Contender

Contender= A person or group competing with others to achieve something.

THE CONTENDER

OPENING: Do you remember that boxing reality show, “The Contender”? Let’s revisit last season’s finale at Boston Garden [iTunes Video].

You may not be on TV, but if you are a Christian, you have a “spiritual contender” every single day of your life.

Acts 19:15, “And the evil spirit answered the Jews who were trying to cast him out and said, ‘I know who Jesus is and I know who Paul is, BUT WHO ARE YOU?’”

We rarely talk about spiritual warfare because of the concern about coming off “weird”...But let me ask you a question this morning.. “DOES THE DEVIL EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE?”

To those of you who might think this subject is a little “off the wall,” realize that:

2/3 of Christ’s ministry before the cross somehow involved dealing with the devil or the demonic world.

Thus, this whole topic of “spiritual warfare” really is a big deal in the eyes of Jesus.

Ephesians 6:11–13 NLT

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

(Living Bible), “Put on all of God’s armor so you will be able to stand safe against all the strategies and tricks of Satan. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood,but against persons without bodies–the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world. We’re fighting against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world. So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks.And when it is all over, YOU WILL STILL BE STANDING UP.”

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE “DEMONIC LINE-UP”

SATAN (Lucifer) =

Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 38 let us know that before Satan’s fall,

he was an archangel in heaven who was in charge of WORSHIP.

Implication? Satan was into music before the fall...and he’s sure into music even now.

DEMONS = Evil spirits = Extensions of satanic DESIRE Implication? One of Satan’s main vehicles for waging spiritual warfare will always be via your EMOTIONS and your DESIRES.

PRINCIPALITIES = Demonic spirits that deal with a specific location/geography

POWERS = Reference to DEGREES OF LEADERSHIP AUTHORITY in the demonic world. Thus, there are weaker demons and stronger ones.

It seems apparent though, that all the “powers”remain UNIFIED and SUBMISSIVE.

Implication? “A divided Church will never conquer a unified Hell.”

IF we are considered warriors, fighters, an army of soldiers

then we must be fighting something.

WE ARE CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH.

and satan has send spiritual CONTENDERS to fight for HIS purpose.

So lets look as some

SPECIFIC WEAPONS TO USE AGAINST “THE CONTENDER” IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL LIFE

Weapon #1: Speak the name of Jesus

Mark 16:17, “Jesus said, IN MY NAME, you will have the power to cast out evil spirits...”

Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a STRONG TOWER; the righteous person can run into it and be saved.”

Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore, God has given Jesus a name that is ABOVE EVERY NAME...that at the name of Jesus, every knee will one day bow and every tongue will one day confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD to the glory of God the Father.”

Weapon #2: Personal right choices and righteousness

Acts 19:15 (our opening verse), “And the evil spirit answered the Jews who were trying to cast him out and said, ‘I know who Jesus is and I know who Paul is, BUT WHO ARE YOU?’”

II Corinthians 6:7, “The weapon of righteousness is for your right hand and your left hand.”

Ephesians 6:14, “Put on the spiritual breastplate of righteousness to stand against the enemy...”

[JOHN DILLINGER’S true story: “Stop stealing chickens!”]

In the 1930’s, gangster John Dillinger was one of the most notorious criminals. He was #1 on the FBI’s “most wanted list” for his crimes. He was only 31 years old when he was gunned down by the Chicago police in 1934. But in his short life, he became one of the most feared gangsters that ever walked Chicago’s streets.

HOW DID THIS UNFORGETTABLE PATTERN OF CRIME BEGIN?

It was all in the arena we are talking about right now—“Personal choices”— and in HIS case, a LACK of righteousness.

You see, in a published memoir on his life, he is quoted as saying,

“I never meant for my life to turn out this way. It all just happened.” John Dillinger

He was an ordinary son of an Indiana grocer. So how did he becomes the FBI’s Public Enemy #1?

He shares that it all started very, very small. Believe it or not, he traces his life of crime back to his childhood days when he stole chickens from farmers down the road. Then later, he moved to stealing CARS. Then eventually, he went to robbing BANKS.

