Our last Sunday in Uganda I was to preach, below is my sermon
based on a Kay Arthur bible study…
I have been learning a lot on spiritual warfare and how as
believers we need to recognize and understand the warfare that is inevitable
for those who know and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes we don’t realize
we are under attack by the Great Deceiver – Satan. We need to understand what
his methods and tactics are so that we can fight against him.
READ Eph 6:10-20
If we believe God at His Word, it is clear from this passage that
the enemy is cunning and crafty, he is out to deceive you and me but we are not
alone!
the outside my life seemed great but I was struggling on the inside. I felt
like quitting the Christian life because it was too hard and too many rules. I
had tried to live this perfect life of doing good but realized it didn’t get me
any closer to God. I began to doubt the Truth of God’s Word and I began to
question if he even existed. I doubted God’s goodness in my life or if he even
loved me, I felt forgotten and lost in this world. I felt worthless or that my
life was of no value to Him or to others. I was overwhelmed with these thoughts
and thought it would be better to just die. I had given up on life. I didn’t
know how I ended up with so much despair but I felt defeated! That is when
Jesus reached down and revealed His love, purpose, and hope for me.
I realized now that the enemy had crept in and disguised himself
as my thoughts. It was warfare and I was caught off guard. I almost missed what
God had in store for my life, that I don’t want you to miss what He has in
store for your life. I want others to understand the character of Satan and his
tactics so that we, as believers know how to stand firm. Ignorance of the enemy
will not keep you out of the battle, it will just make you more vulnerable to
his lies.
Satan sees us as a threat. He is not interested in the things of
God. He will do everything he can to hinder you in your search for Truth and
Understanding. But does this mean we should fear Satan? No because if you
received Christ into your heart, you are a child of God. It says in 2 Tim. 1:7,
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind.” In Ephesians, it says to “stand firm” don’t run or give in, just
stand. What Satan has planned for evil and destruction in your life, God has
planned to restore you, make you strong, and firm bringing the Glory back to
God.
Our focus should be on Christ, who we are in Christ, and what we
have in Him. If you received Christ, you are adopted into his family, you are
redeemed through Jesus’ blood, He forgave your sins, you were given the Holy
Spirit, you were given hope and grace, and the greatest thing is that we are
already victorious because we have HEAVEN. Don’t you see the kind of wealth we
have in Christ?
Now do you see why Satan
is out to deceive you from believing all that you have in Christ. No matter how
powerful the enemy might seem, victory is assured for us that believe. God has
given us the power, authority, and strength to overcome the evil one.
How do we resist the evil one…
Stand firm
Put on Belt of Truth – Satan’s first strategy with Adam and Eve
was to place doubt on God’s Word. So read the bible, absorb the teachings, and
study it. Jesus is Truth, His Word is Truth, and Truth sets us free
Put on Breastplate of Righteousness – The world is always
changing what it thinks is right and wrong. So how do we know what is right and
wrong? By doing what God says is right. Without the Holy Spirit we could never
be righteous, let alone walk in righteousness. We are not going to be perfect
and never sin, but God will meet you at your point of obedience and He will
help you to walk righteously before Him. Satan will try and condemn you of your
sin. God does not condemn. God convicts us of our sin and seeks to lead us to
repentance. So confess your sin, so that Satan has no opportunity to wound you.
Feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace – Be at peace with God and
with others. Then you can withstand almost anything but if that peace is
disturbed you can’t stand firm. So forgive one another, don’t hold on to
bitterness or anger, don’t give Satan that foothold in your life.
Shield of Faith – Acknowledging Truth isn’t enough, you need a
shield of faith to counteract the lies. You have to believe the Word. “Without
Faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).”
Helmet of Salvation – The helmet is symbolic of the fact that you
belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and you are a member of His family forever. It
is the assurance and confidence that salvation brings. You know your position
in Christ
Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) and Prayer – Learn scriptures
so that you can pierce the lies of the enemy with the Truth of scripture. Know
the Word of God and pray. Prayer is communication with God. It is used to
protect and to advance on the enemy. Pray on ALL occasions.
