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The Battle Within: Arming Ourselves for Spiritual Warfare - 155 · Marriage Life and More and Bible Study

0:02
Daniel Moore: Why should we study spiritual warfare?
0:04
Daniel Moore: Are we really in a war?
0:07
Daniel Moore: Do you like the way that your thought life is taking you?
0:11
Daniel Moore: Is there a difference between world war and the spiritual war?
0:16
Daniel Moore: This week, we answer these questions and more.
0:20
Daniel Moore: On this episode of Connecting the Gap, we continue our series, the Battle Within overcoming the Invisible War.
0:26
Daniel Moore: We'll be right back after this.
0:28
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0:30
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2:34
Daniel Moore: Welcome to Connecting the Gap Podcast.
2:36
Daniel Moore: I'm Daniel Moore.
2:36
Daniel Moore: I'm the host for this podcast.
2:38
Daniel Moore: You can visit our website at connectingthegapnet for everything you'd like to find out about our ministry.
2:43
Daniel Moore: You can also listen to this podcast by subscribing wherever you get your podcast at, as well as YouTube, rumble and your Alexa and Google smart devices.
2:52
Daniel Moore: Also, if you'd like a transcript of today's episode and all the episodes in this series about the battle within you, can visit our website, connectingthegapnet.
3:01
Daniel Moore: There is a link there for the transcripts and we always put our transcripts up for our full blown series, so you can go check that out on the website as well if you would like to have a copy of today's transcript.
3:13
Daniel Moore: Also, don't forget to go like us and share us and give us a good five star review on Apple Podcast.
3:19
Daniel Moore: That helps other people get to know who we are and what we're about, and they say that if other people are enjoying this podcast, then it'll inspire them to maybe check it out.
3:28
Daniel Moore: And that's how we get this podcast to grow and also it just helps other people.
3:33
Daniel Moore: The whole reason for this it's a ministry.
3:35
Daniel Moore: We want to minister to other people and try to together just study God's Word and get closer to God and the truth that he has for us.
3:43
Daniel Moore: Changing lives is what our podcast is all about.
3:46
Daniel Moore: It's a way that you guys can be a part of that.
3:48
Daniel Moore: Well, last week we kicked off our brand new series, the Battle Within overcoming the Invisible War.
3:53
Daniel Moore: We started off talking about the spiritual war that runs in our family.
3:58
Daniel Moore: Satan loves to destroy our families.
4:00
Daniel Moore: The family is a divine or dame unit that has been set by God and Satan knows that if he can get into the middle of our families, then that tears up the church and then when the church gets torn up, he wins a lot of battles when that takes place.
4:14
Daniel Moore: So I hope that you guys got something from that episode.
4:17
Daniel Moore: Of course, over the next 13, or actually about 16 weeks.
4:20
Daniel Moore: I guess we've got about three months worth of a series here coming your way.
4:25
Daniel Moore: We'll be getting into more of that and we'll talk about more, a little bit more deeply, about the battles that we fight individually and as families, and we will cover lots more territory here before this series is over.
4:38
Daniel Moore: So today, as we get started, you might be asking the question why is it important that we study spiritual warfare?
4:45
Daniel Moore: Well, biblically and practically speaking, we are in a spiritual war.
4:49
Daniel Moore: The Christian spiritual enemy is not in uniform and he doesn't meet us on an identifiable battlefield.
4:56
Daniel Moore: He uses ruthless and unconventional tactics, such as deceit, deflection and disguise.
5:02
Daniel Moore: A huge number of pastors and teachers, however, ignore or downplay the spiritual warfare, to the point that many professing Christians don't even know they're in a war.
5:12
Daniel Moore: This lack of awareness puts Christians in serious danger.
5:16
Daniel Moore: The Church of Jesus Christ needs to know its enemies and his strategies.
5:20
Daniel Moore: Above all, christians need to know how to gain victory over this enemy.
5:25
Daniel Moore: Two things are happening today that we've never thought we would ever see.
5:29
Daniel Moore: First, spiritual warfare is getting much more intense as Satan's attacks become bolder.
5:34
Daniel Moore: Second is mentioned before too many Christians are not taking spiritual warfare seriously or even believing that such a war is even going on.
5:43
Daniel Moore: Taken together, these two factors mean that we have a crisis on our hands.
5:47
Daniel Moore: When the danger increases and our awareness decreases, someone needs to sound an alarm to prevent the disaster.
5:55
Daniel Moore: So you may ask, are we really in a war?
5:58
Daniel Moore: Well, be assured.
5:59
Daniel Moore: Spiritual warfare is a reality in the life of every believer.
6:03
Daniel Moore: When you open the pages of the New Testament, there is no shortage of passages that characterize the Christian as a warrior and the Christian life as a battle.
6:11
Daniel Moore: We are called to a grim struggle with unseen forces, and the fight is very real.
6:17
Daniel Moore: In 1 Timothy 1-18 it says this charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.
6:28
Daniel Moore: And in 1 Timothy 6-12, fight the good fight of faith.
6:32
Daniel Moore: Lay hold on eternal life.
6:34
Daniel Moore: In 2 Timothy 4-7, I have fought the good fight.
6:39
Daniel Moore: I have finished the race.
6:40
Daniel Moore: I have kept the faith.
