This Means War - Satan and Spiritual Warfare
A Sermon on Satan and Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:10–24
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Eph 1:19, 3:20.
Phil 4:13
A. The Battle is Real
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
B. The Enemy is Wickedly Strong (and strongly wicked)
12 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.
The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. – Kevin Spacey, The Usual Suspects.
John 12:31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
2 Corinthians 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Ephesians 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Isaiah 14:12–15 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Rev 12:3; Rev 5:11
Job 1:7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”
Isaiah 37:36 - Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!
Revelation 2:13
Daniel 10:20
C. The Armor is Spiritual
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
How do you shoot the devil in the back? What if you miss? Kevin Spacey, (Verbal), The Usual Suspects
2Co 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. Truth
2Co 1:12; 1Ti 1:5, 18; 3:9.
2. Righteousness
2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand. Edward Mote, 1834
3. Preparation of the gospel
15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
4. Faith
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1 Peter 5:9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
Rom 10:14
5. Salvation
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Phil 2:13. 1 Cor 9:27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified,
2 Ti 2:22
6. Word of God
Mt 4:4, 7, 10 Ps 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.
7. Prayer
Matthew 26:41 “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
From heaven’s standpoint, all spiritual victories are won not primarily in the pulpit, not primarily in the klieg light of publicity, nor yet through the ostentatious blaring of trumpets, but in the secret place of prayer." Paul E. Billheimer
It is part of the genius of Christianity that any believer can become a warrior in the battle at any time and in any place and make his influence count to the ends of the earth and high in heavenly places, simply by engaging in prayer. By praying for missionaries a believer can place himself in a canoe in the Amazon, in an igloo in the arctic, in a tent in the Sahara, in a submarine in the bottom of the ocean, in a plane high in the stratosphere. He can ward off from the missionary dangers in the jungle, diseases in the city slum, disasters on the deep. He can arm the missionary’s witness with supernatural power, lift him from threshold of despondency, rout the unseen foes that lurk in the spirit world and strengthen his hand in God. By praying in the spirit, the exercised believer can conquer time and space and have a share in the battle. John Phillips, Exploring Romans
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
Tychicus carried the letters to Ephesians and Colossians.
1 John 3:8b The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 4.4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Photo by Stijn Swinnen on Unsplash
