Defeating The Devil - Spiritual Warfare Part 8 Series

Spiritual Warfare (SW-08)

Defeating the Devil

Isaiah 14:12-14

We have been reminded that there is a great war being waged in the world today. It is not a conflict between nations, tribes, or government leaders. It is not a rebellion or coup. It is an important invisible battle taking place in the spirit world. One of the greatest tragedies of this war is the number of people in the church who are being defeated due to a lack of knowledge, a lack of training, a lack on engagement or a lack of commitment to this spiritual warfare.

Do you realize that the early Church understood their entire spiritual experience in terms of warfare. Military terminology is used throughout the New Testament. Protection was seen in the armor of God.

The Word of God was compared to a sword.

Satan’s attacks were called fiery darts.

Faith was the "good fight" and believers were told to "war a good warfare."

The early Church knew they were engaged in an intense spiritual struggle.

That same spiritual battle continues today but instead of fighting the enemy, believers are often preoccupied with building ornate structures, choreographing great productions, flaring up ostentatious dinners, and fighting one another while this great spiritual battle wages around them. Satan has even intensified his attacks against a church that has, for all intents and purposes, withdrawn from the front lines of battle.

It is this preachers deep conviction that in order to be properly prepared for this battle, a renewed emphasis must be placed on the strategies of spiritual warfare. The Christian life is a war. The sooner we recognize and prepare for it, the sooner we embrace and engage in it, the sooner we will experience victory and the sooner we will see our families and loved ones enjoying the freedom God intended for them to have.

What I am now going to say is controversial. It is not in the Bible - It is this preachers opinion. One of the greatest arenas Satan is taking this battle to a new level is in the global war against Islam. Islam is attracting converts and radical Islam has become a magnet for some of the world’s angriest people. And what is interesting is the fact these converts, from other countries and other religions, while they are still hugely in the minority, are more radical, more aggressive and more likely to turn jihadist and become suicide bombers than the average Muslim. These converts are from every continent and all major countries - America, France, England, South Africa - in a 12 month period 4000 Germans converts to Islam. As a matter of fact, do you know that in the new 30 minute video tape just released by Bin Laden - is first in more than three years he says these words, "To conclude, I invite you to embrace Islam. " To whom is he speaking? Not Muslims - they have already embraced Islam - he is talking to the rest of the world.

What is motivating these converts?

A dissatisfaction with the way things are going in the world.

A sense that things are not right and a wanting to fix them.

A need to be part of something that is global and that is making an impact.

A desire to do something that will make them stand out of the crowd.

But here’s the problem - they do not end up simply standing out in the crown - they end up standing against the crowd.

Precious believer - if the church was the church the way the church was meant to be the church then Islam and every other rouge of Satan would be compromised, torn down, defeated.

Whether you like it or not this was is a religious war. I believe that the only force that has the power to effectively stand against Islam is the Church, the Body of Christ, and the only nations that will be able to withstand the force of jihad are those who clearly advocate, tenaciously hold onto and fiercely defend biblical Christianity and the Judeo-Christian heritage.

Why? Because God’s love is more powerful than Satan’s anger, and the Kingdom of light more powerful than the kingdom of darkness, and the freedom of true faith more powerful than the bondage of jihad and the message of the gospel more powerful than the lies of Islam.

Islam is about a satanic root that started in heaven as a battle between God and Satan, surfaced in the Garden of Eden, then in Egypt, then in Canaan, then in Babylon, then in Persia, now in Islam - and it is all out of the same terra-firma, the Mesopotamia basin that is now occupied by Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. It is that same historic battle now playing out - and the battle is not against America or the West, it is against the Church in America and in the West. It plays out in this war against America and Israel so declared by Islam.