So what was his advice to young adults. He paused seriously and then said, “I guess I would tell them never to steal the first chicken.”

How true.

So many of the sin-patterns we allow in our lives begin small.

We think they are “no big deal.” But the enemy gets a huge foothold into our lives with the “small things.” Months or years later, they are anything but small.

My suggestion? Just don’t steal the first chicken!

Weapon #3: Binding and loosening in prayer

Matthew 16:19, “Whatever you BIND in prayer on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever youLOOSE in prayer will be loosed in heaven.”

Weapon #4: The Empty-House Principle

Matthew 12:44, (It’s the account of the “clean and empty house” where the demons returned after they were sent away. But because the house was EMPTY, they came back 7-fold to fill the vacuum.)

Law of Spiritual Substitution: Don’t pull the WEEDS without planting the FLOWERS.

Remember: Scripture tells us to RESIST the Devil, but FLEE FROM temptation.

Let me tell you a true story during the Civil War that involved a couple of key generals.[“Running From Temptation” story]

During the Civil War, when New Orleans was under Union occupation, cotton was being harvested and sent to foreign markets. The New Orleans Commander had requisitioned all wagons and horses. But the cotton couldn’t be moved to the harbor unless the UNION commander released wagons for that purpose. He was under strict orders not to do so.

A leader in the Civil War named MacArthur stopped by to visit the New Orleans Commander. While visiting him, the General’s secretary announced that there were two ladies who wished to see him. MacArthur attempted to excuse himself, but the General asked him to stay. “With ladies as my visitors,” he said, “I would rather have someone present in the room.” So MacArthur stayed to witness the scene I’m about to describe to you.

The two ladies entered. One was a wealthy, elderly woman and the other one was a beautiful southern belle. She was unusually gorgeous. The older woman spoke to the General. “Sir, I need wagons to get our cotton to the docks. In return, here is $250,000 in gold certificates.”

She paused for a moment and then added, “If you need OTHER INDUCEMENTS, this beautiful young lady I have brought with me will be happy to supply you with whatever you might ask.” She dropped a card on the desk and the two women left the General’s office.

MacArthur waited to see what the General would do. The General walked immediately to his desk, called his secretary in, and dictated a memo to the President of the United States that read like this:

“To The President Of The United States, My Commander-in-Chief:

I have just been offered $250,000 and the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my entire life. The trade-off is that they are asking me to betray your trust in me. Thus, I am depositing the money with the Treasury of the United States and request immediate relief from this command post. Please assign me a command post in another part of the country. THESE PEOPLE ARE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO MY PRICE.”

Remember: “Resist the Devil...but FLEE FROM TEMPTATION.” Don’t leave your “internal spiritual house” empty. Make the RIGHT DECISION...fill your mind with the RIGHT THINGS...and then get out of There 

JALEN Can you please come up here and play the juice-tronic piano

Weapon #5: Focusing on the blood of Jesus and claiming it when you pray

Exodus 12:13 (Referring to the Passover when the enemy was destroying first-born males in each family), “When I see the blood, I will pass over you and do no harm to you.”

Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame through the Blood of the Lamb and through the word of their own testimony.”

Weapon #6: Praying back and speaking out loud the Word of God

Psalm 107:20, “God sent His Word to them. And His very Word healed them of all their diseases and delivered them from all their enemies.”

Proverbs 6:21-22, “Bind the Word continually in your heart. Even tie it around your neck so it never leaves you! When you sleep, it will keep you safe. When you wake up, it will talk with you.”

Weapon #7: Endurance

Ephesians 6:13 NLT

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

“...and when you have done everything you know to do to remain standing spiritually,JUST KEEP STANDING.”

Hebrews 6:15 (Referring to Abraham), “And because Abraham patiently ENDURED, he obtained the promise.”

Each week we will end with the same Mantra and scripture:

Never surrender to the one who refused to surrender to the Lord

Micah 7:8 NLT

Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.