Spiritual Warfare

2 Corinthians 10:1-5 Part 2

Introduction:

Last week:

*Bible clearly tells us that we are in a spiritual battle

*Battle is not a battle with flesh and blood, but with spiritual forces

To start with this morning I want to look at four things that we need to understand to properly fight this battle and then look at the weapons that God has given us to fight with.

1. There is an invisible world that is just as real as the visible world

*We often accept as real only what we can see, hear, touch, feel, taste, or smell

*Things that do not fit into that category we tend to look at as “make believe” or at the least not important.

Yet Ephesians 6:12 tells us who our battle is with: Spiritual forces that can not be seen.

2. We are involved in an invisible war that has eternal consequences

*See examples of this “invisible war” throughout Bible

-- Daniel 10:12-13 There is a battle when we pray

--2 Kings 6:15b-17 Elisha and his servant when surrounded by enemy

--2 Corinthians 4:3-4 Satan blinds the eyes of men so they cannot hear the truth of the Gospel

-- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 God gives us the weapons that we need to defeat the enemy

3. Our enemy is formidable and his goal is to destroy the work of Christ

He is a formidable foe, he is not to be underestimated

*Michael the archangel did not underestimate Jude 9

If one team or one army underestimates the other they are almost sure to be defeated

*Same is true in a spiritual battle

1 Peter 5:8: His goal is to destroy and devour

4. Our enemy has been and will be defeated

Colossians 2:13-15

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the un-circumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

1 John 5:4-5

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Illustration:

In the Greek Orthodox tradition, the day after Easter was devoted to telling jokes. . . .They felt they were imitating the cosmic joke that God pulled on Satan in the Resurrection. Satan thought he had won, and was smug in his victory, smiling to himself, having the last word. So he thought. Then God raised Jesus from the dead, and life and salvation became the last words.

We fight a battle that has already been won, kind of like the Israelites under Joshua going in to the Promised Land and taking it. Everywhere the sole of their foot would touch was already theirs.

I want to focus the rest of our time today looking at the weapons that God has given us to fight with. He spells them out for us in Ephesians 6. In verse 12 he tells us that it is not a spiritual battle that we face, in the next verse he tells, “therefore, put on the armor of God that you may be able to stand.” The remaining part of this passage shows us what we need to fight.

I. The Belt of Truth

The idea behind each of the pieces of the armor is the items a Roman soldier wore or took into battle.

To the Roman soldier the belt was what held everything together. It was the belt that held the sword, dagger, and other weapons that were needed

To a Christian in a spiritual battle the belt represents truth

1. The truth of God’s Word

It is God’s Word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths.

It is God’s Word and the truth of it that is profitable for doctrine, reprove, correction, and instruction in righteousness that we might be mature in Him.

We must accept the truth of God’s Word

The truth of God’s Word needs to be accepted and applied

If we fail in this area we leave ourselves open to the enemies attack

2. Truth and honesty in our daily lives.

We need to live honestly without hypocrisy.

Living in hypocrisy leaves us open to the enemies attack

II. Breastplate of Righteousness

Roman soldier: The breastplate covered and protected the vital organs of his body: heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach, etc.

Righteousness is being right with God

We have been made right with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Another one of our weapons is to live in the righteousness that He has given us

See in Romans 6 “Count yourselves dead to sin and alive to God.”

Often times we see those who profess Christ live as those they did not know Him at all. They are exposing themselves to the attack of the enemy and allowing Satan to work through them.

III. Boots of peace v. 16

Romans soldier: What he had on his feet was of vital importance. His feet needed to be protected, warm, and comfortable, if not he would not be able to properly stand and fight the enemy.

A Christian needs to have his “feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.”

I believe that the believer needs to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ on his lips wherever his feet take him. It is this only that is able to set men free and deliver them from the evil one. There is no other name given whereby men must be saved.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 We have been reconciled, now we have the ministry of reconciliation. We are ambassadors imploring others to be reconciled.

1. We need a willingness to share

Note Paul’s willingness in Romans 1:14-16

Talked with a lady the other day who had asked Churches on a Nationwide scale if they wanted to grow, the majority told her no, they wanted to remain the same.

They are not willing or wanting to share, compare with Paul!!

2. We need to be prompt to act when given the opportunity

See Acts 16:30-31

As we go we can be comforted to know that He will be with us. Matt. 28:19-20

IV. The Shield of Faith v. 16

Roman soldier: Carry wooden shield covered with leather or metal. Often stood together and held up their shields to form a wall. The enemy would often dip their arrows or spears in tar and set on fire. Often the swords were soaked in water to put the fire out.

The shield of the believer is faith. Faith is trust in the promises of God, faith that rests in God’s promises.

Satan throws darts of doubt, discouragement, fear, hopelessness, guilt, shame, greed, lust, pride, stubbornness, etc.

As we clam the promises of God we can have victory over these things

Promises like:

Isaiah 4:10 “Fear not, be not dismayed….” WHY?

þ “I am your God”

þ I will strengthen you”

þ I will help you

þ I will uphold you

Romans 8:28

Philippians: Supply your needs, give you peace

V. The Helmet of Salvation

Roman Soldier: Would not consider going to battle without his head protected.

This speaks of salvation. We cannot expect to fight and win unless we know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior

**Goes well beyond that

We need to claim the day to day salvation that He gives us over sin. Saying no to sin and yes to righteousness.

þ Romans 6 counting ourselves dead to sin and alive to God

þ James 1:21

þ Phil. 2:12 Working out our salvation with fear and trembling

We need to protect our minds. The helmet’s job was to protect the head. We need to be careful about what goes into our minds. If we put the wrong things into our minds we give Satan a great foothold to drag us down.

Illustration: counseling with someone who at a young age began getting involved in pornographic activities. Now he is not able to break away from those things, Now even though he knows Christ he is struggling to let those things go and is in the process of destroying his family, career, etc.

VI. The Sword of the Spirit

Roman solder: His sword was invaluable to protect himself and defeat his enemy

The sword of the believer is the Word of God. This is our offensive weapon.

Jesus used it well in Matthew 4:1-11

Hebrews 4:12

Word is living and powerful

Sharper than any two-edged sword

1. Word must be available

2. We must be familiar with the Word

3. We must allow the Spirit to bring it to mind as needed

VII. Pray in the Spirit v. 18

A vital weapon in our armor as well

We must pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

It is in His name and power that we can overcome

PRAISE GOD THAT OUR VICTORY HAS BEEN WON THORUGH THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!!

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

Belt of truth:

We must accept God’s word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths, we must follow its truth.

We must put on truth and honesty in our daily lives and be committed to be honest all the time.

Breastplate of righteousness:

I need to recognize through Christ that I have been made right with God, and when confronted with the choice between right and wrong I will chose what is righteous every time. We need to made that commitment ahead of time.

Boot of peace

Because I am an ambassador for Christ I will have the gospel ready on my lips all the time.

I can think of many opportunities that I have had to share Christ and not taken

If we have on the other parts of the armor people will see that we are different and ask why; that is why the Bible tells us to be ready always to give an answer of the hope in us when asked.

Shield of faith

When Satan throws his darts of doubt or discouragement I will quote one of God’s promises and claim t as true because God is faithful.

Helmet of Salvation

I will work out my salvation: demonstrate God’s work in me

I will protect my mind by using care in choosing what goes into it.

Sword of the Spirit

When tempted I will quote God’s word as Jesus did so that the enemy will be defeated

Prayer