Spiritual Warfare in General Epistles

Sermon

Romans 5:12–14 ESV

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

Adam entered world, encoutered Satan, Sinned, sinned entered world, and then death entered world.

Then we all died.

End of story?

Right?

If this was the end of the story, then fear of death would be warranted.

Thats the lie that Satan tells us to keep us in bondage to fear of death.

This would be true if God had not done something.

Hebrews 2:14–15 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Jesus did the unthinkable, as God.

He entered the shattered world that had become enemies of him.

He became a lowly human being. Thats an extreme move.

He entered the world. Like Adam, he encountered the devil.

But unlike Adam, he didnt bring sin, then death into the world.

If this verse is true, then fear of death is not abnormal.

Do you or have you feared death?

There is a sense where that isnt your fault.

The work of the devil and the failure of Adam was to bring you under the slavery of death, and with it, a fear of death.

So what does living under slavery of fear of death look like? (i may ask the crowd)

These are not meant to convict, you act the way you do because of the effects of Satan bringing mankind under slavery to fear of death.

massive efforts to postpone death

great sadness at the death of a loved one

Strong sense of protecting loved ones from hurting and death

fear of going out into the world because something might happen

my grandmother rolls down the windows of her car when going over a bridge

Fear of death is terrible and Satan is all about us living in this slavery.

The spiritual warfare gets even heavier,

Because a fear of dying can begin to rob us of joy and ultimately prevent us from doing missions.

So what do we do?

Trust truth not feelings.

Heres truth:

1. Jesus died and he was ok. He also has promised us that even though we will die but it will be ok.

2. Through death, he destroyed the boss of death.

3. He not only is delivering us from the power and penalty of death, but from the fear of death.

So what difference does this make when it comes to spiritual warfare?

Jesus doesnt call us to seek out persecution and death, no where in scripture does Jesus say, he stop what you are doing and go find a terrorist that will do horrible things to do you so you can prove you arent scared of death.

1. You can address health in a healthy way. You are taking care of the temple of God or helping us serve Jesus better because we feel better, not on some quest to guarantee you’ll live forever.

2. It can give us some rails to hold on to if we are serving Jesus in some dicey places, foreign or domestic.

3. It should effect how we pray for and protect our children.

4. Will open up a new bravery that will allow you to live with no regrets.

5. It will give your faith room to flourish

6. It will give you clear eyes to assess a situation and make a decision based on truth and not fear (should i go there? no its too dangerous. but is it really too dangerous or am i just afraid of death)

7. Fear drives escape in humans. They fear pain so they try to escape pain, etc… Deliverance from any and all fear brings spiritual health. This allows you to be better at killing the sin in your life, the worry in your life, and all the things that easily entangle you.

How can i embrace this deliverance from fear of death and become a strong spiritual warfare?

1. Fill your head and heart with God’s word

Listen to God instead of the world

This book is an huge index of what God says in the bible about Satan and how we can be strong spiritual warriors.

Some verses below

2. Change the way you pray

Start praying scripture. Start praying for faith. Start praying for boldness. Start praying for courage. Instead of praying that things will be simple for your kids or grandkids, pray that God would give them incredible faith.

3. Identify specific areas where this fear is gripping you and begin focusing attention there as you hold on to God’s word and pray through it. Take baby steps, but take steps.

4.

Some verses that come to mind:

1 Corinthians 15:53–58 ESV

53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Hosea 13:14 ESV

14 I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

(verses 6-9)

2 Corinthians 5 ESV

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Jesus Beats the Devil

Hebrews

Christ’s Death Destroys the Devil

Hebrews 2:14–15 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

1 Corinthians 15:53–58 ESV

53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Hosea 13:14 ESV

14 I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

1 John 3:8–12 ESV

8 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. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Definite Doom of Devil and Demons

Demons know truth also

James 2:19 ESV

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Christ’s victory over the spirits

1 Peter 3:18–22 ESV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Fallen angels awaiting final judgement

2 Peter 2:4 ESV

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Chained in deep darkness

Jude 6 ESV

6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

The one who is in the world

1 John 4:1–6 ESV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Christians Beware

Christians must beware of demonic wisdom

James 3:14–16 ESV

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Resist the Devil

James 4:7 ESV

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

Believers must look out for the devil

1 Peter 5:8–9 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

The Control of the evil one

1 John 5:18–19 ESV

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Conquering the evil one

1 John 2:13–14 ESV

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

An angelic argument

Jude ESV

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. 14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. 17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Take note of these false teachers that disobey and pervert grace into sensuality

Because...

Well let me remind you that Lord Jesus

Punished unbelief of Israel even after he delivered them

Punished disobedient angels by chaining them

Punished Sodom and Gomorrah with more than fire, it was eternal fire

The false teachers use “godly dreams” to give their teaching authority and they

do the same things - disobey, dont believe, and defile.

They use the dreams as their authority on sensuality and reject the church’s and Jesus’ authority on such things.

The blaspheme seems to be a denial of the supernatural - they reject the lordship of Jesus because their dreams give them authority and they deny the reality and power of Satan’s army.

They remove the existence of “SIN”

Michael, on the contrary, has much respect for the lordship of Jesus, that he wont even try to convict the devil, he’ll let God do it.

This amounts to trying to deny the image of God in themselves and acting according to animal instincts.

This means, although they think they are wise, they are fools.

Woe because

they are like cain- jewish tradition taught that Cain’s first sin was lust and greed and he led others astray saying there was no judgment of God

they rush into the error of Balaam-his greed led him to give false info for more money.

They perished in the rebellion of Korah-Korah mutinied against Moses and God and God killed him.

These people are

Hidden reefs-a danger to the bottom of the ship-shamelessly invading meetings of the church and the Lord’s supper

Waterless clouds-look the part but have no water - futhermore, they promise a lot but their promises are empty.

Proverbs 25:14 ESV

14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

3. fruitless trees-look like trees should look after the harvest, yet they had no fruit, and are actually dead to the core, even though they look alive.

4. wild waves on the sea - without the Lord, there is no peace

Isaiah 57:20 ESV

20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

5. like wandering stars - as opposed to those that operate according to the order God gave them. There is also possible reference and comparison to the belief that shooting stars were believed to be angels being thrown out of heaven for disobedience to eternal punishment.