Released to Engage the Darkness

Our theme for 2024 is “Possessing the Land”

Last year I preached a series on 1 Corinthians entitled “The Spirit-filled church.

It was about this church in the Gentile world living at the intersection of spiritual reality and one of the darkest places on earth.

A year later, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church again.

Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthian church is to not just be filled with the Spirit, but to release the Spirit.

In this series we learn that we carry the Presence of God with us to change the atmosphere wherever we go.

We began by saying that we are released to bring the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Then we heard that we are released to shine - brighter, bolder and like the stars - forever.

Then we said that Paul calls us Ambassadors - citizens of heaven but living in and representing spiritual reality in the world.

After that, we built upon the idea of representing God - but this time as His sons and daughters.

A few weeks ago we said that we are releasing the Spirit and showing who God is by being generous - and generosity is not just about giving money; it is a generosity of spirit that is marked by love and genuine concern.

What other kinds of things are we releasing as representatives of Christ?

We are not just releasing God’s goodness, radiance and love - we are specifically countering the darkness that is in the world through sin and rebellion.

Karie and I just returned from a conference in Africa. Those gathered were all professionals in caring for Christian workers all over the world. Many of them have clinical degrees in counseling, psychology or even psychiatry. But there were also people who are skilled in spiritual direction, inner healing and other spiritual disciplines. There was much discussion about how we need both the Western rational disciplines and the more spiritual disciplines preferred by most of the majority world.

The African community was hosting our gathering. They begin with prayer and turn to medicine or other therapies when prayer doesn’t seem to work. We tend to begin with therapy and medicine and turn to prayer when that doesn’t work. Which do you think is more successful?

You can't tell an African believer that spiritual warfare isn’t real. They are raised with an awareness of spiritual reality. Without Christ, that reality makes them afraid. With Christ, they are empowered to overcome the darkness and shine the light of Christ. The church in Africa and other parts of the world is teaching our so-called “experts” a thing or two.

We are in a spiritual battle.

It is important that we also know our limits.

And it is also essential that we give it our all.

Engaging in warfare

I think most everyone in this church is familiar with the term “spiritual warfare” - but there may be people watching online who are not.

Ephesians 6:12 NLT

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

This does not mean we are hostile toward people.

On the contrary, we recognize that there are other forces at work that are manipulating people to do evil things.

We focus our aggression on those forces - that is our warfare.

Our battles are spiritual.

2 Corinthians 10:1–3 ESV

1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

Paul is essentially saying the same thing here that he said to the Ephesians - we are dealing, not just with people, but with spiritual realities.

What drives people to do terrible things?

Of course, they have a choice in how they behave.

But what if they don’t know that they have a choice?

What if they are listening to voices in their head that they think are their own thoughts?

What if those voices are telling them to do things they may not really want to do?

Yes, they need to get help! Exactly!

But what if those voices are not so different from their own thoughts.

What if they have a problem with anger and then the voices come and start suggesting what they might do with that anger?

Or what if they started out just hurt, but the enemy has convinced them that everyone is against them?

I have found that demonic forces don’t take over unless you give them room.

Ephesians 4:27 NLT

27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

They need an access point - something that gives them permission to be there.

Like a person who starts to sin and then the devil comes and convinces them to lie or to sin more to cover for that sin.

Or they feel guilt or shame and the enemy leads them down the path of addiction to mask their pain.

Or maybe it begins with an offense, but when we don’t forgive, the enemy fuels our anger with bitterness and holds us captive to our pain.

Or a spirit of anger is really helping us to protect against our own feelings of shame and vulnerability.

These are normal human experiences, but they are also spiritual battles.

So what can we do?

Our battles are spiritual but...

Our weapons are powerful.

2 Corinthians 10:4–7 ESV

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.

Our weapons are powerful because they are sourced from who we are in Christ.

You belong to God through Christ.

You have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (NLT)

16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Our minds are being renewed to be like that of Christ.

“God, how do you see this person or this situation?”

“What would Jesus do?”

“God, give me wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you.”

We are taking our thoughts captive when they do not conform to what we know we are becoming in Christ.

How do you take a thought captive?

First, don’t let it out of your mouth!

Second, you need to question that thought to see where it comes from?

What is the source of this thought? - there can me multiple sources.

Is it from God? - then is should be consistent with his character.

Is it from the devil? - then how did the devil get inside my head?

