The Invisible War Pt. 2! Series

The Invisible War pt. 2!

Video Transition: Sermoncentral.com He has overcome!

The Invisible War: Spiritual Warfare 101

Thesis: Every believer needs to know that there is an invisible war raging around you each day and night. The Bible says it’s a spiritual war between good = God and His army and Evil = Satan and his demons.

Quote: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils (demons). One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. C. S. Lewis

Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:10-12:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Note: This sermon is inspired, quoted and gleamed from Ingram, Chip. The Invisible War Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Summary of Sermon 1:

• A survey from a few years back Ron Ritchie asked a question, "Do you believe in the devil, in demons, and demon possession? According to a Gallup Poll taken among 1,236 adults and reported a while ago in local papers more than ½ the people polled believed in the devil (or 55%, with 8% not sure and 37% don't believe the evil one exists). One in ten claim- to have talked to the devil. Some 49% believe that people are at times possessed by the devil, and 22% are not sure, leaving 35% of the population who do not believe in demonic possession."

a. I am not sure what a current poll would reveal today!

b. Chip states, “Is Satan for Real? The Bible isn’t ambiguous on the reality of Satan. He’s there in the beginning in Genesis 3:1, tempting Eve. He’s there in the middle in 1 Chronicles 21:1, inciting David to take a faithless census. He’s there in the end in Revelation 12:9, hurled from heaven along with his fellow rebels to the earth.”

i. Ingram, Chip. The Invisible War (p. 45). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

c. But we can say with accuracy from the Bible that Jesus, Peter, Paul, the disciples and even Legion (The demon possessed man in Mark 5:1-20) all believed in demons and Jesus always dealt with them with His authority.

i. Chip states, “Jesus certainly thought Satan was real. He referred to Satan twenty-five times and had a personal encounter with him in Matthew 4:1–11.”

1. Ingram, Chip. The Invisible War (p. 45). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

• I have been sharing Scriptures revealing that there is an Invisible War: Do recall the story from 2 Kings 6:8–23?

a. The story is of Elisha, a prophet of the Lord and the Invisible War! Elisha prayer that his servant who saw the army which came to arrest him had surrounded them and filled with fear. So, Elisha prayed that God would open his servant’s eyes to the spiritual army they had on their side and – the servant eyes were open and he saw the heavenly army that was with them.

b. Summary of Introduction to Chip Ingraham “Invisible War” book: Chip states this about our 3 key verses above in Ephesians 6:10-12 and the Invisible War we are all entrenched in (whether we believe it not) – He states, “Spiritual Warfare 101 — cover Paul’s general command in v. 10, his specific command in v. 11, and the reason he gives these in v. 12 for both commands.”

i. The General Command — “Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (v. 10)

ii. The Specific Command — “Put on the full armor of God” (v. 11)

iii. The Reason for the Commands — “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (v. 12)

1. From Ingram, Chip. The Invisible War (p. 17). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

iv. When we face spiritual battles, our response can be fight or flight – what do you do?

• What do we need to know/do from this message?

a. Answer: Chip states, “Your first responsibility is to be aware of the battle, your second responsibility is to depend on God’s strength, and your third responsibility is to use the protection God has provided.” Ingram, Chip. The Invisible War (p. 29). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The Invisible War Part 2:

Thesis: We Christians need to understand that we are in a spiritual war this is the crucial first step to victory. This war is for your soul and the souls of people all around you and yes, even for your loved ones. But, It’s our job as Born Again Spirit filled Christian warriors to fight for our souls and for those around us with the Lord’s help.