Pentecost as Spiritual Warfare

Int (30 | 3)

What is Pentecost

Feast of the Jews

Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until power came upon them

P is the day Holy Spirit came upon the disciples

the point of it all

The disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem because the Spirit of God is the way that God conquers evil in this world. The Spirit coming upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost was an act of war; spiritual war. elab

Body

(27 | 3) Gods of the nations, sons of God

Deuteronomy 32:8 (ESV)

God appointed “sons of god” to be cosmic rulers over the nations (8)

These were divine beings that God created to order the cosmos.

Ephesians 6:12

The gods rebelled against God—beginning with an event we will talk about in a minute.

They chose evil over righteousness and they led their nations in the same path.

Those who follow the one true God find themselves at odds with these cosmic powers.

(24 | 3) God, the Father

1 Corinthians 8:5-6

The gods of the nations were part of God’s creation (from him and for him)

We aren’t to be too concerned with them exerting power over us; Paul says for us there is only one God.

How can they have power in the universe but not power over us as Christians?

(21 | 3) Sons of the Gods, Evil Giants

Genesis 6:4-5 CEB — The event that led to the fall of the sons of God and to the flood.

Genesis 6:4–5 (CEB)

4 In those days, giants lived on the earth and also afterward, when divine beings and human daughters had sexual relations and gave birth to children. These were the ancient heroes, famous men.

5 The Lord saw that humanity had become thoroughly evil on the earth and that every idea their minds thought up was always completely evil.

(18 | 3) Jesus, God’s Righteous Son

Romans 3:26

Jesus isn’t like the evil Giants; he is righteous in every way.

His righteousness extends to those who are faithful to him.

(15 | 3) Spirits of the Giants

1 Enoch 15.8–16.1 (as early as 4th century BCE, not in the Bible we read)

The giants who are born from the (union of) the spirits and the flesh shall be called evil spirits upon the earth...Evil spirits have come out of their bodies…They will become evil upon the earth and shall be called evil spirits…

The spirits of the giants oppress each other; they will corrupt, fall, be excited, and fall upon the earth, and cause sorrow. They eat no food, nor become thirsty, nor find obstacles. And these spirits shall rise up against the children of the people and against the women, because they have proceeded forth from them.

From the days of the slaughter and destruction, and the death of the giants and the spiritual beings of the spirit, and the flesh, from which they have proceeded forth, which will corrupt without incurring judgment, they will corrupt until the day of the great conclusion, until the great age is consummated, until everything is concluded…

The disembodied spirits of the giants are what we tend to call demons in the New Testament

Luke 11:24-26

Freedom from evil spirits is not righteousness.

To seek freedom from sin and evil on your own may lead to greater sin and greater evil in your life.

(12 | 3) The Holy Spirit—Pentecost

Acts 2:2,4

Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying…Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit...

The Spirit fills

Romans 8:9b

If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.

Those who are saved from sin, death, and evil have the Spirit of Christ in them.

(9 | 9) EXHORTATION

Fight the battle; win the war!

Be strengthened by the Lord (Eph 6.10)

And to put on the full armor of God to withstand the devil (Eph 6.11)

The battle is coming (Eph 6:13) — Will you be able to take a stand against evil?

Joshua 24:15 Choose who to serve (lots of options, but I will serve the Lord Jesus)