A Call to Battle!

Ephesians 6:10-12 | Sermon Resources | 15 January 2023

Summary

Pastor Billy begins the last major section of Ephesians coming to Paul’s call to put on the whole armor of God in order to take a stand against the devil. The sermon this week will focus on Paul’s call to arms. 

“I am certain that one of the main causes of the ill state of the Church today is the fact that the devil is being forgotten. All is attributed to us: we have all become so psychological in our attitudes and thinking.  We are ignorant of this great objective fact, the being, the existence of the devil, the adversary, the accuser, and his ‘fiery darts.’”

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Spiritual Warfare, p. 292

“From what we read of the Lord our Savior throughout the Scriptures, it is manifestly clear that the whole armor of Christ is the Savior himself. It is he whom we are asked to “put on.” It is one and the same thing to say “Put on the whole armor of God” and “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Jerome, Epistle to the Ephesians 3.6.11

Discussion Questions

1. The idea of being personally involved in a spiritual war stirs up different things in different people.  What does it stir up in you? Fear? Clarity? Faith? Courage?
2. What questions does a passage like this raise for you?
3. What do we learn in this passage about the devil?  
4. Why do some people scoff at the idea of spiritual warfare and the idea of a “personal devil”? What would you say in response?
5. What is the danger of ignoring Paul’s teaching in this passage? In other words, what happens if we forget about the devil?
6. What is the danger of making too much of the devil? 
7. Why do you think Paul uses the verb “wrestle” in verse 12? What does it look like to wrestle?
8. How can being aware of spiritual warfare help us in our fight against sin?
9. What help does Paul point us to in this passage? In the next week what might it practically look like for you to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might”?
10. What is one thing you will do as a result of studying this passage? 

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