6:42
Daniel Moore: In 2 Timothy 2-3, you therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
6:49
Daniel Moore: In 2 Timothy 2-4, no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life.
6:56
Daniel Moore: That he may please him.
6:57
Daniel Moore: Who enlisted him as a soldier?
6:59
Daniel Moore: And in 1 Corinthians 16-13, watch.
7:03
Daniel Moore: Stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
7:06
Daniel Moore: Commenting on these passages, pastor and writer JC Ryle said this Words such as these appear to me clear, plain and unmistakable.
7:16
Daniel Moore: They all teach one and the same great lesson, if we are willing to receive it.
7:21
Daniel Moore: That lesson is that true Christianity is a struggle, a fight and a warfare.
7:29
Daniel Moore: Cs Lewis once said there are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils.
7:36
Daniel Moore: One is to disbelieve in their existence.
7:39
Daniel Moore: The other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.
7:43
Daniel Moore: With last week's episode, we began a deep dive into the crazy, unknown and what is often overlooked aspect of our lives the battleground that lies within our minds, or otherwise known as Satan's playground.
7:56
Daniel Moore: In all the universe, there is nothing more diabolical and deceptive than the human mind.
8:02
Daniel Moore: It is a playground where Satan seeks to plant seeds feeding off our darkest thoughts and our fears.
8:08
Daniel Moore: As human beings, we possess remarkable potential for good, compassion and love.
8:14
Daniel Moore: Yet our minds can also be manipulated and twisted by sinister forces leading us astray.
8:21
Daniel Moore: Fortunately, in many different places, scripture shed some light on this battle within us.
8:26
Daniel Moore: The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6-12,.
8:29
Daniel Moore: 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.
8:40
Daniel Moore: It also tells us on the flip side in James 4-7, therefore, submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8:48
Daniel Moore: Well, how do we discern the influence of Satan within our thoughts?
8:52
Daniel Moore: Are there ways to fortify our minds against his cunning tactics?
8:57
Daniel Moore: These questions and more are what we will explore as we go through this series in the upcoming weeks.
9:05
Daniel Moore: Charles Baud Laire once said the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist.
9:10
Daniel Moore: We have so many people today that really don't believe that there is a war going on.
9:16
Daniel Moore: They might believe in Satan or they might believe in his power, but they don't really understand the full extent of how he actually controls and manipulates their thought life, their minds and their lives.
9:28
Daniel Moore: They don't understand that there is a battle that we are waging and they convince themselves that he's not even really there.
9:35
Daniel Moore: Well, together we're going to uncover the strategies and insights to arm ourselves in this battle for mental liberation.
9:42
Daniel Moore: We are going to embark on a journey through the realms of our own consciousness, peering into the depths of our minds where humanity and evil collide.
9:51
Daniel Moore: As we uncover the truth, we become equipped to reclaim the playground from Satan's grasp.
9:57
Daniel Moore: It is no lie the struggle is real, but so is the power within you.
10:02
Daniel Moore: So where are your thoughts taking you?
10:05
Daniel Moore: The problem with following our thoughts sometimes is that our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts.
10:12
Daniel Moore: What we think shapes the very intimate being of who we are.
10:16
Daniel Moore: The better we grasp that truth, the better equipped we will be to change the trajectory of our lives.
10:23
Daniel Moore: Both the Bible and science provide evidence that this is true.
10:26
Daniel Moore: Biblically, philippians 4, verses 8 and 9, it can have an impact on our thought life and assist us in maintaining a positive way of thinking and living.
10:36
Daniel Moore: This passage not only provides guidance, but also encompasses essential elements for cultivating a healthy mindset.
10:43
Daniel Moore: Using these verses on our everyday walk, we can bring about transformative changes in our lives.
10:49
Daniel Moore: First and foremost, philippians 4-8 enlightens us on the kinds of thoughts that we should entertain.
10:55
Daniel Moore: It says Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.
11:13
Daniel Moore: This verse emphasizes the importance of focusing on positive and virtuous thoughts.
11:18
Daniel Moore: By deliberately training our minds to dwell on these aspects, we can gradually shift our mental state towards gratitude, contentment and joy.
11:27
Daniel Moore: We can defeat Satan and his demonic grip that he can have on the very core of our minds and our thought processes.
11:35
Daniel Moore: When we direct our thoughts towards what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, our mindset begins to align with God's perspective.
11:47
Daniel Moore: Other scriptures, such as Psalm 1914, echo this sentiment.
11:51
Daniel Moore: It says May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, lord, my rock and my redeemer.
11:59
Daniel Moore: This verse illustrates the importance of aligning our thoughts with God's Word, ultimately leading to a mindset that honors and uplifts our Creator.
12:10
Daniel Moore: Speaking deeper, Philippians 4-9 encourages us to put into practices what we have learned and received.
12:16
Daniel Moore: It says Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put it into practice and the God of peace will be with you.
12:26
Daniel Moore: This verse again emphasizes the value of practical application when it comes to shaping our thought life.
12:33
Daniel Moore: Merely thinking godly and positive thoughts is not sufficient.
12:37
Daniel Moore: We must actively incorporate them into our everyday lives by applying the teachings and examples set by Paul.
