A0316_Making War in the Heavenlies
Date: 17th June 2007 (Sunday AM) Ref: A0316
Place: Kambah P.S.
Title: Making War in the Heavenlies
Text: & Ephesians 6:10-13
Illust: In September 1938 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, arrived back in England from Munich with a signed Peace Treaty with Adolf Hitler.
“My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time.”
Only 12 months later he was on the radio giving this address,
This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note stating that, unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany. You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed.
There is a truth in this illustration that sometimes no matter how much you might wish for peace, wish to avoid war, when there is an enemy determined to fight, you are going to have to fight back. – Winston Churchill recognized this & made the following comment about Neville Chamberlain following that Sept ’38 appeasement pact.
"He was given a choice between war and dishonor. He chose dishonor and he will have war anyway."
I. A Very Real Enemy
A. The Wiles of the devil
i. The first thing that we must settle is that we have a very real enemy the devil, Satan, Lucifer. – This is one of the things that Bible is making clear throughout Jesus ministry, the book of Job and Paul’s’ writings especially our text.
ii. & v11. – Paul speaks of the wiles of the devil. This word translated “wiles” is found twice in the NT. The other location is in Eph 4:14 where the King James translators translated it with “lie in wait”
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (KJV)
The picture is of cunning, deceit, craftiness, trickery, an ambush.
iii. Look briefly at some of the wiles, the schemes, the ambushes of the devil as he comes against mankind & specifically Christians
Occultic:
Blatantly Demonic:
Witchcraft / occult / Astral Travel / Drug use – Sorcery
Deuteronomy 18:10-13 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God. (NIV)
Strictly forbidden by God
Becoming more Prevalent:
New Age section of the book shop:
Understanding Dreams
Thai Massage using massage, yoga & acupressure to balance the bodies natural energies
Card Divination
Psychics / Tarot Cards / Ouija Boards / Dream Analysis
Leviticus 19:31 ”‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. (NIV)
Astrology – Newspapers / magazines / Even at the Hyperdome on the large screens
Isaiah 47:13 Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. (NIV)
Often Not Considered:
Martial Arts / Yoga
Chiropractors / Naturopaths / Accupuncture
All have as their basis spiritual foundations – Any spiritual foundation that is not of God by definition is of the devil.
More Subtle
Remember these are ambushes, deceitful schemes, trickery.
Rebellion / bitterness / unforgiveness – seeking to bring division, dissension in the house of God.
Correct family rolls within the family
World hates this. ~ Cunning stratagem of the enemy, because God’s order is that the Husband is the head of the home.
Ephesians 5:23-25 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (NKJV)
Jealousy / selfish ambition / gossip pride / Fear
iv. Not exhaustive list of things not to be involved in. Just a picture of some of the ways the devil is going to seek to trap & enslave you. – To understand that involvement in things like this & other false religions opens a door to the spiritual realm.
B. The Enemies Hosts
i. Not just the devil, again our text makes it clear that there are various levels of spiritual opposition. & v.12 –
ii. Satan has a structure:
Principalities - "archas." These are rulers, spirit-beings of very high rank in satan's kingdom.
They seem to be of very high order and have held their position from time immemorial.
We associate our words of archaeology or archaic as something that has been in existence for a long time.
Powers - "exousias" -authorities. These powers seem to derive their "authority" from the above principalities.
Jesus said to His disciples;
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority. (NKJV) "exousia"
Delegated authority or the right to use His power to destroy the works of satan as needed.
Here in Ephesians 6:12 it seems these powers have delegated authority from principalities and satan himself to destroy the work of God in you & to destroy what you attempt for Christ.
The rulers of the darkness of this world - “kosmokrator” ~ These are spirit-world rulers. They are responsible to rule the nations of the world. They keep the people in spiritual darkness.
Naturally presidents, prime ministers, heads of state would deny any control or guidance from the spirit-world. Deny it or not, it is a very present reality.
Daniel gives us a glimpse into this realm.
Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. (NKJV)
Spiritual hosts of wickedness — "pneumatika ponerias." ~ poneria - 1 depravity, iniquity, wickedness. 2 malice. 3 evil purposes and desires.
iii. Very real fallen angelic / demonic, hierarchy. – A very real opposition.
II. Spiritual Battle
A. Not Against Flesh & Blood
i. Where there is an opposition there is going to be a battle. – You cannot avoid the battle by appeasing the devil, you cannot just stick your head in the sand & hope that the battle goes away. – Some wise words from Winston Churchill:
"An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodile hoping it will eat him last."
"Victory will never be found by taking the line of least resistance."
ii. Important to recognise that the opposition is not people. It is not Bob Brown of the Greens. It is not Osama Bin Laden, it is not the Hollywood producers & directors - & v.12a
iii. When we face opposition from brothers & sisters, from people we are witnessing too, people on the job. We are to consistently relate to these people in love. That doesn’t mean that we agree with them in everything that we compromise to ‘keep the peace’ – But we still need to respect and love them & point out what God says.
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (NKJV)
B. Fought on a Spiritual Level
i. This battle is not fought with fists, with guns or knives. No! Paul makes it clear that this is a spiritual battle. \ it is only with spiritual weapons that this battle will be effectively fought.
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (NKJV)
ii. Not carnal, not worldy, they are weapons that God provides. Paul goes on from our text to give us a description of our offensive weapons. – & Eph 6:16-18
Shield of Faith
Sword of the Spirit – Word of God
Praying with all prayer & supplication
Winston Churchill again: ~ "I cannot subscribe to the idea that it might be possible to dig ourselves in and make no preparations for anything else than passive defense. It is the theory of the turtle."
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (NKJV)
Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (NKJV)
iii. Offensive not defensive spirit in these words.
III. Our Victory
A. Recognise
i. We are to be on the offensive because what you need to realise is that the victory is already ours.
Luke 10:17-19 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (NKJV)
Not snakes & scorpions –when taken in context is referring to the power of the enemy of your soul. Demonic forces at work.
ii. Our text speaks of the hierarchy of principalities & powers of the enemy. Yes there are demonic forces at work in our lives in this world, The confidence the good news this AM is that on the cross 2000 years ago, when Jesus innocent blood was shed for your sin & mine, He purchased our salvation and broke the power of satan’s legal hold over your life.
Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (NKJV)
Ephesians 1:21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (NKJV)
iii. We have the victory over every assault of the enemy
B. Take Up the Whole Armour
i. This is why Paul says & vs.13 - “take up the whole armour of God” ~ Worthy use of your time to study the spiritual armour that Paul writes of in the following verses. To know the truth.
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (NKJV)
ii. Armour is only useful in a battle if it is worn, if it is taken up & applied. – this is why Paul issues a command not a suggestion to “take up” or “put on” the armour.
C. Appropriate the Victory
i. To appropriate the victory won by Christ on the cross we need to fight. The 1st step is to recognise where you may have opened a door to demonic assault through your involvement in:
Evil speaking, jealousy, fear, rebellion, yoga, martial arts, New Age, psychics, tarot, occult.
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance anything that has granted access to spiritual hosts of wickedness to torment your mind your health
ii. Repent – Confess it as sin before God & renounce all involvement in this thing. – This shuts the door & denies the devil access.
Leviticus 26:40-42 40 ‘But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me, 41 and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt— 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land. (NKJV)
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
iii. Recognise your position in Christ & take authority over every assault in your life & command it to go.
Colossians 2:10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (NKJV)