For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take to you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, & having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness

I. Know Your Opponent:   Satan is still alive and well on planet earth, a lame duck with ferocious fangs. 1Pe 5:8 Lk 4:6

A. Satan's will for our lives is for us to foolishly pursue our desires (both legitimate and illegitimate) by illegitimate means, resulting in disloyal independence, isolation, death (loss of dominion/glory), preventing us from achieving the glory he desired.

B. Satan seeks to disrupt the Body's interdependence & unity of mind/purpose (so it fails to self-edify and glorify God) by:

Doubt, Discouragement, Despair, Discord, Distortion

Egocentrism = selfishly thinking the world revolves around us and our needs

Vanity = spending our efforts on the temporal...what doesn't produce eternal benefit in God's sight

Independence = essence of sin; making our decisions on what we think is best for us

Lust = desire for temporal power, pleasure, & possessions unsubmitted to the Holy Spirit-controlled mind (Gen 3; 1Jn 2:15ff)

C. Our conflicts are not exclusively on the physical plane; our problems have a spiritual source.

We often fail to see the hand of God (or Satan) behind our irritations. Our perceived enemy is frequently a victim.

II. Know Yourself: Strengths and Weaknesses (Temptations)

A. We need spiritual strength and resources to combat supernatural foes. Eph 6:11 Be strong in {your relationship with} the Lord

We need to be "strong in the Lord" to: 1) Recognize, 2) Refuse, 3) Rebuke, and 4) Retire Satan's schemes

B. What we are is more important that what we do...we must "be" before we can "do".

Our corporate strength is the sum of the strength of the individual muscles (weakest link).

III. Know the Rules and Your Strategy

A. Our primary mission is to STAND, not to charge the gates of hell with a water pistol.

Our standing is to be in unity, with Christ, with spouses, and with each other. Rom 15:5-6; Phil 1:27

Our standing will be both subtly tested and Satanically assaulted, both from within and without. Acts 20:29-30

If, in all we do we, fail to maintain our standing as a unified Body of like-minded, truth-speaking lovers, we fail.

B. Our standing in unity begins with girding ourselves with the Truth about ourselves, our world & our mission. Eph 2:20-25

Ac 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Ac 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart

Ro 15:5 God...grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God...

1Co 1:10 ye all speak the same thing, there be no divisions among you; but be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment

2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Php 1:27 conduct that becometh the gospel of Christ...ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel

Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one for another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

C. Our standing in unity is fortified by personal application of the Truth.  Eph 5:8-10 fruit of the light

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Can you trace a frequently occurring irritation in your life to its source? Why has God allowed it?

2. Rate the following in order of difficulty: breaking a bad habit, praying, having a quiet time, Bible study (non-BAC), developing a good habit, "cold turkey" evangelism, friendship evangelism, memorizing Scripture, serving soup, loving, giving $, living in unity.

3. Does God need our help? Why does He graciously allow us to participate? What are the implications?

4. T or F If my spiritual life & thinking revolves solely around my personal holiness, I'm stuck in the quicksand of selfishness.

5. What can you do to help BAC from being bumped out of the ring? How can you "bulk-up" your righteousness?