This means WAR! SPIRITUAL WARFARE! (2)
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LET’S JUMP RIGHT IN:
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE
Q: LAST WEEK WE MENTIONED THREE WEAPONS, AMONG OTHERS, THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE?
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (WHICH IS) THE WORD OF GOD! ()
PRAYER IN THE SPIRIT! ()
RIGHTEOUSNESS FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT ()
THE USING THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
GOD’S WORD IS POWERFUL TO DESTROY STRONGHOLDS
2 CORINTHIAN 10:3-5 is a great example of how need to use God’s word in spiritual warfare. Someone read this passage and let us answer the question:
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Q: WHAT DOES THIS VERSE IMPLY STRONGHOLD ARE OR COME FROM? WHAT THREE THINGS CAN YOU PICK OUT?
THE WEAPONS WE HAVE DEMOLISH STRONGHOLDS: “We demolish arguments, every lofty opinion, and take captive every thought.”
The enemy sets up strongholds in our minds and lives through arguments, opinions and even evil thoughts. (Sometimes even deep thoughts we would not tell anyone…)
Q: What are some examples of strongholds that are set up through arguments, opinions and evil thoughts?
Strongholds of justifications
(ill: “I forgive but I’ll never forget it.” “Everybody looks at porn, it’s not that big of a deal.” “no one will ever know,” “I can’t do it,” “I’m gonna fail.”) Often it is a thought, justification that we come back to over and over.
Strongholds of Identity
Strongholds are often also something we believe about ourselves that keeps us from being a confident in WHO God says we are!
Q: What lies have you hear that directly impact what someone believes about themselves? (In other words a stronghold of self perception.)
“You are not smart enough” “You are unlikable,” “people do not care, neither does God,” “you are a bad person,” “you are a failure,” “you are not a good _______.”
“You are such a
Q: What does God’s word say about these?
Answers for Justifications
Forgiveness: has God saying, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember there sin no more.”
says, “not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles, who do not know God.”
“No one will know” - God already knows.
“I can’t do it.” “All things are possible to God.”
Answers for identity
You are loved by GOD, you have done bad things but those are actions not your identity, you do not have the perfect personality but no one does, God cares even when no one else seems too. You have failed but you are not a failure.
WE NEED TO KNOW GOD’S WORD TO BE ABLE TO US THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT!
God’s word is powerful! says that
Q: WHAT IS IT THAT KEEPS US FROM RESPONDING WITH WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS?
TO USE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT AND ANSWER WITH WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS.
THE WEAPON IS NOT POWERFUL IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE IT OR YOU DO NOT HAVE IT IN YOUR MIND!
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Q: WHAT IS IT THAT KEEPS US (YOU) FROM KNOWING GOD’S
THE HOLY SPIRIT convicts us with His word and uses it to help us live for Christ but we have to know what it says.
THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE ONE OF THE GREATEST TACTICS OF THE ENEMY IS TO GET US TO IGNORE LEARNING GOD’S WORD.
Busyness: important things that should not come before Christ. LUKE 10:38-41
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
luke 10:
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
We need to believe that if we seek first His kingdom and righteousness all these things will be added. (ill: Joshua is a great example…what did God tell Him.)
ANXIOUSNESS: tells us that if we do not do all these things and worry about all these things it will not work out. PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
WE ARE TOO OFTEN LIKE MARTHA WHO WAS BUSY WITH IMPORTANT THINGS BUT NEGLECTED THE MOST IMPORTANT THING; SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS, DRAWING NEAR TO GOD AND LEARNING.) In other words it doesn’t matter how powerful the weapons are that God has given us if we do not know how to use the weapon or never access it.
MYTHS ABOUT GOD’S WORD: (1) It is too hard to understand, I just can’t follow it. Someone told me once. (2) It is flawed, not translated correctly, out of date.
We have looked at how we are to be wise to Satan’s schemes. In other words we need to know how he works, what tactics he uses, and specifically how he attacks us.
We also need to be wise ourselves in how we battle. As we have already said we need to use the weapons God has given us.
WE NEED TO FILTER EVERYTHING WE HEAR, THINK AND FEEL THROUGH THE LENS OF GOD’S WORD. TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO KNOW IT!.