12:46
Daniel Moore: As described in this verse, we gain a practical framework for managing our thought life.
12:51
Daniel Moore: Additionally, this practice is accompanied by the promise that the God of peace will be with us.
12:57
Daniel Moore: This assurance reminds us that focusing on positive thoughts and putting them into action opens pathways for experiencing divine peace and tranquility amid life's challenges.
13:09
Daniel Moore: In essence, following Philippians 4-9 assists us in living a better thought life and maintaining a positive mindset.
13:18
Daniel Moore: By intentionally focusing on what is good and praiseworthy, aligning our thoughts with God's perspective and putting into practice what we have learned, we can reshape our thought patterns and improve our overall well-being.
13:31
Daniel Moore: This in turn enables us to find greater contentment, joy and peace in our lives.
13:39
Daniel Moore: In these scriptures, paul moves through three things.
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Daniel Moore: He moves from number one thought, he says to think about such things.
13:47
Daniel Moore: Then he moves to action.
13:49
Daniel Moore: He says put it into practice.
13:51
Daniel Moore: Then he moves on to experience.
13:54
Daniel Moore: He says the God of peace will be with you.
13:57
Daniel Moore: Paul tells us that our thoughts shape our lives.
14:02
Daniel Moore: In recent years, studies of modern psychology have developed a discipline called cognitive behavioral therapy.
14:08
Daniel Moore: This breakthrough teaching reveals that many problems, from eating disorders, relational challenges, addictions and some forms of depression and anxiety, are rooted in faulty and negative patterns of thinking.
14:22
Daniel Moore: Treating these problems begin with helping to change the way of thinking.
14:26
Daniel Moore: Many years down the road, we will individually look into a mirror and someone will stare back.
14:33
Daniel Moore: That person will be the person that was developed and shaped by the thoughts of today.
14:38
Daniel Moore: The life we have is a reflection of what we think.
14:42
Daniel Moore: In Proverbs 23-7 in the Bible, it states For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
14:49
Daniel Moore: This verse shows the powerful connection between our thoughts and our identity, emphasizing that our inner beliefs and thought patterns shape who we become.
14:58
Daniel Moore: It reveals that our thoughts have the ability to influence our words, actions and, ultimately, our character.
15:05
Daniel Moore: So let's explore further how this truth plays out in our lives with a few examples.
15:12
Daniel Moore: Number 1.
15:13
Daniel Moore: There is fear and self-doubt.
15:15
Daniel Moore: When someone continually dwells on thoughts of fear, anxiety and self-doubt, it gradually seeps into their character and affects their everyday life.
15:24
Daniel Moore: This person may become hesitant to take risk, experience difficulty in making decisions and struggle with very low self-esteem.
15:33
Daniel Moore: Their fearful thoughts manifest in a personality characterized by timidity and a lack of confidence.
15:39
Daniel Moore: Secondly, there is optimism and positivity.
15:43
Daniel Moore: On the other hand, if individuals consistently nurture thoughts of optimism, hope and positivity, it shapes their character in a different direction.
15:52
Daniel Moore: They become known for their cheerful disposition, resilience in the face of challenges and the ability to uplift and encourage others.
16:00
Daniel Moore: Their positive thoughts reflect in their actions and attract favorable outcomes in their personal and professional lives.
16:07
Daniel Moore: Thirdly, there is gratitude and contentment.
16:10
Daniel Moore: Someone who cultivates thoughts of gratitude, contentment and appreciation for what they have tends to carry an attitude of satisfaction and thankfulness.
16:19
Daniel Moore: This disposition influences their actions, leading to a greater sense of fulfillment and less inclination toward comparison or envy.
16:29
Daniel Moore: Their thought-life of gratitude manifests in a character marked by joy and generosity.
16:36
Daniel Moore: And fourth, pessimism and negativity.
16:39
Daniel Moore: When individuals continually harbor thoughts of pessimism, negativity and cynicism, it influences their character and interactions with others.
16:49
Daniel Moore: They may develop a critical and judgmental outlook which detrimentally impacts their relationships and overall sense of happiness.
16:57
Daniel Moore: The constant stream of negative thoughts becomes deeply ingrained, shaping a personality characterized by bitterness and an overall negative approach to life.
17:07
Daniel Moore: These examples illustrate that our thoughts play a significant role in forming our character, attitudes and actions.
17:15
Daniel Moore: They demonstrate how our thought patterns gradually manifest in our behaviors and ultimately become an integral part of our identity.
17:23
Daniel Moore: Proverbs 23-7 cautions us to be mindful of our thoughts, encouraging us to shape our thinking in a way that aligns with values, virtues and principles that lead to a healthier and more positive way of living.
17:37
Daniel Moore: Do you like the way that your thought-life is taking you?
17:40
Daniel Moore: If not, then maybe you need to change the way you are thinking.
17:44
Daniel Moore: If you are tired of having your life poisoned by toxic thoughts and being held hostage by inner voices, you need to be here each week as we go through this study.
17:55
Daniel Moore: With God's help, you can transform your mind.
17:58
Daniel Moore: You can let His thoughts become your thoughts.
18:02
Daniel Moore: My first experience of the demonic took place when I was a young kid.
18:06
Daniel Moore: I grew up in a very legalistic holiness type of assembly of God Church.
