Spiritual Warfare

Scripture Text

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Intro: Every day we wake up, we will be fighting spiritual battles all day long. The battleground is our mind. Selfish, evil, sinful ideas are not of God. God is not evil, selfish, or sinful; therefore, such evil thoughts and reasoning's are often injected into the mind of men by fleshly spiritual forces that stand opposed to God.

I. Spiritual warfare is not fought with fleshly or worldly weapons. 2 Corinthians 10:3 (NKJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. Paul says in this verse that although we believers "walk in the flesh"; that is, we live in a body just like all other people. But we do not war in the flesh. We do not fight the struggles of life using only our own strength. Why? Because we know that there is spiritual warfare going on for the minds and lives of people. We Believers know that the evil forces of the spiritual world lie behind sin and evil, disorder and devastation, corruption and deterioration· *death and hell. Believers know that we cannot "war after the flesh"; that no man nor any combination of men can conquer the spiritual forces that fight and eat away at man until they destroy him. No matter how strong, educated, or scientific man may become, he cannot deliver himself from the spiritual forces that cause evil, sin and death. There is no worldly weapon that can defeat evil spiritual forces.

II. The believer's weapons against evil forces are spiritual and mighty. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. God's word says our bodies are the temple of the Lord, the place where His Spirit dwells. We know that there is nothing in this world that can conquer the spiritual forces that lie behind the evil and death of this world. Therefore, we fight the spiritual battles of this life with spiritual weapons, weapons that are of God and are made mighty and powerful by God. We believers use spiritual weapons to "pull down strongholds." The evils of this world that are deeply entrenched and fortified in the minds and hearts of men. These strongholds are clearly seen in the daily newscasts and behavior of people day by day. Evil, sin, destruction and death can never be permanently overcome by carnal or worldly weapons. Only the spiritual weapons of God can permanently conquer evil. God has given us the weapons of prayer, His word, and His Spirit!

3. The method of conquering the forces of evil. 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.

a. The believer casts down imaginations: thoughts and imaginations that are uncontrolled, wild, evil, lustful, immoral, unjust, wrong, untrue, devilish, and set against God and His word. Through prayer, God's word, and the power of the Spirit the believer wars, fights, and struggles to "cast down" evil imaginations. He fights to bring down his imaginations,those mental images and thoughts that fights against the knowledge of God.

b.  The believer casts down "every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God": false ideas about God, false doctrine and teaching, false reasoning's; human pride and arrogance, sensuality, self-sufficiency and self-righteousness that set themselves up against God.

c.  The believer seeks to captivate every thought to the obedience of Christ. A phenomenal statement—every thought controlled and subjected to Christ! This is the spiritual objective of the true Christian believer. God created man for fellowship and communion with Him, therefore, the believer wars—struggles and fights—to captivate every thought and focus it upon God and His righteousness. He seeks to walk in an unbroken fellowship and communion with God. How is the control of every thought possible? Through the power of the Holy Spirit of God “we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service.” [Romans 12:1] Our bodies are all we have to offer—we live in our bodies. The body is the home of our emotions, our mind, thoughts, desires, and plans. The body represents the total person; it is the instrument by which all our service is given to God. In order to live for God, we must give him all that we are, represented by our body. If our body is at God’s disposal, he will have our free time, our pleasures, and all our behavior. Since the battleground is the mind and it is, we have to renew our minds with the word of God. We filter what comes through our minds by the word of God. If it doesn't fit God's word, we reject it. To be able to use God's word as a filter for your thoughts, you must know what His word says. The most important weapon against wrong thoughts is the knowledge of God's word. We hide it in our hearts that we might not sin against God.

Conclusion: Begin to filter your thoughts and make sure the devil has not got a stronghold in your life. It is important what you think! You are what you think. The bible says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

Invitation: Are you completely sure that Heaven will be your home when you die. Does the Holy Spirit confirm with your spirit that you belong to Christ? If not, now is the time to make sure. Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save you! Follow Him in believer's baptism.

From Death to God's Kingdom

Scripture Text

1 Corinthians 15:21-28

Intro: It only takes three chapters from the beginning of the bible to where mankind lost their relationship with God. It only took one act of disobedience to bring God's curse of death on all mankind and all of nature. But in verse 15 of Genesis chapter three, God promises a Savior who would crush the head of the devil. What Adam and Eve lost by their sin, Jesus regained on Calvary's cross by His death, burial, and resurrection.

I. The futility of life without the resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (NKJV) ¹² Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

a. Some were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead. The Apostle Paul said If no resurrection,our faith is useless, and we are still in our sins. Christ has not risen. If no resurrection, those who have died have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. [v:19]

II. Christ assures life, guarantees the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NKJV) ²⁰ But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

 a.  He has risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of the dead(v.20)

 The hypothetical “if” statements in the previous verses acknowledge the certain facts of history. "But now is Christ risen!" Because Christ was raised from the dead, he has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again. Christ was the first to be raised to never die again. He is the forerunner for those who believe in him, the proof of their eventual resurrection to eternal life." Christ is not dead; He is not lying as a decayed corpse in the grave. We are not living in hopeless misery. In fact, the very opposite is true. We have the greatest hope in the world, the hope of being resurrected from the dead. And the great guarantee of our resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself. He has risen; therefore, we shall arise. He is the first fruit—the guarantee, the seal, the assurance of our Resurrection. Because He lives we shall also live etrenally!

 b.  He has counteracted what Adam did: Reversed sin and death. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NKJV) ²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

 Christ has reversed the sin and death of Adam. He did this through His own perfect life, death, and resurrection to eternal life. Adam and Christ are pictured as the two pivotal points of human history. Adam stands as the head of the human race, the first to bring death to man [Gen.3:17-19]. Christ stands as the head of the human race, the first to intervene in the process of death and to arise from the dead. Very simply stated, the sin of Adam brought death into the world, but the Man Jesus Christ brought the resurrection of life to the world. Those who believe in him will be given eternal life in Heaven.

 c. His purpose was fulfilled, having Been the first to arise from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:23 (NKJV) But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.

