How to Fight the Spiritual Battle: Using the Sword to Defend Against the Enemy

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you. Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment. Many believers have all their former employees, but they never use their sore Pastor Greg Laurie Quinto are short can defend against the lies and attacks from our enemy saying God will not forgive you source it is written for someone nine.

If I give my sin is faithful and just to forgive me my sin and cleansing from all unrighteousness.

That's out in specialty clothing save lives. Firefighters have driven out pants and jackets to protect against the police officers were More soldiers of bastion helmets and foods as we learn today Christian soldiers specialty clothing as well. Too many of us don't know much about it today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us get to know our six how we can use the spiritual battle rubber Bibles and turn to Ephesians chapters Ephesians chapter 6 the title of my messages how to fight the spiritual battle verse 14 stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace and above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. So six pieces of armor are mentioned six pieces.

The first three. The belt, the breastplate in the shoes were attached to the body, never to be removed. The second three.

This shield, the helmet and the sword were for specific purposes and methods of attack so it starts rising girded your waist with truth when he just use a more modern translation to put on the utility belt of truth. The Roman soldier had a belt and on his belt. He had a sheath which was for the sword. Obviously, and also the breastplate was attached to the belt and John and the belt also pulled his mother pulled his little skirt okay because he wrote we were told that a tug is basically just like a skirt and so would be down over his knees. So what is going in the battle he pulls it up above his knees and he cinches in the belt so it stays above the knees giving them freedom of movement.

Now he pulls a sword out because I have the belt on because of someone pulls her belt off off comes your breastplate. There goes your sword and your dressers fell to the ground you're looking stupid right so what is this evening. Put on the belt of truth. Basically it's the same bottom line. If you're not walking truthfully before God.

None of the rest of this really matters. You know if you're living a hypocritical life. If you're saying one thing and doing another than this is ducking to work for you so you start with a truthful right relationship with God, then you have the breastplate of righteousness. What is that mean the breastplate of righteousness what it is is a representation of your stand before God. We talked about how we are justified, which means when you become a Christian, God forgive you of all of your sin and then he puts the righteousness of Christ into your spiritual bank account, so to speak. You stand positionally right before God I am a righteous man. You're a righteous man.

You're a righteous woman. So I stand in this special relationship with the Lord and I bring this up because one of the doubles primary tactics is accusation. You know he comes up to you key terms you to think and impure thought and you sort of ticket for a test drive in the attached to what a hypocrite you are.

You're not even a Christian you don't believe in Jesus bromine. No blows against the breastplate, but this is righteousness where I'm not standing in my good works. What I've done for God I'm standing in what God is done for me. Very important number three we are to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

This is the footwear of the soldier it gave him, firm footed this and mobility on the field of battle. It speaks of standing firm and gaining ground and how do I gain ground. Very simple answer by proclaiming the gospel. That's how we advance in the spiritual battle. Romans 1014 says, how can they call in Unless they believe in him, how can they believe in him unless they've heard about him and how can they hear about it unless someone tells them and how will anyone go until the molester said.

That is why the Scripture said how beautiful are the feet of messengers or bring good news to the way we gain ground in the spiritual battle is by sharing our faith.

Delegate this for 16 above all, underline the steward above. Also, Paul's no distinguishing this piece of armor from the rest of Bob all he says, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one so the Roman pseudo-the Roman army was amazing and that's why they defeated so many of their enemies because they work together and they would march in the battle with the shield for the first part of combat and when the initial barrage of flaming arrows came they would all get them up and lock their shield from the front from the side and on top to and all the zeros would land on top of the shield so they knew the arrows were coming and they were ready for them when they came so where works in real life is double will fire his arrows at us.

You never know when it's going to help Satan's flaming arrows are swift and silent there's no advance warning of their arrival. You can wake up in the morning and the enemy can hit you with the flaming arrow or fiery dart for your feet even hit the floor can happen in the middle of the night. Maybe you thought of complete despair. You might be gripped with the thought of intense fear and terror.

What if this happens to me. What if that happens to my family. One of this other thing happened. It can be thought of hatred toward somebody. It could even be a blasphemous thought. It's so crazy and from love Field to begin. How could that thought even come to me.

Remember, it's not a sin to be tempted. Just because the devil fires of flaming arrow at you.

That doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.

You're not the twisted one.

He is a twisted one, you put up here shield and identify the source of it from Satan.

I rejected I'm not getting even entertain for a moment. I didn't think of it, and I'm not going to play around with it. That's how you resisted know what these things are coming from because the doubles clever as already said attempt to, and that he'll talk you for being tempted.