18:11
Daniel Moore: If anybody is familiar with those churches, you will understand what I'm getting ready to tell you.
18:17
Daniel Moore: When we went to church, we called everybody brother and sister.
18:21
Daniel Moore: To be quite honest, I went to church there for 15 years.
18:25
Daniel Moore: I hardly knew very many people's first names.
18:27
Daniel Moore: It was Brother Taylor, sister this Brother, that Sister, this Brother, that that's the way that we were supposed to talk to our elders there at the church, and even the adults.
18:38
Daniel Moore: That's just how we all communicated within the church.
18:41
Daniel Moore: Today, when people pass away that I went to church with years and years ago, I see their obituary and I'm like huh, that's what their first name was.
18:51
Daniel Moore: I had no clue.
18:52
Daniel Moore: I hate to say that, but that's kind of the way it was.
18:55
Daniel Moore: The reason I'm telling you that is because I did have an experience with a demonic situation as a teenager when I was going to that church.
19:06
Daniel Moore: The main character of this story is a lady that went to church there.
19:09
Daniel Moore: She was also an instructor there at the college.
19:13
Daniel Moore: This church had an institute college for Bible school.
19:16
Daniel Moore: She was a professor there for that.
19:19
Daniel Moore: Her name was Sister Esri.
19:20
Daniel Moore: That's all I can tell you.
19:22
Daniel Moore: I cannot remember what her first name is.
19:24
Daniel Moore: I've tried to look it up on the internet and that's been too many years ago.
19:29
Daniel Moore: It's not popping up in my Google search.
19:31
Daniel Moore: Her name was Sister Esri.
19:35
Daniel Moore: I remember one night I was sitting in church and, as church goes, occasionally at that church people would start dancing in the spirit.
19:45
Daniel Moore: We'd have messages and tongue interpretation.
19:46
Daniel Moore: Sometimes the service would just take off.
19:49
Daniel Moore: If you've heard about the old brush arbor services and the old tent meetings and kind of the old fashioned way of how churches used to go, some churches still do that today.
20:00
Daniel Moore: I'm not saying that they don't.
20:01
Daniel Moore: It's very biblical that we do.
20:02
Daniel Moore: It's not as common, it seems, as what it used to be.
20:05
Daniel Moore: We was having one of those nights where the service just took off.
20:10
Daniel Moore: God started moving, the Holy Spirit started moving and saturating that place.
20:15
Daniel Moore: There was just lots of things happening.
20:19
Daniel Moore: Lots of breakthroughs were taking place in people's lives.
20:21
Daniel Moore: There was this one particular woman that went up to the altar finally, during this time of prayer at the end of the service.
20:27
Daniel Moore: We had been up there praying for a little bit and there were some women gathered around her praying for her.
20:33
Daniel Moore: Well, pretty soon it became evident this lady had something going on in her life that was pretty crazy.
20:39
Daniel Moore: She was kind of acting out a little bit towards the women that were surrounding her and she was making comments and saying things.
20:47
Daniel Moore: And it didn't take too long to realize that she had some kind of a demonic force taking, taking place in her life that was controlling her and she needed to be freed of that addiction.
21:00
Daniel Moore: She needed to be freed of that, that stronghold on her life, and these women at the church were trying to pray her through.
21:07
Daniel Moore: Well, sister Esri was an elderly lady at that time.
21:09
Daniel Moore: I can't remember exactly how old she was, but I know she was at least somewhere between her 60s and 70s, if I remember correctly, and Everything was going along where everybody was praying and all of a sudden this Ear piercing shriek and scream happen.
21:24
Daniel Moore: And I look up front because I was sitting in the pews.
21:27
Daniel Moore: I was not at front at the altars.
21:29
Daniel Moore: I look up there and the next thing I know I see this woman stand straight up.
21:33
Daniel Moore: She flings her arms out, hit sister Esri and flung her about six to ten feet Roughly into the first row of pews, her hitting her head and her neck on the first pew there and she was down for the count.
21:48
Daniel Moore: She heard her pretty good.
21:50
Daniel Moore: As a matter of fact, sister Esri, from what I remember, what I recall, the rest of her life she had neck problems.
21:57
Daniel Moore: From when that happened, this lady just went off and, if I remember correctly, they did end up praying with her and they were able to Pray the demonic forces out of her through prayer and she was Delivered from that.
22:13
Daniel Moore: Now where she went from there I have no idea.
22:15
Daniel Moore: I was young at that time so that was not my thing to follow stories like that, but that was very interesting to me and if I didn't believe in spiritual warfare before then, well, I did after that night.
22:28
Daniel Moore: That totally changed my perception of what happened and some people think we're crazy and we tell stories like that.
22:35
Daniel Moore: But I'm telling you, if you are not there and you don't see it with your own eyes, it does seems very crazy, it seems like it's unbelievable that that can't even happen to a person.
22:45
Daniel Moore: But it is a very real thing.
22:46
Daniel Moore: That woman had lost complete control of her mind.
22:49
Daniel Moore: So that struggle was real and so is the demonic influence and that invisible war that goes on even around all of us every day.
22:59
Daniel Moore: You know people that all of a sudden find themselves in the midst of a cosmic conflict Often have one of two extreme reactions, and that's fight or flight.
