We Are In A Battle

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