INTRODUCTION
Chip Ingram developed a new DVD Teaching series called “The Invisible War”.
Many thoughts began to run over situations in MY LIFE & the LIVES OF OTHERS recently.
- Questions asked recently (sickness, death, constant struggle, financial)
- Battles Christians are struggling - trying to understand the pains in their life.
- Battles even with children who were raised in a Godly home who are now in rebellion.
Spiritual Warfare brings Two groups of people:
1. One Group talks about this Warfare all the time. I call it The Demon Group
- the flat tire demon;
- the too hot BBQ demon;
- the bad boss demon;
Everything is related to a demonic spirit who causes this and this and this
2. The Other Groups says that …
- “yes, the Bible talks about Satan and demons but that was in another time”.
It’s just a series of circumstances. Not really anything to it.
3. There doesn’t seem to be a middle of the road! This is what I want us to talk about!
A False Truth being taught:
Many in the Evangelical community teach New Believer that once saved and IF they will do certain things like go to church, tithe of the top, get involved more and more, be completely committed, and if they pray, and on and on, THEN they will live a life of blessings with God.
Paul teaches us the opposite.
Once you become a Christian, a new type of BATTLE will take place. While the WAR IS ALREADY WON, THE BATTLE IS ON!
- This new life will be lived in a hostile environment
- You will still live in a fallen world
- While YOU are brand new, you will still have the old flesh environment that wages war against the newly given Spirit.
He says…
- things in this sinful world are not as God intended
- He will make it right one day but until then, it’s still a fallen world and
- We are in the middle and have a BATTLE TO CONTEND WITH.
Let’s TALK ABOUT THE BATTLE! SATAN is real and wants …
- to take you out.
- to ruin your life.
- to ruin your marriage.
- to ruin your children.
- to split your church.
He wants to have you to be overwhelmed, deceived, believing lies and be rendered completely ineffective in this new relationship with Christ so that you become a miserable person.
Then all the work of God and the work of the cross and resurrection goes for nothing.
So here we are – You ready? Are you prepared to receive a blessing – a BLESSING that helps us in this desperate time we live in? Let’s pause RIGHT NOW AND ASK GOD FOR A SPIRITUAL BLESSING – one that will help you in THE INVISIBLE WAR!
TITLE: THE INVISIBLE WAR #1
TEXT: EPHESIANS 6:10-13
I. A BATTLE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
VERSE 10
“finally” - after all of chap 1-6a - “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power”
- refers to strength derived from God
- not strength we have to somehow obtain – BUT strength we already have
The same power that raised Christ from the dead empowers God's people so they may ALSO be strong in God’s Power. But WHY? WHY DO WE NEED THIS SPECIAL POWER OF GOD?
VERSE 11
"put on the full armor of God"
full armor - GRK complete equipment - head to toe protection both defensively and offensively.
READ VERSE 14-17 (we’ll talk in depth about this passage next week)
"you can take your stand against the devil's schemes"
Paul describes a divine and complete "outfit" that God FITS on the believer in order to provide all we need to stand against the strategies and schemes of the devil.
So we know from verses 10-11 that …
1. there will be a battle and we are in it
2. at our disposal is a full suit of armor for hand to hand combat – but this suit takes preparation. IT MUST FIT!
3. it’s purpose is for standing up to the devil’s schemes – REAL SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
APPLICATION
1. Be strong in THE LORD and in HIS mighty power. HE DOES THE FIGHTING.
2. We must we must prepare for the FITTING OF THE SUIT. IT’S THE KEY TO VICTORY.
3. In order to put on God’s Armor, He must be given complete control!
But WHAT IS THE BATTLE?
II. AN INVISIBLE WAR
Most of the problem is that we fail to understand WHAT and WHERE the REAL BATTLE is. When you feel the devil is after you, where is the battle found to be?
We keep thinking the problem is SOMEONE ELSE!
- The problem is my wife/husband
- The problem is my child
- The problem is my boss
- The problem is my finances
- The problem is in a circumstance or situation
- ONE MORE – The problem is God! It’s his fault! He’s putting me through all this!
