The Invisible War! Part

Transcription

1 1 The Invisible War! Part The Spiritual War A Warriors Mentality! 2 Cor 10:1-18 1Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-- who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 7Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed-- 9lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10"For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." 11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present. 12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us-- a sphere which especially includes you. 14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment. 17But "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord." 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. (NKJ) There is a cosmic, spiritual war raging. It involves satanic, demonic, invisible forces who are hell bent on thwarting the purposes of God in every way possible (Dan 10:10 14; Rev 16:13 16). In doing this they extend Satan s activity, and the very number of demons engaged as emissaries of Satan is what makes Satan seem to be omnipresent, though he is not. In brief, demons can inflict diseases (Mt 9:33; Lk 13:11,16), they can possess animals (Mk 5:13) and to turn many away from the faithful doctrine given by the Spirit through the Apostles, they promote false doctrine (1 Ti 4:1). Sometimes God uses demons in carrying out His plans (1 Sa 16:14; 2 Co 12:7). Demons also seem to be concerned with the affairs of nations. Daniel 10:13 speaks of the prince of the kingdom of Persia who is also a spirit being which resisted the coming of an angel to bring Daniel a message. That prince was himself resisted by Michael the archangel, which means that he must have been a very powerful demon. We see this same suggestion in the evil power behind Babylon and Tyre (Is 14, Eze 28), and the book of Revelation often gives the idea of evil spirit beings deceiving the nations (Rev 16:13 14). 1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (NKJV)

2 2 Many have been persuaded by demonic teachings that there is no necessity for war nor to have a warrior mindset! Yes we are in His family and called sons, yes we are servants of the King. Some have even stepped into discipleship and friendship, but war seems foreign and far removed as satan has dispatched his demons to seduce, teach error and produce demonic doctrine. In order to understand this subject of battle in the third sphere we have been teaching on, lets lay a foundation for the final part of this series. We need to know and understand that God is the Ultimate Warrior. In the diversities of His expression to mankind and on behalf of mankind, one of the many expressions and manifestations of God is that He is the ultimate warrior! In the light of Paul s understanding regards the nature of the devil and his destructive bent, this should be easy to understand. Every saint and five fold minister should be first a warrior and then a minister!! Exodus 15:3(a) The Lord is a Man of war In fact one of Gods earliest revelations of Himself, was that He is the Lord of Hosts. The word Hosts refers to military forces. Isa 47:4 As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel. (NKJ) As a result of this earlier revelation of God to man, and their understanding of their enemy, we can understand why the early church was so militant. They viewed themselves as an army. The reason was, that if they were to be obedient to the Great Commission, to go forth and disciple the nations and baptize them, they needed to have a militaristic approach and strategy. They had to be disciplined, organized, consistent and committed. They needed to know how to war in the spirit. 2 Cor 10:1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-- who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. In our text here today, we see an amazing introduction by Paul of himself prior to declaring that the warfare he fights is not in the flesh realm! Paul begins to describe himself; using terminology like lowly, base. The Greek words used here are descriptive of someone who is downcast or extremely humble. These words describe somebody who has a very low self opinion of themselves and has been terribly humiliated. This word can also be translated as ugly, depressed, something shameful, or something to be embarrassed about. What Paul is saying to the Corinthian church is the following: You all know about me and know that I am not much to look at, everybody knows I am ugly, I look downcast, beat up, and I am even an embarrassment to some. By today s standards in the church, Paul s ministry would most probably not have been accepted by most churches in the First World countries. Very few ministers would have had Paul on their pulpits. The reason why he describes himself in such a way and reminds them of the times he was in their midst bodily is because there are some upcoming young hotshot ministers desiring popularity, recognition and placement. They were having a real problem trying to convince many in the church of their importance and powerful ministries.

