Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

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.

1. First Recorded Battle: Gen 14:1-20.

2. Spiritual Warfare = asymmetric warfare

a conflict in which the combatants are not equal in number or strength.

The conflict is all around us.

3. Satan rarely attacks us directly.

a. work through individuals

1 John 3:8 ESV

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

to keep you from becoming a christian

use others to weaken your faith

use others to decrease your effectiveness for God.

4. Satan’s purpose:

1. Desires to lead us into the domain of darkness: Col 1:13 “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,”

2. Motivation; Satan is full of hate. 1 Pet 5:8-9 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

3. Methods used by Satan. Jn 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

The results of following satan is death. Rom 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

There are instances, in the scriptures where satan will attack directly.

Job 1:6-12.

Lk 4:38-41.

Matt 4:24.

Matt 8.

Lk 22:31.

5. Satan can not possess us against our will (James 4:7

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

but he can apply considerable pressure indirectly.

Questions:

Why do you think people continue to choose satan over Jesus, even when they recognize who and what satan is?

What are some specific ways Satan indirectly attacks us through the attractiveness of the world and how can we overcome them?

How can Satan’s multi-level attack plan be affected by his indirect attacks?

Have you ever felt at some time in your life that you might have been under the influence of Satan? How did you lessen or removed his influence?

Read Romans7:15-24. How does this describe the spiritual warfare in which Paul was engaged?