Week #56 (Final Lesson) Spiritual Warfare II Corinthians 10:3-5 February 23, 2014

Transcription

1 Week #56 (Final Lesson) Spiritual Warfare II Corinthians 10:3-5 February 23, 2014 I. Introduction and review A. We have been working to complete our study of the Book of Ephesians 1. The last part of this book deals with the topic of Spiritual Warfare 2. We have spoken of our armor and how it is made 3. We have considered our weapons and what they are capable of 4. Now we need to consider the battle itself and what it entails for us as soldiers II. In the time of Roman armies and legionnaires, who enlisted you into the military was important A. Many times deals or promises were made concerning care or property or citizenship after service was completed B. Paul used this cultural background when writing to Timothy, who served as pastor of the Ephesian church for a period of time 1. He wrote: 2 Timothy 2:3-4 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the Page 1 of 9

2 prize unless he competes according to the rules. 2. This passage calls for a singleness of purpose 3. It speaks of enduring and persevering throughout the fight 4. It is all about training and discipline 5. Where are you in this regard? III. Where the battle takes place A. The battle for the most part takes place in your mind B. That is the battleground your psyche IV. This battle then is spoken of in our central passage II Corinthians 10:3-6 A. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, B. We need to deconstruct the passage to really understand it 1. For though we walk in the flesh a. Walk peripate,w peripateo {per-ee-pat-eh'-o} b. The idea of walking is one that is found throughout the book of Ephesians and the entire Bible c. Walking has to do with a way of living d. The passage confirms that we live and function in a physical world e. We rely more on our physical senses than anything else to guide us and provide us with the information we need to make decisions Page 2 of 9

3 and to choose how to act 2. But we do not war according to the flesh, a. Although our lives are lived in a physical world, the war that we are involved in is outside that physical world b. Compare this passage with Eph. 6:12 c. As such we are facing a significant disadvantage d. Such as lions who hunt at night and whose vision is 5 to 10 times better than our own at night e. How do we fight in this spiritual conflict (1) we make use of the protection that was made for us, (2) we train and become proficient in the weapons God designed for our use 3. for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, a. The weapons we have been given are not physical b. You cannot fight a spiritual battle with physical weapons c. What are these weapons? (1) Scripture The study of specific Scripture relevant to the subject matter [II Tim. 2:15] Learning praise passages [II Chr. 20:13-22] Memorization of Scripture [Psa. 119:11] Meditation on key Scriptures [Psa. Page 3 of 9

4 1] (e) Placing Scriptural reminders and motivators where we regularly will see them [Deut. 6:4-9] (2) Prayer Consistent individual prayer [James 5:16b-18] i) Praying Scripture ii) Praying over the promises of God Group prayer times [Matt. 18:20] i) strength in numbers Prayer lists i) personal prayer needs ii) group prayer lists Prayer to the death i) e.g. David praying for his dying child; Daniel praying for prophetic understanding [Dan. 9 &10] ii) iii) plan recruit (3) Fellow Believers Accountability partners i) when Jesus sent the disciples out He sent them by twos Spiritual advisors [Prov. 1:5; 12:15; & 19:20] Page 4 of 9

5 i) older, more experienced believers Prayer warriors i) God gives them to us as a gift ii) utilize them well do not abuse them Involvement in group activities (4) Discipline/Self-control [I Cor. 9:25-27] Cut off the supplies to the stronghold Destroy existing supplies For example 4. but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. a. Powered by God That is He energizes these weapons b. Fortresses ovcu,rwma ochuroma {okh-oo'-ro-mah} Meaning: 1) a castle, stronghold, fortress, fastness 2) anything on which one relies 2a) of the arguments and reasoning s by which a disputant endeavors to fortify his opinion and defend it against his opponent (1) What is the difference between a stronghold and a fortress Fortresses start out as strong holds Matter of time to construct Fortresses last longer (2) How is a stronghold constructed An incursion is made into enemy territory [seduction/deception] A location is selected and fortified so that a Page 5 of 9

6 stronghold can be established After time it can be fortified in a more permanent manner and turned into a fortress (3) From the stronghold/fortress the enemy can: Stage an attack on your forces, especially when they are vulnerable Prevent reinforcement of front line positions, by the threat of attack Disrupt communications with headquarters and supply areas Provide your side valuable information and intelligence (e) Interdict supply lines and resupply efforts (4) Some believers think they don t have any enemy strongholds in their lives They are the one who have the most or whose strongholds are the most entrenched (5) What are some examples these strongholds/fortresses (e) Pride Jealousy Alcohol Tobacco Sex Page 6 of 9

7 (f) (g) (h) Pornography Greed Bulimia c. Destruction kaqai,resij kathairesis {kath-ah'-ee-res-is} Meaning: a pulling down, destruction, demolition 5. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God a. What are these speculations and every lofty thing? b. Human arguments against God c. Satan s attempts at using walls to keep us from God 6. we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, a. What are these thoughts that we take captive b. How do we take them captive c. Our thoughts must be submitted to His control V. We must build our own defenses to the establishment of Strongholds by the enemy being watchful of: A. Ignorance 1. Consider II Cor. 2: Paul claims that he is not ignorant of Satan s schemes 3. He does not want the Corinthians to be ignorant either 4. Ignorance leads to mistakes, errors and falling into deception B. Spiritual passion that exceeds Biblical knowledge 1. We get carried away and deceived before we know it Page 7 of 9

8 2. Legalism is a form of this zeal to follow and we follow what was not intended 3. Consider Phil. 1:9-10 C. Lack of discernment 1. Discernment Paul says enables us to choose the excellent or best as opposed to what is good [Phil. 1:9-10] a. Discernment : the power or faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes one thing from another; acuteness of judgment; power of perceiving differences of things or ideas; insight acumen; as in the errors of youth often proceed from a lake of discernment 2. Dan. 2:14 3. Prov. 28:7 D. Lack of discipline 1. Consider what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27a Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, E. Failure to trust God with our past 1. Like an athlete 2. Not letting go of our past failures or problems creates weakness in our Page 8 of 9

9 spiritual defenses 3. Such failures or problems could be: divorce, a parents early death or leaving the family, sexual abuse as a child, parental favoritism 4. Consider Phil. 3:13-14 VI. A challenge A. Today, prepare a list B. The top strongholds in your life C. What are they D. If you don t know what they are, ask God, He will tell you E. Ask God s help to destroy them F. And start using the weapons that He has given to you Page 9 of 9