Opener:
This morning, we are going to be talking about a critical topic that really needs to be addressed. We are talking about spiritual warfare. Since the moment we were born into this earth, we have been in a battle, whether we knew about the battle or not, it has been happening all around us! The moment that we become a believer, this battle then becomes even more intense.
There is a story that has been told of a mental hospital that many years devised a test to determine if and when a patient was ready to go back into the world. They brought a candidate for release to a room where a water faucet was left on so that the sink overflowed and was pouring water all over the floor. Then they handed the patient a mop and told them to mop up the water. If the patient had enough sense to turn off the faucet before mopping up the water, they are ready to be released. However, in the case of many, the patient started mopping up the water while it was still flowing. Therefore, they kept the patient for more treatment.
As Believers, each of us face the world in which we live and are confronted with the need to do battle with the evil that dominates it. But, like the patients in the mental hospital, until we realize where the source of that evil is, we will make no real progress and water will continue to spill out on the floor.
The first step in spiritual warfare is knowing that we have a enemy and that we should not take our enemy lightly. Just as God has a plan for our lives, so does the enemy have a plan for our lives. The enemies plan is never good, it is to only bring us harm, in order to render us ineffective for the kingdom of God. God’s plan for our lives is to prosper us in every area and aspect.
It is imperative that we understand the tactics and the cunning devises that the enemy uses, because when we understand these tactics, it will help us to defeat him.
I. Knowing the enemy
A. Trying to take advantage
a. Satan is always looking for an advantage point in our lives. In fact, the bible says in 2 Corinthians 2:11(NKJV) lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
b. There are many believers that are walking around in a defeated or a backslidden state, simply because they are not aware of the enemy’s cunning devises.
c. It is the enemy’s intent to destroy the work of God in your life, by any means necessary.
B. Cannot defeat God
a. Since the enemy knows he cannot defeat God, the next best thing in his mind is to work to defeat God’s people.
b. In battle, victories are won and lost by those that know and understand their enemy’s movement. Our country has figured this out. In fact, our country invests a tremendous amount of resources in drones, satellites and other surveillance technology in order to keep an eye on our enemies. We have been working to develop technologies such as AI( Artificial Intelligence).
c. We run clandestine operations all throughout the world. Using human sources to spy out our enemies.
d. These operations have come under scrutiny the last number of years.
C. Blinded
a. The world is blinded by the enemy. They are deceived because they have bought into his lies.
b. The bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NKJV 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
c. The devil has blinded the world to the truth. In fact, I would say that the world is in a mess of hurt right now because they do not possess the truth.
D. Be sober
a. The bible tells the believer to not be blinded by the adversary.
b. In fact, the book of 1 Peter 5:8(NKJV) it says : 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
c. The bible is letting us know to be aware of our surroundings and in order to do that we need to be sober.
d. Being in your right mind. Don’t be caught sleeping. It is important and to always be on your guard.
E. Illustration
a. In the battle of Antietam in the year of 1862 which lasted for 12 hours and ranks as the bloodiest day of the Civil War, with 10,000 Confederate casualties and even more on the Union side. “At last the sun went down and the battle ended,” wrote one historian, “smoke heavy in the air, the twilight quivering with the anguished cries of thousands of wounded men.”
b. Though militarily a draw, the mediocre Union General George McClellan was able to end the brilliant Robert E. Lee’s thrust into Maryland, forcing him to retire across the Potomac.
c. How was this possible? Two Union soldiers had found a copy of Lee’s battle plans and had delivered them to McClellan before the engagement.
d. In some regards, we are no match for our adversary. But as with General McClellan, our enemy’s plans have fallen into our hands.
e. We know his usual tactics and strategies which are to entice us with lies, greed, and lust.
f. Knowing what we know, given to us by God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, we can resist the enemies advances.
II. The enemy origin and fall
A. An Archangel
a. The enemy that we are facing is not new at this battle. The bible gives us some insight in the book of Ezekiel 28:13-14 (NKJV) 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes, Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
b. Before the fall, satan was one of the most powerful angelic beings in the universe, he was full of a great beauty. he held a extremely high position in heaven before his fall.
c. Many theologians have surmised that lucifer was the worship leader of heaven. He had the power to influence people to worship God.
d. He was literally perfect in every way except for one.
B. Cast out of heaven
a. This one area that lucifer was not perfect in, would be his downfall as it had corrupted his heart and caused him to fall.
b. Prior to the fall, angels had free will. They had the ability to choose between right and wrong. All these angels were given an opportunity to follow God or to choose the path of lucifer.
c. The one thing that corrupted lucifer’s heart is revealed to us in Ezekiel 28:17(NKJV) 17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.
d. This pride swelled up in lucifer’s heart and he thought that he could be more powerful than God.
C. Pitfalls of pride
a. Pride is a very dangerous thing. In his heart, lucifer wanted to sit on the throne of God. He wanted to take the place God.
b. The problem is that lucifer did not recognize his position. After all, he was a created being, while God has always existed.
c. There are many names that describe who God is. One of those names is; El Elyon which means the “most high God”.
d. Lucifer was jealous of God, he wanted God’s power, he wanted God’s position, he wanted to be worshiped.
e. As a result of this corruption in his heart, lucifer lost his position and was kicked out of heaven. Lucifer did not go quietly though, he was able to convince a third of the angels to join with him.
