Spiritual Warfare, Pt. 2

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - Pray.

TEXT - Ephesians 6:18

1. High-stakes prayer.

* Non-stop.

* All-inclusive.

* Family-style

* Press-on.

2. Spirit-empowered prayer.

* Open-eyed prayer.

* Open-eyed pray-ers

* 2 Kings 6

* Daniel 10

* Acts 12

3. Identity-driven prayer.

LIES VS TRUTH

* (The devil) does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44b)

* But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. (John 16:13a)

LIE: God is not always good.

TRUTH: I am assured that all things work together for the good. (Rom. 8:28)

LIE: God doesn’t care about you.

TRUTH: I am God’s child. (John 1:12)

LIE: You can’t trust God.

TRUTH: I cannot be separated from the love of God. (Rom. 8:35-39)

LIE: You are inadequate.

TRUTH: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)

LIE: You are alone.

TRUTH: I am united with the Lord, and I am one in spirit with Him. (1 Cor. 6:17)

LIE: You are not good enough.

TRUTH: I am a saint, holy and blameless. (Eph. 1:1,4-5)

LIE: You are too weak.

TRUTH: I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. (John 15:16)

LIE: You are not worth it (worthy).

TRUTH: I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.(1 Cor. 6:20)

LIE: You are unforgivable.

TRUTH: I am free from condemnation. (Rom. 8:1-2, 31-34

LIE: What you do doesn’t matter.

TRUTH: I am an ambassador of reconciliation for God. (2 Cor. 5:17-21)

Spiritual Warfare

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might!

TEXT - Ephesians 6:10-17

1. Know your enemy.

Ephesians 6:10-12

1 Peter 5:8

2. Know your armor. (Ephesians 6:13-17)

Belt of Truth

Breastplate of Righteousness

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Shield of Faith

Helmet of Salvation

Sword of the Spirit: Word of God

3. Know your posture.

Ephesians 6:10-12

Romans 12:21

NEXT STEPS

1. Rehearse your identity in Christ.

2. Stand firm no matter what.

3. Check out this resource: The Whole Armor of God: How Christ's Victory Strengthens Us for Spiritual Warfare. Iain M. Duguid

THE ARMOR OF GOD Ephesians 6:14-17

Paul uses the language of “putting off the old” and “putting on the new” as a description of the Christian life. Consider what it means that Jesus put on the Armor of God for us. Stand firm in your identity in Christ Jesus!

The Belt of Truth. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” The enemy is the father of lies. He is defeated with the truth.

The Breastplate of Righteousness. “…with the breastplate of righteousness in place…” When the enemy tempts us with sinful entanglements, righteousness protects our hearts from being destroyed by sin.

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. “…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” The gospel (the good news) is forgiveness of sins, union with Christ, and peace with God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

The Shield of Faith. “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,” Faith extinguishes the fiery darts of the accusations of the enemy.

The Helmet of Salvation. “Take the helmet of salvation” Salvation comes when we trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection as the payment for our sins. Ultimate victory rests in the completed work of Jesus Christ.

The Sword of the Spirit: Word of God. “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” God’s Word destroys the enemy’s lies and guides us to victory.

Spiritual Maturity

Pastor Steve Poole

TEXT - Ephesians 5:1-21

1. Goal: Spiritual Maturity

Walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

2. Standard 1: Walk in love as Jesus loved us.

3. Standard 2: Walk in light instead of darkness.

Ephesians 5:8

4. Standard 3: Walk in wisdom.

Make the most of your time.

NEXT STEPS

1. Reflect on your life—is spiritual maturity a goal in your life?

2. Where are you falling short of God’s standards?

3. Confess where needed, and recalibrate daily through spiritual

disciplines.

4. Re-read Ephesians 5:1-21, and 6:9. Reflect on God’s standards for

our relationships.

Spiritual Calling

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - We demonstrate the unity of the Spirit by using our spiritual gifts to build up the body.

TEXT - Ephesians 4:17-32

1. Who? You.

Ephesians 4:17-18

God calls everyone.

2. What? Obey.

Ephesians 4:20-24

Put off the old, put on the new.

3. When? Now.

Ephesians 4:25

Don’t wait to do good.

4. Where? Here.

Ephesians 4:26-31

Do good wherever God places you.

5. How? Love.

Ephesians 4:32

Love because you are loved.

6. Why? Glorify God.

Ephesians 4:1-32

Honor God and grow the body.

