“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one...”  Ephesians 6:10-16

Regarding the Christian Warrior:

1. We joyfully live out of the eternal embrace of the living God in light of the gospel of grace. The work of Christ, our substitute, is finished, complete, and irrevocable.

2. We contend with a scheming, accusing, and lying enemy.

3. The shield of faith is, in large part, looking outside of our existential experience to the ongoing empowering work of the Savior by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. (“alien righteousness” - Martin Luther)

4. There is to be a glorious (and dogged) pursuit of the Lord as we walk in faith.


*P _______ on the w______ armor of God... (Ephesians 6:11)


*P_________ righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11)


*F ________ the g______ f________. (1 Timothy 6:12)


*Be r_________in the spirit of your mind. (Ephesians 4:17)


*Do not p_______ your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but p_______ yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life. (Romans 6:13)


“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.”
“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”  1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-8

“Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”  2 Corinthians 2:5-7, 10-11

We are Outwitted by the Enemy When:

1. We do not understand the severity and crippling reality of sin (arrogant, haughty vs mourning) (1 Corinthians 5:2).

2. Unconfessed and unforsaken sin is unaddressed in the church (Matthew 18:15 and following, i.e.), we avoid the uncomfortable realities that are part of the relational context of friendship, families, and church.

3. The importance of your worship and attitudes towards fellow believers is not carefully embraced in your life and brought in line with Scripture.

4. The church is unforgiving and emotionally closed to a repenting brother (Galatians 6:1-2).

5. “Forgiveness” does not involve comfort and a tender reaffirmation of love for the repenting person.

What is the difference between resignations (the stoics) and active yielding?

“Never again look at your sins apart from Christ, you can’t handle them. You’ll either suppress them and deny that they’re there, or if you see how bad they are, they will overwhelm you. Learn to view your mistakes and, your failings, and your transgressions (sins) in the light of Jesus’s forgiveness.”  Augustine (354-430) on his stance against the Donatists

"Let Christ break down sloth, lusts, pride, coldness, prejudices, despair. He has had a great deal of experience cleansing His temples, and you can trust Him to overturn in order to fill you with songs of gladness."  C. John Miller, The Heart of a Servant Leader

*Answers: put/whole, Pursue, Fight/good/faith,
Renewed, present/present