You Asked for It #5 - What About Spiritual Warfare?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
What if we could give you what it takes to win this battle?
Going to deal with some things that might seem a bit freaky to some of you - but they are very real and need to be dealt with.
The bible says:
In the Heavenly Realms
In the Heavenly Realms
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Some are dabbling now: video games, movies, etc. Have to decide what those fruitless deeds are and stay away from them. Have nothing to do with them. But rather EXPOSE them!
I’m going to expose them today. So if you’re taking notes, write this first one down:
1. The devil is real.
1. The devil is real.
Not a symbol of evil
Not a metaphor
Not a cosmic force.
He’s a fallen angel. Bible names 3 angels: Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer. Satan was cast out. Between Gen 1:1 and 1:2
Isa 14 and Eze 28 - bible records a time when Lucifer got too big for his britches
Luke 10:18 - I saw Satan fall . . .
Revelation records it again:
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
He is not strong enough . . .
Earth is where he is operating right now
John 12 - ruler of this world
2 Cor - god of this age
Eph - prince of the power of the air
1 John 5 - t he whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one
2. The devil is at war with us .
2. The devil is at war with us .
Strategically scheming and devising a way to destroy us
Whether you believe it or not - he’s doing it
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
“Resist” - stand firm
Lying in cover, waiting to pounce
Matt 4 and Luke 4 - the temptation of Jesus. The devil left “until an opportune time”
3. The devil has power.
3. The devil has power.
Many wonder how much power he has. Can a Christian be possessed - difficult question. But I don’t believe that a TRUE Christian can - I don’t believe that someone can house the Spirit of God and the devil at the same time.
Here’s a verse that’s really talking about anger, but it gives us some insight:
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
IF you sin, don’t leave it unresolved.
Leave a crack in the window, in the door.
Let me give you some good news:
4. The devil is subject to our God.
4. The devil is subject to our God.
The devil trembles at our God.
Any time you align yourself with God, you become just as victorious over the devil.
That’s why the bible says:
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Take some time to talk about how much of what we deal with we think is spiritual.
Not a devil under every rock - but he’s definitely at work.
What’s going on in our country is spiritual. You can do this and you can do that - but if you don’t take a spiritual approach, it won’t be solved.
We’re in a spiritual fight and you need to learn how to fight. We’ve been talking about this on Monday nights in our Prayer small group. Let me show you:
Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual Warfare
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
Bombs, guns, modern day way of solving problems, will not faze the devil.
“Strongholds” - any lie of the devil that keeps you tied up.
“Demolish” - violently cast them down
Can’t treat them lightly.
What are our weapons:
1. The Name of Jesus.
1. The Name of Jesus.
Death - a powerful name
Addiction - a powerful name
Depression - a powerful name
Sickness - a powerful name
But:
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
My name in the house - “Papa said” There is a name in my house
And we have a name - a name that’s above every other name, sickness, addiction or anything else that holds or attacks you - Jesus.
You say, “but how do I use it?” Pretty simple actually, but I’ll “splain” it to you: Sickness go, in the name of Jesus.
Devils have to line up at the name of Jesus.
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
2. The Word of God .
2. The Word of God .
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Word is ALIVE
Its ACTIVE
Only offensive weapon in the armor of God
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Jesus’ temptation
Bible is a WEAPON against evil. Use it that way! Quote it. Speak it.
READ it. LEARN it. QUOTE it.
3. The Power of the Cross.
3. The Power of the Cross.
Ultimate defeat of the devil.
Ephesians 4 - he descended - and took the keys of hell, death and the grave.
He tells John that:
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
He confirms that HE holds the keys.
Conquers death - devil can’t throw anything at you - you’ve already won.
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
that they were afraid to die.
Your testimony - I am saved! I am healed! Redeemed. Delivered. Blessed. I am going to heaven!
Final thought:
Rom 8:35 -
In all these things we are…
In all these things we are…
more than conquerors.
more than conquerors.
Romans 8:37