September 11, 2011
Morning Worship
Text: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Subject: Spiritual Warfare
Title: Choose Your Weapon
10 years ago the World Trade Centers were attacked and 2977 people became victims of a terrorists attack that rocked the world. All this was done in the name of a false religion called Islam. The attack came against America because Islam recognizes America as a Christian nation. It is from this nation that world evangelism has blossomed in the 20th and 21st century. It is out of the wealth and generosity of our nation that God has ordained us to be a catapult for sending the gospel into the whole world.
On the surfaced this looks like a religious war. It looks as though it is Muslim ideology against Christianity. But it is more than it appears on the surface. There is an unseen enemy lurking who wants to do no more than to steal, kill and destroy America and the Christian values that it holds. And he will stop at nothing to accomplish it. His primary tool right now is apathy. If he can get Christians to give up on caring about spreading the gospel he has won a great battle. The enemy doesn’t attempt to accomplish these things openly, but always has a subversive method that takes place behind the scenes or below the surface.
The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…
In our passage from 2 Corinthians today Paul was being accused by people from the church of being something less than he really was. This passage is written in his own defense, but has great spiritual applications for the church which is also being attacked by an enem
You may not want to believe it but you are in a battle for your families, your homes and even your lives against this enemy. He is out to get you and cause you to lose hope. But the word of God has called you to something greater. He has called you to be light in this world of darkness and if He has called you to that it means that you must stand out in the darkness because that is what light does.
Today as we remember the events of that day 10 years ago let us never give up on God’s promises that tell us that we never have to give in to the lies of the devil for he is a liar and the father of all lies.
Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Everyone hold up their bibles.
I believe this is God’s word…
I believe every word in it…
I stand upon this word…
And I accept every promise that is given to me…
I want to show you today that you have every weapon you need to keep the enemy of your soul from dominating your life.
I. RESPOND THE WAY JESUS RESPONDED… 1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! Paul’s response is by the same meekness and gentleness that Jesus had. Here is a problem in the church. Too many people look at the word “meekness” and equate it with weakness. It is not the same thing. Turn over to Matthew chapter 5. In the third of His beatitudes Jesus said this, 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Let me ask you a question, “Will those who are weak inherit the earth? Jesus spoke to the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation and to each one He said, “To him who overcomes…” and then He made a promise to those who would be overcomers. Those who are weak will never overcome anything. Now, about inheriting the earth, that is talking about the kingdom of God that will be established on the earth. Matthew 11:12, 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. Those who are weak will never advance the kingdom, but those who are meek will. Meekness really means having power that is under the control of the gentleness of Christ. Paul could write about this power under control because he understood who he was in Christ. In Ephesians he wrote in 1:3, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 18-23, 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. 2:6, And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus… Only when one understands who they are in Christ can they operate in the controlled power and authority in the gentleness of Christ to inherit the earth. Now in the last part of verse 1, Paul responds to his detractors – those who say he acts one way when he is with them and another way when he is gone – in verse 2, I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. Paul does not want to “be bold” or to have a confrontation with them according to the standards of this world. He wants to strengthen them and guide them in gentleness, but under the authority that he has received as a believer and also as an apostle.
