Here is a sermon preached @ Bethel on 3/3/2013. There is a real Devil and Spiritual Warfare is taking place constantly. The word of God gives many examples to help us deal with the Christian warriors assessment of the battle we are in.
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Spiritual Warfare
Introduction
At the Memorial service for the Oklahoma City bombing, before 911, Billy Graham began his remarks by referring to one of the mothers whose children had died in the daycare: “Dr. Graham, why would God let this happen?”....to which he replied I don’t know why God would let this happen, but I know why it happened. It was Sin. HE went on to describe how mankinds insistence to sin has caused pain, misery and destruction. Romans 3:23
Today, If you ask that question,...you’ll find....there is a fatalism that simply says
problems just happen and there is no cause and effect with evil.
The world has developed a deaf ear to the reality of Spiritual warfare.
This is true even in the church
What does the Bible say about Spiritual Warfare?
There is a real Devil. He wants to send you and I to a real hell. He is antagonistic against God and all who serve Him. He’s out to kill us. If he can’t kill us he will make us miserable and destroy our families, our relationships, finances, careers and our joy.
On the other hand.....
The Bible assures us of this one fact. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
There are realities about Spiritual warfare that we must know and understand
1. Spiritual Warriors have Good Intelligence
Jesus was speaking.....
Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
1 Pet 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
2 Corinthians 2:10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
Paul was talking about the Antichrist when he said:
2 Thessalonians 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
1 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
2. Spiritual Warriors have the Best Weapons
In Iraq, preparing for a memorial service, with another chaplain.....soldiers were moving around and setting up, and an M16 was sitting by a chair. The Chaplain in charge said: “Uh, SGT, left your gun over here. The 2-3 soldiers standing nearbly stopped talking stared at him and one female soldier rolled her eyes and said “It’s not a gun, Chaplain it’s a weapon”
Soldiers know their weapons
a. Salvation Ephesians 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
b. Word of God Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2 Corinthians 10:4 (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 exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
c. Holy Spirit
Luke 11:11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Romans 5:3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
3. Spiritual Warriors use right tactics
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Spiritual warfare is not that hard....RESIST! AND HE WILL FLEE
Jude 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
4. Spiritual Warriors are connected to the Commander
Before King David would go up against the Philistines....he inquired of the Lord.
2 Samuel 5:19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
2 Samuel 5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
Later in the NT,
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Acts 12:6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
you can read on....but Jesus breaks every fetter.
Paul describes how equipment and the connection to the Commander make for victory:
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Ephesians 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Do You want to be effective in Spiritual Warfare? Do You want to not only have courage but see results? Take this Good News WITH you. Get Connected to the Commander!
Bring your vessels....not a few. Elisha and the widow in 2 Kings 4