We seem to think our battle is our circumstance – (person, relationship, thing) but notice…
VERSE 12
“for our struggle” (circle)
“struggle” = an ancient GRK wrestling matches of hand to hand combat
“is not against flesh and blood”
Our battle, our hand to hand combat is NOT WITH things we can see and touch
“12 …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.”
not “flesh and blood” that we can see/touch
- against the things we can’t see!
- against powers of the dark world
- against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms
QUESTION: So Then “WHERE IS THE BATTLE?” – it’s an invisible battle!
We battle the demons over whom Satan has control. Demons work to tempt people to sin. They are fallen angels who joined Satan when he was kicked out.
BUT they have limited power. They are invisible to us operating in an unseen world.
IT'S INVISIBLE, BUT IT'S AS REAL AS …
- touching your skin.
- when you kiss one of your children on the cheek and put them to bed.
- as tasting and touching and watching a sunset.
Numerous Examples.
- bacteria – you can’t see it but is it real?
- Viruses- you can’t see them, are they real?
- Electricity, I can't see it but it's doing some things, isn't it?
- Natural gas, I can't see it but you know what?
Our BATTLE is an INVISIBLE BATTLE.
READ 2 COR. 10:3-5
“we take captive every (what) – every ‘THOUGHT’ to make it obedient to Christ’
A battle for the MIND
READ 2 COR 4.4
-The god of this world – SATAN
-Has blinded the MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS
-Why? “so that they cannot see the light”
IT’S AN INVISIBLE WAR – A BATTLE FOR YOUR MIND! Satan’s Legion against God’s Army!
APPLICATION
When was the last time you honestly considered some struggle or relational conflict in your life could be satanic opposition? When's the last time?
III. WE MUST MAKE A STAND
We are in SPIRITUAL WARFARE. It is An INVISIBLE WAR; We Must MAKE A STAND; We will talk more of this verse next week but notice it’s context.
A believer’s response to this Spiritual Warfare – is to put on and use every piece of God’s Armor. It’s available – but the believer/soldier must be prepared. Satan and his army are REAL!
The red suit – WHAT IS HIS NAME?
1. SATAN. This means he’s and adversary. He’s out to get you.
2. DEVIL – This means slanderer – means his schemes are false and deceptive.
3. LUCIFER – means sun of the morning or shining one. He’s gonna come to you in ways where he’s not ugly or cruel. Rather, He’s beautiful and attractive and winsome and he will seduce you.
The ENEMIES Background
Colossians 1: Satan is a created spirit.
Matthew 25: He is an angel
Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14: A Fallen Angel who had more power than all the rest.
His job there was the guardian of God’s glory.
His Sin – Pride was his fall
He’s Not Alone!
Satan had many followers when he was kicked out. Many other angels followed him.
These are his army. Like a regular army, there are generals, lieutenants, and captains, and etc.
HE’S NOT PLAYING. HE MEANS BUSINESS. We take our lives for granted. But he’s very serious.
READ VERSE 13
“put on the full armor of God”
be prepared – grow up in God - ALL OF GOD’S ARMOR.
We are to know how to use the armor. This takes preparation and training.
“when the day of evil comes, you may stand your ground”
We live in the day of darkness
We are tempted to sin each and every day.
We are in the BATTLE NOW!
“and after you have done everything, to STAND
– You may hold your place on the battle field and at the end of the battle
--After you done all you are prepared to do
– YOU WILL STILL BE STANDING!
SUMMARY
1. Spiritual Warfare
2. An Invisible War
3. We must be Prepared to Stand
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
8 Be self-controlled and alert. 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 your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Are you ready? Do you believe there is AN INVISIBLE WAR going on in your life and Are you prepared for it? God desires to fight that battle – He has already embrace you with His power – If you let him.
Allowing Satan to control your thoughts and fears is easy – just do nothing. But being Victorious will grant us eternal blessings that last forever!
Which do you desire?
