SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Rev. John W. Gerald
I. THE ENEMY WITHIN
Gen. 7:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
My Enemy
Edwin L. Sabin
An enemy I had, whose mien
I stoutly strove in vain to know;
For hard he dogged my steps, unseen,
Wherever I might go.
My plans he balked; my aims he foiled;
He blocked my every onward way.
When for some lofty goal I toiled,
He grimly said me nay.
"Come forth!" I cried, "Lay bare thy guise!
Thy wretched features I would see."
Yet always to my straining eyes
He dwelt in mystery.
Until one night I held him fast,
The veil from off his form did draw;
I gazed upon his face at last
And, lo! myself I saw.
Rom. 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
The carnal nature received from Adam is the source of all inner struggle with sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
II. THE ENEMY IN THE WORLD
1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
David, the man of God, was tempted by Satan to do something that displeased God. God wanted David to trust Him with the defense of the nation, but Satan tempted David to explore the strength of the nation by numbering the potential army he could raise. This would take away from his dependence upon God for Israel’s protection.
Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Satan is always interfering with the spread of the gospel. In these last days, he has been diluting the Word by so many omissions concerning the divinity, the humanity and the sacrifice of Christ.
Eph. 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
There are powerful demon spirits ruling over large principalities of this world. They are able to control the spirit and attitude of great masses of people. They always resist the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are able to keep nations of people in spiritual darkness and bondage for centuries. They make it dangerous for missionaries to penetrate their borders. Though national leaders are their instruments of control, it is not men that we must contend with, it is the spirit world: principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness. The Devil has let these spirits loose even upon America. We have never before seen such wicked influences upon our society.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth1, and having on the breastplate of righteousness2;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace3;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith4, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation5, and the sword of the Spirit6, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always7 with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching8 thereunto with all perseverance and supplication9 for all saints;
We certainly need the armour of God. Many will not be able to stand against the evil day because they have not "put on the whole armour of God." We have not done all to stand until we have put on:
1. The Girdle of Truth
Pilot asked Jesus, "What is truth?" The world seems to have been confused about what truth is for many centuries. Jesus said that: "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Those who accept God’s Word as truth, know the truth. Those who do not, have searched everywhere, and have not yet discovered the truth. By what proof will they know when they have found it? Gird yourself about with the truth!
2. The Brestplate of Righteousness
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
To be acceptable to God, a person, as well as a nation, must be righteous. The righteous are despised and afflicted even in our nation today. Evangelical Christians are the most despised people group in the world today. They are thought to be "the enemy!" They are accused of being narrow minded, egotistical, homophobic and intolerant because they claim that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and to heaven.
3. Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
God’s people must not be ignorant of His word.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace to the individual in salvation, and to the nation that puts its trust in Him. Without Him, there is no peace anywhere.
4. The Shield of Faith
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith in God is our best defense against the attacks of Satan. By faith, we may defend ourselves against Satan’s darts of doubt, fear and unbelief.
5. The Helmet of Salvation
Everyone of us needs our minds defended against Satan’s attacks. When you know you are saved, salvation is a very good defense against negative thoughts presented by Satan.
6. The Sword of the Spirit
The Word of God is our only offensive weapon! Everything else in the armour is for our defense. Jesus, himself, used the Word of God in answer to Satan’s temptations. Satan could not resist the Word, which is the Sword of the Spirit!
7-8. Watch and Pray
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
9. Perseverance
Daniel is the best example. He fasted and prayed with a burden for his people and nation for 21 days before the answer came.
Dan. 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
The answer to Daniel’s prayer was a message by an angel from God concerning Israel’s last days, and all the kingdoms of the earth that had anything to do with Israel from then until now.
Rev. 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
III. LEADERSHIP FOR OUR NATION
Theme: Leadership From God
Exodus 18:21 "Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens."
Pray that God’s people would elect righteous leaders for this land locally, statewide, and nationally.
Quote: "If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation."
-- Samuel Adams, letter to Elbridge Gerry, November 27, 1780.
From email - Christian Votes - MillionVotes.com - 10-07-04
IV. THE BATTLE OF THE AGES
Daniel 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
The Antichrist is indwelt and empowered by Satan. He has the whole world at his feet. No one dares to oppose him. He will kill all who resist him.
Rev. 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
The second Psalm describes this condition:
Psalms 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
The world has always opposed Christ, because the god of this world, Satan, hates him.
Rev. 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
