Angels & Demons

Mark 9:14–29 ESV

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Call back on the series:

Why this matters?

John 6:63 ESV

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

We need the spirit to confess what the spirit helps us become… a mature believer in Christ… and say things like John the Baptist said

John 3:30 ESV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Quick recap of the past 2 weeks; Life in the Spirit….

John 6:63 ESV

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Jesus is revealed to me by the spirit:

John 7:39 ESV

39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

1…The Spirits life. the flesh cannpt produce spiritual life.

2…..The Spirits Work. What does the spirit do, it comes me, reveals Jesus to me and helps me boast in Christ alone….

How do i know its the spirit?

Its not weird

Its Jesus glorifying

Its salvation and grace focused (not works, not shame, not guilt)

Its biblically confirming and aligned

It has both eternal and natural consequences!

Last week…..The Spirits LEAD. Being led by him requires us to STOP, TO LISTEN, TO SURRENDER & OBEY. Every single day - becomes a life thats walking in and being led by the spirit of God

Today: “ANGELS AND DEMONS”

1.THE SPIRITUAL REALM IS REAL

And a battle exists, its going on all around us. There are natural signs: but in the word it is clear.

The spirit realm is real, and we find ourselves on the battlefield of a war thats going on between two kingdoms: Gods and the Adversary’s.

The spirit realm is real.

Mark 9:17 ESV

17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.

Thsi goes beyond what we experience in the natural realm, but we see the signs of it in our cities, our culture, our society … and in each other.

we can see the works of the devil, the enemy all around us

if we have eyes to see.. ears to hear: Life in the Spirit

Since i have to show you that this is real: let me give you a few examples: 1. Hebrews 1:14 — Angels serve God's purposes

“Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”

This is probably one of your strongest verses. Angels are described as ministering spirits sent by God.

Here is a thought for you: There is much more happening in the spiritual realm than what we can see with our physical eyes.

2. Matthew 18:10 — Jesus speaks about angels

“Their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus Himself speaks of angels as real.

3. Luke 1:26–27 — Gabriel is sent by God

God sends the angel Gabriel to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus.

This shows angels acting as God's messengers.

4. Luke 2:13–14 — A multitude of angels

At Jesus' birth, a multitude of the heavenly host appears praising God.

This gives us a glimpse of an unseen heavenly reality suddenly becoming visible.

5. Matthew 4:11 — Angels minister to Jesus

“Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”

This is particularly useful for your spiritual warfare message because the passage contains both Satan and angels.

The spiritual realm includes both rebellion against God and servants of God.

6. Matthew 26:53 — Legions of angels are mentioned

When Jesus is arrested, He says He could appeal to His Father and receive “more than twelve legions of angels.”

Jesus wasn't powerless at His arrest. He willingly surrendered Himself. He knew what was at his dispoal in the spirit realm simply because he was from the spirit realm

Then in the early church:

7. Acts 5:19–20 — An angel opens the prison

Acts 5:19–20 ESV

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

An angel of the Lord opens the prison doors and releases the apostles.

8. Acts 12:6–11 — Peter is rescued by an angel

Acts 12:6–11 ESV

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Peter is imprisoned, chained between guards, and an angel comes and leads him out.

Peter eventually realizes:

“The Lord has sent his angel and rescued me…”

9. Revelation 5:11 — An enormous number of angels

John describes:

“myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands”

of angels surrounding God's throne.

The biblical picture of the spiritual realm is vast.

One especially powerful Old Testament story

Even though you're primarily using New Testament passages, 2 Kings 6:15–17 would be fantastic for this sermon.

Elisha's servant wakes up and sees their city surrounded by an enemy army. He panics.

Elisha says:

“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Then Elisha prays:

“O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.”

God opens the servant's eyes and he sees the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.

That could become a major illustration for your message:

The servant thought they were outnumbered because he was only counting what he could see.

Don't determine what's happening in the spiritual realm solely by what you can see in the natural realm.

And there's an important balance for spiritual warfare: Scripture teaches that angels are real, but it never tells Christians to worship angels or become preoccupied with them (Colossians 2:18; Revelation 22:8–9). Our focus remains on Jesus.

That would fit your series perfectly: the goal isn't to make people more conscious of angels or demons; it's to make them more conscious of Christ and dependent on the Holy Spirit.

ARE YOU DEPENDING ON YOURSELF? Thats no help at all

ARE YOU DEPENDING ON HIM, your in the right place and being led by the right person, the Holy Spirit

2.AUTHORITY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED

this is what you have to know.

the battle lines have been drawn already

This has been ongoing, your just now bcoming aware of it.

we enter in to this battle with the mark of the spirit on us. But sadly many people just wander through wondering why things are happening but no greater sense of what God is doing, which is why we need this series.

There is no question who is in control here: Christ has

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 ESV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Who gives us our divine power? Jesus does.

Jesus demonstrates this in his earthly life:

He resisted temptation

He Cast out demons & healed the sick

.. But He confronted the Authority of the devil.

We need do that in our own lives

British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth reportedly woke up one night to find a terrifying, horned figure sitting in his rocking chair. Instead of panicking, he remarked, "Oh, it's just you," rolled over, and went back to sleep. This famous anecdote highlights his absolute lack of fear and deep-seated spiritual authority. [1, 2, 3]The Famous Encounter

The Noise: Wigglesworth woke up in the middle of the night to a disturbance in his home.

The Sighting: He walked out and saw a dark, horned entity sitting and rocking in his chair.

The Reaction: Rather than showing fear, he dismissed the devil with complete disdain and went right back to sleep

3.SPIRITUAL BATTLES REQUIRE SPIRITUAL WEAPONS

Notice Jesus response here

He doesnt freak out about the possession, or the sin in the family — hes more inteersted in something else”

Mark 9:21 ESV

21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

Isnt it the kindness of God, the compassion of our Lord to not focus on the difficulty - but how awful it is that this poor child has had to put up with that since he was little.

thats striking: gods kindness.

So let me ask you

How long are you going to put up with your attack? how long will you

(((**** now quick caveat: some people are not under spiritial attack

some things are just practical answers: thats wisdom

Your sick possibly because you just look after yourslef.

your not being attacked in your finances you just dont tithe and live below your means.

You keep getting burntout because your schedules overloaded (and you know it) and everyone else around you suffers bc you wont take your responsibility serioulsy.

thats not a spiritual attack: thats just practical wisdom

(shopping list: practical ways to keep the enemy at bay)

Dont Scroll all day - get away from the screens

Tithe & Be generous - follow a budget.

Dont do overloaded schedules (priortize family time)

Rest one day per week (rest is faith in God work is faith in you)

Always do a bible plan (we have one in the app do it every day)

Take care of yourself (your body is a temple of holy spirit)

but beyond that spiritial weapons need be used in the spiritual battle.

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 ESV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Ephesians 6:13–18 ESV

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

4.THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD

(not us)

We join him in his victory, not ours.

We are more than conquerosrs because

Romans 8:36–38 ESV

36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.