3 The reason for their difficulties was the reality that Paul s ministry was very popular and well established. In order for them to become popular they needed to get Paul out of the picture and out of the minds of the people. As a result they began to attack Paul in different ways. Their strategies were to discredit Paul and they were desperate to find some fault with him. They attacked his doctrine, financial integrity and credibility, but were unable to make it all stick. The one avenue left was to attack his appearance. Paul had been martyred in the flesh and looked really grotesque; as a result they began to spread rumors as follows: They began to sow questions as to how such an insignificant, ugly, downcast individual could have ever written such powerful letters. They began to ask how any one could ever follow or even listen to a man that looks like that. They were trying to get the church to operate in the power of observation! They were trying to do just what the enemy tries to get us to do so that God s Kingdom cannot come. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is not made manifest when we operate by the power of observation. The religious spirit always judges according to the externals; however God does not operate like that at all. He wants us to be able to see by the Spirit. (See our series on spiritual perception) 1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (NKJ) Luke 11: And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. 39But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. 40"Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? (NKJ) 2 Cor 10: Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10"For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present. (NKJ) Here we discover exactly what doubt they were trying to sow as well as what part of his body they had begun to attack!! The outward appearance prosopon-1) the face a) the front of the human head b) countenance, look; the face so far forth as it is the organ of sight, and by it various movements and changes c) the index of the inward thoughts and feelings d) the appearance one presents by his wealth or property, his rank or low condition 1) outward circumstances, external condition 2) used in expressions which denote to regard the person in one's judgment and treatment of men 3) the outward appearance of inanimate things; The part round the eye, the face. (Vines expository dictionary). They were attacking the features of Paul s face. 2 Corinthians 10:10 For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. This verse reveals to us that that the rumors and attacks are reaching his ears. Paul s response is basically: So you are judging my ministry, the power that I operate in, and even my credibility by the grotesqueness of my face? Paul is angry and upset that they judge his ministry and Gods power by the flesh. Even though there really was a lot wrong with Paul s flesh. His flesh had been massacred for Jesus. 3

4 4 2 Cor 11: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they ministers of Christ?-- I speak as a fool-- I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-- 28besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. (NKJ) Not only was Paul s flesh massacred, but he was continuously treated with contempt. (1 Cor 4:9-21) His response to their attack is revealed in the following verse! 2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. Paul s response is clearly expressed in this verse. The word for walk is important for us to study if we are to be able to fully understand Paul s response. The Greek words for this word walk are a compound of two Greek words. i.) Peri This Greek word means around ii) Pataeo This Greek word means to walk in a pattern When you put these two words together it means to do something habitually, or by pattern, to walk in a circle, to walk in a particular area over and over and over. What Paul is saying here is that: Nearly everything I do, I do in the flesh, I eat in the flesh, I sleep in the flesh, I think in the flesh, I play in the flesh, I have relationships in the flesh. I am locked in the flesh realm. But There is one thing I do not do in the flesh, I do not war in the flesh realm. War This word that Paul uses is most probably one of the most militant words in the New Testament. This phrase is more brutal than any other phrase used in the whole of the New Testament. This is a very ancient and old word in the Greek It conveys three different ideas: 1) It conveyed the attitude of a murderer. It describes a person with murderous intent. It describes someone who loves bloodshed. One man has said that this word describes the attitude of a man who cuts with a razor and takes great delight in watching the blood flow from the wounds. 2) It conveys the attitude of a hit first, bully mentality. It suggests the mindset of someone who is not going to wait for the devil to strike first. Paul is suggesting if anyone is going to get hit it is not him, it will be the devil. 3) It describes a soldier of the first order. A risk taker, the very best kind of soldier. A soldier who steps out ahead of everybody while on the front-line and wants to make contact with the enemy before anybody else, confronting him eyeball to eyeball.

