spiritual warfare : eph 6.11-18
SPIRITUAL WARFARE : EPH 6.11-18
PART 1 – THE ENEMY AND HIS PLAN AGAINST US There IS an invisible world • Some call it parapsychology, ghost hunting, spirit world • Elisha tells of an invisible protecting army (2Ki 6.15-19) • Angel reveals self to Daniel (Dan 10.10-20) • Paul mentions spiritual world multiple times (Eph 2.2.;6.12) As believers, we are involved in an invisible war • Many evil events that have no sense to them are likely rooted in demonic influence. • The invisible war described (2Cor 10.3-5) • Satan can actually blind minds of unbelievers (2Cor 4.4) The Enemy is formidable • The possible harm is real (1Pet 5.8) • His power is second only to God’s (Jude 9) • Satan is real - Examples – serpent (Gen 3.1; 1 Chr 21.1; Rev 12.9) - Testimony of Jesus (Mt 4.1-11), 25 different references to Satan - Satan as the prince of demons (Luke 11.15) • How is Satan described in the Bible - A created spirit (Job 1.6; Col 1.16) - An angel (Mt 25.41; Rev 12.7) - A cherub who was the highest of all creatures (Ez 28.14) - Created perfect (Ez 28.1-13) - Had many befits of his heavenly abode (Jude 6) -A Guardian of God’s glory (Ex 28.14) - The occasion of his sin – power and beauty (Ez. 28) - The nature of his sin – pride (Is 14.12-14) - The cause of his sin – personal choice by him (Hab 1.13;Jas 1.13)
It is necessary to respect Satan but we need not and (and should not) fear him • Should be ever aware of Satan’s methods but not be reoccupied with them • Scripture teaches his methodology (2 Cor 2.11)and the limits of his personal power (1Jn 4.4; Js 4.7) • We have the victory over him (Rev 12.11;1 Cor 15.57) if we rely on and follow God’s plan (1 Jn 5.4-5) How to become aware of Satan’s methodology • His names reveals his tactics - Satan (adversary) (Job 1.6-7; 1 Thes 2.18) - Devil (slanderer) (1 Pet 5.8) - Lucifer (son of the morning) (Is 14.12) - Beelzebub (Lord of the Flies) (Mt 12.24) - Belial (a false God) (2 Cor 6.15) - Evil one (1 Jn 5.19) - Tempter (1 Thes 3.5) - Prince of this world (Jn 12.31) - Accuser of the Saints (Job 1;Rev 12.10) - Personifications -- serpent (Gen 3) -- dragon (Rev 12) -- angel of light (2 Cor 11.14) • He attacks God’s program (currently the church) by - False philosophies (Col 2.8) - False religions (1 Cor 10.20) - False ministers (2 Cor 11.14-15) - False doctrines (1 Jn 2.18) - False disciples (Mt 13.24-30) - False morals (2 Thes 2.7-12) • He attacks God’s people by - Directing governments (Dan 10.13) - Destroying lives (Heb 2.14) - Persecuting the saints (Rev 2.10) - Preventing service (1 Thes 2.18) - Promoting schisms (2 Cor 2.10-11) - Planting doubt (Gen 3.1-5) - Producing sects and cults (1 Tim 4.1) - Provoking believers to sin -- anger (Eph 4.26-27) -- pride (1 Tim 3.6) -- worry (Mt 13.22) -- self-reliance (1 Chr 21.1) -- discouragement (1 Pet 5.6-8) -- worldliness (1 Jn 2.16) -- lying (Acts 5.3) -- immorality (1 Cor 5.1-2)
Satan’s power is limited • He is a created being - not omniscient, omnipotent nor infinite • We should respect but not fear his power—he can be overcome • God places limits on him (Job 1.12) • He can be successfully resisted by the believer (Js 4.7) The overall plan of the Enemy – neutralizing effectiveness of the believer • Allows his deception of the lost to prosper • Two primary methods 1 Pet 5.8 - Silence the believer in word and deed - Corrupt the believer’s testimony His methodology involves both internal and external attacks • Internal – our thought life • External – circumstances presented to us that can discourage, frighten, anger and/or distract us All of which can affect our thoughts and how we react to our circumstances tempting us to abandoning our faith to sin. What are the fundamental causes of sin? • What is sin? - Lawlessness 1 Jn.3.4 - Whatever that is not of faith Rom 14.23 • What causes it? 1 Jn 2.16 - Lust of the flesh – sensual desires…more than just sex - Lust of the eyes – what others have..not just possessions - Pride of life – looking out for #1; it’s all about me Characteristics of Temptation • Comes from the tempter 1Thes 3.5, Mt 4.3 • Susceptibility comes from our human limitations Jas 1.13-14 Examples of Response to Temptation • Failure - Eve Gen 3 - Was tempted by the serpent vv 1-4 -- called God’s word into question
-- appealed to her pride -- appealed to her sensuality - her response -- responded to her sensuality – looked tasty -- responded to her eyes – looked good -- responded to her pride – to be made wise - result – sin vv 6-7 - Adam’s role – not deceived but chose to follow Eve 1 Tim 2.14
• Success - Jesus Mt 4.1-11 - Physically and emotionally vulnerable – hungry, alone - Satan appealed to -- sensuality – his hunger v 3 -- security – his relationship with his Father v 6 -- pride of life – fame and power vv 8-9 - Jesus repeatedly responded ..it is written vv 4,7,10 - Result – deliverance -- Satan left v10 -- God ministered to Him v11 The same paradigm is true for us as believers • We will be tempted Jas 1.2 and there is a value for us v3 • We can resist - Jesus understands Heb 2.18 and set the example 4.15 - We have the capability to resist specific temptations ICor 10.13 • The result? Deliverance Jas 4.7 So how can we accomplish this? By putting on the whole armor of God
