Review:

• Tree rings –Abide –Church-Home- Work

Isaiah 50:10–11 (NLT) — 10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. 11 But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.

Psalm 119:105 (NIV) — 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

The spiritual realm sphere

Ephesians 6:10–20 (NIV) — 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

1st Notice there is a war

Romans 13:12 (NIV) — 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

2 Timothy 2:3–4 (NIV) — 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

2nd Notice Gods perspective of the enemy

1. A spiritual enemy –A murderer –A liar –deceiver
2. Who attacks the abiding time so that our sinful natures lead the way
3. Who entices the sinful nature
4. Who has built a world system –culture created around sinful desires

John 8:43–45 (NIV) Ephesians 4:20–24 (NIV) 2 Corinthians 11:12–15 (NIV) 2 Timothy 2:25–26 (NIV)

3rd There is a method of defeating him

A. In the Lord – identity –through Him –in Him –under Him – marked in Him by the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13 (NIV) — 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

1 John 4:4 (NIV) — 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

B. As a part of the body of Christ – Ephesians 4:11–16 (NIV)

Ephesians 4:11–16 (NIV) — 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the

4th Putting on the Armor of God –See Ephesians 6:14-18

•  Belt of truth
• Breast plate of righteousness
• Feet – the gospel of peace
• Shield of faith o Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God

5th And…PRAYER

Colossians 4:2 (NIV) — 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful

1. You cannot fight spiritual battles with physical weapons –take into consideration the spiritual realm before reacting
2. Putting on the armor you have in Christ then pray
3. Incorporating others into our prayer concerns –authenticity –honesty –confessing doubt- hurt
4. Satan will attack any area of our lives that are not integrated in –into– Christ

Paul begins with prayer

Ephesians 1:15–17 (NIV) — 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

He calls us to join him in prayer

Ephesians 6:10–20 (NIV) —18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Colossians 4:2 (NIV) — 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

• Starting next Sunday – prayer – at 7am –directed prayer
• As a staff on Monday mornings
• In our life groups – praying
• Personal time in prayer – be devoted to prayer

For series resources and the Small Group discussion guide go to: thedisciplesjourney.org