THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Matthew 12:22-30
Introduction Attention- In 1989 the communist system fell down in all the Eastern European countries. Romania was the only one that had to pay for its freedom with innocent bold. My friend from this Eastern European country told me that, it was a time of terrible fight between unarmed citizens and terrorist groups.
Many people died. His Church members suffered a lot when two young Christian ladies from his church were killed while returning home after the Sunday evening service in December of that terrible year. Other three members were imprisoned and tortured. A civil warfare is extremely dangerous.
Transition- But let me tell you something: There is continuous spiritual war fare going on, and its much more dangerous than a civil warfare.
Description
• A civil warfare is fought against flesh and blood; the spiritual warfare is fought against spiritual powers.
• A civil warfare endangers the body, but the spiritual warfare endangers the soul.
• A civil warfare may have long term consequences, but a spiritual warfare has eternal consequences.
Historical Context- Jesus Himself had to fight a spiritual warfare. If you open your bibles in Matthew 12: 22-30, you will see him engaged in a spiritual warfare against Satan and his kingdom of darkness.
Text Presentation-The text presents a man that Jesus healed. He was in a very bad situation: he was demon possessed, blind, deaf, and he couldn’t speak. Four major problems, Jesus healed him and immediately he could see, speak, hear, and the demons were gone. People said, “oh this must be the Messiah, he does this wonderful things”. The Pharisees were jealous, and so they started the rumor through the crowd, “Oh yeah, but he does it by the power of the devil, not by the power of God.” Jesus responded to that by saying three things that are very important not only for them over 2000 years ago, but they are important for us today.
Need Element- If you are Christian, then you must know that you are in a spiritual warfare against Satan. I wish I could say that the Christian life is free of problems, but it is not. Every moment he is attacking Gods children. Maybe you see him attacking you in any moment and from any possible position. Listen to the Word of God; Jesus has something important for you today.
Textual idea- Luke recorded the healing of the demon-possessed man and the discussion related to it, so that Theophilus may be aware of the spiritual warfare.
Sermon idea- A Christian believer should be aware of spiritual warfare.
Interrogative-What are the things that a Christian believer should know about spiritual warfare?
Transition Sentence- Our text presents three basic facts about spiritual warfare.
Sermon divisions
1. Jesus is engaged in a spiritual warfare against Satan.
2. In the spiritual warfare, Jesus is stronger than Satan.
3. The spiritual warfare has no non-combatants.
Explanation- Number 1, Jesus is engaged in a spiritual warfare against Satan. You see here, Jesus says in verse 29, “How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions, unless he first binds the strong man? “Now, this is not a suggestion that can be used to go and rob your neighbor. The strong man in this context is Satan. The possessions of the strong man are people that Satan has bound by his various ways of operation. And Jesus is saying that God is at warfare with Satan.
Description- Satan binds people by fear. Satan binds people by drugs, by alcohol, by illicit pleasures, by witchcraft.
Illustration, Personal example- Twenty three years ago God used me to plant a small church in a small village in Kenya. One of the members of that church, a 35-years old lady, mother of 3 children, died from a cancerous brain tumor. When I went to bury her, the graveyard was filled with unbelievers standing and listening to the gospel. It was an excellent occasion to proclaim the word. Right after I quoted Acts 17:30, “God is declaring to men that all everywhere should repent”, a mad man jumped in the middle of the crowd and said: “Don’t mention repentance!” Satan used this bound man to stop the gospel.
Argumentation Description Biblical References- This is nothing new. Right from the beginning, from Genesis 3 Satan is opposed to God. He chose to rebel against God. He deceived our parents in the Garden; he is the one who originates the whole evil in the world. He is the great enemy of God. More than that, Satan is using people to fight against God. Even the pharisees were used by Satan to fight against Jesus.
Application, - My friends let me remind you that whenever you see something opposing God, His kingdom, His people, His work, it is Satan who opposes God.
Description-When you share the Gospel and the man or woman is ready to accept Christ, and a small child begins to cry or the phone rings, or someone comes to visit them, this is Satan himself fighting against Jesus.
Exhortation-Don’t forget that there is permanent warfare between Jesus and Satan. Live in permanent alert. Be ready to respond.
