Get Ready for Spiritual Warfare 301!

This past week we talked about how important it is to put on the Breastplate of righteousness and how to shod our feet with the foundation that comes from the gospel of Peace.

 
Here the word “Righteousness” = Uprightness, right living, integrity in one’s lifestyle and character – conforming of our will with God’s will.

Although rooted in the object righteousness that we already possess in our standing before God through the work of Christ, this breastplate of righteousness (that guards and protects our heart) is the practical application of the truth to our lives – i.e. Lordship of Christ.

The Breastplate of Righteousness is essential when we have been honest with God, we have accepted His “Will” (belt of truth) and then put it to use.

We learned two examples from the Bible where individuals rebelled or rejected God's will in their lives, which in turn opened them up for demonic activity. Read them for yourselves:
NT - Matthew 16 - Peter forbidding Jesus to suffer on the Cross

OT - 1 Samuel 13 - Saul decides he will do what he wants instead of what God wants.

Scriptural Application: “Therefore to the one who knows what is right to do and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17 

Where in your life has God revealed his truth to you and you are not currently following it? Is it because you are rejecting it or is it because you are deceived? 

Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace

Roman sandals were strapped up to the knee and tightly fastened to the soldier’s leg. The soles had knobs and sometimes nails or spikes sticking out from the bottom. Something along the lines of cleats or spikes used in sports today.This gave the soldiers a firm foundation which didn't allow them to be moved very easily.

“Preparation” = Establishment – the means of a firm foundation; also conveys the idea of readiness to share the Gospel which brings peace between man and God. 

This conveys 2 ideas - Knowing the gospel inside and out Being ready to share it 

When we are grounded in God and Christ and ready to share that mercy we are on solid ground 

This brings peace on 2 fronts: 

1. In our hearts 

2. Between God and people who need him. 

This week we are starting Spiritual Warfare 301:
How to do Battle with the Enemy and WIN!

We will be covering a wide range of topics, but most importantly we will be learning when and how we are to engage the enemy in actual combat!

I look forward to seeing each of you in class this week!

If you are a Facebooker, make sure you join the Invisible War Facebook group HERE! Also send your friends to our class page HERE!

Make sure you leave your questions and comments by clicking HERE!

Read More

Spiritual Warfare 101 Complete - Starting 201

Congratulations class on completing Spiritual Warfare 101 and for starting Spiritual Warfare 201!

This past week we discussed the 5th of the 5 Basic Truths of Spiritual Warfare. 
Basic Truth #5:
"We do not fight for Victory, but we fight FROM Victory"

So our 5 Basic Truths about Spiritual Warfare are as follows:
1. There is an Invisible World
2. We are involved in an Invisible War
3. Our foe (the devil) is Formidable
4. We must respect our for but not Fear him
5. We do not fight for Victory, but we fight FROM Victory

Last week we also discussed how our War has already been won, but battles stemming from that war are still raging on. This is very similarly paralleled to the battles in the South Pacific following the end of WW2. Even though the Japanese had surrendered, for days, weeks, months, and even years, factions of their military still carried on battles for the cause. Guns were fired, people were injured, lives were lost. So even though WW2 was over, battles from that war were still being fought.

Jesus won the victory for us on the Cross and conquered Hell and the Devil that same day. Until Christ returns, the devil and his demons still wage war against us. Even though they have lost, they don't give up. It is our job to enforce that victory through spiritual warfare just as allied forces had to do in the South Pacific after the end of the War.

To do this we must learn first our defenses with regards to the Full Armor of God. Here is what we talked about last week:

How do I prepare for Spiritual Battle?

“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." Ephesians 6:13-15

Paul uses different imagery in that of a Roman soldier as they were the most powerful fighting force of the time. 
Our commander (Jesus Christ) “urgently” commands us to “pick up” our spiritual armor and put it on. 
Why? = For the purpose of being fully prepared and enabled to withstand the grave and difficult “dark times” when the enemy attacks. 
When the day of evil comes… 

Using the metaphor of a Roman soldier’s armor (which protected him in battle), we are given three specific pieces of spiritual armor that must be “put on” by us as believers as a prerequisite to standing firmly and fearlessly against demonic attack. The Belt of Truth, The Breastplate of Righteousness, Feet shod with the Gospel of Peace.  Tonight we will talk about the first, the Belt of Truth.

We talked specifically this past week about the Belt of Truth:

With regards to the Belt of Truth, we are called to be truthful with others, ourselves, and most of all with God. The devils first ever attack was one of deception and lies (Eve in the garden). We must first guard ourselves against those kind of attacks and be truthful at all times. The best offense is a good defense. We must defend ourselves first before we can fight back!

