SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Scripture Text 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

INTRO: In John 10:10 Jesus says that Satan our enemy that has one goal. That is to steal, kill, and destroy. His target is all mankind. He will establish strongholds in our lives to destroy us and steal the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. We must be aware of his tactics and fight him with the weapons God has given us.

I. WE ARE IN A WAR  2 Corinthians 10:3b (NKJV) we do not war according to the flesh. On one side we have our weakness, the Fleshly lusts and worldly way of thinking. Paul said that although he and his fellow workers were human, they did not wage spiritual war with human plans and methods. Human wisdom is incapable of victory over spiritual things. Devil is a spiritual being, stronger than you and I. We cannot defeat him in our own strength, that is why so many are struggling and being defeated by the things they face on a daily basis. You cannot defeat Satan by yourself! We must be strengthened with spiritual might that comes from God.

II. THE DEVILS TACTICS (V:3b)2 Corinthians ^3a For though we walk in the flesh, He appeals to our flesh or the old sinful nature. His favorite tricks are to lie, deceive, or tempt to indulge in some sinful habit. He makes situations and circumstances appear overwhelming, hopeless. He loves to use fear. Because where fear is, faith is absent. He likes to terrorize. He uses people to come against us. He uses our pride, anger, envy, and unforgiveness to divide and conquer us. He will discourage you from reading your bible, praying and attending church.

III. THE WEAPONS 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, Our weapons are not carnal. That is, they are not of man's devise, nor are they wielded by human power and reasoning. They do not depend on anything that is in this world. They are Spiritual weapons. They are mighty in God. The Holy Spirit equips Christians for the struggle, providing the weapons they need. God’s mighty weapons are faith in Jesus, and the word of God which is powerful and sharper than a double edged sword. Through the Spirit’s power we live in truth and righteousness.  We have the Spirit’s help when we pray. Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV) ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Spiritual weapons can pull down strongholds. Stronghold is referring to fortress on top of a hill overlooking everything below! It is very hard to scale and overcome. Strongholds represent all the difficulties that men or devils can put in our way. Strongholds represent Arguments and high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God found in His word. Anything that goes against God’s word must come under Christ’s authority. Satan always questions and perverts God’s word.

IV. THE BATTLEGROUND, Our mind. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  The believer must cast down "every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God": Those false ideas about God, false teaching, false human reasoning’s, human pride and arrogance, self-sufficiency and self-righteousness that are opposed to God’s knowledge. God’s knowledge is His word. Everything that is in opposition to His word we cast down or count as nothing. We must read God’s word and study it to gain His knowledge. We as believers seek to captivate every thought and bring it to the obedience of Christ. A phenomenal statement—every thought controlled and subjected to Christ! How is the control of every thought possible? Only by being surrendered to God and filled with His Spirit! Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. This is the spiritual objective of the true Christian believer. God created man for fellowship and communion, therefore, the true believer wars—struggles and fights—to captivate every thought and focus it upon Jesus and His righteousness. We should not hold on to thoughts that do not conform to the life and teachings of Jesus. We must discipline our bodies and seek to walk in unbroken fellowship and communion with God. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

INVITATION: God in His knowledge says that all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. The wages of that sin is eternal separation from God’s presence. But the gift of God is eternal life. Which do you choose? If you choose life, confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive your sins against Him. Invite Him to come and live in you and give you eternal life. Then you will be able to overcome Satan’s attempt to destroy you and steal your joy.

I Pledge Allegiance

The Great Catching Up

Scripture Text Thessalonians 4:13-18

 A survey by Pew Research done in 2013 asked, do you believe Jesus will return in the next 40 years. 47% answered yes they believe Jesus will return in the next 40 years. 38% said He would not return in the next 40 years! 14% said they didn’t know! How many of you reading this think Jesus will return for His church soon? All the signs Jesus said to watch for are appearing everywhere.  2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV) ¹ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

 These signs alone are taking place daily on a greater scale than ever before! Prophecies are being fulfilled right before our eyes! Time to get our house in order is now! Jesus warned people many times to be ready so that day will not catch you unaware! The people in Thessalonica were asking Paul what about the people who have died? Will they miss the great catching up? Paul answered that question in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV) ¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

There is a hymn that sums up what a tremendous day that will be!

     What A Day That Will Be

      There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There'll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Invitation: Are you ready to meet Jesus if He were to come today? Would you go up with Jesus or be left behind? If you are not sure make sure today! Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive and save you and you will go up when Jesus returns for His church.

Reflections

Intro: There comes a time in every Christian’s life that we need to stop all our activity, clear our minds and reflect on God. This means we fix our thoughts on Him and carefully consider His place in our lives. There are four areas of reflection we need to make.

I. Look back and thank God. Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) ¹ And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 a. Remember when you were spiritually dead. The first three verses of this chapter presents how  hopeless we were—trapped in sin, under Satan’s power, unable to save ourselves. We all were once spiritually dead and had no communication with God. We were physically alive, but our sins had rendered us spiritually dead, alienated from God, and headed for hell. Being a sinner we were subject to God’s wrath like all sinners.

 b. Then Remember when God who is rich in mercy and love.  Ephesians 2:4-10 (NKJV) ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God gave you eternal life when He raised Jesus from the dead. He saved you by His grace and seated you with Christ in the Heavenly realms. He saved you when you believed in Christ as your personal Savior. It was not because of some great thing you had done.

II. Look within and find God.

 a. At the time of our salvation the Holy Spirit of God came into our lives. The Spirit actually lives in our bodies which are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) ¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

  b. We have received the Holy Spirit of God so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given to us. 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 (NLT) ¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. ¹² And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 1 John 2:27 (NLT) You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

III. Look around and serve God. We are to build up and improve the church with our gifts. Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) ⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Colossians 3:23-24 ²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴ Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

IV. Look forward and trust God. We are to live our lives as those who are eagerly looking for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (NLT) ⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. ⁹ God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Jude 1:24-25 (NLT) ²⁴ Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. ²⁵ All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

Invitation: Romans 8:16 says ^“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” As you look within yourself, do you find the Spirit of God in you confirming that you belong to Him? If not right now is the time to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you of those sins against God and save you for Heaven. The bible says in Romans 10:13 ^“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."