D. Satan’s tactics
a. Because of this fall, satan and his cohorts now work to undermine what God is doing. Satan has many different tactics that he uses to accomplish this goal.
b. The first thing that we must know is that satan masquerades around as an angel of light. In other words, sometimes satan puts on a disguise to make it look like he stands for good rather than evil. This is part of satans deception.
c. In fact, deception is really the biggest trick in his bag. He used this deception on Eve by tricking her into eating the forbidden fruit.
d. Another tactic that satan uses is temptation. Temptation is simply the desire to do something that is wrong.
i. While deception is satan’s biggest trick, temptation is his primary method of attack.
ii. Temptation typically comes in the realm of our imagination.
iii. Temptation is only successful if you give in to the temptation.
e. Another way that satan attacks us is to encourage us to make little compromises in our lives. While at the time, it may seem insignificant, every step we make towards the enemy is a step that takes us away from God.
f. Satan also works to take the truth and then twist it to say something other than the original intent. All the time trying to cause us to stumble or laying a trap for us.
E. Other Tactics
a. Some of the other tactics that satan uses is to: make false accusation against us and to slander us. After all, he is the accuser of the brethren.
b. He works to totally blind the minds and hearts of unbelievers.
c. He places people inside the church to defraud it and to try to bring disunity in the body of Christ.
d. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy everything that resembles God.
III. How to defeat the enemy
A. Our Battle
a. Now that we have learned a bit about our enemy, we need to understand that we are not defenseless against this enemy. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but our battle is a spiritual battle.
b. In fact, the bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
c. While we do live in this world, we are called to live on a higher plane with a higher moral compass. This moral compass is not based on what we think is right or wrong, rather, it is based on what God’s Word tells us.
d. The battle then is to live our life according to the Word of God, in order to please God. We do this by following God’s commands every step of the way.
e. Therefore, we need to destroy arguments and every bit of pride that keeps us from knowing God more closely. We need to capture every thought that is contrary to the Word of God and bring that thought into the obedience of Christ.
B. Our Weapons – Belt of truth
a. Understanding that we are in a spiritual battle, we need to also recognize that we have some spiritual weapons at our disposal.
b. The bible says in Ephesians 6: 13-18 - 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
c. There are many elements that we have at our disposal to fight this spiritual battle. The first we are talking about is the belt of truth.
d. Truth is powerful!
e. So when the enemy attacks you with doubts, lies, and false teachings, our way to combat this is to go to God’s Word and remind that little devil his place.
C. Breastplate of righteousness
a. The next weapon at our disposal is the breastplate of righteousness. The function of the breastplate is to cover and protect our vital organs.
b. While our righteousness is like a filthy/dirty rag, when we put on the righteousness of Christ, it upholds us, it strengthens us.
c. When we received Jesus in our heart, we took on the righteousness of Christ. So when God the Father sees us, He sees us as perfect/righteous because the blood of Jesus purifies us.
d. Since the breastplate is a protector, we can understand then that when we walk in holiness it protects us from attacks from the enemy. When we walk in holiness, we do not give any place for the enemy to attack.
D. Feet ready
a. The next weapon at our disposal are shoes. When you think of shoes, you typically do not think about that being a weapon.
b. Shoes are important as they allow us to maintain traction which gives us sure footing.
c. The gospel of peace gives us that confidence, that ability to stand in the midst of the storm from the enemy.
d. We can have a tremendous peace in the midst of chaos.
e. When we operate in peace, it really confuses the enemy because he is trying to throw everything at us, yet we continue to maintain God’s peace.
E. Shield of faith/helmet of salvation
a. The next weapons at our disposal are the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation.
b. These weapons are defensive in nature, meaning that we use them to thwart the attacks of the enemy.
c. The shield of faith quenches those fiery darts that the enemy is throwing our way.
d. Just like truth being powerful, Your faith is powerful!
e. Faith is not having a head knowledge, rather, it is the ability to put your complete weight and trust in the Lord!
f. When you have faith, you are believing God completely, knowing the Bible is true, knowing fully that you have power and authority over the enemy.
g. Let me say this “ God honors faith”
h. The helmet of salvation protects our minds. The author Joyce Meyer wrote a book entitled “Battlefield of the Mind” and in the her book she is quoted saying “ Strongholds are areas of thinking not based on truth but lies. Instead of protecting us, they actually imprison us. Unless we renew our mind, we risk continuing to believe those lies and making important decisions based on deception.”
F. The Sword
a. Our next weapon is our only offensive weapon in our arsenal, but quite frankly it is the only one we need.
b. The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Jesus when facing the enemy only needed this one weapon.
c. In order to use the Word, we need to know the Word, to know the Word we need to read the Word.
d. The Word can be used as an offensive weapon, but it is also a defensive weapon as well.
e. A good soldier is ready in season and out of season, we need to be ready at all times to use the Word.
f. Let me say this “Satan does not have a chance against a well armed, well prepared believer!!!”
F. Final instructions
a. As Paul concludes instruction concerning spiritual warfare, he encourages us to always pray.
b. Since we are constantly in the battlefield, we need to always be praying.
c. Prayer is really our communication hotline to our commander in chief.
d. Let me encourage you with a bible verse found in Isaiah 54:17 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment. You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.
e. There is no weapon, absolutely nothing that will be successful against you! While you may lose some battles, you will not lose the war!! The victory is yours Saints of God!
Closing:
As we close here this morning, we need to recognize that we have an enemy and his plans for our lives are not good. It is imperative that we understand our enemy, and the tactics that he will use to try to discourage and distract us. When we know our enemy, it will help us to defeat our enemy. We do not have to be afraid because God has already given us the power and authority to defeat our foe. In fact, the bible says in John 1:12 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. The bible further goes on to say in 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. The greater one lives inside of you! Do you believe that church? Do your receive that? I trust you do. Because Hearing God’s voice is mans greatest reward, while doing God’s will is mans greatest achievement.