II. FIGHTING THE WAY JESUS FOUGHT… 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. Turn over to Ephesians 6. How does the world wage war? The world battles according to the physical nature. Strength against strength. Nation against nation… victory in the world goes to the last one standing. But we don’t fight that way. We are fighting a spiritual battle and even though the results of the battle will be manifested in the natural realm it is still a spiritual battle. We also believe the last one standing is the winner. Ephesians 6:11-13, 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Craig Larson writes, Recently National Geographic ran an article about the Alaskan bull moose. The males of the species battle for dominance during the fall breeding season, literally going head-to-head with antlers crunching together as they collide. Often the antlers, their only weapon, are broken. That ensures defeat. The heftiest moose, with the largest and strongest antlers, triumphs. Therefore, the battle fought in the fall is really won during the summer, when the moose eat continually. The one that consumes the best diet for growing antlers and gaining weight will be the heavyweight in the fight. Those that eat inadequately sport weaker antlers and less bulk. There is a lesson here for us. Spiritual battles await. Satan will choose a season to attack. Will we be victorious, or will we fall? Much depends on what we do now--before the wars begin. The bull-moose principle: Enduring faith, strength, and wisdom for trials are best developed before they're needed. Your ability to stand against the enemy of your soul doesn’t come when you need it. It is faith in God’s word that has proved itself in your life over and over. It is the type of faith you develop by using. More than an event that takes place in your life it becomes a lifestyle that you live. In John chapter 15 Jesus said, 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Do you want to know why Al-Queada will never be successful? Because they fight according to the world. They are fighting a battle for souls the same way that we are. The only problem is they are on the wrong side. They lose because they are fighting a spiritual battle from a physical perspective with no spiritual authority. . 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. Let’s do a word study on some of the words in this verse. 1) The word weapons in the Greek refers to an offensive tool of war… There is only one offensive tool that believers have when it comes to spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6: 17 Take the … sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 2) The word power here is dunatos and it means, power, capable, or possible. The weapons we have contain divine or supernatural power, capabilities, or possibilities… 3) Demolish in the English translation does not do the Greek word sufficient justice. The word means demolition with violence to the point of extinction…4) strongholds… A stronghold is an area that is controlled by someone. The strongholds that we have the power (supernatural power, capability, or possibility) to demolish are the areas that satan or his demons have control of. It may be a large area as when Daniel prayed and an angel came on his behalf to fight against the prince of Persia, or it may be a stronghold that the enemy has set up in your life. Let’s get this straight. A Christian cannot be demon possessed. But a demon can open himself up to spiritual influence that will be a stronghold in his/her life. It can be anything in your life – pride, anger, habits, lust, dependence … anything that has control of your life in that way is a stronghold and if it isn’t from God it is from satan. But you have weapons that have divine power to demolish strongholds. It doesn’t say that you will use them, but that they are at your disposal. When Jesus was tempted in the desert he countered his adversary with these words, “… It is written…” God’s word is the offensive weapon you have that will demolish strongholds. That means you have to use it. You have to speak it against the enemy in faith for it to work. It is in the bible, but if you leave it there it has no value to you. You must take it out and apply it to your circumstances and pull those strongholds down.
III. THINKING THE WAY JESUS THOUGHT… 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God… You know, the world can present some pretty compelling arguments as to why Christianity is an outdated, narrow-minded religion. And it comes to the point where even some not so well grounded Christians will come to believe the lie. But for those who know the word, and trust the word and use the word, those arguments (in the Greek the word means reasoning) are demolished. Jesus said this about the word, Matthew 24:35, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. That is the logos – the written expression of God’s nature that is given through the mouths of prophets, and kings and disciples through revelation by the Holy Spirit. Every line of reasoning that sets itself up against the logos (which brings us revelation of God) is demolished. You see, if we don’t have the logos of God, then we can’t really have a complete understanding of God. The end of verse 5 says, …and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. What is your responsibility in demolishing strongholds? First you have to know the word that applies to you… Second, you have to line your thinking up with that word. Romans 12:2, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… Jesus’ thoughts always lined up with the Father’s thoughts. Your responsibility in this spiritual battle is to take every negative thought and get it under control before you speak it. Then make what you speak obedient to Christ. In other words, your words must mirror the word of God. Don’t you know that any word you speak that is contrary to God’s promises places you in opposition to God? So if God promises that He is still the healer and you say, “God doesn’t do that any more”, you call God a liar and place yourself in opposition to Him. The same holds true for blessing and provision, and safety, and prosperity, and your relationships, and your witnessing… take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Verse 6 finishes this section of Paul’s letter by saying this, 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. Paul was willing to punish these offenders by his authority as an apostle. God will punish those who come against us in spiritual warfare, but God will also punish those who reject His word and allow the enemy to overwhelm them. That punishment comes simply from the results of not trusting God’s word and using it to demolish strongholds.
10 years ago today America was attacked. It was a spiritual attack that manifested itself at the twin towers. It was a spiritual battle and it still is. It is Islam against Christianity. It is satan against Jesus. It is sickness against health. It is poverty against health. It is faith against unbelief. It is positive confession against doubt.
And it all takes place in the battlefield of your mind.
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
It is time to line up who we say we are with obedience to who Jesus says we are. Strongholds must come down… Revival is on the way…
Are You Ready?
