My New Year s Revolution. Prepared for War" If you missed the sermon, you'll find the podcast at

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1 My New Year s Revolution Prepared for War" If you missed the sermon, you'll find the podcast at Bottom line - Resolutions are about doing. Revolutions are about the heart. Scriptures - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 English Standard Version (ESV) For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, Ephesians 6:10-13 English Standard Version (ESV) The Whole Armor of God Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against

2 the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Icebreaker How many wars have you experienced in your lifetime? What kind of affect have they had on your life and family? Questions: 1. Read 2 Corinthians 10:3 together as a group. To win a war, you have to know you re in one What areas of your life could be an area of war right now? List them below. a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

3 2. According to James 3:15, there are 3 sources of temptation: a. The world system b. Our flesh c. Satan To win a war, you ve got to know your enemy. In what area of your life have you felt Satan, your flesh, or the world working against what God was doing? Do you ever forget about God? What causes you to forget? 3. One of Satan s goals, according to 2 Corinthians 4:4, is to keep lost people lost. Who in your life is Satan winning that battle against right now? Name: How could you use the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:4 to help them see the danger of their current situation? 4. Satan wants to get God s people to live like they are lost, so that we lose our joy, peace, and influence for the Kingdom. - Brother David In what area of your life do you feel like you re losing:

4 Joy? Peace? Influence for God? 5. Brother David shared 10 avenues that Satan uses to attack us. Take a look at the list below. Circle the one(s) that have the most pull on you right now: 1. Anger 2. Unforgiveness 3. Lust/sex 4. Adversity 5. Doubt 6. Pride 7. Negativity 8. Division 9. Greed 10.Guilt 6. There are 5 different ways we can fight against the things we circled, above: 1. Fight by falling down (Ephesians 6:10) 2. Fight by mind control (2 Corinthians 10:5) 3. Fight with confession of sin (1 John 1:9) 4. Fight with spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) 5. Fight with faith (1 John 5:4-5)

5 Write down your personal war statement, below. Use this format: (word(s) circled in #5) can have a really strong pull on my heart and life. And I don t want it to win the war So I will fight by (tactic you will use, from #6). CLOSER: Share your war statement with the group. Commit to praying for one another this week.

6 Prepared For War (My New Years Revolution, pt 3) 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Eph 6:10-13 FOR THE LEADER: Sermon outline Introduction Bibles/ CS Attack not unlike us We are in a series called My New Years Revolution. We are looking not at habits or will power but deeper to heart issues. A resolution is about what you do a revolution is about who you are Review Our attitude determines our altitude. Our attitude is influenced by our thoughts (Pr 23:7a). Our decisions and behavior are influenced by our attitude how we feel about life. Change the way you think and you can change the way you act. Our world is a tangle of choices, options and decisions the key is to properly prioritize. We are distracted from what is best by good things and by sinful things. Start with Jesus and He will order your world (Mt 6:33). He and His Kingdom are priority 1 These topics are not unrelated, but dovetail together. Read scripture I. Realize You re In A War (3). 2 Corinthians 10:3 (NASB) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh

7 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. A. To win a war you have to know you re in one 1. The Christian life is not a playground but a battlefield. 2. Many Christians live defeated, joyless lives because they do not prepare for battle. 3. Many have no influence because they are asleep in the barracks instead of engaged in the battle. 4. If you seek to live for Him you re in it 5. Many Christians are unaware of being in a war because they have laid their weapons down and are going the way of the world. 6. The reason you and the Devil get along is because you re travelling in the same direction as him. That ultimately is the pathway of defeat though at first it may seem easy. 7. His attacks are confirmation we are walking with God. Where God is on one side, you may be sure to find the devil on the other. William Gurnall VIII. Understand Your Opponent (3). 2 Corinthians 10:3 (NASB) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh A. There are three sources of temptation (James 3:15). James 3:15 (NASB) 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 1. The world system

8 2. Our flesh 3. Satan The Devil is against us, the world is around us, and the flesh is within us to defeat us in our Christian walk. Jerry Rankin Illus. Our flesh is like a bridge A. Our primary adversary (1 Peter 5:8) the Devil (slanderer, accuser, etc.). 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB) 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. From the opening to the closing pages of scripture he is presented as the enemy of God s people. 1. He is an enemy of God and therefore the enemy of God s people. 2. Murderer, deceiver, ruler of this world, enemy, father of lies, etc. B. Two Big Mistakes 1. Make too little of him. 2. Make too much of him. a. He is in no way equal to God. b. He is a limited being. c. He is mighty but He is not the almighty (1 John 4:4) B. His Goal: 1. To keep lost people lost (2 Cor. 4:4) 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NASB)

9 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. 2. To get God s people to live like they are lost thereby losing their joy, peace, and influence for the Kingdom. To discourage you from worshipping God, to distract you from serving God, and to deceive you into disobeying God. C.His tactics (2 Cor. 2:11) 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NASB) 11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 1. Lies (John 8:44) John 8:44 (NASB) 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. a. It doesn t get any better than this b. If it feels good do it Illus. He doesn t tell the whole story c. You don t have what you need to be happy discontent. d. You are in control of your destiny pride. e. You re all alone and no one cares fear and hopelessness. f. You been mistreated, your situation isn t fair, how could this happen to you bitterness.