How could you be so twisted to think that I didn't think it was like worshiping this thinking thoughts would come from. It came from hell it came from Satan.

It's a flaming arrow so that I reject that assumption got to photo resist the devil and what will happen he will flee from you.

So understand the source of these things so the helmet of salvation. This is so very important because obviously the helmet protects your head and you know that most temptations come in the form of your thoughts right they always start with the thought of you take any temptation you never given into a bench in every instance it started right and you know you entertained and so you have to wear a helmet.

I run a motorcycle and and I have to wear a helmet and I hate helmets. By the way, but I know that there good and they protect your brain, which is a nice thing to keep intact if possible, so I in the same when the spiritual battle to get to get a kid in the realm of your thinking so you want to protect your mind and key so there's one last weapon in our spiritual arsenal and that is a sort of the spirit.

This is the only weapon that is offensive. In other words by going against my enemy.

I'm not going to throw my helmet out okay.

Are you comfortable helmet that's like in the work very effectively and I could beat them to death with my breastplate. That's not practical.

I'm not going to attack you with my shield or you know throw my gospel shoe out of or something like these are not effective weapons. These are not weapons. These are defensive tools that the soldier uses, but this sword. This is how I attack. And of course it says the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God see many believers have all their armor in place but they never use their sore they leave it in the sheath they talk about it.

They study it, but they never actually utilizes sword and spiritual battle the sender. This the devil knows the authority of the word of God. As I mentioned earlier, he will try to keep you from it at all costs. He will do everything you can to see that we either keep our swords.

She or that we don't even put them on the first place.

That's why he attacks God's word in your life, because he knows the power of Scripture master Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study. It's a worship service. It church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now. If so, join us for Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this.

We have seen thousands of people make a commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend harvest@home.o today.

Pastor Greg is presenting the final message in his series, the afterlife and the eternal good insight on emerging victorious and spiritual battle. Let's continue one of the greatest things you can apply your mind to is the memorization of the Bible.

The memorization of the buy one can't do what I can remember Bible verses that you can like it.

Okay, let's start with one Jesus wept. Say that Jesus wept.

Now you know Bible verse. That's one never get a move on. I still remember Bible verses that I learned when I was 17 years old and verses that I just committed to memory and you know you can do it because you have all kinds of stupid song lyrics in your head. You have lines from movies that you can quote it will in your head. You have stats and scores of games that have been you know played over the years in your head. Are you have other information that you put in there you can make time for the Bible.

It's a commitment that the discipline, but memorize Scripture you say why do I need to do that because memorize Scripture as a weapon against sin.

Someone 1911 says I word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Then Psalm 37, 31, says the word of God is in his heart, his steps do not slip.

See, ears works, so Satan comes to you and he says you just send let's say you have sent any sin. God will not forgive you. You have no relationship with God not find a pull out the sort and use it. That's not true because it is written for someone night if I confess my sin. These people and just to forgive me my sin and cleansing from all unrighteousness. Just like that that's I use a sword. Remember Jesus when he was tested in the wilderness with it with three primary attacks from the devil. One of them was when after you nodding for 40 days and 40 nights. Can you imagine a hunger he would've been sword is a double-dip comes up so they want eternal rock into a piece of bread and what is Jesus say it is written, you shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.Jesus get it just said, look, I'm Jesus, you're not get out of here. Jesus could have been as the devil driven them away with just a word, but Christ gave us an example of how to deal with temptation by quoting Scripture do we do the same thing the devil whispers in your ear.

God will not cure your prayer.

God will not hear what you think God is not listening to you I come back with the word of God. First John 514. This is the confidence we have in him, we ask anything according to his will he hears us. So I called the Scripture. Sometimes I quoted out loud. I quoted out loud. The devil can hear it and I can hear so I'm reminded of what the word of God says. Maybe the devil says you should be afraid and augmented destroy you. We quote Scripture Psalm 27, one the Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then shall he be afraid, and then second Timothy 17 God is not given us a spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind. The devil says what you need to worry, worry right now. No, actually I don't because in total room. Philippians 46. Don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known on the got that's out works. You know the word of God. You memorize the word of God. You quote the word of God and I will help you when you're being tempted. But if you don't know God's word clever little things you read on Instagram are not going to help. Okay there's all kinds of clever little things you can read a nice little Saints, but you need the word of God that's with the devil is afraid of and that's what he responds to and that's why it is called the sword of the Spirit Q1 lasting a minimum the close.

The final ingredient to winning the spiritual battle. In addition to putting on the armor of God, and you know the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit and having your fee chart of the preparation of the gospel of peace. This is really important. Prayer.

