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 Satan has even intensified his attacks against a church that has, for all intents and purposes, withdrawn from the front lines of battle.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.
That is why every moral concession this government make to secular humanism, and every legal adjustment it makes to moral tolerance, and every philosophical accommodation it makes to religious synchronism effectively weakens its hold on its Judeo-Christian heritage and as that is the only force strong enough to withstand Islam, any and every religious compromise is ultimately be a compromise of national security.
Please open your Bibles with me to the book of Isaiah - Isaiah 14:12-14.
READ - PRAY
Up front folks, if we are going to understand how to wage war against satan - we must know our enemy.
1. Understanding Satan’s Rebellion
Graphic Slide - Before satan rebelled this is what the picture looked like:
Graphic Slide - Then Satan rebelled - and the picture changed.
Graphic Slide - God created man and once again the picture changed.
Graphic Slide - Then man sinned - and the picture changed.
Graphic Slide - When man is born again it looks like this.
Satanic Hierarchy Slide
Angelic Hierarchy Slide
2. Recognizing Satan’s Deception
Lucifer is the original name given to the devil. The term "Lucifer" means the "shinning one". This is interesting because God created Lucifer (Satan) to reflect His glory. However, now he only appears as an angel of light, but is the angel of darkness.
There are five "I will’s" listed in our verse. They are fascinating to understand.
Isaiah 14:12-14
1. "I will ascend to heaven." = I Will Occupy the Dwelling Place of God
2. "I will raise my throne above the stars of God." = I Will Exercise the Authority of God
3. "I will sit on the mount of assembly." = I Will Receive the Worship of God
4. "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds." (literally "cloud") = I Will Assume the Sovereignty of God
5. "I will make myself like the Most High." = I Will Take the Place of God
Now watch this - Satan will not get to sit on the throne of God - never - will not happen. The closest he can get is when instead of you and me putting God on the throne in our lives, we allow satan to control our lives.
3. Identifying the Attack of Satan
Here are the red flags to look for when uncovering a demonic attack. Knowing the enemy’s tactics helps us recognize attacks more quickly. Use the following as a guide. If you see all ten of these, you have uncovered a major attack.
i One heavy circumstance after another.
ii. Accusations.
iii. Ongoing thoughts of what we don’t have, rather than our blessings.
iv. Continual temptations at the same point of weakness.
v. Fear based on lies. Expose the lie.
vi. Doubts about the truthfulness and goodness of God.
vii. General sense of heaviness and depression.
viii. Deception.
ix Division in relationships.
x. Powerlessness in Prayer
4. Defeating Satan
Satan has no right of authority over the believer. The believer has authority over satan. The devil only has as much power as you give him in your life!
Did you know the Bible gives us the simplest yet most profound strategies for defeating or overcoming satan?
James 4:7-8
We often quote only a portion of this passage. Here is what it sounds like: "Resist the devil and he will flee." However, you can resist the devil and he will not flee. Why? Because you only got part of the truth.
A. Submit to God
Here is the sense of the word - place yourself under, or place yourself in dependance upon God.
The degree of your submission to God is the measure of your authority against satan.
B. Resist the Devil
Literally ‘to set yourself against.’
Here’s the problem - many Christians entertain, accommodate and flirt with the devil and with sin.
Stand firm against him
Remind him of his future
Avoid things that cause you to stumble
Run from temptation by running to God!
C. Worship God
Prayer and Praise are two of the most effective weapons because that is the place of the alter, that is the place we sacrifice ourselves to God.
Did you know that when you pray demonic assignments are canceled?
God inhabits the praises of His people
Prayer and Praise are always a prelude to the victory
Prayer and Praise put things into perspective
D. Live the Faith Life
Faith Walking -
1 John 5:4 "This is the victory that overcomes the world - our faith."
Faith Talking
Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. . ."
Faith Receiving
Romans 1:17 "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith . . ."
Faith Living
Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith."
It is the Faith Life
Are you a man pleaser or a God pleaser?
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