Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare Part 1 Introduction  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 84 views

Spiritual warfare is a battle for control involving God, every spirit being and every person.

Notes
Transcript

Intro: Macro versus Micro

Macro means big and refers to large scale things and micro means small and refers to things that are relatively smaller.
Macroeconomics looks at the economy of a large area, say the country. Microeconomics looks at the economics relating to individual units, such as a single business or person.
Macronutrients are big picture nutrition categories, such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Micronutrients are smaller nutritional categories, such as individual vitamins and minerals like calcium, zinc, and vitamin B-6.
These distinctions can be made in made in many areas of life. Can you think of another example? (Management styles, photography).
Let’s apply these terms to spiritual warfare. Many people are confused about spiritual warfare and with good reason. There are lots of people teaching about this and they are saying lots of different things. Here is a screenshot of a search from books on spiritual warfare.
Show Screenshot
In order to understand spiritual warfare we need to stand back and look at it in a macro sense. After we see the big picture we can take a closer look and see details.
Illustration of the pyramids
A few years ago I went to Egypt and visited the pyramids. Here is a photo I took from a distance. You can see the placement, shape and arrangement of the pyramids.
When you get up close, it looks very different.
Illustration of Ward up close on Pyramid
Here is me on the pyramid with a much closer view.
Today we’re going to take a macro view of spiritual warfare. Let’s start with our story.
What is God’s intent?

1. God created humanity to rule over the earth and live in harmony with Him and the sons of God. Genesis 1:26-31.

Genesis 1:26–31 NIV
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
There are different views of who “us” refers to in Genesis 1:26. Many have said it refers to God in the Trinity. There is another view that is consistent with other accounts of creation.
In Job 38 God asks Job these questions. Job 38:4-7.
Job 38:4–7 NIV
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
When God created the heavens and the earth the angels, also described as morning stars, were there. They had already been created. The collective term to describe this gathering is the divine counsel. God would not have needed to say to Himself, let us create. He didn’t do that on any other days with any of the other aspects of creations.
“Let us make mankind in our image” is God speaking to the divine council, also called in other places the sons of God.
The result was a very good complete heaven and earth with angels and humanity existing in harmony.
What is the obstacle?
Then something bad happens. You know the story.
Genesis 3:1 NIV
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2. A serpent attacks Eve and deceives her into disobeying God. Genesis 3:1

When she and Adam sin God’s perfect creation and plan is corrupted. Who is this serpent?
We read about him in Ezekiel 28. In this passage God has the prophet Ezekiel condemn an earthy ruler. The passage begins like this.
Ezekiel 28:1–2 NIV
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.
This ruler of Tyre was filled with pride and the prophet describes how God was going to judge him. Then Ezekiel shifts in verses 11-17 and compares the ruler of Tyre to someone else.
Ezekiel 28:11–14 NIV
11 The word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.
Ezekiel is no longer talking about the ruler of Tyre. That man wasn’t in Eden. But the person he is talking about was there and he was a guardian cherub, one of the sons of God, like the hosts of heaven Job mentioned. Let’s keep reading to see what happened to this cherub.
Ezekiel 28:15–17 NIV
15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.
The cherub was beautiful and his pride led him to sin. What was his sin? We read about it in a similar passage Isaiah 14 where Isaiah did something like Ezekiel did. Isaiah compared the king of Babylon with the cherub. In this passage we see the guardian angel’s sin.
Isaiah 14:12–15 NIV
12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
This cherub, referred to her as morning star, son of the dawn, tried to raise his throne above God’s throne. We aren’t told when this happened, but it was before the story described in Genesis 3.
This was the beginning of spiritual warfare.
Genesis only describes him as the serpent. The last book of the Bible identifies him for us.
Revelation 12:9 NIV
9 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.

The spirit Satan attacked Eve and Adam. Genesis 3:1-7.