PART 1 – THE ENEMY AND HIS PLAN AGAINST US There IS an invisible world • Some call it parapsychology, ghost hunting, spirit world • Elisha tells of an invisible protecting army (2Ki 6.15-19) • Angel reveals self to Daniel (Dan 10.10-20) • Paul mentions spiritual world multiple times (Eph 2.2.;6.12) As believers, we are involved in an invisible war • Many evil events that have no sense to them are likely rooted in demonic influence. • The invisible war described (2Cor 10.3-5) • Satan can actually blind minds of unbelievers (2Cor 4.4) The Enemy is formidable • The possible harm is real (1Pet 5.8) • His power is second only to God’s (Jude 9) • Satan is real - Examples – serpent (Gen 3.1; 1 Chr 21.1; Rev 12.9) - Testimony of Jesus (Mt 4.1-11), 25 different references to Satan - Satan as the prince of demons (Luke 11.15) • How is Satan described in the Bible - A created spirit (Job 1.6; Col 1.16) - An angel (Mt 25.41; Rev 12.7) - A cherub who was the highest of all creatures (Ez 28.14) - Created perfect (Ez 28.1-13) - Had many befits of his heavenly abode (Jude 6) -A Guardian of God’s glory (Ex 28.14) - The occasion of his sin – power and beauty (Ez. 28) - The nature of his sin – pride (Is 14.12-14) - The cause of his sin – personal choice by him (Hab 1.13;Jas 1.13)
It is necessary to respect Satan but we need not and (and should not) fear him • Should be ever aware of Satan’s methods but not be reoccupied with them • Scripture teaches his methodology (2 Cor 2.11)and the limits of his personal power (1Jn 4.4; Js 4.7) • We have the victory over him (Rev 12.11;1 Cor 15.57) if we rely on and follow God’s plan (1 Jn 5.4-5) How to become aware of Satan’s methodology • His names reveals his tactics - Satan (adversary) (Job 1.6-7; 1 Thes 2.18) - Devil (slanderer) (1 Pet 5.8) - Lucifer (son of the morning) (Is 14.12) - Beelzebub (Lord of the Flies) (Mt 12.24) - Belial (a false God) (2 Cor 6.15) - Evil one (1 Jn 5.19) - Tempter (1 Thes 3.5) - Prince of this world (Jn 12.31) - Accuser of the Saints (Job 1;Rev 12.10) - Personifications -- serpent (Gen 3) -- dragon (Rev 12) -- angel of light (2 Cor 11.14) • He attacks God’s program (currently the church) by - False philosophies (Col 2.8) - False religions (1 Cor 10.20) - False ministers (2 Cor 11.14-15) - False doctrines (1 Jn 2.18) - False disciples (Mt 13.24-30) - False morals (2 Thes 2.7-12) • He attacks God’s people by - Directing governments (Dan 10.13) - Destroying lives (Heb 2.14) - Persecuting the saints (Rev 2.10) - Preventing service (1 Thes 2.18) - Promoting schisms (2 Cor 2.10-11) - Planting doubt (Gen 3.1-5) - Producing sects and cults (1 Tim 4.1) - Provoking believers to sin -- anger (Eph 4.26-27) -- pride (1 Tim 3.6) -- worry (Mt 13.22) -- self-reliance (1 Chr 21.1) -- discouragement (1 Pet 5.6-8) -- worldliness (1 Jn 2.16) -- lying (Acts 5.3) -- immorality (1 Cor 5.1-2)
Satan’s power is limited • He is a created being - not omniscient, omnipotent nor infinite • We should respect but not fear his power—he can be overcome • God places limits on him (Job 1.12) • He can be successfully resisted by the believer (Js 4.7) The overall plan of the Enemy – neutralizing effectiveness of the believer • Allows his deception of the lost to prosper • Two primary methods 1 Pet 5.8 - Silence the believer in word and deed - Corrupt the believer’s testimony His methodology involves both internal and external attacks • Internal – our thought life • External – circumstances presented to us that can discourage, frighten, anger and/or distract us All of which can affect our thoughts and how we react to our circumstances tempting us to abandoning our faith to sin. What are the fundamental causes of sin? • What is sin? - Lawlessness 1 Jn.3.4 - Whatever that is not of faith Rom 14.23 • What causes it? 1 Jn 2.16 - Lust of the flesh – sensual desires…more than just sex - Lust of the eyes – what others have..not just possessions - Pride of life – looking out for #1; it’s all about me Characteristics of Temptation • Comes from the tempter 1Thes 3.5, Mt 4.3 • Susceptibility comes from our human limitations Jas 1.13-14 Examples of Response to Temptation • Failure - Eve Gen 3 - Was tempted by the serpent vv 1-4 -- called God’s word into question
-- appealed to her pride -- appealed to her sensuality - her response -- responded to her sensuality – looked tasty -- responded to her eyes – looked good -- responded to her pride – to be made wise - result – sin vv 6-7 - Adam’s role – not deceived but chose to follow Eve 1 Tim 2.14
• Success - Jesus Mt 4.1-11 - Physically and emotionally vulnerable – hungry, alone - Satan appealed to -- sensuality – his hunger v 3 -- security – his relationship with his Father v 6 -- pride of life – fame and power vv 8-9 - Jesus repeatedly responded ..it is written vv 4,7,10 - Result – deliverance -- Satan left v10 -- God ministered to Him v11 The same paradigm is true for us as believers • We will be tempted Jas 1.2 and there is a value for us v3 • We can resist - Jesus understands Heb 2.18 and set the example 4.15 - We have the capability to resist specific temptations ICor 10.13 • The result? Deliverance Jas 4.7 So how can we accomplish this? By putting on the whole armor of God
