"Believer's Warfare: Understanding the Enemy"

INTRODUCTION:

2 Corinthians 2:11 NASB95

so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

I. The APPROACH of the Believer – (6:10-11)

A. Their RESOURCES – (v.10)

Ephesians 1:3 NASB95

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Ephesians 1:4 NASB95

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

Ephesians 1:7 NASB95

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Ephesians 2:5 NASB95

even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Ephesians 2:19 NASB95

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

Ephesians 3:12 NASB95

in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

2 Peter 1:3 NASB95

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

B. Their READINESS – (v.11)

II. The IDENTITY of the ENEMY – (6:11b-12)

A. The REAL ENEMY – (v.11b) – “…against the schemes of the devil.”

“schemes” is from the Greek methodeias – ‘methods’

“What are the METHODS of the devil? How does Satan attack us?”

1. Undermining God’s Character & Credibility – (Genesis 3:1)

2. Making it DIFFICULT to live the Christian life – (2 Timothy 3:12)

3. CONFUSING believers with false doctrine – (Eph 4:14; 1 Tim 4:1)

4. Hindering the believer’s SERVICE to Christ – (1 Thess 2:18)

5. Causing DIVISION in the Body of Christ – (Eph 4:3; 1 Cor 3:1-4)

6. Urging believers to TRUST in their own resources – (1 Chronicles 21:1-8; Proverbs 3:5)

7. Causing the believer to be HYPOCRITICAL – (Acts 5:1-11; *v.3)

8. Making believers WORLDLY – (1 John 2:15-17)

9. Causing believers to DISOBEY God’s Word

B. Who the Enemy IS NOT! - (v.12a) - “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood…”

John 3:16 NASB95

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

C. Who the Enemy IS! – (v.12b)

Three main characteristics of the forces arrayed against us:

1. They are POWERFUL – “…against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces[…] against the spiritual forces…”

“World forces” translates κοσμοκράτορας (kosmokratoras), lit., ‘world-rulers’

Matthew 4:8–9 NASB95

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

John 12:31 NASB95

“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

John 14:30 NASB95

“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;

John 16:11 NASB95

and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

1 John 5:19 NASB95

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Ephesians 2:2 NASB95

in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

2. They are WICKED – “…world forces of this darkness[…] spiritual forces of wickedness”

3. They are BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION – “…in the heavenly places.”

1 Corinthians 14:20 NASB95

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

III. The ARMOR of the Believer – (6:13)

A. “Take up the FULL ARMOR of God”

B. “RESIST”

C. “Stand FIRM”