We need to use what God has given us and be strategic as to how we live our lives so that the fight is easier.
ALSO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE THROUGH WHO GOD SAYS WE ARE NOT WHAT WE FEEL, THINK OR SEE IN COMPARISON TO THE WORLD.
ONE OF THE HARDEST TIMES TO OVERCOME A STRONGHOLD IS WHEN WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED ABOUT OURSELVES.
(ill: For example: if we pray “and lead us not (what?) into temptation” we need to not ourselves knowing walk right into it ourselves. )
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ALLOW GOD TO FORM OUR IDENTITY INSTEAD OF ANY OTHER FACTOR.
WE LIVE OUT OF WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT OURSELVES EVEN IF IT FROM A SOURCE BELOW GOD SUCH AS (OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, OUR PAST, MISTAKES, DESIRES)
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD SOMEONE SAY, “I’M JUST NOT.....
There is a good example that we had recently in our Bible reading plan for this year. Look at and 15.
As we read and notice what God calls Gideon and the contrast to what Gideon says about himself in .
Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
Q: WHY DOES GOD CALL GIDEON A “MIGHTY WARRIOR” WHEN GIDEON THINKS HE IS THE LEAST LIKELY PERSON TO BE A WARRIOR?
Gideon is responding to God out of his insecurity as we often do.
YOU ARE A SOLDIER
YOU ARE A SOLDIER
If we know what our weakness is then we need to make sure we cut off
GOD CALLS GIDEON A “MIGHTY WARRIOR.”
GOD IS ADDRESSING GIDEON BY THE NAME AND IDENTITY was giving Him and who He would make Him into.
Think about what God would do through Gideon that would make Him live up to that name rather than the one Gideon had given himself; “the least.”
Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE LIVED OUT OUR “GOD GIVEN IDENTITY” INSTEAD OF WHAT WE, OR OTHERS OR OUR ACTIONS HAVE CONVINCED US WE ARE!
Q: WHO DOES GOD SAY THAT YOU ARE? WHAT IDENTITY HAS HE GIVEN US?
YOU ARE: “Set apart,” () “God’s treasure” (), “God’s handiwork” (), “forgiven,” (), “beloved” (), a “child of God” ).
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
We are also called soldiers.
SURVIVOR OR SOLDIER?
ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE IN THE Spiritual war we are in. Are we soldiers or survivors?
We also need to be wise ourselves in how we battle. As we have already said we need to use the weapons God has given us.
We need to understand we are in a battle but also that we are soldiers not just survivors.
Q:WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO JUST SURVIVE A WAR AND A SOLDIER IN WAR?
The one who is just trying to survive is not so much interested in fighting, instead they will run or do whatever it takes to just to stay alive.
The soldier’s purpose is to fight against the enemy and make a stand to hold the ground that they have fought for. It is what they are good at and what they do and train for!
There is an important point to make that goes along with believing we are really in a war and it is THAT WE MUST KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE ARE MAKING A STAND!
(
Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU know you are supposed to stand again the enemy and temptation but are not sure why?
When you do not know what you are fighting for or who you are as a soldier who is suppose to be fully committed to the enemy you will not have the motivation to overcome or even put up a fight.
YOU ARE THE RESISTANCE
YOU ARE THE RESISTANCE
Q: AS WE READ THESE TWO VERSES I WANT YOU TO FIND THE COMMON INSTRUCTION THAT IS IN BOTH FOR OVERCOMING SATAN?
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
RESIST THE DEVIL
Q:
Resist here in the Greek gives the idea of standing against another in battle. So think of two soldiers going against one another.
Q: Imagine you are in one of the battle of Bible times, where one of you is going to die; are you going to resist and fight with all you have?
Yes, why? Because your life depends on it, right? So for us our spiritual health depends on it.
Q: What does imply about how we resist the enemy? (It can be hard to resist when part of us wants the same thing)
BE FIRM IN YOUR FAITH
The kind of resistance that we are talking about is one that is backed by what you believe and who you are. “Firm in your faith”
Q: how many of you have even known the right scripture to match the temptation but you still sinned?