5 To paraphrase Paul s response to those that would discredit him I might be small, ugly, massacred in the body, but in the spirit you better watch out, because I am a giant in the Spirit. It is not how big you are in the natural, but how big you are in the Spirit. You don t have to be Mr. Hollywood, or James Bond to be big in the Spirit. God is not looking for that which is impressive according to the flesh, but He is looking for a spirit yielded to God. Paul could not depend on his beaten up little body. Many times he could not even depend on his mind, because he was so weary. He had to go beyond the physical reality and move into the dimension of the Spirit if he was to have Godly success. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds In verse number 4 Paul speaks about weapons. This weaponry that we have available to us is for brutal war not to be fought in the physical reality, but in the spiritual. Spiritual weaponry is obviously given for war, so that we might wage a warfare. The word warfare in this verse comes from the Greek word stratos. This is where we get the word strategy from. Spiritual War can never be affectively waged without a divine strategy. Paul goes on to tell us that these weapons of war are mighty Dunamis This word in the Greek refers to dynamite. In other words our weapons for this warfare have explosive power in the spiritual reality. Dynamite however is not powerful or explosive unless used. If you have dynamite at home and it has been lying around for twenty years this does not mean that you have power in your house. It simply means you have the potential for explosive power in your house. Many Christians make this mistake concerning spiritual weaponry. They think they have power just because they have weapons. Not so!!! Your spiritual weaponry does not become explosive until you pick them up and use them. Just like dynamite is not explosive until you use it. You can have weapons and polish them, parade them, talk about them, but until you pick them up and go into battle it remains all talk and no action. Apostolic Team Ministry - Jesus Has Special Force Units Around The World On A Mission! In Greek, the word for apostle is "apostolos"; it refers to one who is sent; an ambassador, a delegate, a special messenger; a commanding officer or one who is commissioned by a higher authority.in the New Testament, this word is used as a verb over two hundred times; it appears less times as a noun. The verb is three times more common than the noun which means that it refers more to an activity than a title. An "apostello" or one who is sent is what you are, not what you have. To be an apostle is more than having a title or office; it is an activity or function you live for. For instance, an individual who claims to be a licensed chauffer but does not drive is someone with a title but does not practice his role. What is the background of the verb "apostolos or apostello "? The word apostello is composed of two parts: "apo" which means one and "stello" which means to send. Literally, this word is defined as "one who is sent" or to order (someone) to go to an appointed place. This verb was used by Jesus to describe the 12 men He chose to train. When they were ready, He sent them as apostles. 5

6 The background of the word "apostolos" or one who is sent goes back to the days of Alexander the Great; he was the one who started using this word. History books teach that Alexander the Great-King of Macedonia, 350 years before Christ-would send a messenger on behalf of his kingdom or empire to accomplish a specific mission; this was his most popular method used to conquer other nations. The commander of this special force was called an "apostolos"; the king would give him the power and authority to establish the Greek empire wherever he was sent. This was called an apostolic mission, and the soldiers were referred to as the apostolic team. This team would arrive at the appointed place, fight against the enemy, destroy it, and finally establish a base of operation to govern the nation in the name of Alexander the Great. The word "apostolos" describes the leader of a special group of individuals who were sent with the authority and specific purpose of conquering a territory for the king, and establish his kingdom. In other words, this is a strictly military term. This elite force was composed by a small group of individuals who were well trained and equipped for war; they were the first to take over a small portion of the enemy's territory; the first to lead the way and establish the kingdom for Alexander the Great. An elite force is a minority group of people who meet the requirements and special unique skills and characteristics within their field of service. In the United States armed forces, there are special elite forces like the Rangers-elite troops specialized in attack and destroy missions. These forces are trained to conquer and destroy the most difficult objectives either by land, air, or sea anywhere in the world and at any time. Rangers work in teams of twelve; these men establish a special friendship of loyalty and trust for life. They are trained to handle all types of situations-each knowing each other's specialty. To them, the mission is a priority and nothing distracts them from their objective. They are so skilled that two rangers trained as sharp-shooters can hold captive an entire company of two hundred men. Two fundamental values for these soldiers are: the mission and taking care of the other team members' life; hence, the reason why they are taught not to leave a man behind. If a ranger is wounded on a mission and is unable to continue, he must stay put, hide, and wait until the rest of the team can return safely to find him. However, if the enemy is nearby, he must fight back the enemy and give up his life if necessary to protect the rest of the team. His comrades will mark the place on the map where he was last seen so they can return later to collect his body. Their logo is: no man, dead or alive, is left behind on enemy territory. The missions of this elite group include the search and rescue of people who are under attack, oppression; tortured, or held against their will. Does not this sound the same as the mission that Jesus left the church? The church should have the same attitude in its daily walk with Christ, as a ranger has on a regular workday. The apostolic team is like a team of rangers; it has a specific mission; it carries special weapons; it is trained to take on missions that ordinary men are unable or untrained to handle, and its members must be loyal and committed one to the other. The church should learn from the rangers to live in constant training. Rangers learn to fight, fast, and deal with any type of situation and pain like no other men can; this should be the attitude of the body of Christ. By the time Jesus trained and taught His disciples-his elite force-the word 'apostle' and the apostolic idea had already been established. Jesus took the first twelve, and after He called and trained them for war against the enemy, He gave them weapons of warfare and rules to live by with the other disciples; after giving them strategies for war, He commissioned them to be apostles. Christ s mission was to announce and establish the Kingdom of God throughout the world. Just as Jesus was sent, He sends us to do the same thing He did. In other words, every believer has an apostolic mission to fulfill. This, however, does not mean that every believer is an apostle. 6