Battle Ready | Week 1
SERIES: Battle Ready
MESSAGE: The Battle Begins
DATE: February 6, 2022
“There are two equal and opposite One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. C.S. Lewis, “The Screwtape Letters”
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should. Ephesians 6:10-20
- You are in a spiritual battle
- The battle began before you were here
You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God.
You were an anointed guardian cherub, for I had appointed you.
From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you.
Through the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned.
So I expelled you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and banished you.
Your heart became proud because of your beauty; For the sake of your splendor
you corrupted your wisdom. So I threw you down to the ground… 28:12-17
- The outcome has already been decided
Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 12:7-9
Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short.
Revelation 12:12
- Satan and his evil forces are on a mission
He is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
(He) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. John 10:10
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14
…the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:9
Pray at 6:18 AM or 6:18 PM