Transition- There is not only warfare, there is also a winner.
Division statement 2- Number 2, in the spiritual warfare, Jesus is stronger than Satan.
Explanation- Look in verse 26. You see, Jesus is right, That Satan cannot bind Satan. It is against his nature. He does not set people free, he binds them. He does not cast out demons, he sends in demons. The only one that can bind Satan is somebody that’s stronger than Satan. It is only Jesus who can bind Satan. Jesus is stronger than Satan. He defeated Satan both in the wilderness and on the cross. By his death and resurrection, Jesus had conquered Satan. And today Jesus moves in, binds the strong man and frees people, from Satan’s bondage.
Illustration- There is a precious family in a certain church in Kenya. Years ago, when the mother and the two young daughters were saved, they were returning home after baptismal service. They were rejoicing as they approached the door. All were singing. The father was a fearful demon-possessed man. He waited for them to get home. He was determined to kill them and he was ready to take his life also. God convicted him by their song. He fell on his knees and repented right there.
Argumentation Biblical reference description- Jesus is stronger than Satan. 2 Corinthians, chapter 10, and verses 3 and 4 say that. “We have powerful spiritual weapons against Satan. “What are those weapons? Well, one of them is prayer. Another is the power of Christ to cast out demonic spirits. Another is the power of Christian testimony. Another is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. There are many, many powerful weapons that we have.
Application Description Exhortation- This is the greatest thing I have to tell you today: Jesus is stronger than Satan. Christ is the winner, Satan is the looser. Christ is the conqueror, Satan is the conquered. Christ is victorious, Satan is defeated. Rejoice and be confident in Jesus. Maybe you are in such a spiritual warfare; Satan is fighting hard against you. Probably you are tempted to be discouraged: Jesus is the winner, Satan is the looser.
Transition- There is warfare, there is a winner, and there is warning.
Division Statement 3- Number 3, the spiritual warfare has no-combatants.
Explanation- Look in verse 30: “He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters”. Simply Jesus is saying, “There are only two sides, mine, or Satan’s. You choose your side. If you are not with me, you are on the other side.
Illustration, History- When Alexander the great began to conquer the world, he told his soldiers: “ You stay with me and do whatever you see me doing.” His example of courage inspired them to fight like lions. In an extremely short time they conquered the world. Alexander was 26 years old and the whole world was his. But Alexander was not perfect. Only Jesus is perfect. Whoever follows him is a winner over Satan.
Argumentation- Imagine how foolish it is to know that Jesus is more powerful than Satan, to know his extraordinary power over Satan, to know what the Bible says in Revelation 20 that Satan will be cast in a lake of fire, and to stay on the other side, under Satan’s commandment. Jesus is the winner, the only wise response is, “Lord I want to be on your side.
Application- If you are still on the other side, if your master is Satan, you will lose the battle. Satan is defeated by Jesus. Turn your back to Satan, and come in Jesus camp. Repent for the time you spent on Satan’s side, put your faith in Jesus, and follow him.
Reiteration- There is warfare, a spiritual warfare between Jesus and Satan, there is a winner, and Jesus is stronger than Satan. There is warning; you can be a winner too, if you are on Jesus’ side.
Twice on the 20th century, Romania found herself on the wrong side.
Conclusion, Illustration, History-In 1916 this Eastern European country fought in the World Warfare 1 as a warfare partner of Germany and Italy. As a result, the citizens had to pay warfare penalty toward the Russians. All their Gold went to Moscow. In 1939 they were again on the wrong side. For five years they fought on Germany’s side. As a consequence, Russia took an important part of their territory. I am not sure if the people had learned this bitter lesson on being on the wrong side.
Appeal-In time of warfare is better to stay with the winner. A wrong spiritual position can cost you eternally. I want to ask you today to reconsider your position. Put your whole trust in Jesus, stay on his side, and you will be a winner with him. In this spiritual warfare against Satan, Jesus is the winner. You can be a winner too if you are on Jesus’ side.
By. Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti, Senior Pastor Forestville Baptist Church and Professor at Apex School Of Theology, Durham North Carolina.
