In the battle, we have armor to protect us. But that doesn't mean the church is intended to only withstand the enemy's attacks. There is ground to gain for the Kingdom and the Spirit has given us weapons to fight with. Scripture is a weapon that gives us God's truth in the battle. Prayer brings God's power into the fight. Both make the enemy flee and enable us to move forward to bring the Kingdom into our lives and into the world.

We are to stand firm in the battle against the invisible enemy. This means that we hold the ground that Jesus gained for us, despite Satan's attacks. God gives us an armor that is strong. It's what we believe about Jesus that protects us. The truth of the Gospel is our protection against the schemes of the enemy.

There is an invisible battle all around us. Whether we realize it or not, our enemy is the Devil and the spiritual forces of evil. We won't win this battle until we've rightly identified who we're fighting against and understanding how the enemy schemes against us. Only then can we fight back with the mighty power of God.

Before and without Jesus, our lives were characterized by sin. We are completely dependent on God, because we cannot change our hearts or forgive our own sin. God gives us grace and forgiveness through Jesus, through whom we have new life and new purpose.

As a result of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, all people have the opportunity to receive what we need from Jesus. Jews, who were chosen from the beginning, have the inheritance they've long awaited. And after the resurrection, all others are included in the inheritance of Jesus, which the Spirit guarantees.

Jesus has proven that He is King and then unexpectedly gave up his power and life in order to die as a ransom for sin. His resurrection proves the sufficiency of His payment and secures His place as the eternal King. A the end of Mark's account, the witnesses are bewildered which forces the question, "How will you respond to the Risen King?"

The events in Gethsemane show Jesus as being sovereign and surrendered at the same time. As He prays to the Father, Jesus commits to receiving the full wrath of God. And as Jesus surrenders to the mob, He initiates the events that will lead to His death. Jesus knew exactly what was coming and He chose it for us.

On the night before Jesus was crucified, He used the Jewish Passover meal as an object lesson for what He came to accomplish. Jesus Himself had become the Passover Lamb, the sacrifice that would deliver people from sin and death.

As Jesus' time on earth draws to a close, He wants His disciples to understand what will happen next. At an unknown time in the future, the King will come back to complete His Kingdom on earth. Much trouble will come before then, but Jesus will make all things right when He returns.