. . . with tragic consequences. Sin and death entered the world and God’s perfect creation was corrupted Romans 5:12; 8:18-22
Romans 5:12 NIV
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
Romans 8:18–22 NIV
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Satan who had previously rebelled against God swept up humanity and all the earth into his conflict with God.
This is when spiritual warfare engulfed humanity and creation.
God didn’t sit back and do nothing. He responded to Satan as we read in Genesis 3:14-15
Genesis 3:14–15 NIV
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Verse 15 here is a key to understanding spiritual warfare. God said “I will put enmity between you” He is talking to Satan, “and the woman,” which is Eve. God continues, “and between your offspring,” Satan has offspring, followers, “and hers,” Eve will have godly offspring.
Spiritual warfare began when Satan tried to put his throne above God. It began for humanity when he attacked Eve. Please notice God’s role. God said “I will put enmity.” Enmity is hostility. War is a state of hostility between two powers. Satan attacked but it was God who declared war!

God declared war on Satan and his followers.

God has a plan he is following and that plan is woven throughout the pages of Scripture. Let’s look at the end of God’s plan. Revelation 20:10.
Revelation 20:10 NIV
10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The end of spiritual warfare is set. Revelation 20:10 But Satan doesn’t believe it.

Bottom Line: Spiritual warfare is the epic battle between God and His followers and Satan and his followers that began with Satan’s rebellion and will end with Satan’s final defeat.

Why is their spiritual warfare? Because God created spirit being and human beings with freedom of choice. Satan, a powerful spirit being rebelled and ensnared humanity in his rebellion.
Why does God allow spiritual warfare to continue? Ephesians 6:10-11 says
Ephesians 6:10–11 NIV
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
1 John 4:4 NIV
4 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.
James 4:7 NIV
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8–10 NIV
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 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. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

God allows spiritual warfare to continue because He has equipped all of His children with the power to defeat every attack.

Spiritual warfare isn’t a generic, simplistic battle between the concepts of good and evil.
This isn’t a battle against people who don’t hold our views. This isn’t about conquering the world for Jesus. It is a spiritual battle with spiritual foes fought with spiritual weapons.
Although Ephesians describes aspects of spiritual warfare, it doesn’t tell us everything. There isn’t one passage that gives us a complete explanation of it. As we read through the Bible we pick up bits and pieces here and there.
Even our salvation is described within the context of spiritual warfare. Colossians 1:13
Colossians 1:13 NIV
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
We are going to dig deeper into this topic to learn key elements everyone needs to know about spiritual warfare. We’re going to see that Satan isn’t our only enemy, in fact, he’s not even the most active enemy.
I do have good new for you about spiritual warfare. Spoiler alert. We win!

The Alpha-Omega Principle

Genesis 3 beginning
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth 1:1
The darkness He called night. 1:5
God made two great lights (sun and moon) 1:16
In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. 2:17
Satan appears as the deceiver of mankind 3:1
Shown a garden into which defilement entered 3:6-7
Walk of God with people interrupted 3:8-10
The initial triumph of the Serpent 3:13
God multiplies sorrow and pain 3:15
Cursed is the ground for your sake 3:17
Man’s dominion broken in the fall of the first man, Adam 3:19
First paradise closed 3:23
Access to the tree of life disinherited to Adam 3:24
They were driven from God’s presence 3:24
Revelation 20-22 end
I saw a new heaven and a new earth 21:1
There shall be no night there 21:25
The city had no need of the sun or of the mood 21:23
There shall be no more death, nor sorrow 21:4
Satan, the accuser disappears forever 20:10
Shown a city into which there shall by no means enter . . . anything that defiles 21:27
Walk of God with people restored 21:3
Ultimate triumph of the Lamb 20:10; 22:3
And there shall be no more pain 21:4
And there shall be no more curse 22:3
Man’s dominion restored in the rule of the New Man, Christ 22:5
New paradise opened 21:25
Access to the tree of life reinstated in Christ 22:14
They shall see His face 22:4
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more