Engaging in Spiritual Warfare: Strength and Unity in Christ
Summary
In today's message, we explored the often overlooked yet crucial topic of spiritual warfare. We began by acknowledging the numerous physical conflicts around the world, but emphasized that the most significant battle is the spiritual one for the souls of 8.1 billion people. This battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. We are reminded that as followers of Christ, we are engaged in this spiritual warfare, and it is essential to be aware of the enemy's tactics.
We delved into the reality of spiritual battles, emphasizing that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking to devour. However, we are not to be afraid, for greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. We are called to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, recognizing that our strength comes from Him alone. The enemy's strategies are not new; they are predictable and can be countered with the truth of God's Word.
We examined two biblical stories to illustrate the enemy's tactics. First, we looked at Job, whose faith was tested by God but attacked by Satan. Job's story teaches us that while Satan seeks to destroy our faith, God allows tests to strengthen and prove it. Second, we considered Joshua the high priest, who was accused by Satan of being unworthy. Yet, God, in His grace, cleansed Joshua and clothed him in righteousness, demonstrating that God's grace covers our failures and filth.
As believers, we are encouraged to live a life worthy of our calling, standing firm in the Lord's strength. We must be aware of the enemy's attempts to sow discord and division within the body of Christ. By following God's example of love, humility, and sacrifice, we can maintain unity and peace. We are reminded that our battle is not against each other but against spiritual forces, and we must rely on God's power to overcome.
Key Takeaways:
- Spiritual warfare is a reality for every believer. We are engaged in a battle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. Recognizing this battle is the first step in standing firm in the Lord's strength. [41:09]
- The enemy's tactics are predictable. By knowing the enemy's playbook, we can anticipate his moves and counter them with the truth of God's Word. Our strength lies in being strong in the Lord and His mighty power. [51:22]
- God's grace covers our failures. Like Joshua, we may feel unworthy, but God cleanses us and clothes us in righteousness. Satan's accusations hold no power over us because of what Jesus has done. [01:08:39]
- Our faith will be tested. Just as Job's faith was tested, we too will face trials. These tests are not meant to destroy us but to strengthen and prove the genuineness of our faith. [01:03:36]
- Unity in the body of Christ is essential. The enemy seeks to sow discord, but by following God's example of love and humility, we can maintain unity and peace. Our battle is not against each other but against spiritual forces. [01:16:21]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[13:30] - Encouragement for the Next Generation
[39:07] - Global Conflicts and Spiritual Battles
[41:09] - The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
[49:01] - Overcoming Superstition and Fear
[50:00] - Strength in the Lord
[51:22] - Knowing the Enemy's Tactics
[54:43] - Lessons from the Super Bowl
[56:12] - Understanding Satan's Role
[58:03] - Job's Faith Tested
[01:02:21] - The Testing of Faith
[01:03:36] - Perseverance Through Trials
[01:05:41] - Joshua's Cleansing and God's Grace
[01:08:39] - Satan's Accusations and God's Redemption
[01:16:21] - Unity and Living Worthy of the Calling
[01:17:13] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 6:10-12 - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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."
2. 1 Peter 5:8 - "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
3. Zechariah 3:1-4 - "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?' Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What does Ephesians 6:10-12 say about the nature of our struggle as believers? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on spiritual warfare? [51:22]
2. According to 1 Peter 5:8, how is the devil described, and what are believers encouraged to do in response? [41:09]
3. In Zechariah 3:1-4, what accusation does Satan make against Joshua, and how does God respond to it? [01:08:39]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the predictability of the enemy's tactics using the story of Job? [58:03]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be "strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" as described in Ephesians 6:10? How can this strength be manifested in a believer's life? [51:22]
2. How does the story of Joshua the high priest in Zechariah 3 demonstrate God's grace in the face of Satan's accusations? What does this tell us about our standing before God? [01:08:39]
3. The sermon mentions that the enemy's tactics are predictable. How can believers use this knowledge to their advantage in spiritual warfare? [54:43]
4. How does the testing of faith, as seen in the story of Job, serve to strengthen and prove the genuineness of a believer's faith? [01:03:36]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually attacked. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now to stand strong in the Lord? [51:22]
2. In what ways can you be more alert and sober-minded to recognize the enemy's attempts to sow discord in your life or community? [41:09]
3. How can you remind yourself of God's grace covering your failures, especially when you feel accused or unworthy like Joshua? [01:08:39]
4. Consider the areas in your life where your faith is being tested. How can you view these trials as opportunities for growth and perseverance? [01:03:36]
5. What practical steps can you take to maintain unity and peace within your church or community, following God's example of love and humility? [01:16:21]
6. Identify one predictable tactic of the enemy that you often fall for. How can you counter it with the truth of God's Word this week? [54:43]
7. How can you encourage and support others in your community who may be facing spiritual battles, ensuring they feel clothed in God's righteousness? [01:08:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing the Unseen Battle
In the spiritual realm, believers are engaged in a battle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. This battle is often overlooked, yet it is crucial for the souls of humanity. Understanding that this warfare is real and ongoing is the first step in standing firm in the Lord's strength. The enemy, described as a roaring lion, seeks to devour, but believers are reminded that greater is He who is in them than he who is in the world. This awareness calls for vigilance and reliance on God's power to navigate the spiritual challenges that arise. [41:09]
Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
Reflection: What are some ways you can become more aware of the spiritual battles in your life, and how can you prepare yourself to stand firm in God's strength today?