Is it my own fear or insecurity? - who or what am I afraid of?

Let’s round up those stray thoughts and bring them into alignment with who we are in Christ.

Remember that you are a spiritual being and begin to act like it.

Do you want to have more spiritual power?

Then take control of your own thoughts.

Satan isn’t intimidated by you if you can’t even control yourself.

But when you have kicked him out of your own mind and out of your own thoughts, then he knows you mean business.

Spiritual power is found in submission to God.

Our authority is in Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:8–12 ESV

8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

The world functions on the basis of authority.

In many parts of the world this is evident.

You can see that people know who is the most important person in the room and they follow their lead.

In America, we tend to act like everyone is equal.

Leaders are supposed to earn people’s trust.

But we still have lines of authority - someone has the last word.

Just try not paying your taxes (or your speeding tickets) and you will find out that we still have lines of authority.

Some people try to get authority by acting like they are the most important person in the room.

They might even fool people into thinking that they are some kind of “big shot”.

But when their is a problem, that’s when you find out who the real leaders are.

John 10:11–13 NLT

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

“Big shots” like to look important, but when their is a problem, they shift the blame or they run away.

People with godly authority bring the presence of God into the situation.

They demonstrate godly principles.

They conduct themselves with godly character.

And they bring the peace of God through their demeanor.

Paul needs to educate these people about what to look for in a leader.

They are used to following arrogant, self-promoting “big shots.”

Paul is not like that, and they almost mistake it for weakness.

Except that Paul tells them that if they think he is being soft, it is because he is being merciful as God is merciful.

Knowing your limits

So if we as believers have the power and the authority to do spiritual battle, why don’t we just eradicate all of the forces of the enemy.

It’s not that simple - remember Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares.

Matthew 13:28–29 CEV

28 “An enemy did this,” he replied. His servants then asked, “Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?” 29 “No!” he answered. “You might also pull up the wheat.

Engaging in spiritual warfare is dangerous, just like in natural warfare.

There are casualties - and not always the ones that you intended.

You may pray for someone for deliverance from an evil spirit and they misunderstand you as saying that they are evil.

You may pray against some evil plan or institution, and people misinterpret you statements as being bigotry or racism.

That is not to mention the fact that I have seen people who pray against a spirit of division or greed infected with the very same spirit that they are praying against, because of their own vulnerability.

Spiritual warfare is never to be taken lightly.

But while we should not take it lightly, we should not avoid it when God call us to engage the enemy.

The point is that we don’t presume to engage the enemy, we must always and only do so out of obedience to God.

Each of us has an assignment.

2 Corinthians 10:13–18 ESV

13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

There is a repeated word here that is not so evident in English - it is the Greek word metron - which means measurement or limit.

The ESV translates it as “limits” or “area of influence”.

Larry Krieder does a teaching on “fields of ministry” which is part of the Dove Leadership School and is an excellent resource.

The basic idea is that each us needs to know what our field of ministry is; what God has given us the calling and the grace to do.

We should presume to tell another person how to do their job or wander outside of the sphere of influence that God has given us.

When Karie and I minister in other countries, Kenya for example.

We are only there because we are invited.

We submit to our hosts, because they know the context - we don’t always know how what we are saying or doing is being interpreted.

And we respect the fact that we will be leaving and they will have to either clean up after us or steward the fruit of the ministry that has taken place.

Each of us operates in greater power and authority when we stick to the assignment that is given to us by God.

A soldier has authority because they are under orders.

If a group of soldiers goes on an unauthorized mission - that may be cool in the movies, but in real life that would be a disaster.

And you can expect a court martial and a dishonorable discharge.

God’s army is the same way - we don’t need anyone going rogue.

That is not honoring to God.

We are qualified for our calling.

2 Corinthians 11:1–6 ESV

1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

Commentators will point out that Paul is defending his own ministry and his claim to apostleship.

I think that he is defending himself, but he is also using it as a lesson for the Corinthians that it is Christ who qualifies them.

What is the different gospel or the different spirit that they are not to receive?

Traditionally we have viewed these verses as meaning that we need to have right doctrine.

That may be an implication of these verses, but that is not what it means in context.

Paul wants them and us to know that whatever we do for Christ is rooted in who we are in Christ.

That is the Gospel that should never change - I am powerful and effective as a minister for Christ because i am rooted and grounded in Him.

