SPIRITUAL WEAPONS FOR A SPIRITUAL FIGHT

1. GOD’S WORD PROCLAIMS VICTORY OVER DARKNESS

In him was life and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness and darkness has not overcome it. JOHN 1:4 ESV

2. GOD’S CHURCH DEFLECTS THE ATTACKS OF DARKNESS

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. MATTHEW 16:18 ESV

3. GOD’S DISCIPLES IN THE CHURCH MUST RESPOND RADICALLY TO DARKNESS

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

DISCUSSION: The chances are good that some things in your life need to change.  Where are you conformed to the pattern of this world?  Where are you giving in to the ways of this world?  Where does your life fall out of alignment with the way in which Jesus lived His life?

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

DISCUSSION: In what way are you your own worse enemy?  Where in your life do you sabotage yourself?

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” PROVERBS 25:21 NIV

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ROMANS 12:1-21 NIV

DISCUSSION: This is a radical teaching and way of living.  What would it look like if you lived a radically different life?  What would it look like if you embraced this different way of living?

4. GOD’S SPIRITUAL WEAPONS DEFEAT THE STRONGHOLDS OF DARKNESS

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 6 And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-6 NLT

HUMAN BEING vs. SPIRITUAL BEING

Selfish//Love

Sadness//Joy

Attacking//Peace

Hurried//Patience

Mean//Kindness

Evil//Goodness

Untrustworthy//Faithfulness

Harsh//Gentleness

Indulgent//Self Control-GALATIANS 5:22

Complains//Prays-PHILLIPPIANS 4:6

Criticizes//Gracious-TITUS, HEBREWS 11:15

Judges//Forgives-MATTHEW 18:21

2 STORIES

Human Response // Peter // MATTHEW 26:51-53

Spiritual Response // Elisha // 2 KINGS 6:8-23

PRAYER PROJECT: Take some time to get alone with God.  Slow things down and become still and relaxing your body, mind and heart.  Now go on a journey with God.  Allow Him to take you on a journey over the last few days.  In your mind review the events of the day along with the way in which you responded to them.  Don’t spend too much time on each event.  Rather move nimbly through the events and look intently at your responses to each of the event.  Next, look at the two lists above (the Human Being vs. the Spiritual Being).  Place each of your responses in one of the two categories above.  Where did your responses to each of the events fall on one of the two lists?  Did you respond using human weapons or did you respond using spiritual weapons?   Finally, transition into a conversation with God about these responses. What changes does God want you to make? Knowing that your process of sanctification (becoming like Jesus) is for the balance of your life, in what training would God invite you to undertake?  In order to remove your worldly response from your repertoire so that you can begin to build your ability to use your spiritual weapon, how do you need to begin to train differently?  How do you need to begin to practice using the spiritual weapons in order to more aptly engage in the battle?  What worldly weapons do you need to put away?   Close your time with God in prayer and rejoin your group.  Share with them what happened in your prayer time.

5.  GOD’S DISCIPLES TRAIN IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 ESV

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THE ARMOR OF LIGHT

• If I’m not intentionally walking in the light, I’m definitely walking in darkness.

10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.

John 11:10 ESV

12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

ROMANS 13:12 ESV

DISCUSSION: It’s easy to slowly slip out of the light and into the darkness until you find yourself stumbling around unable to see.  Where in your life have you chosen to walk in darkness?  Where have you intentionally selected yourself over Jesus?

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God,that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

EPHESIANS 6:10-20 ESV

14 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

ROMANS 13:14 ESV

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…14 [who cancelled] the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

COLOSSIANS 2:6, 14-15 ESV

• Putting on the armor of light reminds us of our power in Christ.

DISCUSSION: The Spiritual armor isn’t about me becoming tough but about me remaining in the power of Christ.  In what way do you remain in the power of Jesus?  In what way do you try and fight the battles against the enemy on your own?  Where are you vulnerable?  What part of the armor are you failing to put on in order to be protected?

PRAYER PROJECT:

Take a minute each day this week in order to pray on the full armor of light.  Pray this prayer from your heart.  Let it be your prayer of protection as you go into the daily battle.  If you are leaving yourself unprotected then you are probably the easiest target for the enemy to attack.  Don’t leave yourself unprotected.  Pray the following prayer:

“Lord, I battle against spiritual forces that are stronger than I. They will defeat me unless I stand under the power of Your might. You have already defeated this evil that seeks to destroy me. Help me Lord, through Your sovereign grace, to practice discipline to put on Your full armor so that my life will be used to worship You. Help me to fasten the belt of truth that comes from Your Word, to put on the shoes of readiness and the breastplate of righteousness to bring peace to wherever You may lead me. Likewise, help me to put on the helmet of salvation knowing that my life is Yours, to take up my shield of protection against the enemy’s attacks, and the sword of the Spirit of Your Word. So that by putting on this full armor I will be able to do battle as a soldier in Your army. And as an obedient soldier, Lord, help me to be alert to the schemes, attacks and devices of the enemy and in so doing preserve my life. Lord, may I utilize the weaponry that You have given me, to the glory of Your name and for the benefit of your Kingdom.”

DISCUSSION: What has your experience of putting on the full armor of light been like for you this week?  Where have you experienced the Lord’s protection from the attacks of the enemy?  Where have you failed to put on the armor?  What has caused you to not put on the armor?

