Sermon Notes - Fight with Scripture - Rising Sun Baptist Church - August 30, 2026

1.        We are going to start a new series next week.

2.        This morning we are going to discuss something triggered by my reading a single sentence.

3.         That sentence was, we need to fight with Scripture.

4.        Then it got me thinking.

a.        How do we fight with Scripture?

b.       What does that look like?

c.        Do we all know what that means?

d.       Do we know how?

5.        Ok, let’s start with what fighting with Scripture is not.

a.        It is not being Bible thumpers… and I mean literally using our physical Bible’s to hit people upside the head with.

b.       Not sure who needs to hear this, but your Bible is not a club.

c.        Lobbing Bible verses at others is not how we are to fight.

d.       Scripture is not to be used as hand grenades to prove our points.

e.        We also should not use Scripture to guilt people to do what we want.

f.          That just causes a who lot of problems.

6.        On a more serious note, when we are using Scripture to fight, it is not against people at all.

7.        Ephesians 6:10-13

a.        Our battle is not against those who believe differently than we do.

b.       Our battle is not even against the false teachers out there.

c.        Our battle is against re-read vs. 12.

8.        This is not a battle we can win on our own.

a.        Verse 10 tells us to re-read vs. 10.

b.       Then we are told to put on the full armor of God.

c.        These words are here for a reason.

d.       To prepare us to fight against the darkness around us.

9.        We are not going to spend a lot of time in these verses, but I do want to read a few more.

10.   Ephesians 6:14-18

a.        Several of these have to do with Scripture.

b.       Vs. 14 – Stand, which means we are to take up a defensive posture.

c.        We need the strength of God to stand on solid ground when attacked by the devil.

d.       We are stand with truth like a belt.

e.        We learn to stand and live Godly lives by studying the Word of God.

f.          Studying the Truth.

g.        In verse 15 it talks about the Gospel of Peace.

h.        That is the message of Jesus.

i.          Who He is, what He has done, and what it means for our forever.

j.          Verse 17 talks about the sword of the Spirit.

k.        AKA the Word of God.

l.          The only way we can use the Word is to know it.

11.   I would even say that the faith it talks about in verse 16 comes from learning about the faithfulness of our God.

12.   We have our helmet of Salvation from someone sharing the Gospel with us.

13.   Pretty much every part of the armor of God all the way through Prayer, has some form of tie back to Scripture.

14.   We need Scripture to be able to Stand.

a.        To be able to defend ourselves from the devil.

b.       To be able to fight the darkness around us.

15.   The devil does what he can to make us fall.

a.        Working to get us to take our eyes off of our God.

b.       He did something similar to Jesus.

16.   Matthew 4:1-3

a.        Fasting for 40 days, of course Jesus was hungry.

b.       He was fully human.

c.        The tempter, tried to get Jesus to use His power to provide for His own needs.

d.       Jesus never used His power in a self-serving manner.

e.        To do so would have been to not trust in the Plan that was in place.

17.   Matthew 4:4

a.        Jesus countered the temptation with words from Deuteronomy 8.

b.       He quoted the Old Testament Scripture.

18.   Matthew 4:5-6

a.        The devil tries again.

b.       This time he tries to use Scripture.

c.        He quotes the words correctly out of Psalm 91.

d.       But it was a trap.

e.        For a normal person, jumping off the pinnacle would have meant certain death.

f.          For Jesus to survive that, He would have to force the Father to work in this situation.

g.        Or use the power in a self-serving way.

h.        Jesus saw through it.

19.   Matthew 4:7

a.        Jesus again quotes from Deuteronomy, this time chapter 6.

b.       Yes, Jesus was protected at this time.

c.        But not for doing something crazy.

d.       The verse in Psalms applied when Jesus was doing the Father’s will.

e.        Not cliff jumping without a chute.

20.   Matthew 4:8-9

a.        The devil was trying to get Jesus to take the easy road.

b.       Bow before Satan and avoid all the pain.

c.        Jesus tells us in John that He does what the Father tells Him to do.

d.       This would have meant ignoring the Father’s will.

e.        Turning His back on the whole reason He came.

21.   Matthew 4:10

a.        You might have guessed it, Jesus used Scripture to counter the tempter for the 3^rd time.

b.       He once again quoted Deuteronomy 6.

c.        He was on earth to do the Father’s will.

d.       That is what he was going to do.

22.   Matthew 4:11

a.        Jesus used Scripture to stand.

b.       To be true to what He came here to do.

c.        And the devil fled.

23.   1 Peter 5:8-9

a.        The devil is actively trying to get us to fail.

b.       He wants us to take our eyes off of Jesus.

c.        He wants us to doubt that our God is faithful.

d.       That He has saved us.

e.        He wants us to think there is an easier road.

f.          What Scripture calls the wide road to destruction.

24.   Which is why we need to be sober-minded or alert.

a.        We need to be aware of what is going on in the world.

b.       We need to understand our own weaknesses.

c.        We need to know that our God is at work in us.

