Temptation (6) – The Strength to Stand Against Temptation-Dealing with Temptation (6)
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Bible Study -Temptation (6) - The Strength to Stand Against Temptation - Ephesians 6 -
Bible Study – Temptation (6) – The Strength to Stand Against Temptation – This is our sixth and final lesson in our series entitled, “Dealing with Temptation.” Our focus scripture is Ephesians 6:10-18. GOD equips us to stand our ground against temptation. This lesson is the most important of all our lessons. It is where the rubber hits the road of life. Ephesians 1: 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. As born-again Christians, what does verse 14 tell us? The Holy Spirit will always be with us until the day of redemption, which will be the day we are secure in the arms of JESUS in Heaven. Scripture reveals to us in 1 Peter 5:8: 8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. When JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life upon the cross to pay, in full, for all sin, JESUS defeated Satan and all of his followers. Satan was defeated but GOD in HIS wisdom chose to leave Satan upon earth. Why? One possibility is that earth is not our final destination. Earth represents decay, whereas Heaven represents eternal life restored. Earth is GOD’S proving ground and perfection of all who place their faith in JESUS. GOD desires to teach all HIS Children how to live the victorious life upon earth and then transition to Heaven upon their physical death. GOD equips all who accept JESUS as their Savior to live the victorious life upon earth. Every Spirit-born person has the Holy Spirit permanently within him or her to be his or her Spiritual strength. But each Spirit-born person needs to know the Scripture and have faith in GOD, through faith in JESUS, to do battle with life’s issues Satan brings our way. In the military the recruits have to go to boot camp for basic training. Basic training is knowing the rules of combat, which can include hand to hand combat. The Apostle Paul knew the basics of combat. Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul after his conversion to JESUS. Why is this important? Once a person accepts JESUS as his or her Savior, he/she becomes an enemy of Satan. There are key verses that all Spirit-born people need to be equipped, such as: 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus[a] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world. Therefore, what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception. It is clear that all Christians are living in a Spiritual war zone every day. Satan delights in tempting, enslaving and defeating Spirit-born people. As a Christian you can be led astray by the lust of the flesh. What is a Spirit-born person’s response to this? What do we read in 1 John 4, verse 4 - 4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. WHO is greater that is in you than the one who is in the world (Satan and his followers)? JESUS as evidenced by the indwelling Holy Spirit. JESUS is our KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS. Why does GOD allow Christians to be tempted? Proverbs 27:27 - Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.[a] Simply the more Spirit-born people rely upon GOD through faith in JESUS, the greater our faith in GOD grows. JESUS said it best in Matthew 17:20: 20 “Because of your little faith,” he[a] told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of [b] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”[c] It is a Spirit-born person’s faith in GOD. It is unwavering faith. What does that mean for Spirit-born people? We must trust and obey as we walk through life seeking to do the will of GOD. Satan is still alive upon earth seeking whom he can devour. But WHO is greater? GOD, JESUS and the Holy Spirit. So, how do we prepare for life living according the leadership of the Holy Spirit? Let’s read on ----- As Spirit-born people what is our mind-set? Is it upon the things of earth or the things of Heaven? How do we set our minds upon the things of Heaven? Read, study and apply GOD’s Word to our lives. Suit up for battle each day by putting on our new clothes which have been washed by the shed blood of JESUS. We read and study GOD’S word, which washes our minds like we wash our earthly clothes to clean them. GOD’S Word washes/cleanses our minds from the thoughts that flow in from living in the world. We read in Ephesians 5:- 26 to make her holy, cleansing[f] her with the washing of water by the word. “Cleansing her” refers to the church. By the same power studying GOD’S Word can wash the false notions we might embrace, as Spirit-born Christians, that may entangle us as we walk with CHRIST. The study and application of GOD’S Word is vital to our walk and when we are engaged in spiritual battle. Let’s read Ephesians 6:10-13: Christian Warfare 10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. CHRIST in us is our strength. Notice that the Apostle Paul admonishes Spirit-born people to “put on the full armor of GOD.” Why? “So that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” This is a key and a powerful statement for living each moment as led by the Holy Spirit. And for the Spirit born to know how to stand against the schemes of the devil. Paul tells us why Spirit-born people need to “put on the full armor of GOD”, “12 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.” Notice, “our struggle is NOT with flesh and blood” but notice Christian’s struggle with those in the heavenly realm who are in the spirit world and influence the real world. That is why we need to suit up every day. Who do we struggle with? Struggle depicts wrestling but a Christian’s struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, evil and spiritual forces in the heavens. Therefore, Christians must do battle different from fighting against flesh and blood.- The Apostle Paul is teaching Spirit-born people how they are to fight in the spiritual realm. These spiritual forces can and do influence people in authority upon earth. That is why as Christians we must suit up and pray daily because these forces love to wreak havoc upon earth and especially wreak havoc upon the people of earth and most especially upon GOD’S chosen. So, brothers and sisters in CHRIST suit up every day and be ready for battle. These forces are seeking an opportunity to invade your life and render you helpless against their schemes. So, suit up because JESUS has won the victory. Claim the blood of JESUS as you engage each day GOD gives us because JESUS has defeated Satan. Earth is the proving ground for every Spirit-born person. It is upon earth we learn to live as victors with JESUS.
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