What You Don't Know Will Hurt You

Notes: What You Don't Know Will Hurt You

Ephesians 6:10–18

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: Live, Love, Fight

Thursday, July 2, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

The spiritual battle you face started when you were born and intensified on the day of your conversion to be a Christian.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

[13] No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Mike Tyson said everyone is a fighter until they get hit. Greg likes that.

Sometimes it seems the enemy is in every direction you look.

The devil brings havoc because he knows that Jesus is coming back.

Matthew 8:29 NKJV

[29] And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"

The devil knows his time is coming and Jesus is victorious over him.

Cultural Christianity is dead. There are some good things and bad things that will come from that.

Do three things. Wake up, sober up and suit up.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 NKJV

[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. [8] But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

1 John 4:4 NKJV

[4] You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The first thing we need to know to win a battle is to know our opponent.

To be forewarned is to be for armed.

2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV

[11] lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The devil is like a snake. You give him an inch; and he will get out of his cage.

Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV

[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; [18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-

1. We need to stand in god's strength, not our own.

Ephesians 6:10 NKJV

[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

You are not strong enough to fight the devil on your own.

You fight from victory in Christ, not for victory.

Jude 1:9 NKJV

[9] Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Even an Archangel calls on God.

Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV

[1] He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. [2] I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

2. We need to put on the whole armor of God.

You put on the armor, once and for all!

You never get to go on spiritual vacation from the devil; you are always under spiritual attack.

Studies show if you don't go to church for a month then you won't go for more than a year.

God has given us all the armor. It's up to you to put it on!

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV

[18] Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Even Abraham, a great man of faith, had lapses in faith.

Is there an area of your life you think you might not fall in? Be careful.

1. The utility belt of enlightenment.

Readiness comes by girding your waist with truth.

Luke 12:35 NKJV

[35] "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;

"Gassed up and ready to go!"

You got to have your belt on, or everything can fall off.

We need a good working knowledge of scripture.

Let's not just feel, but think.

Psalm 51:6 NKJV

[6] Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Live a sincere, honest life.

2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV

[4] No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

We are soldiers in a battle.

Duplicity and hypocrisy weakens any witness we have to a watching world.

All parents owe their children an apology at some time.

We must refute the devil with God’s word.

2. The breastplate of righteousness.

It's like wearing a bulletproof vest.

We are always on duty as Christians.

What is the breastplate of righteousness?

It is the righteousness given to us by Jesus.

Philippians 3:9 NKJV

[9] and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

This is based on what Jesus has done for you.

The devil accuses and condemns.

Guilt is not always a bad thing. Sometimes its like pain, it gets your attention to not do something, or pull back from more pain.

Satan will try to drag you away from the cross and God will always lead you back to the cross.

Satan will say you aren't worthy because of a sin. We were never worthy.

Ephesians 1:5 NKJV

[5] having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

That is imputed righteousness.

Then there is practical righteousness.

2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV

[22] Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

You want to do what is right because of the love God has for us.

Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV

[1] Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. [3] He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.

The man of Psalm does something's and does not do something's.

There are certain things we should do and certain things we should not do.

Like a good diet, we have to pay attention to what we do and don't do.

Guilt is just a symptom; it is sin that is the problem.

Jesus Christ can forgive you and turn you into a new person!