25.   How do we become firm in the faith?

a.        What is one of the ways that the author and perfector of our faith strengthens our faith?

b.       By using His Word to show us that our God is faithful.

c.        When we read Scripture, we see His faithfulness over and over.

d.       It shows us that He will not leave us or forsake us.

e.        A message we can learn by reading in Joshua.

26.   James 4:7

a.        This verse is one of my daily prayers.

b.       I ask God to help me submit to Him, to draw near to Him.

c.        So that I can resist the devil.

d.       I know I cannot do it on my own.

e.        I need the Word of God.  

f.          I need Jesus to strengthen my faith.

g.        To help me fight.

27.   2 Corinthians 10:3-5

a.        Our battle is not with those around us.

b.       We do not fight with traditional weapons.

c.        We need the armor of God.

d.       We are to pray.

e.        Hold on to THE Truth.

f.          And trust in what we learn from the Word of God.

g.        The Word of God is powerful.

28.   James 5:16b “The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”

a.        As we pursue our Jesus.

b.       Learn His Words.

c.        Talk to Him.

d.       Asking Him to work in our lives.

e.        Asking Him to set us free from temptations.

f.          Asking Him to open the hearts of our loved ones.

g.        Our God works.

h.        Re-read 2 Corinthians 10:4a, through strongholds.

i.          When a righteous person prays.

j.          Our God tears down strongholds.

k.        He changes hearts and moves mountains.

29.   Romans 3:22

a.        Abraham was credited righteousness because he believed.

b.       If you believe in Jesus.

c.        If He is your Lord and Savior.

d.       Scripture tells us you are a righteous person.

e.        God’s Word.

f.          The Truth.

g.        The Absolute Truth.

h.        Tells us that we become righteous when we put our faith in Jesus.

30.   That does not mean we live perfectly.

a.        It does not mean we will no longer sin.

b.       It means that we have been bathed in the blood of the Lamb of God.

c.        We have been saved.

d.       Redeemed.

e.        Set Free.

f.          Restored.

g.        Made righteous through faith in Jesus.

h.        Through the Word of God.

i.          Through Scripture.

31.   If Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

a.        You can stand strong.

b.       You can fight with the Sword.

c.        Your prayers are very powerful in its effect.

32.   How?

a.        The first step is to give your life to Jesus.

b.       If you are a Christ follower, you can check the box on this one.

c.        You have the Holy Spirit working in you.

d.       If you don’t know Jesus, that can change very easily.

e.        As I read earlier out of Romans, believe.

f.          Well get back to that in a moment.

33.   What do we do after believing?

a.        Remember we do not earn our salvation.

b.       But if we are to stand strong on this side of eternity, we need to listen to what Scripture tells us.

c.        Start by putting on the armor of God each and every day.

d.       Practice with your Sword, read the Word.

e.        The more time you spend in it, the more of the Truth you will know.

f.          The more of it we know, the more it comes out in how we live our lives.

g.        The more Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith can use it to grow our faith.

h.        To help us hold on to the Truth when life unfolds before us.

34.   We also need to pray.

a.        If you are not sure what to pray.

b.       Try praying the Word of God.

c.        I mentioned earlier I pray a part of James 4:7 daily, submit to God and resist the devil.

d.       I pray verses out of 1 Thessalonians 5, asking God to help me rejoice, pray, and be thankful.

e.        I pray Romans 1:17 that God helps me to live by faith.

f.          Some pray Psalm 23.

35.   Pray to God.

a.        Quote Scripture to Him.

b.       Stand on the truth.

c.        Joshua 1, God will never forsake you.

d.       That is a truth you can hold close.

36.   Know the Word and Pray it.

37.   When we battle correctly, through Jesus, we will be victorious.

38.   1 John 4:4

39.   Hebrews 2:14-15

a.        Jesus is greater than the one in the world.

b.       He has already defeated the devil.

c.        The devil may be in denial.

d.       But the end of the book is clear.

e.        Jesus has already won.

40.   As a child of God, we have a piece of that victory.

a.        No matter what the devil does our eternity with Jesus is secure.

b.       We will be with our God forever and ever.

41.   Fight with the Word and in Prayer.

42.   Thoughts for the Road:

a.        What step can you take this week to improve your armor? Start reading the Word each day, coming to the Sun or Wed night studies, praying earnestly for God to work…

b.       Find one or more verses, that you can pray each day. Pray it and trust that God will work accordingly. If you are unsure of what to start with, James 4:7, Psalm 23, Romans 1:7, are a couple I like.

c.        How can you reshape your fights by remembering that our battle is not against people? Pray for them. Pray Scripture over them. Let God do the work as you put on His armor.

43.   If you are ready to take the next step, I would love to talk and pray with you.

a.        If you are ready to publicly declare your faith through water baptism.

b.       To join RSBC, or feeling called to serve.

c.        If your next step is to put your faith in Jesus.

d.       Like Scripture said, to believe in Jesus.

e.        All you have to do is repent of your sins and surrender to Jesus.

f.          His death and resurrection made it all possible.

g.        Give your life to Him and your sins are forgiven and your future is amazing.

h.        If that is you, the altar is open, I would love to pray with you.