There is but one enemy, and we are not it!

(Ephesians 6:10-13 )

Sermon Outline

1. Illustration of a fight/wrestling match
2. We have a common enemy
   1. Not each other (1Cor 12:12-13a, 27)
   2. Not any other person (Eph 6:12a)
   3. Demonic Evil (Eph 6:12)
      1. The battle is spiritual that we are engaged in and it touches upon the physical creation. We see this in 2 ways in the OT:
         1. Elements of Nature (Job 1:15-19, 2:7)
         2. Control Nations (Daniel 10:13)
      2. Why does demonic evil care about using the physical world and controlling Nations?
      3. Who are the agents of demonic evil?
         1. Devil (Eph 6:11b)
         2. Demons
      4. Spiritual evil is powerful (Acts 19:14-16, 2Ki 19:35).
      5. We have more power (Eph 1:3, 5:8, 16, Col 1:13)
3. What are the tactics of the enemy?
   1. Close combat (Eph 6:12)
      1. Attack through our passions (1Pt 2:11)
      2. Attack through our thoughts (2Cor 4:4, Col 2:8, 2Pt 2:1, 2Cor 10:5)
   2. Attack through our actions (Rom 16:17, Eph 4-5)
   3. Use the world to harm us (Job, Daniel)
   4. Stir up persecution
   5. Lie – told to test the spirits (1Jn 4:1)
4. What is God’s instruction for us?
   1. Realize it is a corporate battle
      1. All of the verbs are in 2^nd Plurals. Y’alls. All Y’alls.
      2. We are told to PRAY! (Eph 6:18)
   2. Be strengthened in the Lord in his mighty power!
   3. Put on the full armor of God (2x)!
   4. Stand (4x)
      1. The testimony of the OT is that the Battle belongs to the Lord (2Chr 20:15)
5. Christ is the Conqueror! (Rev 12:8)
   1. We are seated with him (Eph 2:6-7)
   2. We have every spiritual blessing in him (Eph 1:3)
   3. We are His Body (1Cor 12)
   4. We are citizens of His Kingdom (Phil 3:20)
   5. We cannot lose, for he will not let us go! (Jn 6:37-39)