Spiritual Warfare: Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There
In our new series, This Means War, Pastor David Rose dives into the spiritual battles we face as followers of Christ. Working from Ephesians 6:10-20, he challenges us to view the Christian life not as a place of comfort but as a spiritual battleground.
As our culture grows increasingly contentious and worldly conflicts rage on, Pastor David calls believers to engage in a deeper, more significant fight—a spiritual one. He explains how we are called to “put on the full armor of God” and stand firm against the unseen forces that oppose our walk with Christ. He explores the practical implications of each piece of spiritual armor, showing us how to resist the enemy’s schemes and walk confidently in the victory Christ has already won.
Listen in to learn what it means to be strengthened by the Lord, how God’s armor protects us, and why prayer is essential for securing spiritual victories.
Key Takeaways
- God gives a strategy for spiritual warfare. (6:10-12)
- We take the proper position. Stand in His strength.
- We have the proper perspective. The true enemy is invisible.
- God provides armor for the battle: (6:13-17)
- God uses prayer for victory. (6:18-20)
Further Study
- Take a minute to read Ephesians 6:10, Colossians 1:11-14, and Philippians 4:13. What does it mean to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might”? How does recognizing Christ as the source of our strength change the way you approach both spiritual struggles and daily challenges?
- Scripture tells us that our struggle is “not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12) but against spiritual forces. How does this perspective shape the way we view conflicts and challenges in our lives? What insights does 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 offer about the weapons we need for this kind of warfare?
- How does each piece of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:14-17) reflect an aspect of Christ’s character or work (cf. Romans 13:14)? How does this deepen our understanding of the Gospel’s power in the battles we face?
- Why do you think Paul emphasizes prayer as crucial for victory in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:18-20)? How does this emphasis on prayer reflect our dependence on God’s grace rather than our own strength (cf. Philippians 4:6-7)?
- Paul requests prayer for boldness to proclaim the Gospel while in chains (Ephesians 6:19-20). Acts 4:29-31 records the early church also praying for boldness to speak God’s Word in the midst of persecution. What does this teach us about the role of evangelism in spiritual warfare?
- Take a minute to observe how Christ used Scripture to resist Satan’s temptations in Matthew 4:1-11. How can you incorporate Scripture into your own life as a means of resisting spiritual attacks and staying grounded in the truth?
The Gospel
If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.
Reach outThe Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Before Christ, we were all dead in our sin, and none of us deserved forgiveness. We were separated from God, under His wrath because of our sin. But Jesus, through His work on the cross, His empty tomb, His ascension, and His current position in heaven, makes it possible for us to be rescued and transferred into His kingdom.
This rescue isn’t about making bad people good; it’s about bringing the spiritually dead to life. As Pastor David said, “Jesus takes us from being dead to being alive. And if that is the world into which He is bringing us—this new kingdom—then it means that we’re adopted into a kingdom that is no longer of this world.”
The Gospel is the truth that Christ covers us with His own righteousness, allowing us to stand in the victory that Jesus won at the cross and the empty tomb. In Him, we have peace with God because Christ took our punishment and bore the wrath of God on the cross, enduring it so that we didn’t have to.
Salvation is not about our efforts or worthiness, but about Christ’s finished work. When we trust in Christ, we are clothed in His righteousness, filled with His Spirit, and equipped to stand firm against the spiritual battles we face.
This Gospel isn’t just for personal salvation; it’s a message we’re called to boldly proclaim to others, even in difficult circumstances, so that they too can be “rescued and transferred into His kingdom” (Colossians 1:13).