Spiritual warfare 1
There was once a boxer who was being pummeled in the ring by his opponent. Blow after blow by his adversary left him with a bloody nose, swollen eyes, and an enormous amount of pain.
The battered boxer’s trainer, trying to encourage his man between rounds, kept telling him, “You’re doing great, Fred. That bum is barely touching you.”
To which the boxer responded, “Then you better keep your eye on that referee, because somebody is killing me!
No amount of smooth talk could change the fighter’s mind that he was in a battle.
In the same way, you and I are engaged in a real battle as well.
We know we are facing a real opponent because the world and even our churches bear the scars of this conflict:
Due to this war we see War among nations, shattered lives, broken homes, suicide, rape, abuse, immorality of every kind.
In the church we have rebellion, stumbling blocks, people who oppose leaders, jealousy, pride, and church splits, People who actually go around and try to get others to oppose the leaders as well.
now hear this!!!!
You and I are at war! Everyone say we are at war with an enemy whose goal is to destroy.
In fact, we are engaged right now in the mother of all battles. No war in history can compare with the battle you and I fighting.
The war I am talking about is the spiritual warfare that you became a part of the day you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.
A FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Everything , say everything, we see in the visible, physical realm is caused, provoked, or at least influenced by something in the invisible, spiritual realm.
This war affects every area of your life.
If you are a Christian, there is no way you can avoid the conflict.
There is no bunker of foxhole you can crawl into that will shield you from the effects of this battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan.
You have two choices fight, or flight!
Stand your ground or run away!
This morning I want to look at who the enemy is, how the enemy works, why the enemy attacks, next week we will look at how to combat our enemy.
Who is the enemy?
Satan and his angels:
Eph 6:12, II Cor. 10:3-5,
How does the enemy work?
I. by causing doubt.
God’s Word is the main tool against our enemy. If he can get us to doubt it, then it is a lot easier to win against us.
Turn to Genesis 3:1-5
II. which leads to rebellion
Genesis 3:6-8
III. rebellion is always disobedience toward God.
a couple of areas doubt has hindered this battle:
think about this the first sin was doubt so now we have the opposite of doubt…faith.
I. A lot of Christians don’t believe Satan is that bad.
II. Satan has convinced many Christians that this war is not really a war.
Many are on the playground not the battleground.
Many look at the church as a playground and they come and play church.
Some are not as committed and skip classes.
Some are bullies and try to get their will accomplished.
III. They doubt the reality of God’s Word when it teaches demons exist.
Iv. Which leads to the final doubt…God’s Word!
There are many spirits out there that are in constantly, say constantly, rebellion toward God and this church.
Listen to the reality of this:
Matt. 10:1, Mark 6:7, Luke 9:1-2, Apostles only????
Luke 10:17-21, 72 only???
John 14:11-13, Acts 2:17 ff. Mark 16:15, I know this makes people uncomfortable but I am just reading Scripture.
Doubt, we doubt this. God is saying I am giving you the power, say power, to do these things and we say…no I don’t think so.
And we wonder why the church is in the state it’s in
We wonder why our faith is in the state it’s in.
We wonder why one person can destroy the work of God.
We are weak.
Let me caution you to go and try this just to try this is not what Jesus is talking about. Everything we do is to lift up Christ and His church.
Acts 19:11-20 there are some that use this verse to test God and it does not glorify God.
This is not a game! Not a playground it is a battle ground….
There is a Spiritual world out there and if we are not Spirit led as a church we risk being irrelevant.
Romans 8:38 Paul spoke of demons.
I Timothy 4:1
Why Satan attacks?
I. He hates Christians,
Satan once stood in the Glory of God…now he is in this world and when he see a Christian, he sees the Glory of God.
II. He hates Christians who are Spirit-led
Once we begin to tap into the power that comes from The Holy Spirit, Satan knows we are unstoppable. Everything falls under the authority that is in us.
Remember greater that is in us then in this world. Satan knows once we start believing and not doubting.
Once we start living and praying in the Spirit, once we start living in the power watch out.
III. He hates Churches who are Spirit Led
See, as we see the changes here at this church.
I have seen many changes…in the past rebellion was allowed to fester, many thought it was too tough to overcome.
Many thought people may leave if we challenge the rebellion.
Many thought we would not be able to make it financially if ‘givers’ leave.
I have seen selfishness that if I don’t get my way I’ll leave or try to get as many people on my side and cause problems.
I have seen this church be held back by these spirits or rebellion, pride, selfishness.
Well I have good news, say good news, we are making it and we are growing in Spirit and in truth.
The problem with this is any rebellion, say any rebellion, toward God, toward the church, toward the church leaders, it hurts everyone.
It does not just hurt me and you, it hurts everyone.
If I as your senior minister, an evangelist chosen by God lose my focus and spend my time dealing with this rebellion, I am taking away from what I should be doing.
If the leaders, elders chosen by God, not by you or even me, but by God, are losing their focus and are dealing with this rebellion, we are unable to shepherd the flock and set forth the vision…
If the church is constantly battling this spirit of rebellion, we lose our focus and are ineffective at outreach.
The elders and myself have decided we need a change.
We are changing our name…
We will be changing our constitution and our bi-laws.
We will be changing the culture around here to make it more like what God wants it to be..(amen)
We made some changes over the last several months and I have seen the results. We are more Spirit led. We have Spirit led giving, worship, and worshipers.
I have seen the difference in the lives of many of us and the hunger for more.
I can guarantee, say guarantee, we will never go back! (amen)
God is blessing our faithfulness and we will grow closer to Him for doing this, however Satan is not happy….