Message Outline: “Developing Your Spiritual Life” Ephesians 6:10-20 February 8, 2015

“Developing Your Spiritual Life” Ephesians 6:10-20
February 8, 2015

TO DEVELOP  YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE

I.   BE STRONG [10-12]

A.  By relying on the Lord’s strength (10)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 

Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  

What defines everything? Everything within the will and purpose of God for our lives.

B.   By putting on the Lord’s armor (11)
Put on the full armor of God,  so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 

The object of the power of God, the armor of God, the strength of God is not to have an easy life. It is to have the strength to have a God-honoring and empowered life which stands against the forces of evil. We are to honor God in the circumstances in which he has placed us.

C. By being Alert to the nature of the enemy (12)
12 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.         
Our struggle is not against People. It is not against flesh and blood.

What do we know about the devil?
We know a lot from the names used in the Bible
Adversary, Beelzebub,  Belial, . Devil, Dragon, Enemy. Father of Lies. god of this Age (false god.) Murderer. Serpent. Tempter

II.  STAND FIRM [13-18]
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 
A.  Live in Truth and Holiness (14)
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded  your loins  with truth, and having put  on the breastplate  of righteousness, 
B.  Live in Peace because of the Gospel (15)
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation  of the gospel  of peace; 

We have peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus. We are told blessed are the peacemakers.
As far as it is possible within our ability, we are to be at peace with other people.

C.  Live by Faith to stand against the evil one’s attacks (16).
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

Faith is our trust that God is at work
    even in the hard times
    even when we don’t see anything tangible
    even when we feel attacked by the evil one.
    even if....

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  

D.   Live by confidence in your salvation (17a).
17a And take the helmet  of salvation,

John 1:12-13 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--  13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.   

We don’t weave in and out of salvation. We don’t go in and out of eternal life. Eternal life by nature is eternal.

How do you respond when people who one time professed Christ and seemed to possess Christ drift away or walk away from the Lord?
Let your sadness motivate you to pray for them.

E.  Live by actively using the Word of God (17b)
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.      

III.  KEEP PRAYING [18-20]
A.  To be spiritually alert   (18)
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 
B. To effectively share the mystery of the Gospel (19-20)
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,  20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 
Conclusion

The benefits of problems.(source unknown)
1. Problems often provide us with greater opportunities
2. Problems can promote our spiritual maturity
3. Problems prove our integrity
4. Problems produce a sense of dependence
5. Problems prepare our hearts for ministry (more empathetic)

All of us have problems, how we respond determines whether they will help us on the path toward spiritual maturity.