You Asked For It, Week Three: Spiritual Warfare

"Spiritual Warfare" So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV) We have to stop looking at the SPIRITUAL through the LENS of NATURAL… and start looking at the NATURAL through the LENS of the SPIRITUAL. When we understand the SPIRITUAL fight… it helps us make more sense of the NATURAL fight. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) 3 things you have to know about the Spiritual Fight: You have to KNOW it's coming. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 (NIV) You have to KNOW that it will typically follow significant spiritual moments. You have to know that the enemy thrives in ISOLATION and works in COUNTERFEITS. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) In the spiritual fight, Isolation is his strategy and counterfeits are his weapons. Counterfeit GOOD Counterfeit TRUTH The main objective of spiritual attack is to get us to doubt who WE are… and who GOD is. Counterfeit WORSHIP You can WORRY For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) You can get WEIRD You can WORSHIP You can follow the WORD 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. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) 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. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)   Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV). Big Idea: The Spiritual Fight is very real… but if we aware of it… and prepared for it… not matter the circumstances… it won't take us out. …Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:14-16 (NIV) And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:14-16 (NIV)