Unstoppable - The Power Behind the Armor

This message is from Pastor of Care John Spina in week six of the sermon series “Unstoppable”.

Grace Pointe is a church dedicated to seeing a world full of healthy churches by making as many people as much like Jesus in the shortest time possible. We are a multi-site church in Illinois with a campus in Naperville, IL and Plainfield, IL. If you would like to learn more about Grace Pointe Church, please visit www.gracepointe.us.

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Looking to learn more about Grace Pointe? Check out our website, naperville.gracepointe.us

Grace Pointe Naperville: Sunday services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11:15 am

Grace Pointe Plainfield: Sunday services at 9 am and 11 am.

Discover the missing piece of spiritual warfare that most Christians overlook. This powerful teaching explores how prayer serves as the empowerment behind every piece of spiritual armor mentioned in Ephesians 6. Learn why the apostle Paul emphasized corporate prayer four times in a single verse and how the early church devoted themselves to praying together with unwavering commitment.

Uncover the four essential ways to approach spiritual warfare prayer: praying consistently at all times, praying in the Spirit's power, staying alert and focused, and persevering with strength and devotion. Explore why Paul specifically requested prayer for boldness in gospel proclamation and how this applies to modern believers facing spiritual battles.

This biblical teaching examines the difference between individual spiritual armor and corporate spiritual warfare, revealing why churches that pray together experience greater spiritual victory. Discover practical insights about prayer patterns, including individual prayer, small group prayer, and the often-missing element of congregational corporate prayer.

Important Verses

Ephesians 6:18-20

Acts 1:14

Acts 2:42

Acts 6:4

1 Timothy 2:1

Isaiah 56:7

Think about it!

Why do you think Paul emphasized prayer four times in verse 18, and what does this tell us about the importance of prayer in spiritual warfare?

Pastor Spina mentioned that prayer is not another piece of armor but the 'empowerment for the effectiveness' of all the armor. How does this change your understanding of prayer's role in your spiritual life?

The sermon highlighted that Paul used plural verbs when discussing the armor of God, indicating these are corporate activities. How does this challenge our individualistic approach to spiritual growth?

What are some barriers that might prevent people from participating in corporate prayer, and how can we overcome them?

The pastor shared examples of Asian churches that gather daily for prayer. What do you think enables such commitment, and what can we learn from their example?

The sermon mentioned that 'prayer is the greater work' rather than just preparation for work. How does this perspective change how you view and prioritize prayer in your daily life?

Apply it!

This week, commit to participating in Grace Point's Second Sunday Prayer gathering or start a regular prayer time with at least one other person. Additionally, pray specifically for boldness in sharing the gospel, just as Paul requested from the Ephesian church.

Key Takeaways

Prayer is the overarching empowerment for all pieces of the armor of God, not a separate piece of armor itself

Spiritual warfare and prayer are meant to be corporate activities, done together as a church body

Paul's repeated emphasis on prayer (four times in verse 18) shows its critical importance in spiritual battle

Unstoppable - Cutting Lies with the Truth

This message is from Lead Pastor Dan Painter in week five of the sermon series “Unstoppable”.

Grace Pointe is a church dedicated to seeing a world full of healthy churches by making as many people as much like Jesus in the shortest time possible. We are a multi-site church in Illinois with a campus in Naperville, IL and Plainfield, IL. If you would like to learn more about Grace Pointe Church, please visit www.gracepointe.us.

Grace Pointe Naperville: Sunday services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11:15 am

Grace Pointe Plainfield: Sunday services at 9 am and 11 am.

Discover how to use the most powerful weapon in spiritual warfare - the sword of the Spirit. This comprehensive guide explores Ephesians 6:17 and reveals how God's Word serves as both defensive armor and offensive weapon against spiritual attacks. Learn the three essential steps for effective spiritual warfare: understanding absolute truth, believing Scripture deeply, and applying specific verses to specific temptations.Explore Jesus' masterful demonstration of spiritual warfare during His wilderness temptation in Matthew 4, where He defeated Satan using precise Old Testament scriptures. Understand why memorizing specific Bible verses for your particular struggles is more effective than general biblical knowledge. Discover how Hebrews 4:12 describes God's Word as sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through deception and revealing truth.This biblical teaching addresses common questions about truth in our relativistic culture, explaining how Christians can stand firm on Scripture's absolute authority. Learn practical strategies for memorizing verses that target your specific areas of temptation, whether gossip, lust, pride, or other struggles. Understand the difference between knowing about God's Word and truly believing it, with evidence including maintaining hope during trials and obeying Scripture even when understanding is incomplete.The message examines how biblical authors were carried along by the Holy Spirit, using Peter's ship analogy to explain divine inspiration. Discover why taking radical action against sin is necessary and how the sword of the Spirit enables believers to put to death earthly desires. Learn how effective spiritual warfare isn't just about personal victory but about staying faithful to God's mission of sharing the gospel.