NEXT STEPS

1. Discover your gifts.

2. Follow the Spirit.

REFLECTION

God’s Calling on Your Life

Use these passages to help you explore God’s calling. With your personality, passions, and spiritual gifts in mind – reflect on these passages and ask God to speak to you. Make notes about what you hear God telling you. (If you have not completed your FIT profile, complete a paper copy from the round tables in the back and leave it in the offering baskets, or Complete the "My Fit" gifts assessment.)

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” ~ John 15:16.

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.” ~ 1 Peter 1:15-16

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:9a

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~ Ephesians 2:10

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” ~ Ephesians 4:32

My notes:

Spiritual Gifts

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - We demonstrate the unity of the Spirit by using our spiritual gifts to build up the body.

TEXT - Ephesians 4:11-16

1. America has always been divided.

* Ephesians 4:14

* Matthew 12:25

2. Why are we (Christians) not more united?

* Ephesians 4:1-6

* 1 Corinthians 12:1

3. The Spirit brings unity.

* Ephesians 4:13

* 1 Corinthians 12:12-3

4. We demonstrate unity by using our gifts.

* Ephesians 4:11-12

* 1 Corinthians 12:7,27

NEXT STEPS

1. Discover your gifts. (Learn by doing.)

2. Use your gifts. (Grow the body.)

3. Don’t make excuses. (We need everybody.)

REFLECTION: Gift-Based Ministry

At Cedar Hills, our ministry is shaped by the spiritual gifts, personalities, and passions of our congregation. “The right person, in the right place, at the right time” is the essence of this approach.

Prayerfully consider what this means for you!

· Gift-based ministry requires reliance on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to build up the body. It is God’s job to give gifts. It is our job to use our gifts as the Spirit leads us.

· Gift-based ministry calls for interdependence with each other. Interdependency values others, seeing one another as equally important. One body, many parts, and each part essential.

· Gift-based ministry promotes authenticity. Recognizing God-given gifts, we celebrate how each person is uniquely wired to be a valued part of the body.

· Gift-based ministry energizes the community. Serving according to our gift, passion, and personality gives life. (This also limits the burnout of people who grow weary and give up because they are serving in the wrong place.)

· Gift-based ministry is creative, flexible, and fun. We never know what God will do next but we know that God will provide the right person, in the right place, at the right time!

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Spiritual Inheritance: The Walk

Pastor Steve Poole

THEME – Walking the walk

TEXT - Ephesians 4:1-6

Recommended Resource – John Piper’s video,

“Why Is Lowliness Fitting for Our Calling? Ephesians 4:1–6”

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CALLING

We walk worthy of God’s abundant calling in our lives.

We walk in humility and lowliness.

We walk in meekness.

We walk in enduring love.

We walk in unity.

NEXT STEPS

Read Ephesians 1-3. Ask God to help you understand the abundance of our calling.

Confess the ways we have been walking on our own and let God lead our walking.

Reflect--How are humility, lowliness, and meekness are evident in your life?

Seek unity with other believers--there is more that unites us than divides us!

Spiritual Mission

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - Our mission is to dwell with God in the power of His Spirit.

TEXT - Ephesians 3:14-21

THREE PRACTICES TO STAY ON MISSION

1. Admit our vulnerability.

· Ephesians 2:11-18

· 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

· Mark 9:19-27

2. Access God’s abundance.

· Ephesians 2:13-18

· Ephesians 3:14-21

3. Abide in God’s abundance.

· Ephesians 2:19-22

· John 15:1-15

NEXT STEPS

1. Spend time abiding.

2. Help others access God’s abundance.

WEEKLY REFLECTION: Abide.

PRAY THIS PRAYER:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

ASK THE SPIRIT to speak, and make notes about what you hear:

Spiritual Identity.

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - The foundation of our identity is found in Christ Jesus.

TEXT - Ephesians 2:1-10

Two identity absolutes.

1. You were dead.

* Ephesians 2:1-3

* Romans 1:18-31

* Romans 3:10-18

* Romans 6:20-23

* James 1:12-15

2. BUT GOD made you alive.

* Ephesians 2:4-9

* John 10:10

* Romans 5:6-8

* 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

* Ephesians 2:10

NEXT STEPS

1. Memorize Ephesians 2:8-10.

2. Reflect on the call to be an ambassador. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)

BUT God!

One of the best ways to start a verse might be “But God.” Life may be unraveling “But God” is still God - and God works in amazing, mysterious, surprising ways. Reflect on this while you meditate on the following verses. You might need to read the verse in context to get the full impact!)

* But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. (Psalm 9:18)

* But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. (Psalm 49:15)

* But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. (Psalm 66:19)

* My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

* But God raised him from the dead. (Acts 13:30)

* But God demonstrated his love in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

* But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1:27)