your struggle and give
you victory!
Title: “The Armor” (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening Thoughts: The armor
for engaging in the spiritual battle.
v Thanksgiving with family.
===============================================================
Text: Ephesians 6:10-20
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the
Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put
on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the
devil’s schemes. 12 For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against
the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have
done everything, to stand. 14 Stand
firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and
with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the
shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of
the evil one. 17 Take the
helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God.
18 And
pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for
all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also
for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will
fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in
chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
===============================================================
Summarize
the main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
v Review and
retell the story.
Reflections
for applications:
v Ephesians
1:18-21 NIV - I pray that the eyes
of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which
he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as
the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated
him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority,
power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age
but also in the one to come.
v Colossians
2:13-15 NIV - When you were dead in
your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with
Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal
indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away,
nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he
made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
v Protected by
HIS Power
o
Ephesians 6:10-12
§ James 4:7 NIV - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you.
§ Ephesians
2:1-6 NIV - As for you, you
were dead in your transgressions and sins …But because of his great love
for us … made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions ...
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms
in Christ Jesus.
v Standing in HIS Protection
o
Ephesians
6:13-14a
§ Romans 13:12 NIV - The night is nearly over; the day is
almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of
light.
o
Ephesians 6:15-16
o
Ephesians 6:17
v Protected by Prayer
o
Ephesians 6:18
§ Isaiah 65:24 NIV - Before they call I will
answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
§ Philippians 4:7 NIV - And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
v While
protected… Proclaim Victory
o
Ephesians 6:19-20
v This week’s
challenge: Finish getting ready each
morning with Ephesians 6:14-17
==============================
Digging
Questions:
·
How will you
respond to God “In Our Struggle”? What transformative move needs to be made?
·
What do
these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is
God calling us (me and you individually) to do?
Take
Away Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage?
How will you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is
God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions
need to be addressed or changed?
Hashtags #Struggle #Armor #Prayer
Sunday sermon link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEHYSC8PRgs&list=PLf6qIWBkF13ZWPxTsbbbfXpO0sJCbBnIv
Kevin’s Blog Link to more
resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments
and resources with some more resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-20&version=NIV
Past notes are on my blog at https://kevinskomment.blogspot.com/search/label/Ephesians
The chauffeur, a corporal, said, "General Wheeler."
"I'm sorry, I can't let you through. You've got to have a sticker on the windshield."
The general said, "Drive on!"
The sentry said, "Hold it! You really can't come through. I have orders to shoot if you try driving in without a sticker."
The general repeated, "I'm telling you, son, drive on!"
The sentry walked up to the rear window and said, "General, I'm new at this. Do I shoot you or the driver?"
Sometimes, the trick in times of war is knowing who to shoot. In the heat of battle, armies frequently experience casualties due to "friendly fire", and the church suffers in the same way. In our zeal to shoot someone, we set our crosshairs on one another.
"Finally, 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. 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." (Ephesians 6:10-12)
May you be strengthened today in the spiritual warfare that Satan is waging against you.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
· What were some of your favorite Halloween costumes you saw?
· Putting on God’s Armor is practical not decoration.
The Armor of God — Ephesians 6:10-24
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings
21Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. God is ... What do we learn about God?
2. We are ... What do we learn about people?
3. From his prison cell awaiting trial, Paul looks up and sees a battle raging (vv. 12-13) What is the battle? What is it over?
4. How are we to understand the word “full” (v. 11) Why would a Christian not want to use the full armor? What keeps them from using all God’s resources and power?
5. What are the 6 armors for the Christian? Which of these are offensive weapons? Defensive weapons?
6. We fight a spiritual battle, but we might well ask, who is the enemy? What attitude should we have as we face these forces?
7. How can one be “at peace” when one is at war? (v. 15) How do we regain the peace that has been lost? How do we pursue peace?
8. How does prayer fit into this spiritual battle? Do you set aside time for spiritual training?
Reflective Questions — Live it today.
1. What can you do for the church to help it be a stronger Christian armory?
2. If you had to compare your spiritual armor to this list, where are you strong? Weak?
3. What do you need to do to prepare for battle? What is at stake if you don’t?
4. What evidence do you see of the battle in your life? Your church? Your community? Your nation? The world?
5. What would it mean for you “to stand” in these particular battlefields?
6. I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
7. You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?
8. How does this equip us be a better disciple and help empower us to “make disciples”?
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do." — Dwight Moody
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