23:08
Daniel Moore: Those who flee often do so because they don't fill up to the task.
23:12
Daniel Moore: Those who are ready to jump in and fight usually do so because they feel strong enough to handle it.
23:18
Daniel Moore: In Ephesians 6 we have an answer to both of those extremes.
23:22
Daniel Moore: It says be strong in the strength of God's might.
23:26
Daniel Moore: We first have to remember that we may not know much about the battle when we first come up against it and we realize that it exists, but we can at least know that it isn't just by our might that we have to try to defeat the enemy, and that is a lie Sometimes that most of us have to get past.
23:43
Daniel Moore: We think we're on our own and we think that we are the ones that have to fight this battle.
23:48
Daniel Moore: So we search for ways that we can take care of it within our own selves.
23:52
Daniel Moore: In Ephesians 6 10, there is a general command that the Apostle Paul states Says finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
24:00
Daniel Moore: This verse introduces the idea that it is imperative for believers to be spiritually strong and Highlies that it is not merely a suggestion or an option, but a command from God.
24:11
Daniel Moore: Let's further explore why this directive is presented as an essential obligation Rather than a discretionary choice, how some of us like to do it.
24:21
Daniel Moore: We like to choose whether if we fight our battles that way or not.
24:24
Daniel Moore: First of all, there's the divine authority aspect.
24:27
Daniel Moore: As the inspired writer of Ephesians, paul's words carry the weight of divine authority.
24:32
Daniel Moore: By attributing this directive to the Lord, he emphasizes that it is not a mere suggestion or advice, but a direct command from God.
24:41
Daniel Moore: Therefore, it carries the same weight of obedience as any other explicit command given by God in the scripture.
24:47
Daniel Moore: Secondly, there's the aspect of spiritual warfare.
24:52
Daniel Moore: The context of Ephesians 6, 10 through 20 delves into the concept of spiritual warfare, where Paul explains that believers are engaged in a battle against spiritual forces of evil.
25:02
Daniel Moore: In this context, being strong in the Lord is not Optional, but rather necessary for prevailing in this spiritual struggle.
25:10
Daniel Moore: Neglecting to heed this command would leave believers vulnerable to attacks from the enemy.
25:15
Daniel Moore: There's also personal and corporate responsibility.
25:19
Daniel Moore: The command to be strong in the Lord applies to both individual believers and the collective body of Christ.
25:25
Daniel Moore: It is not a command given to select few, but to every follower of Christ.
25:31
Daniel Moore: This underscores the significance of personal responsibility in nurturing spiritual strength, as well as the communal responsibility of supporting and encouraging one another in this pursuit.
25:44
Daniel Moore: Another reason is necessity for victorious living.
25:47
Daniel Moore: The strength Paul urges believers to seek is not a human strength.
25:51
Daniel Moore: It's a reliance on the Lord's mighty power.
25:54
Daniel Moore: It is through this divine empowerment that believers can navigate the challenges, the temptations and spiritual battles that they encounter.
26:02
Daniel Moore: By emphasizing the importance of being strong in the Lord, paul highlights that it is essential for experiencing victorious living in the face of opposition.
26:12
Daniel Moore: Ephesians 6 10 presents the command to be strong in the Lord as a non-negotiable directive from God.
26:19
Daniel Moore: This imperative is rooted in divine authority, the reality of spiritual warfare and the necessity of relying on God's power for victorious living.
26:28
Daniel Moore: Understanding the nature and urgency of this command underscores the importance of prioritizing spiritual strength and relying on the Lord's empowerment in every aspect of our lives.
26:40
Daniel Moore: We're gonna take a break here for a moment.
26:42
Daniel Moore: When we come back, we're gonna continue this week's episode on the battle within overcoming the invisible war.
26:49
Daniel Moore: We'll be back right after this.
27:06
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27:56
Daniel Moore: Welcome back to Connecting to Gap podcast.
27:58
Daniel Moore: I'm Daniel Moore.
27:59
Daniel Moore: This week we are in our second episode of the battle within the Invisible War.
28:05
Daniel Moore: We've covered quite a bit of territory so far and right now we are in the middle of Ephesians 6.
28:10
Daniel Moore: We just finished talking about verse 10.
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Daniel Moore: Right now we move on to Ephesians 6 and in verse 11.
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Daniel Moore: Here Paul provides a specific command that elaborates on how believers can fulfill the preceding directive to be strong in the Lord, which was talked about in Ephesians 6-10.
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Daniel Moore: Let's look at how this verse serves as a practical instruction in fulfilling the command to find strength in the Lord.
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Daniel Moore: In Ephesians 6-11 it states Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
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Daniel Moore: This verse presents a clear and specific command to put on the full armor of God.
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Daniel Moore: Here's a few key points to consider about this command that God has given us.
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Daniel Moore: Number one is comprehensive protection.
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Daniel Moore: The imagery of the full armor of God illustrates the need for believers to equip themselves entirely for spiritual warfare.
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Daniel Moore: It emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach ensuring that every aspect of our spiritual life is covered and guarded.
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Daniel Moore: By putting on this armor, believers protect themselves from the schemes and attacks of the devil who seek to undermine their faith and hinder their relationship with God.
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Daniel Moore: Secondly, it's active engagement.
