Sermon Central
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Spiritual War Series
Contributed by Dennis Cummins on May 7, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: The only way to strengthen both the physical and spiritual nature is through the actual battle.
WMD’s – A Spiritual War
We as believers have weapons of mass destruction
Warfare – 1. the process of military struggle between two nations or groups of nations; war. 2. armed conflict between two massed enemies, armies, or the like.
We are in a spiritual battle:
John 10:10 (English Standard Version)
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
To Steal: to steal is to invade, seize, and carry away another’s property. But the devil can only do it if he can steal our heart away. Our loyalty and Love from God and turn it to things.
To Kill and Destroy: means to kill as a sacrificial victim, as by fire; offered in a sacrifice. And he accomplishes this through false doctrine. This eats like a cancer, and poison the minds of men.
Things to Remember During a War
1. The only things more accurate than enemy fire is friendly fire.
2. Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo.
3. No inspection-ready unit ever passed combat.
4. No combat-ready unit ever passed inspection.
5. Never share a cockpit with someone braver than you.
6. Remember: your aircraft was made by the lowest bidder.
2 Corinthians 10:3 (King James Version)
3For though we walk (occupy the flesh) in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Our weapons are not tangible, they don’t pertain to the flesh, but they are spiritual.
1. Spiritual weapons are meant for offensive purposes.
A passive or defensive role can be the most dangerous. It is the failure to either act or react. Passivity is not acting at all. It is the position of most vulnerability eventually leading to a defensive position, and only “after” an attack.
Passivity results in worry, fear, doubt, and faithlessness, - because of the failure to act, the passive position is weakness and in physical or spiritual warfare will result in defeat.
The offensive role in battle is similar to resisting the enemy.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Resistance is a form of shielding the vulnerable parts, while structuring an offense.
In essence, it is “standing” against the enemy; and similar to a fortress
Resistance must be continual, never tiring or weakening its wall of protection. The enemy’s goal is to attack weakness, and it is in the areas of most vulnerability where the enemy will strike first.
The only way to strengthen both the physical and spiritual nature is through the actual battle. It is the act of the struggle (wrestling) whereby one learns how to fight.
It is through this struggle in battle whereby one learns not only the strength and weakness of the enemy, but also that of their own. Unless one understands their strengths in battle, they will not be capable of either resisting or conquering their enemy.
2 Corinthians 10:3 (King James Version)
3For though we walk (occupy the flesh) in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
To demolish reasoning’s and arguments…that try to undermine the will of God and word of God. Humans intellectual reasoning’s that rationalize away the power of God in the box.
His capability and Love to intercede on our behalf. And every high thing or Barrier that stands that looks better to you than knowing God…having an intimate growing relationship with our creator, the great I AM.
Many Christians suffer deficiencies in the areas that God want to prosper us in, and it is because they have exchanged God’s word with the philosophies of man. They have put more faith in the empty vain words of the created rather than the creator.
There are thoughts that we play with because they make ratioinal sense, but in the light of the Word, they make no sense.
Physical Health…we’ve have held on to arguments and vain discussions about God wanting us to be healed…
Financial Health… we’ve bought into the idea that someone sold us on living in lack and never enough…
Your Family… we’ve given up because the patterns of society has become a clearer picture in how to handle our problems than God’s word has.
This is all because we have allowed our faith to become infected with humanistic approach to sin and the acceptance of it in our life. We have become disarmed and nothing more than a prisoner of war, being captured by our flesh and subject to it.