10 7. Deception (2 Corinthians 11:14) 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NASB) 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Most spiritual warfare is not dramatic but warfare is overcoming his lies and deceits. Jerry Rankin a. Deceived us into confusing morality and politics as in abortion. b. Desensitizes God s people to evil. 3. Temptation lures us with the right bait to moral failure. 4. Misuse of God s Word. His primary battlefield the mind Illus. Man who thought he was a racehorse. Adam and Eve Gen 3:1-7 (Questions God s goodness takes a positive and makes it a negative, His Word can He be trusted?) A. Avenues of Attack: 1. Anger 2. Unforgiveness 3. Lust/sex 4. Adversity 5. Doubt loves to capitalize on adversity. He can get us to doubt God s goodness and focus on ourselves. 6. Pride sin of the garden. Leads to rebellion.

11 7. Negativity opposite of faith 8. Division 9. Greed 10.Guilt V. Fight (Eph 6:10-13) We are not winning the spiritual war because we are not fighting (James 4:7b) Illus. Pull up the draw bridge A. Fight by falling down (Eph 6:10). Ephesians 6:10 (NASB) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 1. Victory through surrender Our victory is in Him 2. Humility and dependence are the key 3. Yield, abide, connect, etc. Illus. Flying in a plane or driving a car. Rest in Christ, who you are in Christ That s the armor in Eph 6 D.Fight by mind control (5) 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB) 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 1. Wage war on bad thoughts. 2. Recognize the source of these thoughts.

12 Illus. TV, movies, music, people you hang out with? 3. Garbage in/garbage out. D.Fight with confession of sin (1 Jn 1:9). E. Fight with Spiritual weapons (4-5). 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NASB) 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 1. Prayer (Mk 14:38) Mark 14:38 (NASB) 38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 2. The Bible (Heb 4:12a) Illus. Hit him 3. The Church a. Support b. Encouragement c. Ministry d. Protection E. Fight with faith (1 John 5:4b; 4-5; Eph 6:13) 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NASB) 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

13 Ephesians 6:13 (NASB) 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. 1. The battle has already been won Every reference in scripture of spiritual warfare is in context of victory 2. God s way works 3. Default setting is trust. Illus. Like a child trusts his parents. The voice of my dad Conclusion Bring it on

14 Biblical background Spiritual Weaponry (10:1-6) The exercise of discipline is never an easy matter. Because of the painful nature of the process, there is the temptation to put as much distance as possible between yourself and the person receiving the discipline. Written, as opposed to verbal, communication can be a less directly confrontational route, and hence more appealing. Where the tongue might get away from us in a face-to-face exchange, a letter permits a certain degree of perspective and objectivity. But avoidance of a face-to-face encounter can leave one open to the charge of cowardice a charge that Paul tackles head-on in chapter 10: I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away Paul is quoting the opposition, as the quotation marks around the terms timid and bold indicate (NIV, Phillips, REB). The word for timid (tapeinos) is commonly used in Hellenistic Greek to indicate a low social status, but it can also refer, as here, to the cringing, subservient attitude that sometimes accompanies humble circumstances. The Living Bible's "afraid to raise his voice when he gets here" catches the thought. But when Paul addresses the Corinthians at a distance (in writing), he becomes "bold." Tharreo (bold) was used earlier to speak of Paul's cheerfulness in the face of death (5:6, 8) and his confidence in the Corinthians (7:16). In this verse it connotes self-confidence or selfassurance of an unwarranted kind. In essence, Paul's critics are saying that he talks big in his letters (e.g., the severe letter) but is weak-kneed in person (e.g., the painful visit). Indeed, in the minds of Paul's critics to resort to the pen is to live by the standards of this world (v. 2). The phrase is literally "to walk according to the flesh." "Walk" (peripateo) is one of Paul's favorite expressions to describe the Christian life (it occurs thirty-one times). Here it denotes a settled pattern of behavior. This pattern of behavior is described as "flesh," a term that ranges in meaning from what is physical, mortal or human to what is sinful or even sexual in nature. In this context it refers to a purely human way of doing things which, for Paul's opponents, amounted to a weak way of doing things. They, by contrast, claimed to be spiritual people, boasting of their extraordinary experiences ("visions and revelations," 12:1) and Spirit-empowered ministry ("signs, wonders and miracles," 12:12). This would appeal to a congregation like Corinth, whose members thought they had arrived spiritually (they are "full," "rich," even "kings" 1 Cor 4:8). Paul's critics also asserted that he adopted human strategies of warfare

