SPIRITUAL DEFENSE

The Battle Is the Lord’s: Spiritual Defense
Ephesians 6:10-18

I. Understanding the Devil’s Tactics- Matthew 4:1-11
a. Blood in the Water- Devil comes at your weakest point
b. Bread- Distraction
c. Temple- Distortion
d. Kingdoms- Doubt
II. The Helmet of Salvation- Guard Your Mind- What you think?
a. Titus 2:11- For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
b. Acts 4:12- 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
c. James 4:7- 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you.
d. Romans 8:5- Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
e. Colossians 3:2- Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
f. 1 Peter 1:3- Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
III. The Breastplate of Righteousness- Guard Your Heart- What you feel?
a. Matthew 5:6- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.- What are you desiring?
i. Matthew 6:33- But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
ii. Romans 3- 21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
iii. Philippians 3- 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
b. Galatians 6- 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
i. Romans 4- 4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
IV. The Shield of Faith- What you believe?- Hebrews 11
a. 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
b. By faith, not by sight!