Sermon Tone Analysis

Know Thy Enemy

It is important that we understand that this world is a battleground not a playground.

We may face physical battles in the name of God but there are spiritual battles too that are waging war daily.

Author, Sun Tzu, in his book, Art of War says:

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Our enemy is much stronger than we are, outside of the Lord and sooner or later each Christian realizes the battles that we face.

The World, The flesh and the devil

The world - those things that are around us that are opposed to God, or maybe look at it as Society apart from God or as John put it.

The flesh: our old nature, who we used to be before Christ.

Rom8:6

(slide)As a Battle ready Christian we need to remember

(slide) Christ overcame the world (Jn16:33; Gal6:14)

(slide) He has victory over flesh (Rom6:1-6; Gal2:20)

(slide) And, has defeated Satan (Eph1:19-23)

The battle we fight today is not for victory it is from victory! Paul is reminding the Ephesians to walk in victory and reminds them who their adversaries are and the battle gear that God has provided them.

Today we are looking at the battle ready Christian, this is one who knows who their enemy is, why they are, so you can like Sun Tzu said “if you know you enemy and yourself you need not fear the result.”

We should never be caught off guard regarding our enemies God tells us much in the scripture.

So let’s get into this today for you have been enlisted in the Lord’s Army and basic training is over this is now advanced infantry training (though I wish it was the Lord’s Marine Corp).

I.Know thy Enemy

Eph6:10

Our enemy has many different names in the scripture

The Accuser (Rev12:7-11) In that passage you can see called Devil and Satan too

He is the serpent, dragon (Gen3:1; Rev12:7-11)

In that passage you can see called Devil and Satan too

He is the tempter (Mt4:3)

Father of lies (Jn8:44)

Like a lion (1Pt5:8)

Disguised as an Angel light (2Cor11:13-15)

And god of this age (2Cor4:4)

I should give one or two of the passages I mentioned here.

2Cor

This passage introduces us to some of his helpers, his servants

Satan, the deceive, the devil, father of lies, also known as Lucifer (referenced in Isa14:12-15) is a created being so is limited in knowledge and activity.

Unlike God he cannot be everywhere and is not all knowing so he needs help to try to wage war against the righteous ones.

(slide) Satan’s Helpers (v.12)

(slide) rulers, powers

(slide) world forces of darkness

(slide) spiritual forces of wickedness

How many are there?

John says 1/3 of the angels fell

John states 1/3 of the angels fell (

Daniel says there are forces, evil angels, that wage war for control with God’s angels - you can look at Dan10:13-20 but in short Gabriel was delayed getting to Daniel with an answer from God for the prince of Persia (spirit of darkness) withstood him for 21 days

So there is a spiritual battle going on in the heavenlies and since as a part of the body of Christ we are seated in the heavenlies

it is our battle too and we need to walk in the victory in which Christ gave us when he defeated satan.

(insert story: battling evil forces working in people who are opposed to God; doctrine; chuck story)

We need not waste time fighting people, we need to be fighting the spirit of the spirit that is trying to control the people who are opposed to God.

This concept you can see from 1Kng22:31 where the king of Syria told his solders to fight only with the king.

1Kng22:31

So remember who are enemy is, what names he goes by and where his battlefield is.

His helpers are not weak either as Paul strongly states in Eph6:10-12 and we need the power of God to withstand our enemy.

II.

The Enemies Abilities

(slide) If the enemy was not strong, Paul would not say “be strong” - Not our own strength, but the strength and power of God’s might.

(slide) We need the power of God to withstand the enemy

(slide) Christians are called to be soldiers not gladiators - Soldiers fight together as a unit (or in unity Eph4) gladiators fight alone.

We should not underestimate the power of the devil (below not on slide and leave it that way)

he is not compared to a lion or a dragon just for name sake.

Book of Job tells us what his power can do to a body, a home, to wealth, and to friends.

Jesus says that the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy (Jn10:10)

He is wise, he is deceitful, he is liar, and cunning; We cannot afford to be ignorant of his devices to deceive.

as mentioned before he masquerades as an angel of light

He wants to turn men, blind men, keep men from the Truth of God’s Word

Paul uses the word “wrestle” - means the battle is up close, it is hand to hand, or on your knees battle

We are not spectators, we are participants.

Satan wants to use our external enemy (world) and our internal enemy (flesh) to to defeat us.

His ways and his weapons are strong and should not be taken lightly, but as Christians we are fully equipped to face the battle

III.

The Enemies demise

To the Christian who is Strong in the Lord and the power of His might (v.10) we are ready, but we cannot get soft, our battle is not about who we are now, what we are doing now, what we are feeling now, it is about eternity!

A great example of knowing the victory and walking in the victory was Joshua, though still he needed God’s Word to encourage and remind him.

When you get a chance read Joshua chapter 1 but I need to highlight a few verses for our remembrance to because when we remember it is the enemies demise.

The victory was already done, the land given

But you must be strong and courageous, you are walking by faith, taking possession for the people.

Joshua was told to do what he was told and you will have success.

We too when we follow the Lord’s command have success.

Walking by faith, walking courageously is to know God is with you.

Joh

Joshua believed it and the people confirmed it

Jos1:18

Our victory is found in God, in the power of His might, the power of His Word that as put into action in our lives.

Being strong is walking even when you don’t see the victory yet.

The first step to be being strong and courageous is to put on your battle gear

could you image the soliders on D-Day showing up in their comfy jammies to talk to the enemy and not fight the enemy with the battle gear they were provided?

I think not, its time for action!

God gives us the battle gear, He fully equips us, but we have to believe in and trust the gear and we have to put it on.

Second, when we have our battle gear, our armor on we need to know whose armor it is- it is God’s armor! - apart from God and the power of His might and His armor we can do nothing, but with Christ and his power we can do all things

In basic training we learned about the tools available, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and now we are in advanced training and it is like when we put on our battle gear is like when we put on our new nature in basic training.

We do all this, under God’s power and might so that we may stand!

Stand by being empowered

2Tim

Be ready to share in suffering as a good soldier

2

and fight the good fight

Our enemy wants to control us; but God wants us to take captive the enemy.

Ready to oppose the enemies schemes

So you know who your enemy is

You know where the battle is being waged

You know the results (VICTORY!) and are called to walk in

For this battle you have battle gear and we will look at that next week