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Daniel Moore: The command to put on implies an active engagement on the part of the believer.
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Daniel Moore: It involves intentional effort, perseverance and a conscious decision to equip oneself with the spiritual resources provided by God.
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Daniel Moore: Rather than remaining passive or complacent, believers are urged to proactively engage in this process, recognizing the spiritual battles that they face.
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Daniel Moore: Thirdly, it's God's armor.
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Daniel Moore: It is significant to note that believers are called to put on the full armor of God.
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Daniel Moore: This armor is not something we create or design ourselves.
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Daniel Moore: It is the spiritual equipment provided by God for our protection and victory.
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Daniel Moore: Each piece of this armor represents a different aspect of our spiritual defense and resources, such as truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the word of God and prayer.
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Daniel Moore: Fourthly, there's preparedness and standing firm.
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Daniel Moore: By putting on the full armor of God, believers are equipped to take their stand against the devil's schemes.
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Daniel Moore: This command emphasizes the necessity of spiritual preparedness and vigilance.
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Daniel Moore: The armor enables believers to resist the enemy's attack, remain firm in their faith and stand strong in the face of adversity.
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Daniel Moore: Ephesians 6-11 provides a specific command that outlines how believers can fulfill the preceding command to be strong in the Lord by putting on the full armor of God, we engage in active preparation and protection against the devil's schemes.
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Daniel Moore: This command reminds us that we are not defenseless, but equipped with God's spiritual resources to overcome spiritual battles and faithfully stand firm in our relationship with Him.
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Daniel Moore: Now, if you are a new believer, or maybe you've never studied very deeply into this passage, you may be asking well, what is the reason for these commands?
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Daniel Moore: Well, ephesians 6-12 serves as a key passage that sheds light on the reasons behind the commands given in Ephesians 6-10-11.
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Daniel Moore: And let's look at some of these reasons, based on the insights provided in Ephesians 6-12.
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Daniel Moore: Ephesians 6-12 states 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.
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Daniel Moore: So, number one, there's the nature of the struggle.
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Daniel Moore: This verse highlights that the struggle believers face is not purely physical or against human components, in other words, flesh and blood.
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Daniel Moore: Instead, the true battle that we face is a spiritual one.
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Daniel Moore: It's involving unseen adversaries and forces.
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Daniel Moore: This understanding reveals the magnitude and gravity of the conflict in which believers are engaged.
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Daniel Moore: Secondly, there's spiritual opposition.
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Daniel Moore: The verse identifies the opposing forces believers encounter.
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Daniel Moore: Those are the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
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Daniel Moore: These references are commonly understood to refer to demonic and satanic forces aligned against God and His followers.
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Daniel Moore: These spiritual entities are engaged in actively opposing God's purpose and seeking to influence and harm humanity.
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Daniel Moore: Thirdly, there's the need for God's strength.
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Daniel Moore: The mentioned struggle underscores the indispensability of relying on God's strength, as emphasized in Ephesians 6-10.
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Daniel Moore: Facing spiritual adversaries and forces beyond our physical realm demands supernatural empowerment.
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Daniel Moore: Therefore, the command to be strong in the Lord is rooted in the recognition of our inherent weakness and the need to draw up on God's mighty power to overcome these spiritual battles.
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Daniel Moore: Fourthly, it's armor for spiritual warfare.
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Daniel Moore: Considering the pervasive spiritual opposition, ephesians 6-11 provides the command to put on the full armor of God.
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Daniel Moore: This verse presents a practical response to the spiritual conflict by equipping believers with the necessary tools and defenses to withstand and engage in battle against the spiritual forces of evil.
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Daniel Moore: In Ephesians 6-12,.
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Daniel Moore: It provides the reasons behind the commands in Ephesians 6-10-11.
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Daniel Moore: It highlights the spiritual nature of the struggle believers face and the presence of opposing spiritual forces.
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Daniel Moore: These verses emphasize the need for God's strength, the recognition of the spiritual battle at hand and the crucial importance of equipping oneself with the full armor of God.
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Daniel Moore: By understanding the reasons for these commands, believers are better equipped to engage in spiritual warfare, relying on God's power and protection to prevail against the forces of darkness.
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Daniel Moore: It is an invisible war.
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Daniel Moore: Now, in our sophisticated worldly view, it is indeed possible to mistakenly attribute supernatural battles to worldly visible things such as our relationships, circumstances or external factors.
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Daniel Moore: This confusion can arise because we often interpret and understand events through a limited human perspective.
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Daniel Moore: However, it is crucial to recognize the distinction between these two realms the supernatural and the worldly, so as not to confuse them.
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Daniel Moore: We're going to look at the potential pitfalls of conflating supernatural battles with worldly conflicts.
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Daniel Moore: Number one there's blaming others.
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Daniel Moore: When facing challenges or conflicts in our relationships or daily lives, we may be quick to assign blame to individuals or external factors.
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Daniel Moore: For example, we might blame our spouse for our marital issues, our boss for a difficult work situation or a policy for personal setbacks.
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Daniel Moore: While it is true that these worldly elements can contribute to conflicts, it is essential to examine whether there is a spiritual dimension at play as well.
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Daniel Moore: Secondly, neglecting spiritual influence.