Paul wanted to clarify, however, that there is an order to this resurrection. It had not already happened, as perhaps some of the false teachers were claiming. Rather, Christ was raised first. The “harvest” will be taken in when Christ comes back at his second coming. At that time, his people, those who believed in him as Savior, will be raised from death to eternal life. Those who are alive at that time will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.

III.  Christ assures the coming reign of God's Kingdom: (v.24-28)

  a.It will be the end of all evil because of;

 His subjection of all evil power and enemies. 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 (NKJV) ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Following the resurrection of the church, a 7 year period of tribulation on earth intervenes until Christ returns and sets up His millennial kingdom. At the end of His 1,000 year reign, the resurrected Christ will conquer the last enemy which is death. (Revelation 20:10-14 says Satan, the beast, and the false prophet, death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.) At Christ’s resurrection, Christ began the destruction of Satan and all his dominion. Christ must reign over all because God has ordained it so; what God has said cannot be changed. Christ will reign as the ultimate ruler, having put Satan and all his enemies beneath his feet. This means He will reign in total conquest. Because the resurrection of Christ is an accomplished fact and because the promise of the resurrection is a future fact, the promise of Christ’s ultimate and final reign can be trusted as fact and anticipated by every believer.

 c. His subjection of all things except God Himself. 1 Corinthians 15:26-28 (NKJV) ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. ²⁸ Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

After Christ puts all enemies under His feet during His millennial reign, then the end will come when Christ will deliver His kingdom to God the Father.

Then the work of the Son will find ultimate completion in the glory of the Father. When Jesus subjects Himself to the Father and God is all in all, the new creation will be brought to completion and the resurrected Christ and His church will share in that experience. Revelation 22:1-5 (NKJV) ¹ And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which ³ And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴ They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵ There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

It is significant also that the Lamb is pictured on the throne (mentioned also in v. 3). Christ sits on the throne as King of kings and Lord of lords for all eternity under the head of God the Father so He may be all in all and we will rule reign with Him.

Invitation: Have you been raised from spiritual death to life in God's Kingdom? If you have not, now is the time to make sure you have eternal life residing in you in the person of Jesus Christ. Confess you sins to Christ and ask Him to forgive your sins against the Father God. Then invite Him into your life and ask Him to take charge of you. Then follow Him in believers baptism. You will be so thankful that you did.

Jesus' Acceptance of Children

Scripture Text

Matthew 19:13-15; 18:1-6

Intro: Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (ESV) ¹⁸ "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as front-lets between your eyes. ¹⁹ You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

God says in these verses that teaching our children about Him and His word is important.

I. Jesus accepts little children. Matthew 19:13-15 (NKJV) ¹³ Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." ¹⁵ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

a. The bible has much to say about God's little ones. We are to permit them to come to Jesus and not forbid them according to these verses, and we are to encourage them in the things of the Lord so they can receive His blessings, favors and salvation. Many parents were bringing children... to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples felt this was a waste of Jesus’ time. They began rebuking those bringing their children. Jesus rebuked the disciples, telling them to let the little children come and not hinder them. The kingdom of heaven is not limited to adults who might be considered to be worth more than children. The implication in verse (15) is that Jesus had time for all the children, for He did not depart from the region till He had blessed them all. Anyone of any age who exhibits such faith and trust is promised access to Jesus and to the Kingdom. The disciples must have forgotten what Jesus had said about children earlier (18:1-6).

II. Jesus protects little children. Matthew 18:1-6 (NKJV) ¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" ² Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. ⁶ "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

a. The disciples were still anticipating an earthly kingdom and wondering what great positions they would have. In response Jesus took a little child, who had no rights according to the Law, and stood him in their midst. He told the disciples a change in their thinking was necessary. Greatness in the kingdom was not based on great works or words, but on childlike humility of spirit.

b. Jesus’ reply indicated they were asking the wrong question. They should have been concerned about serving the Lord, not asking about positions in the kingdom. Their service needed to be directed toward people, including children, for Jesus spoke about welcoming a little child... in His name. Little thought was directed in those days toward children, but Jesus did not overlook them. In fact, He gave a stern warning concerning any who might place a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in Him. (Notice what Jesus said. He said Little children can—and do—believe in Him!) Whoever Causes one of these little ones to sin translates the verb “to offend, or cause to fall.” It would be better for such an offender to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. A truly humble person does not concern himself with position or power, but is concerned about active service, especially toward those who are most in need which includes children.

Conclusion: Think of the children who are not brought to Christ. The result is tragic: they never come to know Christ and the life and security He brings to the human heart and soul. They will never know salvation and the eternal life that Jesus can bring.

May we as a church do all we can to help children come to know Jesus.

 Invitation: God desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. There is only one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself as a ransom for all. Have you been saved? Where will you spend eternity when this life is over? Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and save you today! Then be baptized to show you are sincere!