Church | Jesus People Are Opposed | The Jesus People - Part 3

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JESUS PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED
The Jesus People – Part 3
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 8, 2023
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We were born in a battle zone. As C.S. Lewis once said, “There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan.” In this war, we cannot afford to be ignorant. So in this message, we’re going to learn about the nature of the warfare we’re engaged in, how we’ve been equipped to do battle, and how our victory is assured.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. It is easy to misidentify an enemy. Since Paul was writing this letter in chains, it would have been easy for him to think of his enemies as the Romans who placed him under arrest or the Jewish people who weaponized the legal system against him as his enemies. Instead, Paul made clear that our real enemy is not made of flesh and blood but is the true power behind all those aligned against us. People may be pawns of the enemy or even victims of the enemy themselves, but they are never our true enemy. Do you approach your current situation whether it’s personal, familial, or political in this way? If not, why not? How might thinking Biblically about enemies help you when dealing with problem people?
2. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is intended to lay the groundwork for seeing ourselves as a new creation in Christ. In fact, the first three chapters are all about who we are in Christ. Take some time as individuals or as a group to find at least three statements in Ephesians chapters 1-3 that describe your new standing in Christ. What verses did you find? What did they say? How does that encourage you? Strengthen you? Cause a shift in your thinking?
3. Putting on the armor of God is to be clothed in Jesus Christ. The first three armaments are all spoken of in past tense (so they are things we already have). They are the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the sandals (or shoes) of peace. Recall what Pastor Keith had to say about each one and how they relate to who we are in Christ. Why does our battle against the enemy begin with truth? What does it mean to be given the righteousness of Christ? How do those truths contribute to our foundation of peace?
4. The last three pieces of armament also belong to us by virtue of Christ, but are taken up in the moment of battle – the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Once again, recalling Pastor Keith’s explanation of these, how do they factor into our battle against the enemy?
5. As Paul wraps up this section on spiritual warfare, he reminds the church in Ephesus that it’s upon the truth of Christ, who He is, and what He’s done, that we make our stand. We are never to surrender even so much as an inch of ground to the enemy that Jesus bought with His death on the cross. Yet, every time we fall for the enemy’s lies, we are giving up ground? Each time we allow the enemy to convince us that we’ll never change, aren’t truly forgiven, aren’t loved by God in an irrational way, we surrender hard-fought territory that need never be surrendered. One of the best exercises you can do this week is to spend time reading the first three chapters of Ephesians. Write down every truth about who you are in Christ. Make a list. Read the list daily. Read until you memorize it. Then start living like the truth is true. You’ll find yourself experiencing more victory and less defeat. It’s Christ and Who He is and what He’s done that assures our victory and the enemy’s defeat. Thank God that the war has already been wo