
Prepare to Win Your Spiritual Battles
Main Point – The most important battles of our lives are spiritual, and they can be won.
There are 3 “battlegrounds” we need to be aware of: the world, the devil and the flesh.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. —Ephesians 2:1-3
We do battle with the philosophies of the world.
• Humanism
• Materialism
• Hedonism
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. —Colossians 2:8
We do battle with the devil.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. —1 Peter 5:8
We do battle with the flesh.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. —1 Corinthians 10:13
Spiritual battles require spiritual preparation and spiritual weapons.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, 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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. —Ephesians 6:10-18
Victory will be ours if we are united with God.
• James 4:7 – Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Takeaway – “The sheep are never so safe from the wolf as when they are near the shepherd.” – Charles Spurgeon
Discussion Questions
1. How real is the spiritual realm to you? Is it something you are regularly aware of, or do you find it hard to accept that it’s real? Why is that?
- Of the 3 battlegrounds we discussed (world, devil, flesh), is there one that really gets your attention? Why does that stand out to you?
We discussed 3 worldly philosophies that are common and deceptive. They were humanism, materialism and hedonism. Can you think of some examples of how those philosophies play out in the world? How are they opposed to Christ?
Being tempted to sin is not a sin but succumbing to the temptation to sin is. How can we be better protected against falling when tempted?
Read the passage on spiritual armor – Ephesians 6:10-18. Discuss what those metaphors mean to you and how God wants us to use them in our spiritual battles.
Table Discussion Question — Do you think God wants us to live our lives in fear of the devil? How does God want us to live in the midst of the battles we face?