Prayer would give her 17 the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful of this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Supplication is when you're praying for someone else. Worship is when you're bringing glory to God intercession you're standing in the gap supplication you're praying for someone petition. You're asking the Lord to help you but the word of God and prayer are inseparable. Listen to this, the word of God enlightens us in prayer enables us to see that again the word of God enlightens us but prayer enables us the word of God reveals the will of God. Prayer enables me to do that will is an excellent illustration of this in Exodus chapter 17 showing how God's word and prayer work together so the nation Israel is facing off with the Amalekites on the battlefield and Moses told Joshua to send men to fight the Amalekites. He would stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in his in interceding for them. So when he held that staff up. They knew Moses is praying, so is praying that and when the staff is up there waiting.

Then he deal Moses is all times are getting tighter so your proposals are gone, they start losing, they put them out. Companies are winning again so two guys they were going to help oral mode right ones name air and the others named her they grab each end of the staff. They hold up Moses coming in on with his arms, and so the soldiers saw Moses with this stuff up praying and they prevailed in the battle so it shows how prayer in the word of God go together and that is why we need to proclaim the word of God and then we need to be praying the power in the spiritual battle does not come from what we know it comes from who we know it's all about Jesus and it's all about a relationship with Jesus and so let me just close by asking do you know Jesus, let me say something that you need to understand if you're not a Christian, you're no match for Satan he can pretty much wreck a lot of havoc in your life but if you're a follower of Christ. Your under his protection is ID tag is attached to you and so you have that guarantee of protection for the non-Christian.

They have nothing and you think you're going to keep the devil away with the a crucifix have a crucifix. He hates Chris if he can corrode some crucifixes. What I have holy water. There is no holy water.

Oh well, yeah, you need Jesus. That's the only thing Satan fears and restate that that's the only one Satan fears because of the power of Christ and when Jesus comes on listen live.

Your under his protection. In a sometimes people say that Christians can be demon possessed. How absurd you think God's and do a timeshare program I'm Jesus here and sometimes demons live over here. None of this is like if Christ is in the South is the sole occupant of the house drives everything out.

So when he comes in all that demon power that was maybe in me in some way shape or form is gone and I'm protected someone new is in the house and when the devil comes not united to say Lord, would you mind getting that. And when Jesus answers the door trusting the devil's not coming, but if price is not living in your house in your life, you're vulnerable. You need Jesus Jesus Christ the son of God came to this earth and live the perfect life of anyone and died on the cross for your sin and paid the price for every wrong you've ever done.

And then he rose again from the dead. Now he stands at the door of your life, and he knocks and says if you'll hear his voice and open the door. He will come in, have you asked Jesus to come in your life. Yet there might be some of you here that and you're just worried you're full of anguish and have a lot of problems you're facing and you just think in this is so hard. Will there someone who said that we should cost of our care upon him because he cares for us because he let me take your troubles. Let me take your cares let me take your anxieties, let me carry it for you. Come here. Let me put my arms around you. You're safe with me. You need to come to Jesus you don't want to be out there for one day without you don't want to be out there for one hour without he'll forgive you and you will enter into a relationship with him if you don't have that relationship with Jesus. Let me extend an invitation to you now to believe in him because he's ready to come into your life but you have to say Lord save me Lord forgive me let her know what mess you're in right now or what troubles you're facing or whatever they are. God is greater whatever you're facing. The outcome of your life. Do not say yes to see noted Jesus in your for me or against me. So this is an either or proposition.

You don't say yes I want Jesus you're affectively thing I don't want Jesus in my life and you have that ability to make that choice. Notice the wrong window make it say yes to him, you will not regret it. But spray father I pray now that your Holy Spirit will convict and convince every person that's listening or watching wherever they may be. Show them their need for you and help them to come to you and believe in you right here right now so we ask for your Holy Spirit to work in the heart of those that need to take this next Jesus name I hear Pastor Greg Laurie and if you know you need to make that kind of change today in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you with that before today's addition of a new beginning wraps up if you missed any part of today's study want to catch up by hearing what you missed online is a study called how to fight the spiritual battle you can stream the program@harvest.org or for permanent copy on CD. Call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300, then we want to mention the brand-new book pastor Greg has just released it's one he's been working on for a long long time is called Billy Graham the man I knew and Billy son Franklin made this comment about the book. He said I've often said that the public, Billy Graham seen on crusade platforms and television was the same private Billy Graham at home. This certainly is revealed in Billy Graham, the man I knew, which is based on Greg's personal thoughts on the special times spent with my father and how his ministry impacted Greg's own life and evangelistic ministry.

I'm grateful for Greg's friendship for his love for my father and for his proclamation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ will pressure you you been a good friend of Franklin's for a long time.