Day 2: Anticipating the Enemy's Moves
The enemy's tactics are not new; they are predictable and can be countered with the truth of God's Word. By knowing the enemy's playbook, believers can anticipate his moves and stand strong in the Lord's mighty power. This involves immersing oneself in Scripture and prayer, allowing God's truth to guide and protect against deception. The strength to overcome these spiritual attacks comes not from oneself but from being rooted in the Lord and His power. [51:22]
2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV): "So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs."
Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you feel spiritually attacked. How can you use Scripture to counter the enemy's tactics in this area today?
Day 3: Embracing God's Grace
Like Joshua the high priest, believers may feel unworthy due to their failures and shortcomings. However, God's grace is sufficient to cleanse and clothe them in righteousness. Satan's accusations hold no power over those who are redeemed by Christ's sacrifice. This truth encourages believers to embrace God's grace, knowing that their worthiness comes from Him alone. It is a reminder that despite failures, God's grace covers and redeems. [01:08:39]
Zechariah 3:3-4 (ESV): "Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Remove the filthy garments from him.' And to him he said, 'Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with feelings of unworthiness? How can you remind yourself of God's grace and righteousness today?
Day 4: Strengthening Faith Through Trials
Just as Job's faith was tested, believers will face trials that test the genuineness of their faith. These tests are not meant to destroy but to strengthen and prove one's faith. Understanding that trials are a part of the spiritual journey helps believers to persevere and grow in their relationship with God. It is through these challenges that faith is refined and deepened, leading to a more profound trust in God's plan and purpose. [01:03:36]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial you have faced. How did it challenge your faith, and what steps can you take to allow this experience to strengthen your trust in God?
Day 5: Pursuing Unity in Christ
Unity within the body of Christ is essential, as the enemy seeks to sow discord and division. By following God's example of love, humility, and sacrifice, believers can maintain unity and peace. The battle is not against each other but against spiritual forces, and it is through God's power that unity is achieved. This calls for intentional efforts to live a life worthy of the calling, fostering harmony and understanding within the community of believers. [01:16:21]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: Think of a relationship within your church community that needs healing or strengthening. What practical steps can you take today to promote unity and peace in that relationship?
Quotes
1. "You know, Andrea, thank you for sharing. Thank you for your heart for college students, for the generation coming up. Thank you, young people up here on the stage. And I was looking at them going, there's hope. You know, we've got a great group of young people in the church, sitting in the chairs, and God is doing some amazing things. On the campus and through these young people. So always take your time to encourage them. Always take your time to support them, to pray for them, most of all. You know, share your love for them. They're the next generation. They're reaching the lost. They're reaching the lonely. They're reaching those who are going through issues. COVID was really hard on college students now. And as I, in my class, deal with them and think through them and talk with them, you know, it's a big issue. And so, you know, really love on them as much as you can." [13:30] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "There's a battle, and it is a spiritual battle that we all are in. If we have given our allegiance to Jesus, we're in a spiritual battle. If you haven't given your allegiance to Jesus, you still belong to the enemy. You still belong to the one who rules this world. Yet, Peter, the man who walked with Jesus, the man who ate with Jesus, the man who went fishing with Jesus—actually, Jesus went fishing with him—that guy, this is what he says about the spiritual battle. He says, Be soberminded, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour the devil prowls around like a roaring lion in other words he's not quiet he's out there he's making himself known he's making himself aware but we tend to not talk about this we tend to hide our heads and and shield our way gonna give you a warning in a moment it's a warning but we're gonna talk about the spiritual battle the inevitable consequence of our life with Jesus is the reality that there is a spiritual battle now let me back us up for a couple of minutes remind us we're in a series called no boundaries and the series about no boundaries is as a believer in Christ there aren't any boundaries you can walk the path or you can easily walk off the path there's no there are no electric fences as I've talked about there are no moats with alligators keeping you on the straight and narrow there are no walls for you to stop and get around there's nothing you're free to graze wherever you want to graze you can walk off the path anytime you want to and how do we walk off the path the pressures of the world come against us there is the flesh the flesh presses in against us the Lord is for us and not against us the acts of the flesh as we looked at a couple of weeks ago the flesh is keeping you it's a wing it's a working wing the epitome of the flesh p��� that keeps you wants to push you off the boundaries keeps you and it's all Romney what we talked about a couple of weeks ago the flesh and your desires sexual sin commentators break the axe of the flesh into a couple of things sexual immorality promiscuity and the such you know just or you living your life are you living it pure are you living it with actual sin wrapped into it the second one paul lists in galatians is the idea of religious sin what do i mean by religious sin i mean by that by idolatry and witchcraft religious sin extreme reverence for something other than god there's relational sin that paul lists in this chapter