Introduction:
Killed by friendly fire…
For a military family, there must not be any fact that would be more painful surrounding losing a loved one in battle than learning they were not killed by the enemy, but by one of their own. In battle it is of utmost importance that you are able to identify your enemy.
If you are a hunter, one of the first rules of any hunter safety course is that you never fire your weapon at something you cannot first identify. You must know your target is the animal you are seeking.
We often find ourselves in conflict with others, even brothers and sisters in Jesus at times. This conflict is a strategy of our real enemy, to keep us from enjoying the blessed fellowship God intends us to have with others. If the enemy can push a wedge into a Christian community, he has won a major battle, because he knows that there is strength in the community God intends.
Sadly, it is all too common for conflict to thrive among the brethren. We often use the excuse that we’re only human, so we cannot expect more. I have some news for us: God did not come and pitch His tent among us, suffer and die, rise again, ascend to the Father, and send the Holy Spirit for us to continue to live a life paralyzed by conflict and broken relationships among His people. He expects more. He has provided for more. We must do more. One thing is for certain…we need to know who the real enemy is…and it’s not our brother or sister who has hurt us in some way, or has offended our sensibilities. If love covers a multitude of sins and we are commanded to love our enemies, imagine the revolution that can happen…at Freedom Church…if we would simply walk that out.
STUDY ONE: Be Prepared
READ:
12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
– Ephesians 6:12-13 (NRSV)
DECIDE:
“Be prepared.” That is the Boy Scout motto. That is also good advice when it comes to anyone who is hoping to stand for Jesus. To be prepared means one is ready for use. We are meant to be instruments in the hand of God to be used for His righteous purpose in the world. Every day, God invites us to join Him in the work of His kingdom, today. Decide, right now, to be ready for use.
To be prepared also means to be ready to do something or deal with something. Paul is clearly indicating there is much to do in our Christian life and there is preparation to be made in order to withstand and stand. All too often, we walk out the door and into the world without preparation. We suffer defeat spiritually, because we can often be careless or indifferent to our need to take up the armor of God, as Paul is instructing. Decide, right now, to be ready to face the enemy.
DECLARE:
Built upon the motto, “Be Prepared!”, is the Boy Scout Law. It states:
A Scout is:
- Trustworthy,
- Loyal,
- Helpful,
- Friendly,
- Courteous,
- Kind,
- Obedient,
- Cheerful,
- Thrifty,
- Brave,
- Clean,
- and Reverent.
Every scout makes the commitment to obey the Scout Law and allow the principles stated within to form their character and guide them in their relationships with others. It may seem a little silly to some, but declaring these over our lives will reap enormous benefits. Pick one that will become your declaration and prayer, this week. For example: Jesus, the bible declares You to be kind and courteous friend. I want to be like You, Jesus. I will be kind and courteous in all my pursuits, with Your help.
DEVOTE:
You might be asking, “What does any of the above have to do with Ephesians 6:12-13?” Think about it for a moment. Every temptation that comes our way…every sin…even those secret sins ultimately happen in relationship to others. Each and every one is like a pebble dropped into a pond that sends ripples out across the surface of the water. The principalities and powers against which we are to battle have one major purpose: to destroy human relationships. The hurts, habits, and hang-ups that plague us all find their root in broken fellowship. Our broken fellowship with God and our broken fellowship with one another. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by the “cosmic” nature of our enemy that you lose sight of the rubber meets the road effects of the battle.
PRAY:
Almighty God, help us to have insight into our enemy. Help us to discern what our enemy desires to do to us: to steal, kill, and destroy what is the precious gift of love: communion with You and our brothers and sisters. Help us to recognize and utilize what you have provided for our protection and do not allow us to lose our grip on that offensive weapon, the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
STUDY TWO: Stand Firm
READ:
12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
– Ephesians 6:12-13 (NRSV)
DECIDE:
Struggle…Take Up…Withstand…Stand Firm
It is not yet time to rest. We have a promised rest that is coming, but too many of us see the life of a Christian as a life of leisure. If we were to study the great movements of God throughout history…those movements that are described as “awakenings”…those time when God has moved so powerfully that men and women fell under conviction and repented of their sins without regard for time or place. I’m talking about while they walked on the street, were at work, were traveling through a region where the weight of the Holy Spirit was felt in every area of life. Those movements came about when God’s people committed themselves to doing what has been called the “first work” of prevailing prayer. The stories are told of folks who met and struggled in prayer, taking up the Word of God and attacking the enemy strongholds (not flesh and blood, remember). They withstood the “evil day” when they were scorned by family and friends, called fanatics by their brothers and sisters in Christ, and stood firm in their conviction that God wanted to burst onto their community and nation in great power to turn the tide of the influence of the enemy…and, guess what…He did.
What might happen if we laid aside our self-help books that promise prosperity but only result in the spiritual poverty that comes from seeking the things of the world, rather than the things of God? What if we laid aside our casual Christianity that only demands the commitment of a couple of hours each week? What if we decided to join the struggle? What if we risked believing that God will move when we abandon our political chess games and election cycles, turn off the talking heads on our television and instead listen to the still small voice that is inviting us to our knees to do the first work of prevailing prayer? I wonder.
DECLARE:
A song that is getting a ton of airplay right now on Christian radio is “Battle Belongs.” We’ll be singing it next week during VBS. Why not take the time, right now, to listen and learn it (if you haven’t already)? Make the chorus a continuous declaration:
So when I fight I’ll fight on my knees/with my hands lifted high/Oh, God the battle belongs to You/And every fear I lay at Your feet/I’ll sing through the night/Oh God, the battle belongs to You
DEVOTE:
Discuss what it means for your family to “withstand on the evil day…and stand firm.”
How can we answer the call to prevailing prayer, as a family?
PRAY:
Father, God, You have given us all things necessary for life and godliness. You have provided all things to withstand in the evil day and stand firm in faith. For that we give You thanks and praise. Open our eyes, Lord. Help us to see You at work and join You there. More than that, give us what we need to answer the call to prevailing prayer. We need an awakening.