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Daniel Moore: By solely focusing on the visible, tangible aspects of conflicts, we may disregard the spiritual influence in battles happening behind the scenes.
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Daniel Moore: In Ephesians 6-12, paul reminds us that our struggle is not merely against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces.
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Daniel Moore: Neglecting this truth can lead us to miss the underlying spiritual dynamics impacting our worldly conflicts.
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Daniel Moore: Thirdly, there is lack of personal responsibility.
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Daniel Moore: Blaming external factors and assigning responsibility solely to others or circumstances may result in a lack of personal accountability.
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Daniel Moore: While worldly things and people can contribute to conflicts, it is crucial to assess our own thoughts, attitudes and actions in light of spiritual battles.
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Daniel Moore: Recognizing our own role and seeking personal growth and transformation can help address both the worldly and supernatural aspects of conflict.
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Daniel Moore: Fourth, there is spiritual discernment.
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Daniel Moore: Developing spiritual discernment allows us to distinguish between natural conflicts and supernatural battles.
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Daniel Moore: This discernment comes through prayer, studying God's Word, seeking guidance from wise counselors and cultivating a deeper relationship with God.
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Daniel Moore: It helps us understand when worldly circumstances or conflicts are influenced by spiritual forces, enabling us to respond appropriately and seek supernatural solutions.
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Daniel Moore: It is common for our sophisticated worldly view to attribute conflicts solely to visible external factors.
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Daniel Moore: However, it is crucial to acknowledge that supernatural battles exist parallel to our worldly conflicts.
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Daniel Moore: By discerning the spiritual dimension, taking personal responsibility and seeking God's guidance, we can address both realms effectively and find resolutions that go beyond superficial solutions and acknowledge the spiritual battles taking place.
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Daniel Moore: The historical context of why Paul wrote Ephesians 6, 10-12 to the Christians in Ephesus revolves around the broader purpose of the letter to the Ephesians and the specific challenges faced by the early believers in that city.
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Daniel Moore: Ephesus was a prominent city in the Roman province of Asia, which is modern-day Turkey.
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Daniel Moore: It was known for its bustling economy, trade and pagan religious practices.
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Daniel Moore: Paul spent a significant period of time in Ephesus during his third missionary journey, establishing a vibrant Christian community and facing various oppositions, both religious and secular.
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Daniel Moore: In Ephesians, paul emphasizes the theme of spiritual warfare and the cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil.
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Daniel Moore: This theme resonated strongly with the Ephesian believers, who were situated in a city marked by pagan worship, idolatry and spiritual darkness.
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Daniel Moore: The city was home to the Temple of Artemis, a center of idolatrous worship and occult practices.
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Daniel Moore: The Christians in Ephesus would have faced significant opposition and spiritual conflicts in such an environment.
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Daniel Moore: Another aspect of the reason for this chapter in Ephesians is the presence of Gnostic teachings and influences in Ephesus.
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Daniel Moore: Gnosticism was a diverse set of religious beliefs that claimed to possess secret knowledge and promoted a dualistic understanding of spiritual realms.
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Daniel Moore: These teachings often distorted the true nature of Christ, salvation and the spiritual battle.
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Daniel Moore: Paul's letter to the Ephesians addresses and refutes these false ideas, emphasizing the centrality of Christ and the ultimate victory found in him.
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Daniel Moore: Paul wrote the book of Ephesians while in prison, possibly during his imprisonment in Rome.
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Daniel Moore: The letter carries a tone of encouragement and exhortation, addressing various aspects of Christian living and providing guidance for believers.
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Daniel Moore: In Ephesians 6, verses 10-12, specifically, paul encourages the believers to be strong in the Lord, reminding them of the spiritual battle they are engaged in and urging them to rely on God's strength and equip themselves with his armor.
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Daniel Moore: The historical background of Ephesians 6, 10-12, in relation to the Christians in Ephesus centers around their confrontation with the prevalent pagan practices, idolatry, spiritual darkness and the influence of Gnostic teachings.
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Daniel Moore: Paul wrote to encourage and exhort the Ephesian believers to stay in firm in their faith, recognizing the spiritual warfare they were facing and emphasizing the need for reliance on God's strength and spiritual armor.
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Daniel Moore: Although we don't want to downplay the problems we are going through of being a relationship or circumstantial issue, we certainly don't want to imply that they are never relevant.
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Daniel Moore: A lot of times, though, those are just symptoms, not the source of the problem and many of the things that we see on the surface is an arc enemy that wants to brutally destroy our lives.
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Daniel Moore: Don't misunderstand this point of view as a denial of personal responsibility.
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Daniel Moore: We all make choices.
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Daniel Moore: Sometimes the consequences are bad.
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Daniel Moore: We can't blame all difficulties on hostile acts of the enemy.
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Daniel Moore: We live in a fallen world and bad things happen.
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Daniel Moore: Not everything happens because of demonic schemes, but everything can be exploited by demonic forces.
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Daniel Moore: As I quoted CS Lewis at the beginning of this episode, the danger is to put too much emphasis on Satan and demons, or way too little.
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Daniel Moore: For most people today, it is way too little.
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Daniel Moore: The fact of the matter is we are going to have huge battles to fight in our life and we are going to get beaten down time and time again.