15 (wage war as the world does, 10:3). Strateuomai means "to advance" with an army or fleet (Liddell, Scott and Jones 1978). His rivals claimed to fight with the armies of the Spirit, while Paul, they maintained, relied purely on ineffective, beggarly methods and resources to carry out his ministry. Cowardly, weak and ineffectual not an appealing pastoral portrait by any stretch of the imagination, and one that Paul dismisses out of hand. His introductory statement deserves careful attention. He begins with a warning. Yet it is a warning phrased in terms of a request, rather than a command: I appeal to you... that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be (vv. 1-2). The verb (parakaleo) is one commonly used by someone who has the authority to command but chooses not to. Paul makes his request by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. At first glance this phrase seems out of sync with the forcefulness of what follows. But then Paul has been accused of "trying to frighten" the Corinthians with his letters (v. 9). So he takes pains to reassure his readers that he approaches them as Christ himself would. The adjectives are close synonyms. Meekness (praytes) is descriptive of a gentle and friendly disposition, as opposed to a rough and hard one (Hauck and Schulz 1968:645-46; compare Mt 11:29, "for I am gentle and humble in heart"). Gentleness (epieikeia; only here and in Acts 24:4 in the New Testament) translates a term that denotes the yielding or forbearing disposition of those in positions of power the judge who is lenient in judgment and the king who is kind in his rule (Bauder 1976:256; compare Phil 4:5, "let your forbearance [epieikes; NIV `gentleness'] be evident to all"). Paul is gentle and forbearing as he approaches the Corinthians. Even so, this disposition does little to blunt the sternness of the warning that follows. Next time around Paul will exercise the discipline that he has been avoiding: when he comes, he expects to be bold (v. 2). Although his critics accuse him of being weak-kneed in person, Paul promises that he will be bold, if need be, on his next visit. Two terms describe the kind of boldness he will show. It will be, first, a self-assured boldness (tharresai tepepoithesei) or, as the Jerusalem Bible translates, "with confident assurance." It will also be a courageous boldness. The verb tolmao (missing in the NIV) means "to exhibit courage or daring" and is used of the confidence proper to those who are sure of their ground (Motyer 1975:365).

16 Paul's boldness will be directed on his next visit against some who think that he lives by worldly standards. The fact that he does not say "some of you" suggests that he is directing his comments at those who were intruding themselves into the Corinthian community. These meddlers remain unnamed throughout although their opinions are quite explicitly named. They appear to be itinerant Jewish-Christian preachers who encroached on Paul's territory and claimed credit for his work. They disparaged him for refusing financial support from his churches (1 Cor 9:3-18; 2 Cor 12:13), not carrying letters of recommendation (2 Cor 3:1-3), being unsuccessful in reaching his own people (3:14 4:4) and being an unimpressive speaker (10:10-11). They flaunted their achievements, claiming a superior heritage to Paul's (11:22) and boasting of greater spirituality ("visions and revelations," 12:1; "signs, wonders and miracles," 12:12), knowledge (11:6) and speaking ability (10:10; see the introduction). The verb translated think (logizomai) appears toice in verse 2. It means "to draw a logical conclusion" from a given set of facts (Eichler 1978:822-23). From the fact that Paul seemed to talk big in his letters yet had refrained from exercising discipline in person, his opponents drew the conclusion that he operated according to fleshly (that is, weak and ineffectual), not spiritual standards. Paul accepts this estimate, to a point. "We do live in the flesh [en sarki]," he admits (in the world, v. 3). The change in preposition is crucial. His sphere of activity is indeed "the flesh" the everyday world of human existence with all its limitations, frustrations, trials and tribulations. But while Paul lives out his life in the ordinary, mundane sphere of human existence, this does not mean that he conducts his affairs according to the flesh (kata sarka) that is, as the world goes about things (by the standards of this world, v. 2). Nor does he wage war according to the flesh (kata sarka as the world does, v. 3). During the latter years of the Great Depression, the American people were faced with mobilizing themselves for a second world war. They rationed their butter, meat, gasoline and other basic items. With the money they had left after purchasing the necessities of life, they paid wartime taxes and bought war bonds to provide even more funds for mobilization. They also sent hundreds of thousands of their finest youth abroad. It was a massive effort, involving great sacrifices and a tremendous expenditure of resources (Waldrop 1984:42). Paul pictures himself as involved in a similar war effort.

