Engaging in Spiritual Warfare: The Time is Now

 

Summary

In the times of old, kings would go forth to battle during specific seasons, often dictated by practical needs such as the availability of resources. Today, while the nature of warfare has changed, the spiritual battle remains constant. There are times when our inner struggles, doubts, and fears rise with intensity, much like the seasons of war. These are moments when our faith is tested, and we must remain vigilant, armed with prayer and watchfulness, to resist becoming slaves to our inner enemies.

As Christians, we are called to be active in our faith, to engage in spiritual warfare, and to seize the opportunities for service that God presents to us. Just as nature has its seasons of rest and activity, so too do we experience times of spiritual vigor and times of introspection. It is crucial to recognize the seasons when we are called to action, especially when there is a readiness in the world to hear the gospel and when we ourselves are spiritually nourished and prepared.

The time for Christian activity is now. We must be ready to share the gospel, to engage in acts of service, and to support one another in our spiritual journeys. Each believer has a unique role to play, and it is essential that we do not neglect our duties. God has equipped us with the strength and resources we need to fulfill our calling, and we must trust in His provision as we step out in faith.

Moreover, the urgency of the spiritual battle is underscored by the presence of those who are still captive to sin and in need of the liberating power of the gospel. Our efforts, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can lead to the salvation of many. We are reminded of the great reward that awaits those who faithfully serve, as well as the dangers of inaction, which can lead to spiritual stagnation and vulnerability to sin.

Let us, therefore, rise to the challenge, motivated by our love for Christ, the truth of the gospel, and the desire to see others set free. The time for battle is now, and we are called to be active participants in God's redemptive work in the world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Seasons of Spiritual Warfare: Just as there are seasons for physical battles, there are times when our inner spiritual battles intensify. These moments require us to be vigilant and prayerful, recognizing that our faith will be tested and that we must rely on God's strength to overcome. [02:18]

2. Active Faith and Service: Christians are called to be continually active in their faith, seizing opportunities for service and sharing the gospel. Our spiritual life should manifest in zeal and dedication to Christ, recognizing that rest is necessary but should not lead to complacency. [05:52]

3. Unique Roles and Responsibilities: Each believer has a specific role and responsibility within the body of Christ. It is crucial to identify and fulfill our unique calling, as neglecting our duties can lead to spiritual stagnation and hinder the church's mission. [22:34]

4. Urgency of the Gospel: The presence of those still captive to sin underscores the urgency of sharing the gospel. Our efforts, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can lead to the salvation of many, and we must be motivated by love for Christ and compassion for the lost. [35:09]

5. Dangers of Inaction: Inaction in our spiritual lives can lead to vulnerability to sin and spiritual stagnation. We must be proactive in our faith, continually seeking to serve and grow, lest we fall into complacency and miss the opportunities God has placed before us. [41:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Seasons of Warfare
- [01:10] - Divine Control Over War
- [02:18] - Inner Spiritual Battles
- [03:45] - Satan's Opportunistic Attacks
- [05:16] - Christian Activities and Service
- [06:28] - Seasons of Rest and Activity
- [08:14] - Suitable Times for Spiritual Effort
- [10:08] - Willingness to Hear the Gospel
- [12:32] - Spiritual Readiness for Battle
- [14:35] - Discerning the Spirit's Call
- [16:41] - Working with God
- [19:53] - Call to Spiritual Warfare
- [22:34] - Unique Roles in the Body of Christ
- [35:09] - Urgency of the Gospel
- [41:17] - Dangers of Inaction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Samuel 11:1

Observation Questions:
1. What was the specific time mentioned in 2 Samuel 11:1 when kings would go forth to battle? How does this relate to the sermon’s theme of spiritual warfare? [00:15]
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the reasons that might cause our inner spiritual battles to intensify? [02:18]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of rest in a Christian's life, and how is it compared to the seasons in nature? [06:28]
4. What are the dangers of inaction in our spiritual lives as highlighted in the sermon? [41:17]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "seasons of spiritual warfare" apply to the personal experiences of believers today? What might these seasons look like in a modern context? [02:18]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christians can be proactive in their faith and service? How does this align with the biblical call to be "kings unto God"? [05:16]
3. The sermon emphasizes the urgency of sharing the gospel. What are some practical ways believers can respond to this urgency in their daily lives? [35:09]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the consequences of neglecting one's unique role and responsibilities within the body of Christ? [22:34]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent time when you felt a heightened sense of spiritual struggle. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future to rely more on prayer and watchfulness? [02:18]
2. Identify a specific opportunity for service or sharing the gospel that you have recently encountered. How can you actively engage in this opportunity with zeal and dedication? [05:52]
3. Consider your unique role within your church or community. What steps can you take to better fulfill your responsibilities and avoid spiritual stagnation? [22:34]
4. Think about someone in your life who is still captive to sin. How can you be a vessel of the Holy Spirit's power to share the gospel with them? [35:09]
5. Reflect on a time when you were inactive in your spiritual life. What were the consequences, and how can you ensure that you remain proactive in your faith moving forward? [41:17]
6. How can you discern the "sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees" in your life, indicating a call to action or service? What might this look like practically? [14:35]
7. What specific actions can you take this week to rise to the challenge of being an active participant in God's redemptive work in the world? [43:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Seasons of Spiritual Warfare
In life, there are times when our inner spiritual battles intensify, much like the seasons of war in ancient times. These moments require vigilance and prayer, as our faith is tested and we must rely on God's strength to overcome. Recognizing these seasons is crucial, as they are opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God. During these times, we must be armed with prayer and watchfulness to resist becoming slaves to our inner enemies. The spiritual battle is constant, and we are called to be active participants, trusting in God's provision and strength. [02:18]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a current inner struggle or fear. How can you actively rely on God's strength and prayer to confront it today?