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Daniel Moore: As Christians, we all have to withstand the attacks of the enemy of God.
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Daniel Moore: Paul has warned us that it is going to be a rough and bumpy ride.
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Daniel Moore: We just have to learn that our first responsibility is to be aware of the battle and that we are in it.
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Daniel Moore: Our second responsibility is to remember that we must depend on God's strength.
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Daniel Moore: Our third responsibility is we must use the protection and the armor that God has provided to us to fight this battle.
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Daniel Moore: So, as we close this episode of this series for this week, here are some questions to ask yourself and contemplate as you study and apply these truths in your life.
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Daniel Moore: Number one have you ever sensed that you are in a spiritual battle?
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Daniel Moore: If so, when was that?
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Daniel Moore: When someone says spiritual warfare, what immediately comes to your mind?
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Daniel Moore: What is your natural tendency in a conflict?
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Daniel Moore: To fight or to flee?
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Daniel Moore: Does this tendency undermine God's strength in your life?
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Daniel Moore: If it does, how do you think it does that?
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Daniel Moore: Have you ever considered that a besetting sin or an unresolved conflict could in any way be related to spiritual warfare?
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Daniel Moore: How does it help to know that the power inside of you is the same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead?
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Daniel Moore: Understanding the role of God's protection will not help us very much if we don't first understand why it is exactly that we need it.
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Daniel Moore: If your eyes are not yet open to the behind the scenes context of your life in Christ, if you are still skeptical about the whole idea of spiritual warfare in your life, we'll be prepared to be jolted by the reality of the conflict raging around you.
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Daniel Moore: We're going to cut it off there for this week, for this week's episode.
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Daniel Moore: We'll be back again next week with our next installment of the Battle Within overcoming the Invisible War.
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Daniel Moore: You can visit my website at ConnectingTheGapnet to check out our ministry and also to download a transcript of this episode and all the previous episodes that we've had of this series and the series we just came out of, so please check that out as well.
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Daniel Moore: I'd love to hear from you guys If you have anything that you'd like to add to our discussion.
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Daniel Moore: I know this is a thing that a lot of people fight.
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Daniel Moore: A lot of people battle these kinds of things in their mind all the time.
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Daniel Moore: We always have those little voices on our shoulders we talked about last week telling us to do this or not do that, and so I know that we're all in this battle and we're all in it together, and throughout these next couple months here, next two to three months, we're going to try to tear all this apart and figure out how to win this battle.
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Daniel Moore: Satan is defeated already.
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Daniel Moore: We have to understand that Jesus went to the cross.
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Daniel Moore: He gave his life for our salvation.
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Daniel Moore: He defeated Satan on that day.
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Daniel Moore: The only reason Satan has a foothold in our life, the only reason that we are manipulated sometimes into all the things that happen, and the thought process is that we have is because we allow Satan to mess around with us.
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Daniel Moore: He knows what our weaknesses are when we show them to him, and he exploits those.
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Daniel Moore: We have to stand firm and take that command that God has given us to put on his full armor, that he has provided so that we can stand up against the enemy.
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Daniel Moore: And God is right by our side.
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Daniel Moore: He will help us win that battle.
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Daniel Moore: Well, I'm out of here for this week.
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Daniel Moore: Please go and subscribe and share.
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Daniel Moore: If you haven't done so, you don't miss any episode.
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Daniel Moore: Leave some comments on YouTube, rumble or even Spotify.
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Daniel Moore: There's a place that you can do that as well.
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Daniel Moore: You can also email me at Daniel at connectingthegapnet if you have any questions, and I want to remind you too, if you are not saved.
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Daniel Moore: I have a page on my website on how to do that, so you can go check out my website for that, or just email me if you have any questions.
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Daniel Moore: I'd love to pray with you, send you a Bible if you don't have one.
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Daniel Moore: That's the whole purpose of this podcast, and I haven't really mentioned that in a while, so I just want to bring that up as we leave today.
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Daniel Moore: I'll help.
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Daniel Moore: You guys have a blessed week ahead of you.
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Daniel Moore: We're going to continue our series next week and start digging deeper into why our mind is so crazy sometimes and what we can do to try to overcome that and defeat our mind and what Satan tries to do with it.
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Daniel Moore: So I'll be out of here till next week.
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Daniel Moore: We'll see you then.
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Daniel Moore: Until then, don't forget that God's word never fails us.
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Daniel Moore: God's word has stood the test of time and, through Jesus' death on the cross, he has connected the gap.
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Daniel Moore: You've been listening to Connecting the Gap podcast.
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Daniel Moore: I'm Daniel Moore, the host for this podcast, and I personally thank you for listening.
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Daniel Moore: Each week In this world there are many disconnects that cause chaos in our lives.
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Daniel Moore: This podcast is birthed from the desire to share hope and restoration of the power of the gospel by being transparent and open in our biblical walk with God.
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Daniel Moore: Each week we take a few moments as we navigate God's word and peer into other people's testimonies and encourage each other to connect the gap.
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Daniel Moore: If you would like to give us feedback or would like to contact our ministry for any reason, including prayer, visit our contact page at wwwconnectingthegapnet and send us a message.
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Daniel Moore: We hope you are blessed by this ministry.
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Daniel Moore: This is a production of Connecting the Gap Ministries.