Key Verses

1. Ephesians 6:17
2. John 17:17
3. Matthew 4:3-4
4. Psalm 119:11
5. 2 Timothy 3:16

Questions

1. How does our culture's view of truth (relative vs. absolute) impact the way people approach the Bible and spiritual matters?
2. What are some practical ways we can 'hide God's word in our hearts' like Psalm 119:11 suggests, especially as busy adults?
3. The pastor mentioned three evidences of truly believing God's Word: not losing hope in hard times, continuing to worship, and obeying even when we don't understand. Which of these do you find most challenging and why?

Life Application

This week, identify one specific area where you face regular temptation. Find 2-3 Bible verses that directly address this temptation and begin memorizing them. When the temptation arises, practice using these verses as your 'sword of the Spirit' to cut down the lie and cut out the temptation from your life.

Key Takeaways

1. The sword of the Spirit (God's Word) is both defensive and offensive spiritual armor that we must use strategically against temptation
2. God's Word is absolute truth because it was written by men who were 'carried along by the Holy Spirit' - it's divine revelation, not human opinion
3. We must remember, believe, and apply God's truth specifically and strategically, not just know it generally
4. Jesus demonstrated how to use Scripture effectively against temptation by having God's Word ready in His heart and applying it specifically to each temptation

UnstoppableThis message is from Lead Pastor Dan Painter in week five of the sermon series “Unstoppable”. Grace Pointe is a church dedicated to seeing a world full of healthy churches by making as many people as much like Jesus in the shortest time possible. We are a multi-site church in Illinois with a campus in Naperville, IL and Plainfield, IL. If you would like to learn more about Grace Pointe Church, please visit www.gracepointe.us. Grace Pointe Naperville: Sunday services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11:15 amGrace Pointe Plainfield: Sunday services at 9 am and 11 am.Discover how to protect your mind in spiritual warfare with the helmet of salvation. Learn the difference between worldly hope and biblical hope, and understand why your thinking matters in spiritual battles. This message explores the three aspects of salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification, and how Satan uses incomplete sanctification to attack your confidence in salvation. Find practical strategies for taking thoughts captive and responding to spiritual accusations with gospel truth. Perfect for Christians struggling with doubt, discouragement, or questions about their salvation. Topics covered include spiritual warfare tactics, biblical hope versus wishful thinking, the armor of God, overcoming spiritual attacks, dealing with doubt and discouragement, understanding salvation, justification by faith, sanctification process, glorification promise, taking thoughts captive, gospel truth, Christian living, faith and doubt, spiritual protection, and finding hope in Christ. Whether you're facing spiritual attacks on your mind or want to strengthen your understanding of salvation, this message provides biblical answers and practical application for victorious Christian living.Important VersesActs 1:8Ephesians 6:10-17Proverbs 23:72 Corinthians 10:5Romans 5:1Philippians 1:61 Timothy 1:15Think about it!How does the pastor distinguish between the world's definition of hope (positive wishful thinking) and biblical hope (confident assurance)? Why is this distinction important?The pastor mentions that 70-90,000 people live within a 3-mile radius of the church. How does this reality challenge or motivate you regarding evangelism?Explain the three aspects of salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification. How does understanding all three components strengthen our hope?How does the enemy use the 'holes in our sanctification' to attack our faith? Can you think of times when you've experienced this kind of spiritual attack?The pastor shares that Paul described himself as 'the worst of sinners' later in his ministry. Why might spiritual maturity actually make us more aware of our sin rather than less?Apply it!This week, when you face moments of discouragement, doubt, or spiritual attack, practice putting on the helmet of salvation by: 1) Remembering what God's Word says about your salvation, 2) Believing those truths even when your feelings say otherwise, and 3) Applying that hope by sharing the gospel with someone who needs to hear about the confident assurance available in Christ.Key TakeawaysTo stand faithfully on mission, your thinking must be controlled by the hope you have in ChristSalvation includes three components: justification (past), sanctification (present), and glorification (future) - all based on God's graceThe enemy attacks our minds by using our ongoing struggles with sin to make us doubt our salvationSpiritual maturity often increases our awareness of sin rather than decreasing it, which is normal and healthyWe must remember, believe, and apply the hope of salvation in our daily lives to resist spiritual attacks