Pastor Lawton's Sermon

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July 25, 2010 -

"Family Matters: Spiritual Battles in the Family (Part 1) "

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Sermon Outline

Family Matters:  Spiritual Battles in the Family
Where Did That Come From?
        Ephesians 6:10 -18 (p.830)          

We Have Settled

1. God did not intend for our relationships to be mediocre
2. We can have healthy and thriving families
1. Healthy families can impact others
3. “Be strong in the Lord” (v.10)
1. Here is where the power lies to stand against the battles

There is a Battle

1. Every Christian has this struggle (v.12)
2. Spiritual warfare
1. Acknowledges an evil influence from the heavenly realms
3. This reality changes things
1. Should be a wakeup call
2. It provides answers

Some Cautions

1. Calls for God’s wisdom and discernment
2. Beware of developing a critical spirit
3. It’s not a reason for fear
1. Satan is not equal to God
2. Satan has been defeated
4. All sin is not Satan’s fault
1. We choose sin on our own
5. Not all evil acts come from demon possession

Identify the Enemy and the Target

1. Satan
1. Not family members
2. Satan loves to see relationships destroyed

1. Christian families are a prime target
1. Our sins affect the family
1. Sin is not a private matter
2. Sins of our fathers (Jeremiah 9:13-14)
1. We do what we know
2. We create sinful habits and environments
3. Make sure we do not pass our sins on to our children

Be aware of the Battleground of the Mind

1. Satan knows the power of our thoughts (2 Corinthians 11:3)
2. Be careful of the thoughts we entertain
1. False perceptions of others
2. False perceptions of ourselves
3. Plant new seeds (Philippians 4:8)
4. God knows the power of our thoughts (Romans 12:2)
1. God brings transformation

The Battle Wages
When families see the true enemy we stop fighting each other.

Going Deeper

1. In what ways does the awareness of a spiritual battle make a difference in how you approach your relationship with your spouse, parents or children?

1. How does the knowledge of spiritual warfare make sense of some past situations?  How would you have handled that situation differently?

• Read the book of Ephesians.  How do the first three chapters prepare us for the final three?

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