CHURCH-WIDE STUDY

September 10-October 29, 2023

INTRODUCTION STATEMENT ABOUT THE STUDY

WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS BY THE POWER AND AUTHORITY JESUS CHRIST GAVE TO US WHO BELIEVE

Why did we choose this biblical topic to study at this time?

I have been intimately connected to our church for all 28 years of its existence. During those years, I have had the deep pleasure of seeing our people married, babies born, kids confirmed, some divorced, and many passed onto the next life. The common thread of our life together has been the fierce love of Jesus Christ, and for some the stepping up into the authority, power, and peace with which HE your Savior honored you. After being given the mantle of a warrior standing in rank and file with the saints, many have held firm and fast through the trials, yet some have turned and have run AWOL, while others have been taken down by the enemy’s flaming arrows.

I desire all of us to be more than conquerors in every stage and season of life in which we find ourselves. We want to “fight the good fight for the faith & take hold of eternal life, to which we have been called and have made a good confession.” (1 Timothy 6:12)

Let’s stop being impotent believers tightly selfishly clutching your one-way ticket to heaven.

Live. Stand. Conquer.

Don’t just survive and get by through hiding in the bushes. Let’s all get back in rank and file under His authority as we wield His power.

Wake up. Go out. Fight to win.

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” – Luke 10:19

Sermon Schedule:

9/10/23 - The Battle is Real and I Will Stand Victoriously

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-13, Isaiah 54:17, John 4:4

This sermon will serve as an introduction to the entire series, and will declare that, as Christians, we are engaged in spiritual warfare every single day of our lives. We MUST accept this reality, otherwise we will not realize how important it is for us to prepare ourselves to live victorious lives each and every day.

9/17/23 - I Will Stand on Truth

Scripture: Ephesians 6:14, John 14:6

We live in a world where everyone attempts to craft their own personalized version of truth. “Truth is relative,” an ever-growing number of people believe. As Christians, however, we are called to base our lives on THE Truth, not a particular version of the truth. That’s why this is the FIRST piece of armor we are to put on.

9/24/23 - I Will Stand On the Righteousness of God

Scripture: Ephesians 6:14

We are in a battle every day in which the enemy tries to trick us into thinking that righteous living is either not attainable or is a way of living that will isolate us from others, because they will think we are too “holy” for them. And yet, Jesus said that our righteousness needed to exceed that of the Pharisees–the most outwardly righteous people of His day (Matthew 5:20). So how do we confidently and unashamedly put on the Breastplate of Righteousness as we spend our days in the world? We must learn to do so, because without the breastplate of righteousness, our “vital spiritual organs” are always going to be vulnerable to the enemy attacks.

10/1/23 - I Will Stand On the Gospel of Peace

Scripture: Ephesians 6:15, Romans 1:16

The enemy is constantly striving to rob us of peace. He wants to confine us to a life of stress and worry where we think that the only way to survive and thrive is to work harder, keep at it longer, and sacrifice our families and relationships so that we can stay afloat. The shoes that come from the Gospel of Peace enable us to stand strong against the enemy’s attacks while also giving us the foundation to proclaim the Gospel as God directs us to do so.

10/8/23 - I Will Stand on My Faith

Scripture: Ephesians 6:16, Proverbs 30:5

In the spiritual battle we are engaged in every day, we must recognize that Satan is shooting arrows at us as he tries to take us out. The protection we possess against his attacks is the shield of faith. When Satan shoots arrows that target the soft spots in our lives, his intention is to cause us to doubt the presence and power of God in our lives. Some of those “soft spots” in our lives are our self-esteem, our egos, our desires, self-doubt, and even the value of living the Christian life. How do we withstand these attacks? Our faith will serve as our shield that blocks these arrows.

10/15/23 - I Will Stand On My Salvation

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10

Satan is after our minds. He wants to confuse us about what we know to be true. He wants to trick us into believing so strongly into his lies that we end up replacing God’s truth with Satan’s lies. God has given us armor to wear that will protect us from Satan’s head blows–the Helmet of Salvation. The knowledge of our salvation is our sure protection against the schemes of the devil.

10/22/23 - I Will Stand On the Bible

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17, Romans 8:12-13

Of all the armor we are given to help us stand against Satan’s attacks, the only offensive weapon we’ve been given. Paul tells us that the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The enemy of our faith cannot withstand the penetrating power of the Word of God, our Sword of the Spirit.

10/29/23 - I Will Stand In Prayer

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10

This is the last sermon of this series, and in this message we will talk about how to live when fully armed. While wearing all the protection God has provided for our lives, He has called us put out the darkness that surrounds us by our persistent prayers.