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Dan Crowley SPIRITUAL FORMATION/ SOUL CARE DIRECTOR

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good.  Then he separated the light from the darkness. GENESIS 1:3-4 NLT

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  JOHN 3:19 NIV

1. YOU CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT IF YOU ARE STILL BLIND

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.  They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-4 NLT

Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. EPHESIANS 4:18 NLT

DISCUSSION:  Have you come to know Jesus?  Have you given your life to Him?  If you are a believer, how do you live in such a way as to engage with believers and non-believers differently?  How do you see differently than those who are not believers.

2. IF YOU STILL LOVE DARKNESS, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TRANSFERRED INTO THE LIGHT

As a follower of the Lord, I order you to stop living like stupid, godless people. Their minds are in the dark, and they are stubborn and ignorant and have missed out on the life that comes from God. They no longer have any feelings about what is right. EPHESIANS 4:17-18 CEV

But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.
1 TIMOTHY 5:6 NLT

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. JAMES 2:17 NLT

DISCUSSION:  In what way have you experienced the difference between loving the darkness and being tempted by it?  How do you feel when you sin?  What is the evidence of your new heart?

3. YOU CANNOT COME INTO THE LIGHT UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED

But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.  6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit. 1 PETER 4:5-6 NLT

A. IS GOD CALLING YOU INTO THE LIGHT?

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. EPHESIANS 5:1-4 NLT

For the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” EPHESIANS 5:14 NLT

B. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIS CALLING?

Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”
JOHN 8:12 CEV

DISCUSSION:  If you are not a believer, are you being called to come into the light that gives you life?  Are you being called to give your life to Jesus?  If you are a believer, is God calling you to recommit your life to Him?

4. ONCE YOU ARE IN THE KINGDOM OF LIGHT, YOU ARE FOREVER ENLIGHTENED

always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. COLOSSIANS 1:12-14 NLT

5. LIVE LIFE IN THE LIGHT

You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.  Don’t participate in the things these people do.  For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! EPHESIANS 5:5-6 NLT

You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
1 PETER 2:9 NLT

PRAYER PROJECT (appx. 20 mins.): Take a few minutes to slow down.  Relax your body, mind and heart in order to become still before God.  As you do, settle into a comfortable position and open your heart to Him.  When you’re ready, begin a conversation with God about how you are living in the light of Jesus Christ.  Ask Him some questions like, “Lord, am I living as a person of the light?  Even though you are holding on to me, where am I acting like a disobedient child?  What things in my life have my attention other than you?  In what way am I trying to pull away from your grasp?  Where in my life am I being fooled by my disobedience to remain in your light?”  Allow these questions to guide your meditation time with God.

When you are ready, thank God for your time with Him and bring your prayer time to a close.  Then, rejoin your group and share with them what happened in your prayer time.  [NOTE:  This prayer project is for those who have chosen to give their life to Christ and are professing to follow Him.]

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Dan Crowley SPIRITUAL FORMATION/ SOUL CARE DIRECTOR

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:7-13 NLT

1. LASTING LOVE REQUIRES COMMITMENT

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:7 NLT

Choose to love the Lord your God…and commit yourself to him. DEUTERONOMY 30:20 NLT

DISCUSSION:  What’s your level of commitment to those you love?  What motivates your commitment or lack thereof?

2. LASTING LOVE REQUIRES MATURITY

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.  Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:11-12 NLT

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. EPHESIANS 3:18 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:20 NLT

DISCUSSION:  Where do you still need to grow-up?  Where do you need to put away things from your childhood in order to make growth in your maturity?

3. LASTING LOVE REQUIRES AUTHENTICITY

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:6 NLT

Love must be sincere. ROMANS 12:9 NIV

Love must be without hypocrisy. ROMANS 12:9 BH

Your love must be real. ROMANS 12:9 CEV

PRAYER PROJECT:  Take a few minutes to relax your body, mind and heart.  As you do, settle into a comfortable position and open your heart to God.  When you’re ready, begin a conversation with God about your life and the level of authenticity with which you display.  The truth is you cannot experience real love unless you are willing to live a life of authenticity.  Ask God some questions like: “To what extent am I living a life of authenticity?  Where am I still hiding from others?  What am I hiding?  What’s motivating my hiding?  Am I willing to open myself to another in order to experience real love?  What would it look like to make an authentic confession?  To whom should I make that confession?”  Maybe you should consider making a confession to someone in your group or to the group itself.  When you are ready, bring your prayer time to a close and rejoin the group.

4. LASTING LOVE REQUIRES GRACE

Love keeps no record of being wronged. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:5 NLT

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. EPHESIANS 4:32 NLT

Love forgives all offenses. PROVERBS 10:12 TEV

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. COLOSSIANS 3:13 NLT

DISCUSSION:  How are you at giving grace to others?   What does it look like for you to give grace to others?  How are you at giving grace to yourself?  What does it look like for you to give yourself grace?  What would your friends and family say about your ability to give grace?

5. LASTING LOVE REQUIRES HUMILITY

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:7 NLT

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. EPHESIANS 4:2 NLT

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. PHILIPPIANS 2:3 NLT

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. COLOSSIANS 3:12 NLT

6. LASTING LOVE REQUIRES JESUS

Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. EPHESIANS 5:2 NLT

Dan Crowley SPIRITUAL FORMATION/ SOUL CARE DIRECTOR