17 In his case, however, the battle is being fought on a spiritual front. And spiritual warfare requires spiritual weaponry, which Paul readily deploys. What distinguishes his weapons from those of the world can be summed up in one word power (dynatos). The weapons Paul fights with have divine power and, as a result, can accomplish what the world's weapons cannot (demolish stongholds, v. 4). Paul does not identify these weapons here. But they certainly would include "the Holy Spirit," "sincere love," the true message and divine power (6:6-7). He may also have in mind "truth," "righteousness," "the gospel of peace," "faith," "salvation" and "the Spirit," put forward as the Christian's armor in Ephesians 6: Paul's weapons are effective in doing two things. They can, in the first place, demolish strongholds (v. 4). Ochyrwma is a military term for a "fortified place" (Heidland 1967b:590; Malherbe 1983:147). The picture is of an army attacking and tearing down the fortified defenses of the enemy. In the ancient world a prosperous city would build not only a stout wall for its security but also, somewhere inside the wall, a fortified tower that could be defended by relatively few soldiers if the walls of the city were breached by an enemy. Once the stronghold was taken, the battle was over (Carson 1984:47). In ancient times this was commonly accomplished through a variety of siege machines, the most common being battering rams, mobile towers, catapults for throwing darts and the ballistae for throwing stones (Stern 1976). The strongholds that Paul's weapons lay siege to are arguments and every pretension (v. 5). Logismous are reasonings that take shape in the mind and are then worked out in life as action (Heidland 1967a:286; Malherbe 1983:147). Hypsoma epairomenon ("raised ramparts") are human "pretensions" (NIV) or "arrogances" (JB, TEV, REB, NEB, RSV, NRSV) that have built fortresses with high towers aimed at repelling attacks by the knowledge of God (v. 5; Malherbe 1983:147). Such efforts, however, are to no avail. For Paul's weapons not only can demolish strongholds (v. 4) but can also take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (v. 5). The verb aichmalwtizw means "to take a prisoner of war" (Kittel 1964a:195). Paul pictures human thoughts as captured enemy soldiers. Once a city's defenses had been breached and its fortified places destroyed, conquered soldiers were taken in tow as prisoners of war. In the Roman triumphus, the prisoners were paraded through the streets of Rome (see commentary on 2:14-16). Paul's objective, however, is not to put human reasonings and pretensions on public display but to take captive every thought for obedience to Christ (v. 5).

18 What does this mean today? We live at a time when the mind is deemphasized and the needs of the individual elevated so much so that our generation has been dubbed "the me generation." By contrast, Paul affirms that the mind matters. Indeed, it is so crucial that he focuses all his efforts on taking every thought captive and making it obey Christ. Alister McGrath has written that the future of evangelicalism lies in the forging of rigorous theological foundations and intellectual credibility (1995:18). For this to happen, Christ must reign supreme in our minds. So, far from being the spiritual wimp that his critics in Corinth make him out to be, Paul has at his disposal a divine arsenal, which he will use on his next visit to punish every act of disobedience (v. 6). The term ekdikeo means "to take vengeance for" or "punish" something the something in this case being disobedience (parakoe). The noun parakoe (literally, "to hear aside") denotes a stubborn unwillingness to hear what is said and to act on it. The Corinthian intruders are primarily in view here although any lingering dissenters at Corinth are not excluded. Their disobedience is not their unwillingness to bend the knee to Paul's authority but their attempt to subvert the gospel. "I am afraid that... your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ," Paul says (11:3). What the punishment will involve is left unstated. But Paul will be able to carry it out once the Corinthians' obedience is complete. Only with the church as a whole behind him can Paul operate from a position of strength against his critics. But once he has their support, his troops stand at the ready to be deployed (en hetoimo echontes "will be ready"). This is the reason for Paul's tough talk in his letters. By adopting a stern approach, he hopes to avoid acting as the disciplinarian in person not because he is intimidated by the Corinthians but because he loves them. We always make the effort to avoid causing grief or pain to those we love. In many ways it is easier to bear hurt ourselves than to watch the suffering of someone we care about. Paul was no different. The severe letter he wrote to the church caused him great distress and anguish of heart (2:4). But he wrote it so that when he was next with them, he might be a source of joy (2:1-3) and love (2:4), rather than a cause of pain. IVP New Testament Commentaries are made available by the generosity of InterVarsity Press.