Battle Gear Series

29, February 2004

Dakota Community Church

The Essentials

The Essential Characteristics of Conquerors

WEEK THREE: BATTLE GEAR

Introduction:

We have been talking about defeating the giants in our lives this year. We looked at the necessity of courage and at the importance of competence in defeating our enemies.

Tonight I want to take a look at our battle gear, what it is and how to effectively use it.

Illustration:

Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Indian warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, “What are we going to do?” Tonto replied, “What you mean ‘we,’ White man?”

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2Timothy 2: 23-26

23Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Ephesians 6: 10-12

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For 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.

1Peter 5: 7-9

7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

James 4: 7-9

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

(A.) The Nature Of Our Battle

1. Our battle is against the devil not people.

Ephesians 6: 12

12For 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.

In warfare, there is always an objective.

- In many wars, the objective is land.

For example, in the Middle East, Israel and the Palestinians are fighting because they both want to have the same land.

- In Afghanistan we’re fighting because we want to destroy the power base of terrorism.

- Hitler fought because he wanted to create a “superior” race.

- The Northern states fought the Civil War because they wanted to be free the slaves in the Southern States.

- The Gulf War was fought because the U.S. wanted to end the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, so they could have access to oil.

I mention all of these wars, not because I want to say who was right or wrong, but to show that in every war, there is an objective.

There is a reason we are fighting the war. And the same is true with spiritual warfare.

If we are going to wage war on Satan’s kingdom, we have to know what our objective is.

- Our objective, our mission is to rescue people from Satan’s grip.

- To free them from his control.

Jesus said so at the start of his ministry:

Luke 4:18-19

18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."

Jude 20-23

20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.