hatred discord jealousy fits of rage selfish ambition dissensions faction and envy and more the list so so are you giving into relational sins are you dealing with anger is there disunity in your family are there fits of rage are you selfishly ambitiously heading towards something is there hatred in your heart finally there's sins of excess paul says in that passage he talks about drunkenness and he talks about orgies and that's just that's just taking something that god has created and and it's doing it in excess the flesh the flesh presses down against you and and pushes you wants to push you off of the path and says there's greener grass over there go that direction so the flesh then you have the world the world presses us into its own agenda as well we've talked about this for the last couple of weeks we talked about the idea that the prosperity gospel is out there the prosperity gospel says says if the more you have the more blessed you are there's a story today I'm gonna tell that will not talk about that but the more you have the more blessed you are and by constantly attaining more you're more and more blessed it turns into idolatry it turns into thinking that your blessing comes from possessions of stuff or possessions of position rather than your place with God so we've talked about moral relativism we talked about universalism last week we talked about all of those things and that's the world and its teachings pressing in hard against you pushing you and saying go that way come this direction it's enticing you and it's deceitfulness some of the deceitfulness to walk away from God comes from your own heart comes from your own desires some of that deceitfulness comes from the God from comes from the world pressing you pushing you promising you you things that it can never fulfill and then you have forces of evil then you have forces of evil pressing in against you you're in a battle Church the battle of the flesh were well aware the Battle of the world were well aware of and the powers of the world but what we don't talk a lot about how we're gonna spend the next couple of weeks we don't talk a lot about the evil forces of evil even when we're talking about the one the weak the evil all the most all and when it's really over if that are around the evil forces constantly waging war and now here's my warning some of you are going to be superstitious what i mean by that is i'm going to talk about the devil i'm going to talk about satan and all of a sudden you're going to be superstitious oh no you can't talk about that because if you talk about that something bad might happen pastor paul and so so it's okay talking about the flesh and those desires that's okay we can do that it's okay talking about the world it's okay but boy once you start mentioning satan once you mention his name something bad is going to happen and so i'm studying on thursday for my sermon thursday goes great sermon kind comes together and then i wake up friday morning because i was going to go have coffee with my friend albert who's here they're going to have coffee and i turn on the water for my faucet in my bathroom and nothing comes out it just comes out in the trickle they go huh that's weird oh what's with that and then i go to another bathroom and pretty soon i find out that my house inside my house we don't have any water there's no water in the shower there's no water in the toilet there's no water inside i checked to make sure i paid the bill i did go to my water company yep okay we're current there and yet i go outside and turn the water spigot outside and there's plenty of water outside why is there water outside but not water inside yeah that's what we said oh no and what i found out in the course of the day after 60 days and i said yes we've wasted over 100 years we're gonna have a day like this and our resonator we need to find a way to shrimp down all that badpurنا land that wetland water for us you got that part i went to high school and this is my first day of university and it was so yet it was really rough because i had never been in HR in my entire life how it went or even loved didn't have it completely zero ten seven mo 43 on the floor and you feel like you're walking on sand and you're going, oh no, Pastor Paul, see, you're talking about Satan. That's a bad thing. And all of a sudden, your pipes go bad. But you know, that could be true. And yet in the process of that, the plumber found a leak. Plumber found a leak that if we wouldn't have found it, it could have been disastrous for us in a couple of weeks. There was a leak in the pipe underneath hot water. He did that. We didn't know. It was dribbling. And if we hadn't fixed that, we would have opened up the garage door one day and there would have been a flood. And we would have had a major repair." [41:09] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Do not be afraid to learn. Do not be afraid to address. Because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. All right, church? We're going to need to exercise some faith and some strength. So Paul, we've been looking at the book roughly, Paul, stopping on here. And Paul's writing to a church in Ephesus. And in this church in Ephesus, there is a group of believers. And they live in an idolatrous community, one that has a temple right up the street, one that everybody engages in it. It's part of the public persona. You worship idols, you worship idols. And they think that the Christians are weird for not worshiping idols. They think that the Christians are odd for not giving up. And Paul points out, throughout the first five chapters, Paul points out that, you know, you've got to walk in a manner worthy of God. And so in chapter six, he says this one phrase, and we're going to pick up the rest next week. He says this, finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Finally, after learning how a husband and wife should be together, after learning how a family should grow together, after learning about the kids and everything else, finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly church." [50:00] (85 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Church, his great plan for you, accumulated from ages gone past, since you are part of God's great plan, do what? Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Paul says, in light of we are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel and our conduct, how we act and how we interact with one another, we are supposed to be strong in the Lord. Your strength is in the Lord and what? In his mighty power. Finally, be strong in light that you are filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit of God living in you. He says he comes to you when you first believe, then he talks about his power living in and through you. He talks about the fact that you have a shield of faith. All those things we'll look at. He talks about that. Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Why? Because our battle is not against flesh and blood. But against principalities, against rulers, against all kinds of evil forces, church. How do you defeat the enemy? Do you go head to head? Do you go, okay, come on, use Satan, go, go, go. No, it is in the name of Jesus that you defeat the enemy. And he is already defeated." [51:22] (85 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Satan seeks to destroy your faith. The Lord seeks to test your faith. Satan seeks to destroy your faith. Oh, destroy Job. Destroy him and his faithfulness. No, God is not evil. God will not do that. But God will allow your faith to be tested. God will allow you, and you'll come out on the back side of that, stronger, being able to persevere and growing, because your faith is more valuable than gold or silver, church. Make sure you have your focus on the right thing. Number two, the second story of Satan working in the Old Testament is this great story. I love this story found in Zechariah chapter 3. In Zechariah chapter 3, Zechariah is a high priest. This is a guy named Joshua who is a high priest. Joshua is, this is, the temple's built, and Joshua is going to go give worship. And probably this is going to take place on what we would call Yom Kippur. He is a high priest. He's about ready to go into the Holy of Holies once a year that you're only allowed to go into. And so here's Joshua, the high priest. He's praying. He's in the Holy of Holies. He's at the altar. He's worshiping God. But to get there, he had to do some work." [01:04:25] (78 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Satan says, you can't use him. Look at his failures. Look at his filth. Look at his foolishness. You can't use him, God. How many of you have ever felt like God can't use you because of your failures, because of your filth, because of your foolishness? Oh, yeah. Satan says that to God, and your heart sometimes says that to you, but the Lord comes to his rescue. The Lord comes to his rescue. The Lord said to Satan. The Lord rebuked you, Satan. The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. Is not this man a burning stick snatched out of the fire? Joshua's clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the other standing there, take off his filthy clothes. And turning to Joshua, he said, see, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you new and fine clothing, church. This is grace. We all stand there broken, crippled with our foolishness, and God takes that away from us and puts on new clothing for us so that when Satan accuses us, he's going to say, they're clean. He's forgiven. He's washed. It's over with, Satan. Those accusations don't hold water anymore because of what Jesus has done for us, church." [01:08:39] (88 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Don't listen to the foolishness of the enemy who seeks to destroy you, who seeks to distract you, who seeks to disarm you. Whether it be in the problem of God or something like that. When Jesus tells you, in this world, the influence of one man is against you, the temple is against See, you see friends, trust God, trust Jesus, but trust the Son of God ataris. Listen to him, take prayer time, mind the and rectify life in the place of sin. Let's keep the word of Jesus in the last sentence. Next stanza is from Paul. Did I say that the Lord is a destroyer this sleeping night while the Methodist church is working? They don't hold because God is the God of grace. Your faith will prove true like Job's, and you're forgiven completely like Joshua. You are on the right side. Don't be afraid to say Satan's name. All he is is an accuser. He accuses you. If God is for us, who can be against him? Stand strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling that you have received. I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you receive. I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you receive. I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling that you have received. I urge you and you, you, to live a life worthy. of the calling you receive and to stand strong in his grace and in his power church we can do this be patient and humble bearing with one another Paul says how do we live a life worthy for patient with one another how do we live a life worthy we follow God's example when you walk in a manner of love so church as a wrap this up and strong in the Lord not in yourself your power to overcome it not in your personal desires stand strong in the Lord number two live a life worthy of the Lord your love one another number three keep the unity in the spirit one of the things we're gonna learn about that the enemy loves to do is he loves to sow this in the body of Christ this in the body of Christ church one more thing follow God's example follow God's this is what I want you to do this week some of you are gonna get some things they're gonna go wrong for you it's not gonna go things as you planned like my plumbing I didn't plan for my plumbing to go wrong I didn't plan for my plumbing to go wrong now if you stand strong in the Lord and say okay God what can you do any turns up that thing into a blessing and so you know what I'm preventing something bad from happening oh there was another thing that happened I didn't tell you a couple of weeks ago there was a rat that died in our garage we couldn't find it and we could smell it but we couldn't find it you know you go I could not find it for the life of me I didn't know where it was but guess where it was under the hot water heater ha praise God now I took the little dead rat out and it's even better whoo -hoo, right?" [01:11:19] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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