Spiritual Warfare - 1

Spiritual Warfare:

What is the Invisible War?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:10-12

Ø General Command (Ephesians 6:10) – Allow yourself to be continually strengthened by the power already made available to you in your new position and relationship with Christ. It is the power that raised Christ from the dead and now dwells in you.

Ø Specific Command (Ephesians 6:11) – How? By continually and repeatedly putting on the spiritual protection God has provided for you . . . for the express purpose of holding on to your position in Christ as you are bombarded by Satanic strategies designed to destroy you and/or render you ineffective in Kingdom pursuits.

Ø The Reason for Commands in Verses 10 – 11 (Ephesians 6:12) – It’s because our real struggle (battle, wrestling match to the death) is not against physical/material adversaries (people, circumstances, organizations), but against a hierarchy of demonic forces doing battle in the spiritual realm.

Five Basic Truths about Spiritual Warfare:

1. There is an Invisible World that is Just as Real as the Visible World.

Examples:

• Old Testament 2 Kings 6:15-19

• New Testament 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

2. We are Involved in an Invisible War, a Cosmic Conflict That Has Eternal Implications.

Ephesians 6:12 (The why)

• For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

• . . . in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:4

• Application – When was the last time you honestly considered that some struggle or relational conflict was rooted in satanic opposition?

3. Our Foe is Formidable and His Goal is to Destroy Us and Discredit the Cause of Christ.

Ephesians 6:12 (The why continued)

• Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:8

• Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Jude 9

o Is Satan for Real?

§ Authority of the Bible - Genesis 3:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Revelation 12:9

§ Testimony of Christ 25 References, Matthew 4

§ Reality of Demons – He’s their “prince.” - Luke 11:15

o Who is Satan?

§ A created spirit - Colossians 1:16, Job 1:3

§ An angel - Matthew 25:41, Revelation 12:7

§ A cherub - Ezekiel 28:14

§ Highest of all created beings - Ezekiel 28:14, Jude 9

o Where Did He Come From?

§ Created perfect - Ezekiel 28:12 -13

§ Had heavenly estate - Jude 6

§ Guardian of God’s glory - Ezekiel 28

§ Occasion of his sin = power and beauty - Ezekiel 28

§ Nature of his sin = pride - 1 Timothy 3:6, Isaiah 14:13

§ Cause of his sin = personal free choice - Habakkuk 1:13, James 1:13

4. We Must Respect Our Foe, but Not Fear Him – Become Acutely Aware of His “Methods,” but Not Be Preoccupied by Them.

Ephesians 6:11 (specific Command)

• Paul agrees to forgive a brother along with the Corinthian church . . . “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

2 Corinthians 2:11

• The Vital Question – How can we make sure we are not ignorant of his schemes?

o Satan’s Names Reveal His Tactics

· Satan (adversary) - 1 Peter 5:8

· Lucifer (son of the morning) - Isaiah 14:12

· Beelzebub - Matthew 12:24

· Belial - 2 Corinthians 6:15

· Evil one - 1 John 5:19

· Tempter - 1 Thessalonians 3:5

· Prince of this world - John 12:31

· Accuser of the brethren - Revelation 12:10

· Representations include:

o Serpent - Genesis 3

o Dragon - Revelation 12:3

o Angel of Light - 2 Corinthians 11:14

o Satan Attacks God’s Program, the Church, by . . .

· False philosophies - Colossians 2:8

· False religions - 1 Corinthians 10:19

· False ministers - 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

· False doctrine - 1 John 2:18

· False disciples - Matthew 13

· False morals - 2 Thessalonians 2:7

o Satan Attacks God’s People by . . .

· Directing governments - Daniel 10:13

· Deceiving men - 2 Corinthians 4:4

· Destroying life - Hebrews 2:14

· Persecuting the saints - Revelation 2:10

· Preventing service - 1 Thessalonians 2:18

· Promoting schisms - 2 Corinthians 2:10, 11

· Planting doubt - Genesis 3:1-2

· Provoking sin:

o Anger - Ephesians 4:26-27

o Pride - 1 Timothy 3:6

o Worry - Matthew 13:22

o Self-reliance - 1 Chronicles 21:1

o Discouragement - 1 Peter 5:6-8

o Worldliness - 1 John 2:16

o Lying - Acts 5:3

o Immorality - 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

· Producing sects/cults - 1 Timothy 4:1

o Satan’s Power is Limited

· He is created, therefore not omniscient or infinite

· He can be resisted by the Christian - James 4:7

· God places limitations on him - Job 1:12

o Application – “Balance” and wisdom are crucial in our assessment of spiritual opposition. To assign too much or too little credit to the reality of demonic activity is to error greatly.

5. As Believers in Christ, We Do Not Fight “For” Victory, We Fight “From” Victory. In Christ’s Power We Are Invincible!

Ephesians 6:10 (general command)

Promises from God Concerning Victory Over Satan

• Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 4:4

• For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:4-5

• And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation12:11

• Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

Summary:

1. Satan is a defeated foe. John 12:31

2. Jesus destroyed the work of the devil. Colossians 2:14-15

3. We are victors in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58

4. We have the power and resources to resist Satan and demonic attacks. 1John 4:4

5. We must learn how to put on the “full armor of God” to experience in daily living the victory we already possess. Ephesians 6:13-17