It’s not about me - it never was - and it never will be.

It is only by His grace that we are saved and it is by grace that we do what we do.

We have grace for the task that God gives us.

2 Corinthians 11:7–15 ESV

7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Here is how you can tell if someone is a real minister of Christ or a real follower of Christ - they serve the way that Jesus did.

Jesus was humble- he didn’t put himself above people.

Jesus ministered out of obedience to God, not for financial gain.

Jesus ministered out of love and genuine compassion.

The way of the world is self- preservation and self-promotion.

The way of Christ is to lay your life down and let God raise you up.

That is much harder to do.

It is going to take all that you’ve got.

Giving your all

Paul’s greatest defense of his own ministry is that he has not held back in terms of what he is willing to do for the sake of the gospel.

He is 100 percent devoted to Christ and he has demonstrated it over and over again.

The early church used the same standard to determine who were true followers of Jesus.

They considered it a privilege to suffer and even die for Christ.

I’m not saying that we should go back to that.

But it is true that when the church was no longer persecuted it became more difficult to discern the corrupt elements within the church.

So how can we devote ourselves fully to Christ?

Get over yourself.

2 Corinthians 11:16–22 ESV

16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.

Paul is resorting to a bit of sarcasm here - he calls it “foolishness.”

First of all, he points out that the Corinthians are allowing themselves to be intimidated and manipulated by people who are claiming some level of superiority.

Paul says are calling him “weak” because he refuses to dominate or manipulate them.

His sarcasm is a way of saying, “what is wrong with this picture?’

As for the things that they boast about - Paul points out that he could say the same things - except he doesn’t.

What makes people boast?

Isn’t it insecurity?

Nobody is going to tell you that they are insecure.

Instead, they will tell you all of the reasons why they are not insecure.

The more people go on about themselves, the more insecure they really are.

You can bet on it.

Don’t be like that - be like Paul.

Cultivate resilience.

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 ESV

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Do you still want to be like Paul?

We see people being celebrated for their successes and their contributions to the church or to society, but we are rarely ever made aware of what it took to get there.

Paul is being underestimated by some in Corinth,so he fills them in on the details.

Notice that everyone else brags about their honors; Paul brags about his suffering.

For Paul, that is the real proof of his character and his ministry.

Isn’t the proof of character the fruit of our lives?

John 15:16 CEV

16 You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name.

The proof is not just fruit, but lasting fruit.

It’s fruit that withstands the test of time and endurance.

This isn’t “fake it til you make it” this is “I’m in it to win it.

Anybody can give a good show in the short term, but will it last for the long term?

The key to resilience is perspective.

If you have the bigger picture in mind, it makes it possible to get through the obstacles.

You have to know that you are serving a purpose much bigger than yourself.

It’s worth the trouble.

It’s even worth suffering for.

It would even be worth dying for.

It doesn’t matter what you have to endure or even how you feel.

Whatever it takes; it is worth it!

Find strength in weakness.

2 Corinthians 11:29–33 ESV

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

Many people come to Christ because of God’s promises.

They believe that following Jesus will give them a better life, and it will,but maybe not the way they think it will.

Some people fall away when persecution comes, thinking “this isn’t what I signed up for.

Like the soldier who writes home and tells his mother that he can’t believe people are being shot at.

This is war and it’s often not pretty.

But like with the soldier, adversity can also build courage.

Why do you think they are so hard on you in boot camp?

They want you to come to the end of yourself and find the strength that you didn’t know you had.

Paul found that strength in Jesus Christ and through suffering.

That is why he boast about His weakness, because he is really bragging about the power of God to sustain him.

Like “Uncle Sam” God is looking for a few good men & women.

He’s not necessarily looking for the best - He will make you into what he needs you to be.

He just needs people who are willing.

Who are honest about their weakness, but able to follow orders.

And most of all, He want people who will stick with it and He releases his church to engage the darkness.

Questions for reflection:

Can you discern when you are in a spiritual battle? When you are bombarded, are you able to turn your thoughts into prayers that are weapons? Can you stand in your authority in Christ?

Do you know your assignment? What area of influence has God called you to and given you grace for? Are you focusing your energy and attention on the right battles?

Are you committed to fighting through to victory? Or does you commitment waver depending on how things are going? Consider what you signed up for. Was it for you, or is it all about Him?