And of course you are friend of Billy and Ruth Graham.

Yes, I understand, Franklin is a private pilot's And he invited you to go flying with them one time in his private plane yes what was that experience like you don't forget a flight like that. It was a very small playing, and Franklin said you what you want to go fly with me. Is it okay Doug on the plane just two seats he's blinded I'm shotgun we take off and immediately he begins our rapid dissent. I mean, my stomach came up terrified down up. He pulls it up but we go down again and fly like a crazy man like I would've given anything to get off of that plane.

So then he says them you want to fly over daddy's house. I said okay so we come swooping over the home of Billy Graham and he let Billy know that he was coming so Billy and Ruth are down on their front lawn and we got down close enough where we can actually see them and make them out and they're there standing next to each other, waving at us in the air and I thought I would give anything to be down there with them instead of up in this cockpit with this crazy man, but we landed and then the next time Franklin said you want to fly with me. I was like maybe another time. He's actually a very good pilot, but he was just having some fun at my expense. When you've actually been to Billy and Ruth Graham's home yet several times that many times yes it's in Montreat, North Carolina which is right outside of Asheville. It's a log home. Ruth found all kinds of the old wood from Barnes and other things to use to build it, and had heard decorating touch throughout it. It was almost home. Some of the furniture was a bit threadbare.

I it was a lived in the home. It was a real place and they had a fireplace with a mantle, and carved in wood were the words of a mighty Fortress is our God in German. It was a massive fireplace and I would just sit there in front of the fireplace and there's books laying around in the open it up and one is autographed by by Golda my year and here's another book autographed by Mohammed Ali is her people. Billy interacted with some of whom came to his home there in Montreat. Many presidents came to visit him there. Pres. Obama. Toward the end of his term as president went to visit Billy at Montreat and Billy would just build friendships and bridges to these people and share the gospel with them.

But you know even to sit down and have a meal Ruth would go into the kitchen and she had the sign hanging over her sink. That said, divine service done here three times a day. They had a doormat when you walked up to the front door that said, not you again! Which I was Ruth Schumer. She was very funny, very quick to laugh.

She was in every way. Billy SQL I enjoyed being with her as much as I enjoyed being with him and I was always a little bit honestly intimidated by Billy. I tried to be myself around them. But he was Billy Graham were with Ruth.

They felt very comfortable and I would joke Moran and she had such great insights and so many wonderful things to say.

Once sitting in their home in Montreat. I was just starting my evangelistic ministry and I said oh Ruth of these doors are opening up you know to preach the gospel in stadiums and in I think I need to really brush up more of my apologetics now and she said Greg you just preach the gospel.

That's what Bill always did she call the bill on that occasion, I remembered that not like I don't need to know my apologetics, but she reminded me about my what my real mission was an and by the way, she was a great cook and the food was fantastic and it was just so much fun being with them in that environment with their animals they that few German shepherds in IE, you know, I just savored every moment of it. And those are some of the greatest moments of my life. Actually, very few people had the privilege of getting to know Billy and Ruth on such a personal level, and that's what makes this book so special.

It's a unique look into the life of one of our generation's true heroes of the faith is called Billy Graham the man I knew it's brand-new and will send you a copy to say thank you for your investment in these daily studies, you know, we can only bring them your way is listeners invest to help cover the cost of broadcasting. So thank you for your partnership couldn't come at a more strategic time writers today at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org will best, Greg.

You mentioned our need to come to Christ for forgiveness of sin in today's study. Maybe there's somebody listening like to do that would like to take that step.

Maybe you could help them with that right now, I'd be delighted to listen if you would like to accept Jesus Christ into your life right now. By that I mean if you would like your sins are forgiven and have the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die. Would you pray this prayer with me, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin and rising again from the dead. I'm sorry for my sin, Lord, and I turn from it now and I put my faith in you to be my Savior, my Lord, my God, my friend.

Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you just pray that prayer in minutes. I want you to know on the authority of God's word that Jesus Christ has just come to take residence in your heart. The Bible says these things we write to you the believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. Listen we want to send you some resources that will help you grow spiritually. So here's David some details and let me say God bless you and welcome to the family of God, yet is resources Pastor Greg mentioned are all included in something we call our new believers growth packet. It'll help you get started in living your life for the Lord. So can we send it to you just ask for the new believers growth packet. Our mailing address is a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime around the clock, 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the two words no God.

You know, sometimes the bottom just drops out of our lives. We don't see it coming would look really wondering what to do. So many questions, so you answer the next time Pastor Greg addresses those life altering pricing had on important insight from God's word and from his own experience. Join us next time you're in possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor great free daily email, devotions@harvest.org