Yes. We need to be firm in what we believe as Jesus was but also notice again what says before resist...”submit to God.”
We have to let go of our wills and submit ourselves to God and do what we may not feel like doing at the moment.
SUBMIT TO GOD
We have to let go of our wills and submit ourselves to God and do what we may not feel like doing at the moment.
BE FIRM IN YOUR FAITH
Q: LAST WEEK WE MENTIONED THREE WEAPONS, AMONG OTHERS, THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE?
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (WHICH IS) THE WORD OF GOD! (EPHESIANS 6:17)
PRAYER IN THE SPIRIT! (EPHESIANS 6:18)
RIGHTEOUSNESS FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT ()
THE USING THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Q: WHAT IS IT THAT KEEPS US FROM RESPONDING WITH WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS? TO USE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT AND ANSWER WITH WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS. SAYS THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE…POWERFUL
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
NOW AGAIN: HOW CAN WE DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES:
THE HOLY SPIRIT convicts us with His word and uses it to help us live for Christ but we have to know what it says. (THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE ONE OF THE GREATEST TACTICS OF THE ENEMY IS TO GET US TO IGNORE LEARNING GOD’S WORD. WE ARE TOO OFTEN LIKE MARTHA WHO WAS BUSY WITH IMPORTANT THINGS BUT NEGLECTED THE MOST IMPORTANT THING; SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS, DRAWING NEAR TO GOD AND LEARNING.) In other words it doesn’t matter how powerful the weapons are that God has given us if we do not know how to use the weapon or never access it. So let’s see how we do right now with attacking the problems we have up here with what God’s word says about these issues.
Q: WHAT DOES GOD TELL US THAT HELP US BATTLE AGAINST THESE THINGS? ACTIVITY: Pick which one you want and tell me “God’s word says...” about how to overcome it.
APATHY: Q: what truth does God give us to overcome apathy?
tells us to be zealous for serving God.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
says that part of who we are supposed to be are people who are zealous.
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
ESVwho gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Q: WHAT REASONS DO WE HAVE TO BE ZEALOUS?
Jesus gave up everything to come and save us. He loved me and you before we ever knew Him. He was zealous for us so that should make us zealous for Him.
Christ loved us enough to die for Him we should love him enough to live for Him.
“NO ONE WILL CARE” God cares about what you do and where you are and wants to be involved.
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
NEGATIVITY -
ESVFinally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
BUSYNESS Jesus gets away from everything regularly to pray. He also taught His disciples to do the same.
ESVAnd rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
HATE:Romans 12:9 we need to hate what is evil.
ESVLet love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
What did Jesus say about hate?
NEGATIVITY:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
is a good one for this.
SEXUAL IMMORALITY and ALCOHOL
Sexual immorality:
ESVFor this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Drunkenness:
ESVFor the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
SELF-IMAGE: is an example of God’s love for each of us.
ESV Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
STRESS:
JESUS often got away to replenish His strength spiritually, emotionally and physically I believe.
ANXIETY:
Q: What do they verses tell us about worrying and what reason we have for not worrying and what we should do instead? , “Do not be anxious about anything”
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
says do not worry.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
We should trust God to take care of us and instead of being anxious we can pray about whatever it is. If Satan cannot win us back he will seek to make us ineffective in the kingdom as possible. Q: What does the enemy do to keep us ineffective in our work in the kingdom? Not growing spiritually so that we do not bear fruit or gain any ground...’ “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”Q: What does this verse imply you will be if you are not growing in Christ? You will be ineffective and unfruitful. Fear; being to afraid to get out of your comfort zone to serve. Being too busy for Kingdom work. The enemy gets us to believe that we do not have time to give to growing closer to God. Example:Joshua 1:7-9 someone read this passages. “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”Q: What was the number one factor to Joshua (and Israel’s) success? Meditating on, knowing and being careful to DO God’s word. If this was not done none of the other things matter. For the same reason Jesus said that those who not only hear the word, but do it are those who are wise. Where we often miss the point of our lives is when we buy into the world’s definition of what life is all about when those things are really secondary. Following God should not be the way to get the life you want, it should BE the life you want because you want God over everything.