2020 11 01 - Armor - The Sword of the Spirit

Notes
Transcript
Welcome
Today’s Passage: Ephesians 6:10-17
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What fictional character do you wish was running for president?

Connect
A relevant illustration or story to hook interest in today’s idea
SERIES INTRODUCTION
Ephesians 6:10–11 ESV
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Ephesians 6:12–13 ESV
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm.

We are in the middle of a battle with a real enemy

We win when we fight the right battle - spiritual not physical

We win when we use the right equipment - the armor of God not the power of man

We win when we have the right goal - stand firm where God has placed us

RECAP PREVIOUS WEEKS IN SERIES
Ephesians 6:14 ESV
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
truth ties up the loose ends in our lives
the righteousness of Christ protects our hearts
Ephesians 6:15 ESV
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
the gospel gives the peace we need to stand firm and step freely
Ephesians 6:16 ESV
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
faith is the protection we hold up together
Ephesians 6:17 ESV
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
salvation means we cannot be cut off from our source of life and authority in God
CONNECT THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE
we get to the final piece of the armor and the only offensive weapon that is listed the Sword
SHARE:

What is the worst fight you have ever been in?

EXPLORE
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 6:17–18 ESV
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT OF THE SCRIPTURE
Any relevant exegetical notes to better understand the scripture
MAIN IDEA
Transition from scripture to main idea
THE MAIN THING:

The Word of God and prayer empower the armor and win the fight.

Explore the Main Idea
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Who is someone you look up to?

1. The Word and prayer are how Jesus taught us to fight

Text
Matthew 4:1–2 ESV
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matthew 4:3–4 ESV
3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
quotes Deuteronomy 8.3
Matthew 4:5–6 ESV
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
Matthew 4:7 ESV
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
quotes Deuteronomy 6.16
Matthew 4:8–9 ESV
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Matthew 4:10 ESV
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”
Quotes Deuteronomy 6.13
Matthew 4:11 ESV
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
SHARE:

What is your favorite Bible verse?

2. The whole armor is empowered by the Word and Prayer

Truth
John 17:17 ESV
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Righteousness
Hebrews 5:11–12 ESV
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
Hebrews 5:13–14 ESV
13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Gospel of Peace
Colossians 1:5 ESV
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,
Faith
Romans 10:17 ESV
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Salvation
Ephesians 1:13 ESV
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

3. All other weapons are trying to fight under our own power

You lose you get nothing

Transform
Coming Back to the Main Thing

The Word of God and prayer empower the armor and win the fight.

Bring to Primary Application

Immerse yourself in the Word

Read the Word (all of it)
Study the Word
Memorize the Word
Apply the Word
Pray the Word

Pray continuously

Lead Application to Commitment
Commitment steps
Invitation
A call to prayer and fasting
Joel 2:12–13 ESV
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Joel 2:14–15 ESV
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;
Joel 2:16–17 ESV
16 gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. 17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
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