Spiritual Warfare

We are living in perilous times

I almost hate to start this service off with talking about warfare, but we must realize that we are in a spiritual warfare that is getting worse all the time. We can turn on the tv, the radio, go online, and there is so much there trying to fight us. While it is true that these are physical things, they are attacking us spiritually. Are we ready for the battle? Sometimes it is easy for us to go day to day and everything is fine, but we need to remember that we need to protect ourselves from this warfare that we have going on.

When we turn on the TV there is so much that is vying for our spirituality. Depending on where you turn on the radio, there is spiritual warfare. For those that go online, there is spiritual warfare. The question is, are we ready for it.

We are going to be in three different passages today that all coincide with each other to talk about this warfare. Last week we sang the song Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus. This song has some interesting background to it. “In the “Great Work of God of 1858, in Philadelphia, the Rev. Dudley Tyng was the recognized leader. While standing by a piece of farm machinery on his place, the sleeve of his coat became entangled in the gearing. His arm was drawn into the machinery and torn off, and he died soon after. In the prime of his life he was taken away from the direction of that great revival movement. But his dying message to his associates in the work was “Stand up for Jesus,” and this supplied the theme for this hymn. It was written by the Rev. George Duffield, and was read at the close of a sermon he delivered on the Sunday following the death of his friend.” I bring this to your attention because it is time for us to stand up for Jesus! For our first area of scripture we are going to look at 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 NKJV

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

So lets look at this for a few minutes. First, it tells us the basics. It tells us that we walk in the flesh. Paul is reminding us that we are human. We walk just like everyone else. We dwell in our bodies just like everyone else. Meaning that we are not exempt from the common wants and frailties of nature. The best of people are subject to these wants. The best of people are going to make mistakes. It is letting us know that we are human. Now, that is not giving us an excuse to fail, it is just letting us know that there are times that we are going to fail.

But check out the next part of the verse. We do not war according to the flesh. We are in warfare with sin, with idolatry, against all forms of evil. Sometimes we forget that it’s not just those in ministry who are in this warfare, but it is every christian that is engaged in this warfare. I want you to understand

BN 2Co Ga: Chapter 10

The warfare of Christians relates to the following points. (1.) It is a warfare with the corrupt desires and sensual propensities of the heart; with eternal corruption and depravity, with the remaining unsubdued propensities of a fallen nature. (2.) With the powers of darkness; the mighty spirits of evil that seek to destroy us; see Eph. 6:11–17. (3.) With sin in all forms; with idolatry, sensuality, corruption, intemperance, profaneness, wherever they may exist. The Christian is opposed to all these, and it is the aim and purpose of his life as far as he may be able to resist and subdue them.

Barnes, A. (1884–1885). Notes on the New Testament: II Corinthians & Galatians. (R. Frew, Ed.) (p. 207). London: Blackie & Son.

Tags: 2 Co 10:3

Clipped: January 9, 2021

Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:05 PM January 9, 2021.

We are soldiers that are under the banner of Jesus to oppose and resist all forms of evil. But I love this, our weapons are not worldly, they are not of the flesh, but they are powerful through God. One of the weapons we have is the word of God. Other weapons are the gifts of the Spirit.

Now, we have already established that we are in a warfare. And we have somewhat established what we are fighting against, but let’s look at our next set of verses.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This is why this verse works with the other section. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. But there are other things at work. We don’t need to fight with me. It sure seems that a lot of that is going on lately. I cannot tell you how many people seem to be angry at other people over so many things. Our fight is not with each other! Now, yes, we know there are going to be times where we have enemies, there are going to be times of persecutions, but that is not our fight. Our fight is with spirits of wickedness that seek out to destroy us. Our fight is against principalities, the rulers of the darkness. The ones with power. Against the rulers of the darkness of this world. The rulers that preside over the regions of ignorance and sin with which the earth abounds. This warfare is on a large scale with the entire kingdom of darkness over the world. This is why Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God. Because we are in a spiritual war. A quick recap of that armor of God-we have the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace on our feet, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. We need to put this on everyday and pray always with prayer and supplication in the Spirit. So we have this going for us, we have this armor, but why do we need the armor so badly. Well, let’s look at our next set of scriptures.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

You know, this verse almost speaks for itself. But it does remind us that we need to be vigilant. But what about sober? This particular sober is not talking about drinking…no, this sober is talking about being self-restrained. Think about it. How can we fight in a battle if we are not self-restrained. If we are going around trying to fight everything there is. We do not need to be anxious, we dont’ need to go into a false sense of security. We need to be cautious because our adversary, the one who is going against us, is walking around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour. He is looking for his prey. Have you ever seen when a lion eats? It’s not a pretty sight. What is intersting though is this section talks about him as a roaring lion. He is not quiet when looking for this. He is going to make noise, he is going to try to distract us. He is looking to try to destroy. See, he is not crouching in the weeds looking to pounce, but he is active.

We are in a spiritual warfare. We need to choose which side we are going to be on. We need to decide if we are going to be on Gods side, or the world’s side. If we are on God’s side, are we being diligent about it.

Or maybe you have discovered that you haven’t taken a side in this spiritual battle and you are ready to stand and accept Jesus into your life. I would encourage you during this time of invitation, if you feel called to accept him as your savior to come and speak with me.

Maybe you need a moment to pray. Pray about being diligent in this spiritual warfare that we are in. The altar is open and you can pray at your seat as well.

Let’s close in a word of prayer.