Warriors

Captivating image or illustration that sets up the subject well

Why is this message important? Why should the audience listen to you at all?

What are we talking about

Where are we going? What are the main points?

Where are we in the scriptures

We are in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 this morning, and

What needs to be setup?

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

Now I, Paul, myself,

appeal to you (

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

I who am humble (

Online warrior is nothing new – Paul was bolder from a distance than he was in person too.

But not because he couldn’t be bold in person. Verse 2:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

2 I beg you

that

“Living according to the flesh” – 

Point #1

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

3 For although

What does it mean? They say we live according to the flesh, and in some sense they are right – we do live in the flesh. We are flesh and blood. We aren’t divine – we don’t claim to be anything more than physical. But, we are soldiers in a war that is decidedly not physical. Ephesians 6:10–15 “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

Supporting idea and scripture

Supporting idea and scripture

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Why is it important?

Colossians 2:8 “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.”

Ephesians 2:1–4 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,”

Romans 8:5–9 “For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.”

What should we do?

If our war isn’t physical, but spiritual, we’d better have an understanding

Supporting idea and scripture

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Point #2

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

4 since the weapons (

Weapons: Ephesians 6:16–18 “In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”

Sword of the Spirit (word of God)

The word used as a sword without the Spirit is a weapon of the flesh???

The word used as a sword with the Spirit is a weapon of power

Prayer in the Spirit (every prayer and request)

Alertness (perseverance and intercession)

What does it mean?

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Why is it important?

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What should we do?

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Point #3

What do these weapons accomplish? The demolition of strongholds.

What are the strongholds that we demolish?

We demolish

arguments (conclusions arrived at by reason)

every proud thing (exalted object - loftiness, haughtiness, (self-)exaltation, including concrete as well as abstract, whatever is lofty) that is raised up (held up) against the knowledge (perception, learning, reasoning) of God, John 17:3 “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.” 1 John 4:8 “The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

We take [captive] (assume power over) every thought (what we’re thinking about) captive to obey (conform to) Christ.

We are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

What does it mean?

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Why is it important?

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What should we do?

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Transition to Summary

Summary of the 3 points

GIVE THEM JESUS!!!!!!

Close with an illustration or story

Invitation to prayer

7 Look at what is obvious. (our authority) If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, (Galatians 5:24 “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” ) let him remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we. 8 For if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame. 9 I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. 10 For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Let such a person consider this: What we are in our letters, when we are absent, we will also be in our actions when we are present. 12 For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We are not boasting beyond measure about other people’s labors. On the contrary, we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel to the regions beyond you without boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry. 17 So let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord., 18 For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends. PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES