1. How do I protect myself from evil?
Ephesians 6:10-18

2. We love our sports…

3. My sport when I was little…

4. When you’re involved in sports…
You train / practice
Put in time / effort
Have fun and be part of a team
How do you know you are any good at it?
By putting what you have practiced into a match or play a game against other team

5. How would you describe…
Your walk with Jesus?
Do you use the gifts God has given you?
Have you exercised your faith recently?

6. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

7. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

8. We face a great struggle…
v  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

9. How did we get to struggle?
We have been brought into a new relationship (Ephesians 1) and our sins forgiven
We have been made new / alive in Christ (Ephesians 2)
We have a new community / become children of God (Ephesians 4)
We have provoked the enemy (Ephesians 6)

10. Who is the enemy?
v  Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
The enemy is the devil
The devil wants to destroy the work of God
E.g. Eve and the serpent (Genesis 3)
E.g. us, you, me (Ephesians 2)
Your old master (the devil) has now become your new enemy

11. So what now?
Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ / a child of God is not the end of your battle, but the beginning of a new warfare.
Battle the real enemy
Where is the battle field?
What kind of battle are we in for?
The outcome of the battle

12. Battle the real enemy
v.12 – for our struggle is not against flesh and blood
Of course we have problems with people
But the real enemy is NOT the people
We think if we remove the people, then we remove the problem
The enemy crave the least attention
It’s the unseen enemy

13. Battle the real enemy
v.12 – but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
And this is the best lie the devil is able to convince the world of… that he doesn’t exist
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a ducks and smells like a duck – it must be a chicken!

14. Where is the battle field?
In 4 areas:
In the mind (Ephesians 4 – live a life worthy of the calling you have received)
In the home (Ephesians 5 – husband / wife / children)
In the work place (Ephesians 6 – slaves / masters)
In the church (Ephesians 6 – for all the Lord’s people)

15. What kind of battle are we in for?
We are to stand our ground (v.11-14) mentioned 4 times
To stand against what?
To stand against the devil’s schemes (v.11)
What schemes? See next slide of the armour of God

16. What kind of battle are we in for?

17. What kind of battle are we in for?
Truth vs. deception
Righteousness vs. distraction
Peace vs. comfort
Faith vs. isolation (see next slide)
Salvation vs. discouragement

18. Faith vs. Isolation…

19. The outcome of the battle…
The devil has been defeated:
At Calvary (in the past)
In the ministry of the church (in the present)
When Jesus returns (in the future)

20. In summary… How do I protect myself from evil?
Know who the real enemy is
Know where is the battle field is and address it
Know what kind of battle are we in for
Know the outcome of the battle is victory over the enemy