HOW TO BE VICTORIOUS IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE THREE
1PET 5:8-9, EPH 6:12
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
UNVEIL THE WEAPONS OF GOD
**WHAT TO DO WHILE IN THE BATTLES**
1. BE SUBMIRSED IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD- JESUS WAS FILLED WITH GOD’S SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE, WE ARE FILLED TODAY AND EACH DAY WITH AS MUCH OF GOD’S HOLY PRESENCE AS WE WANT TO BE, IT COMES BY OUR WILLINGNESS TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM AND TO DENY SELF, THE LESS WE HAVE OF “SELF” RULING THE MORE ROOM WE HAVE FOR GOD’S SPIRIT TO RULE, BECAUSE NO PERSON IS A MATCH FOR OUR ADVERSARY WHILE OPERATING IN THE FLESH—HE IS STRONGER, WISER, AND HAS MANY TIMES THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN MUSTER UP ON OUR OWN:
Luke 2:40 (NKJV)
40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Matthew 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 4:1 (NKJV)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Galatians 5:16-26 (NKJV)
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
1 John 4:4 (NKJV)
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
2. SURROUND OURSELVES WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD:
**ONE OF SATAN’S BIGGEST PLANS IS TO GET YOU OUT THERE BY YOURSELF, BECAUSE HE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL THAT THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS, OUR FATHER HAS GIVEN US EACHOTHER TO “DRAW” OFF OF FOR SUPPORT AND GUIDENCE, EVEN SOMETIMES AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT NOT TO DO, BUT MAY I TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE, THERE IS HELP, BUT IT IS EACH OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK!
**I AM A PASTOR, NOT A MIND READER. I EMPLORE EACH OF YOU TO LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE A NEED, IF I DO NOT KNOW THEN I CANNOT PROVIDE HELP**
Matthew 10:1-4 (NKJV)
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
**THROUGHOUT JESUS MINISTRY, HE SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH GOD’S PEOPLE**
Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Acts 2:41-47 (NKJV)
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
3. SUBMISSIVE TO THE WILL OF GOD- IF WE WANT THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, WE MUST BE SUMBISSIVE TO THE WILL OF GOD! THERE IS POWER WHEN WE SUBMIT TO HIM:
John 1:11-13 (KJV)
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 4:34 (KJV)
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 6:38 (KJV)
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
**NO ONE EVER PRAYED LIKE JESUS**
Luke 22:41-44 (NKJV)
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
James 4:7 (KJV)
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
ARE YOU IN A BATTLE??
A. UTILIZE THE RESOURCES OF GOD
B. UNDERSTAND THE TACTICS OF THE ENEMY
C. UNLEASH THE WEAPONS OF GOD
YOU WILL BE VICTORIOUS IF YOU DO!!
