WE ARE IN A BATTLE
I. THE REALITY OF LIFE
A. The Word of God sheds light on the powers of darkness revealing that:
1. There is a battle raging around us. It is spiritual in nature.
Spiritual warfare is that conflict being waged in the invisible, spiritual realm that is being manifest in the visible, physical realm.
In other words, spiritual warfare is a battle between invisible, angelic forces that affect you and me. The cause of the war is something you and I can’t see. But the effects are very visible in the kind of problems in the day-to-day stuff you and I face all the time. Jeff Seaman (SermonCentral.com)
You are in a spiritual battle; if you are ignorant or ignoring that fact, you probably aren't winning that battle! David Guzik
2. There is an attack
a. On the Church b. On the home c. On the marriage d. On the individual
I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
B. This battle
1. is for glory. The issue is, who is going to get the glory in the universe? Who is going to be worshiped? Jeff Seaman (SermonCentral)
2. has been raging for thousands, perhaps millions or billions of years.
C. Christ has won the war.
Satan was defeated by the cross. The outcome of the war has already been determined, but the daily battles still need to be fought.
D. The Question is this: Who will be left standing with Christ?
II. THERE ARE TWO KINGDOMS
A. The Kingdom “of this World”
John 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”
John 14:30 “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
II Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Ephesians 2:2 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
B. The Kingdom “Not of this World”
John 18:36 “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
C. There is a King of Kings and Lord of Lords Who Will Rule Everything In the End
Revelation 11:15 “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
III THERE IS A REAL ENEMY
We must live in light of the fact that just as much as "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life," so it is true that "Satan hates you and has a terrible plan for your life" - we do have an enemy who wishes us nothing but evil. David Guzik
A. The Enemy is not flesh and blood.
II Cor. 10:3 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:”
II Cor. 10:4 “(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, . . .”
B. It is principalities and powers.
Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
1. There is one Devil and many demons (devils).
2. Not many believe in a literal individual known as Satan.
If there is no Hell, there is no Heaven. If there is no Devil, there is no God.
C. Thank God there are innumerable angels
Hebrews 12:22 “12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,”
IV THOSE WHO FALL LOSE IT ALL
Paul uses a variety of terms to refer to our spiritual enemies; we should regard them as being on many different levels and of many different ranks; yet they all have one goal: to "knock down" the Christian. David Guzik
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Don’t underestimate the Enemy; those who do pay a heavy price!!! The price may be as devastating as losing your soul. What would a man give for his soul?
V. STAND A. Stand in the Greek really means "hold your ground."
“We are not to march, but to stand. The word stand implies that the ground disputed by the enemy is really God's, and therefore ours. We need not struggle to gain a foothold on it.” pg 54 Watchman Nee Sit, Walk, Stand
B. “Today we war against Satan only to maintain and consolidate the victory which Christ has already gained. by the resurrection God proclaimed his Son victor over the whole realm of darkness, and the ground Christ won He has given to us. We do not need to fight to gain it. We only need to hold it against all challengers.”
pg 54 Watchman Nee Sit, Walk, Stand
I Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
C. We do not fight for victory; we fight from victory. Watchman Nee “Sit, Walk, Stand”
VI. THERE IS ARMOR TO REMAIN STANDING
[Below is an outline from David Guzik concerning the Christian’s Armor]
A. We can only stand when we are "equipped" with the "armor" God has given us in Jesus Christ; each aspect of this symbolic armor answer to a specific dynamic within the Christian life that enables us to stand against spiritual attack.
1. We remember that Paul wrote this while in the custody of Roman soldiers; it was easy for him to look at the equipment of his guards and see how God has equipped the believer.
2. The order in which the pieces of armor are described is the order in which the soldier would put them on
B. The significance of the armor
1. Truth is symbolically represented as a belt which both protects our abdomen and gathers up our garments so that we can fight effectively
a. Strictly, the belt is not part of the armor, but before the armor can be put on, the garments underneath must be gathered together
b. "The soldier might be furnished with every other part of his equipment, and yet, wanting the girdle, would neither be fully accoutered nor securely armed. His belt . . . was no mere adornment of the soldier, but an essential part of his equipment. . . . it was of especial use in keeping other parts in place, and in securing the proper soldierly attitude and freedom of movement." (Salmond)
c. Paul probably means "the truth of the gospel" and our own integrity when he describes truth
2. Righteousness is represented as a breastplate which provides essential protection for the most vital organs; we can no sooner battle against spiritual enemies in our own righteousness than a soldier can effectively fight without his breastplate
Again, Paul probably has in mind our received righteousness in Jesus and our practical righteousness in daily living
3. The preparation of the gospel is represented as the protective shoes (or sandals) worn by Roman soldiers; no one can fight effectively or effectively go about their business without this equipment
a. Preparation is a word meaning "a prepared foundation"; the gospel provides the footing for everything we do
b. On the shoes: "Josephus described them as 'shoes thickly studded with sharp nails' . . . so as to ensure a good grip. the military successes both of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies' being well shod and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain." (Wood)
c. Paul has in mind when he refers to having shod your feet: How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
4. Faith is represented as a shield, protecting us from the fiery darts of the wicked one, those persistent efforts of demonic foes to weaken us through fear and unbelief
a. The shield Paul describes is not the small round one, but the large, oblong shield that could protect the whole body
b. "Even when such a missile was caught by the shield and did not penetrate to the body, says Livy, it caused panic, because it was thrown when well alight and its motion through the air made it blaze most fiercely, so that the soldier was tempted to get rid of his burning shield and expose himself to the enemy's spear-thrusts. But the shield of faith not only catches the incendiary devices by extinguishes them." (Bruce)
c. Peter also mentions the role of faith in spiritual warfare: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith
5. Salvation is pictured as a helmet, protecting essential material; we wouldn't even go into battle without our helmet
6. The word of God is a represented as the sword of the Spirit; God's word provides us with our only offensive weapon mentioned, because when we answer the devil's deception with God's word, we are letting God do the fighting through us
7. The armor of God "goes into action" through all prayer and supplication in the Spirit; we exercise truth, righteousness, the preparation of the gospel, faith, salvation and the word of God as we submit to God and resist the devil in prayer
a. We can battle spiritually not only on our own behalf, but also on the behalf of others; we can pray with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, just for four ourselves
VII. THERE IS POWER TO REMAIN STANDING
A. We fight not only with all of our might, but also with all of His might.
Eph. 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
B. The power to withstand dwells in us. It is Christ in us. You are no match for Satan.
Christ must not only be in us, but He must be in control.
Eph. 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
God is not your co-pilot. He is your pilot if you have him in the right place in your life.
C. We must access His power by His methods.
1. The Word 2. Prayer 3. Fellowship with God and God’s people
D. We must be endued with power (dunamis), His power.
Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power [1411] from on high.”
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power [1411], after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
1411 dunamis {doo'-nam-is} from 1410; TDNT - 2:284,186; n f
AV - power 77, mighty work 11, strength 7, miracle 7, might 4, virtue 3, mighty 2, misc 9; 120
1) strength power, ability
1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
1b) power for performing miracles
1c) moral power and excellence of soul
1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
1e) power and resources arising from numbers
1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
VIII. WHO WILL BE LEFT STANDING?
The goal of our battle is to stand in the midst of the evil day and after we have done all; here, Paul doesn't really have the idea of us hunting out and pursuing spiritual enemies, but for us to remain unhindered by their persistent attacks. David Guzik
