FOUNDATIONS; SPIRITUAL WARFARE LESSON #2 Intro. Last week we began our series by talking about the three positions of strength we have in Christ. 1. First, we are seated in heavenly places in Christ a. This is talking about who we are in relation to what God has done b. We rest in the finished work of Christ 2. Secondly, we talked about our Christian walk a. How we live will have a big effect on our winning the war with Satan b. Eph 4:27 nor give place to the devil 3. Thirdly, we are told to take a stand a. Ephesians 6 repeats over and over, stand In whatever form Satan s attacks come we have to take a stand against them We re going to learn some important lessons in recognizing the enemy s attacks and how to deal with them Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV) 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. I. WE NEED TO KNOW 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV) lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 1
He takes advantage of us by his lies; God doesn t care, or He really doesn t have your best interests in mind, or He s disgusted with you, etc. You ll never change. Nobody likes you. He takes advantage of us by his temptations: No one will ever know. Just this one time. Then after we yield to temptation he takes advantage of us by his guilt. And you call yourself a Christian! We can t let ourselves be taken advantage of by the devil Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. A. SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1. The devil isn t sitting around; he s walking about seeking whom he may devour. a. We are told to be sober and vigilant b. This means to be serious-minded, constantly alert 2. One of Satan s greatest advantages over us as believers is his consistency as opposed to our inconsistency a. We have the tendency to fluctuate in our devotion to God One of the greatest safeguards we have as believers is consistency Small disciplines over a long period of time will pay great spiritual dividends Devotions; consistent prayer life, Bible study, going to church (hearing the word of God and fellowshipping with other believers) 3. If Satan is anything he is consistent a. He will wait days, weeks, or even years to trap us b. He just baits us along the way c. Satan is infinitely patient in his warfare against our lives We must be diligent against the enemies persistence Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 2
B. SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. 1. Satan exploits our weaknesses a. The enemy knows us and our weak points Could be doubt, depression, lust, inferiority, anger, worry, fearfulness Deuteronomy 25:17-19 (NKJV) 17 Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget. b. Amalek was one of those tribes in the Bible that was on God s hit list The reason is given in these verses how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary c. This is a picture of how the enemy exploits our weaknesses Satan attacks when we are young and vulnerable; this is true with new believers (it s amazing how many new converts to Christianity are contacted by cults or those preaching false and misleading doctrines) He attacks our weaknesses (this is why we have to always be on guard- we know our own particular areas of weakness to protect) The rest of this class and next week we re going to talk about the areas where he concentrates his attack and how to overcome In any war, strategic areas are heavily fortified in order to keep them from the enemy;. Bridges, roads, airfields, etc. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 3
In our lives there are two strategic areas we have to guard; our minds and our hearts. II. THE BATTLEGROUND OF THE 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) 4 For 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, A. EVERY THOUGHT THAT ENTERS OUR MINDS HAS 1. They are a. Our minds are incredible b. They have the potential to think thoughts that can literally reach out to heaven, or they can drag us down into the depths of hell itself 2. Secondly, thoughts can come a. The reason we are born again is God began to put thoughts in our minds John 6:44 (KJV) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. b. The Father draws us through our thoughts c. After we are born again He continues to put thoughts in our minds 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 (NKJV) 9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 4
d. God reveals things to us through His word and His Spirit speaking in our minds through our thoughts This is why prayer and meditation is so important to us. We need to give God opportunity to speak to us in our thoughts. 3. The third source of thoughts that come to us is a. Satan speaks to us also b. He speaks to us through thoughts Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. c. These fiery darts come in the form of thoughts B. MOST SPIRITUAL WARFARE TAKES PLACE IN 1. While the enemy cannot read our minds, he can definitely thoughts there John 8:44 (NKJV) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Revelation 12:10 (NKJV) Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. a. He lies about who we are ( you re a failure, you re inferior, you re hopeless ) b. He lies about others to us ( they don t like you, etc.) c. He lies about God ( He s forgotten you, given up on you, etc.) All of the enemies lies are planted in our minds through thoughts 2. If we are going to win in spiritual warfare, we have to learn to the thoughts that come from the evil one Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 5
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. God has made provision for a healthy and strong mind Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; The helmet of salvation covers our mind 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. C. GOD WANTS US TO HAVE A 1. The words sound mind used in 2 Tim 1:7 mean literally a. God gives us the ability to think safe Mark 5:15 (NKJV) Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. b. The Greek words for right mind are similar to 2 Tim 1:7 sound mind c. They are from the Greek word so phroneo which means sound mind, sane, self-controlled, able to reason d. It is a compound word from the Greek sozo, which means, to save, and phren which means, the mind e. So it means, to save the mind Jesus name means Savior and part of what He came to save was our minds This is an area of great conflict but we must remember, God has given us provision for a saved mind D. ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN US IS OUR 1. We were created and God has a very powerful imagination Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 6
a. Before anything was created, God saw it in His imagination b. We have a tremendous God given ability to create with our minds This is one of the major areas Satan will attack. He will fill our minds with temptations, worries about our health, finances, or other bad things that could happen. 2. God never intended our imaginations a. He gave us imaginations for faith; to be able to see what is invisible to the natural eye 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) 4 For 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, We have to deal with the thoughts that enter our minds and cast down the ones that are contrary to faith, to God s will, His word, and His thoughts for our lives 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV) while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. God gives us imaginations to be able to see with faith the promises He gives us for a full and fulfilled life PRAYER AND CONFESSION: Jesus, thank You for promising to give me victory over the enemy. I trust You tonight to help me in the battle for my mind. Help me to think right thoughts and to cast down those that are contrary to Your word and will, in Jesus name. Amen. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 7
FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #2 I. WE NEED TO KNOW (OUR ENEMY) A. SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS (CONSTANT) B. SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS (VICIOUS) II. THE BATTLEGROUND OF THE (MIND) A. EVERY THOUGHT THAT ENTERS OUR MINDS HAS (THREE POSSIBLE SOURCES) 1. They are (our thoughts) 2. Secondly, thoughts can come (from God) 3. The third source of thoughts that come to us is (the enemy) B. MOST SPIRITUAL WARFARE TAKES PLACE IN (THE MIND) 1. While the enemy cannot read our minds, he can definitely (plant ) thoughts there 2. If we are going to win in spiritual warfare, we have to learn to (resist) the thoughts that come from the evil one C. GOD WANTS US TO HAVE A (SOUND MIND) 1. The words sound mind used in 2 Tim 1:7 mean literally (safe thinking) D. ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN US IS OUR (IMAGINATION) 1. We were created (in God s image) and God has a very powerful imagination 2. God never intended our imaginations (to be abused) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 8