Day 2: Active Faith and Service
Christians are called to be continually active in their faith, seizing opportunities for service and sharing the gospel. Our spiritual life should manifest in zeal and dedication to Christ, recognizing that rest is necessary but should not lead to complacency. Just as nature has its seasons of rest and activity, we too experience times of spiritual vigor and introspection. It is crucial to recognize the seasons when we are called to action, especially when there is a readiness in the world to hear the gospel and when we ourselves are spiritually nourished and prepared. [05:52]

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can actively serve someone in your community this week, demonstrating your faith in action?


Day 3: Unique Roles and Responsibilities
Each believer has a specific role and responsibility within the body of Christ. It is crucial to identify and fulfill our unique calling, as neglecting our duties can lead to spiritual stagnation and hinder the church's mission. God has equipped us with the strength and resources we need to fulfill our calling, and we must trust in His provision as we step out in faith. Recognizing and embracing our unique roles allows us to contribute effectively to the body of Christ and support one another in our spiritual journeys. [22:34]

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord." (1 Corinthians 12:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your unique gifts and talents. How can you use them to serve your church community and fulfill your role in the body of Christ?


Day 4: Urgency of the Gospel
The presence of those still captive to sin underscores the urgency of sharing the gospel. Our efforts, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can lead to the salvation of many, and we must be motivated by love for Christ and compassion for the lost. The time for Christian activity is now, and we must be ready to share the gospel, engage in acts of service, and support one another in our spiritual journeys. Each believer has a unique role to play, and it is essential that we do not neglect our duties. [35:09]

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel? How can you intentionally share the love of Christ with them this week?


Day 5: Dangers of Inaction
Inaction in our spiritual lives can lead to vulnerability to sin and spiritual stagnation. We must be proactive in our faith, continually seeking to serve and grow, lest we fall into complacency and miss the opportunities God has placed before us. The urgency of the spiritual battle is underscored by the presence of those who are still captive to sin and in need of the liberating power of the gospel. Our efforts, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can lead to the salvation of many. [41:17]

"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." (James 4:17, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area of your spiritual life where you have been inactive. What steps can you take today to re-engage and grow in that area?

Quotes



There is a time in our hearts when the inner warfare rages with unusual violence. At certain seasons, our corruptions break forth with extreme violence, and if for a while they appear to have formed a truce with us or to have lost their power, we suddenly find them full of vigor, fierce and terrible. [00:02:21]

There are times when Christians, all of whom are kings unto God, should go forth to battle in a special and peculiar sense. So we will take the text and accommodate it to that end this morning, and may God send us now a soul-stirring word. The time for the kings to go forth to battle is come. [00:05:16]

In some sense now, in the highest sense, believers ought to be always active. There should never be an idle day or a wasted hour or even a barren moment to the servant of God. We are bound as soon as we receive the new birth to let that spiritual life develop itself in zeal for our Lord Jesus Christ. [00:05:52]

Observe how active all things are in summer, but nature begins to relax somewhat of its vigor as autumn bronzes the leaves of the forest, while in winter vegetation sleeps, and the sap, instead of circulating rapidly through the tree, retires into the center and slumbers for a while. [00:06:28]

I believe that just now we have come to a season suitable for special effort. Every Christian should go forth to battle when there is best hope of success. We should select wisely, as the kings did, the most suitable seasons for warfare. [00:08:14]

The time for spiritual work is when the worker is especially fit for it. When is that? Should it not be when he has been fed with spiritual meat? Should it not be when through that spiritual meat his faith has grown and his love is increased? [00:12:32]

Moreover, God has appointed each one of you to a service. You are not all set to preach nor all to any one form of labor. The hand is not set to do the duty of the foot, nor the foot to accomplish the service of the eye. [00:22:34]

Remember next the banner under which we find the banner of the truth of the atoning blood. Let me remind you men and women how your fathers held that banner firmly, though they stained it with their gore. Remember how many have borne it amidst the smoke of their own burning. [00:32:23]

Remember there are tens of thousands of God's elect who are captives to death and hell, some of them blasphemous, many of them drunkards, some plunged in the direst vice, others of them in the blackest despair, and it is only through your efforts, blessed of the Holy Spirit, that they are to be set free. [00:35:09]

The time for kings to go forth to battle has come, sure I, and at the time for this church particularly has come, for of this I can judge with certainty. The time for effort and success has fully arrived, and as for the Church Universal, surely there is no better period for her to set herself to seek a revival than just now. [00:37:17]

I do believe it is before every Christian either to serve his God with all his heart or to fall into sin. I believe we must either go forward or we must fall. The rule is in Christian life if we do not bring forth fruit unto the Lord our God, we shall lose even our leaves and stand like a winter's tree, bare and withered. [00:41:17]

Remember the Master's words with which I conclude: he that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. And now by the blood that bought you, by the spirit that quickens you, by the heaven that awaits you, Menem brethren, I ask you to go with me to the battle. [00:43:33]

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Transcript
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