Our fight is not with flesh and blood

Spirit Wars

Today I wanted to to continue my series on healing.

for those of you who have been following along you may remember I was unable to finish my last messgae due to time contraints.

As I prayed and sought God’s heart of the matter. That 10 min missed messaged quickly turned into a multi part series.

I’ve decided to start a new series entitled Spirit Wars

Based on Ephesians chapter 6 and 2 Cor 10

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NASB95

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Sickenss, and disease are a result of the fall.

but it serves us well to know who took advantage of the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden.

Who is the one who causes sickess, pain, disease?

Since this is contrary to the will of God, How do we fight against it?

Well lets start this 6 part series learning how to fight the enemies efforts to steal kill and detroy

and instead push forwards God’s plans to give Life and give it abundantly

Ephesians 6:10–20 NASB95

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Pray

Over the last 2 years the world has has the opportunity to get involved in conflicts like never before.

It seems people are divided more than ever before.

numerous topics to disagree on

couped up for (months) years on end on our homes

finacial hardships

Health challenges

Countries invading other countries

many haved asked Why God?

never once understanding the true origin of our hardships.

Let me clearly say everything negative we have faced over the last 2 years is a demonic plan administered in the spiritual realm and carried out on earth.

The virus, economic uncertainty, the present and coming wars, food shortages, earthqakes, economic collaspes are all part of satan’s plans

but we never need to fear satan’s efforts.

For God’s fully aware of satans plans and is revealing His own plans to thrawt the enemy and bring Himself greater glory.

God’s already revealed a number of things i must do,

He will reveal his plans for you as you seek His face.

In the Bible we have a book that is known for its suffering.

a book different from every other book in the Bible

a book with a combination of prose and poetry.

Its like reading poetry, but with such rivoting insights some even question is reality.

What book am i referring to?

Can you guess it?

The book of Job.

Job’s Story

Job was a man of integrity.

He stayed away from evil, and the Lord was pleased with him.

satan, however, thought that the only reason for Job’s patience was his prosperity.

satan wanted to remove that prosperity and cause Job to walk away from God.

God allowed satan to test Job.

Job’s farm animals were stolen,

his farmhands were killed

His children were killed by a tornado.

Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head.

But his grief didn’t make him angry.

It made him fall to the ground to worship God.

Job 1:21 NASB95

He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

He praised his God even though his circumstances wanted him to do otherwise.

God was pleased.

satan wasn’t and asked if he could take away Job’s health.

Job was struck with painful boils from head to toe.

His’s wife mocked his integrity and urged him to curse God.

Job 2:10 NASB95

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

3 friends

Then 3 of Job’s friends heard of the tragedies and came to visit Job to comfort and console him.

At first, they sat with Job in silence because his suffering was too great for words.

Eliphaz

One friend wondered about Job’s faith.

Didn’t his reverence for God give him confidence?

Didn’t his life of integrity give him hope?

Eliphaz defended the justice of God and assumed that Job’s suffering must be a result of his sin.

It’s easy to question another’s integrity when you are not in his shoes.

He insinuated Job must have done something wrong.

Bildad

Bildad believed that Job’s children must have sinned because they died suddenly.

Sinners can expect nothing but suffering in life and dishonor in death.

Bildad speaks and theorizes that if Job is as righteous as he thinks he is, he could pray to God have everything restored to him.

He means well and hopes that Job will once again have a better life, but he still implies

Job needs to repent of some major wrongdoing.

Zophar

Job’s third friend Zophar denies Job’s claim of innocence and dares to say that Job deserved even more punishment from God.

Zophar was the harshest of the three friends.

He said Job deserved even more suffering that he was experiencing and told Job he needed to repent.

Elihu

Elihu was a younger man who waited for all the speeches to end.

He was angry at Job and at the three friends.

At Job for trying to justify himself.

At the friends because they condemned Job unfairly.

Elihu argued that Job’s sufferings were instructive, meant to draw him to a deeper knowledge of God.

Job charges that it’s easy for his friends to mock him.

They aren’t going through this horrendous trouble.

He’s upset with his friends, but remembers that true wisdom and power are only found in God.

His friends aren’t understanding him. Maybe God would understand him?

God

When God finally speaks after Elihu, he doesn’t explain to Job why the sufferings had come to him.

Instead he calls on Job to admit how little he understands about who He is and how He works.

The climax of the book comes in Job 42:2-6 where Job confess that God alone is sovereign and repents of his own folly.

Job 42:2–6 NASB95

“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”

Job laments on the frailness of humanity.

He longs to get his strength and hope back.

Why should suffering occur? Why is pain inevitable?

Why do the wicked seem to prosper and the good are punished?

Questions we’ve probably all asked at one time or another.

But what Job’s friends and Job never realized,

primarlity because this information was not given to them

But it was given to us in chapter 1

Job 1:6–12 NASB95

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

The information withheld from Job and his companions, was

who was causing Job all these hardships.

For us reading the 1st chapter we can see that its not God causing Jobs misery

but satan is the one carrying it out.

Yes God allows it but satan is the instigator

maybe becuase for Job there was nothing He could do against it.

But the same cannot be true for us today.

Job may not have had a chance against satan

but as a believer in Jesus and His redemptive grace on the cross

we know have authority and power over anything satan can attempt to do.

Mark 3 ; Mark 6 ; Matt 10; Luke 9;

all share the same message

Jesus gave his followers the power and authority over demons

Luke 10:19 NASB95

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

1 John 2:13 NASB95

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

Acts 26:18 NASB95

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

Romans 16:19–20 NASB95

For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

1 John 4:4 NASB95

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Romans 8:31 NASB95

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Romans 8:37 NASB95

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Luke 10:20 NASB95

“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

You see we don’t have to suffer sickness disease, illness caused by satan,

because of Jesus we now have power and authority over satan and plans.

The Bible is clear on the matter,

But again our reality does not always line up with the truth of Scripture

So what should endeavor to to

Change our understanding of Scripture

justify it rationalize it

Or should we allow the truth or scripture to change our reality?

in this series I want to help you learn how to overcome the enemy’s plans for you.

We do this through understanding our authority and power that is given to us by God

But to do that propoerly you must first understand your indentity in Christ

We then progress on to our amour and our weapons used in this spiritual battle.

Conclusion

Some Christians have told me

“ I don’t talk about the devil…I just focus on Jesus”

Focusing on Jesus is great, but ignoring what Jesus taught is dangerous

Jesus taught us more about the devil than anyone else.

1 Peter 5:8–9 NASB95

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

Being ignorant of the devils schemes makes you available to be devoured.

Focusing on Jesus and His plans for you should cause you to be aware so you resist the devil

Let’s pray!