Monday, December 10, 2007
DISCIPLESHIP and Spiritual Warfare
A. BEWARE OF YOUR ENEMY
1. Satan is a Supernatural Being (Ezekiel 28:12-17)
“Son of man, lament for the king of Tyre and say to him: This is what the Lord God says: You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone covered you: carnelian, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold; they were prepared on the day you were created. 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub, for I had appointed you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you. 16 Through the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I expelled you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and banished you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud because of your beauty; For the sake of your splendour you corrupted your wisdom. So I threw you down to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.
a. He was Created in perfection (12-14)
b. He was Corrupted in pride (15-17)
c. He Continues in power (Eph. 2:2) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
2. Satan has a Sinister Plan (Ezekiel 28:18).
You profaned your sanctuaries by the magnitude of your iniquities in your dishonest trade. So I sent out fire from within you, and it consumed you.I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of everyone watching you.
His plan is characterized by his personal titles:
He is called Satan, the devil, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial, the evil one, the tempter, the prince of this world, the accuser of the brethren, the Serpent, the old Dragon, an angel of light, and the father of lies.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8
“Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11
3. Satan is a clever Schemer (Eph. 6:11)
a. He uses Frontal attacks.
b. He uses Subtle attacks.
4. Satan is a Subdued Foe (Ezekiel 28:18b-19)
“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” I John 3:8
“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.” John 12:31
“Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers, and authorities, he made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Col. 2:14-15
1. He is limited in Space
2. He is limited in Strength
3. He is limited in Significance
“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world”. (I Jn. 4:4)
B. Be Attuned To You Energy
I Must Take An Intentional Stand Against The Enemy.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil…Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-11, 13
1.I Must Have An Attitude Of Dependency .
“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.”
“You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.” I Samuel 17:45
“But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you.’” Jude 9
I have His Authority .. if under my own authority I am a terrorist
I have His ability. Any army is supplied.
I have an Agenda. We are fighting for freedom and liberty. We are fighting from freedom!
2. I Must Have A Sense of Urgency
“Put on…” (vs. 11)
“Take up…” (vs. 13)
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” I Peter 5:
C. BE ATTIRED IN YOUR EQUIPMENT
1. I Must Get Dressed Completely
“Put on the full armor of God…” (vs. 11)
“Take up the full armor of God…” (vs. 13)
Great knowledge, but little prayer.
Or great faith but little knowledge of the word.
Or lack of integrity and righteousness
Fellow who ran back from a football fight to get his helmet.
2. I Must Stand My Ground Steadfastly
“that you may be able to stand firm…” (vs. 11)
“having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm…” (vrs. 13-14)
Not a defensive move. It is an offensive manoeuvre. An army has just taken a town or a high point. Then they set up that as the base of operation and from then on they protect that ground so that they can advance on the enemy.
You are fighting off the enemy to maintain the high ground that ash been obtained for you by the Lord Jesus Christ. You were a child of darkness now you are in the light. You were spiritually dead now you are alive. You were under wrath of God now you are in grace. When the enemy comes with discouragement I can stand true in rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
I can keep what has been won.
“Therefore, by beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” I Cor. 15:58
• Unchangeable in my Convictions True to the convictions of the Word of God.
• Unshakeable in my Commitment
• Unstoppable in my Service