We give ourselves cop-outs for our sins… we aren’t truthful with ourselves or with God 

1. Difficult circumstances 
2. Depressed economy 
3. Unfaithful spouse 
4. Anything or anyone that isn’t us 
5. We are creative blame shifters 
The remedy for this is the BELT OF TRUTH! Has your belt slipped? Are you blaming others for your dishonesty? Hiding from God?

We should make Psalm 139:23-24 our prayer...

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

This week we will be discussing the Breastplate of righteousness and covering our foundation (feet) with the Gospel of Peace, this will conclude Spiritual Warfare 201. We will start Spiritual Warfare 301 next week!

If you are a Facebooker, make sure you join the Invisible War Facebook group HERE! Also send your friends to our class page HERE!

Make sure you leave your questions and comments by clicking HERE!

 

Read More

We are in a war....

Here is the video from our week #2 class which concluded Spiritual Warfare 101 and kicked off Spiritual Warfare 201

We are in a war... from Ryan Rose on Vimeo.

Read More

Spiritual Warefare 101

Hey guys and gals, thanks so much for coming to class, I really enjoyed our discussion and I feel like we are going to learn a lot together over the next 6-7 weeks.

We went through roughly 85% of Spiritual 101 this past Wednesday, and we talked about 4 of the 5 Basic Truths about Spiritual Warfare as well as the foundational scriptures that explain what spiritual warfare is.

Ephesians 6:10-12 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." 

Here are the 4 Basic Truths we discussed last week -

Basic Truth #1 – There is an Invisible World Ephesians 6:12 

Basic Truth #2 – We are Involved in an Invisible War 

Basic Truth #3 – Our Foe is Formidable 

Basic Truth #4 - We Must Respect Our Foe but Not Fear Him

We also learned about how Satan's names reveal his tactics, here are just a few of his names:

i. Satan (adversary) – Opposes God’s Agenda

ii. Devil (slanderer) – 1 Peter 5 – Say false things to ruin people 

iii. Lucifer (son of the morning) 

iv. Beelzebub – Matthew 12:24 – Lord of the Flies…god of Filth 

v. Belial – 2 Corinthians 6:15 – Name of a false god, divert worship 

vi. Evil one – 1 John 5:19 – in the Greek meant Absolute corruption 

vii. Tempter – 1 Thessalonians 3:5 – use good things to tempt us 

viii. Prince of this world – John 12:31 – master of false systems 

ix. Accuser of the brethren – will condemn you 

x. Representations include 

1. Serpent – Genesis 3 

2. Dragon – Revelation 12:3 

3. Angel of Light – 2 Corinthians 11:14

This week we will be discussing Basic Truth #5 which will conclude Spiritual Warfare 101. Also this week we will start Spiritual Warfare 201 by talking about How to Prepare Ourselves for Spiritual Battle and to prepare for a Satanic attack. Hope to see you in class!

If you are a Facebooker, make sure you join the Invisible War Facebook group HERE! Also send your friends to our class page HERE!

Make sure you leave your questions and comments by clicking HERE!

Read More

The Invisible War Starts this week!

Our class, "The Invisible War" starts this week. This first week of class we will be going through Spiritual Warfare 101. You will be learning about what Spiritual Warfare is and who the enemy we are fighting is. Essentially this first week is going to teach you what every believer needs to know about Spiritual Warfare.

Bring your notebooks if you are a note taker because we will also be learning about the 5 Basic Truths of Spiritual Warfare....

This class is based around Ephesians 6, I challenge you to start reading that chapter and begin to make it part of your daily routine....put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD and prepare to do battle.

I hope to see you in class this week, don't miss out, we are in room 325 of the Worship Center. Feel free to bring food, beverage, snack or whatever you feel like.

If you are a Facebooker, make sure you join the Invisible War Facebook group HERE! Also send your friends to our class page HERE!

Make sure you leave your questions and comments by clicking HERE!

Blessings,

Ryan

Read More

Week #8 Accountability!

Hey Guardrailers!

Tiffany and I are glad to be back from our vacation, we missed you guys. I hope you had some good questions for Pastor Marty last week for your Guardrails Q&A session.

This week we are going to be talking about Accountability in class. We are going to talk about why we need accountability, what it is, and how we go about getting it.

I hope that you guys make it tonight to this final class for this session of Guardrails.

Next week will be week #9 and we will be having an Encounter Worship night in the Sanctuary that will start @ 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Hope to see you tonight don't miss out! Also make sure to be watching the blog for more new information about the next round of class for the new sessions of WednesdaysOnPurpose that start on September 19th.

If you are a Facebooker, make sure you join the Guardrails Facebook group HERE! Also send your friends to our class page HERE!

Make sure you leave your questions and comments by clicking HERE!

Read More