Invisible War - Spiritual Warfare 101: What is the Invisible War?, Part 1

Demons, Satan, the powers of darkness. The real they're actively at work in a world. The question is do you know how to recognize them and if need be. Go to battle against all over the next two weeks were going to look together at the enemies tactics his schemes and how to defeat them when the attacks stay right here back in just a moment. Part one of the welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge shipping Living on the Edge features the Bible on the steely discipleship program truly is a Living on the Edge for the first time Chip and the entire team begins a series called if you've ever wondered about the powers of darkness around a lot of if you have a Bible open it down to Ephesians chapter 6 looks joint, your pores message.

What is you and open your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 6 there is one key text verses 10 through 20 where the apostle Paul is going to explain spiritual warfare know what you need to understand if you will mentally go with me here is chapters 1 through three. He's telling them this is who you are in Christ, your brand-new creature you've been redeemed you've been sealed with the spirit you have an inheritance. God has made this brand-new thing called the church of Jew and Gentile men. Chapter 4 says, in light of all God has done for you. I want you to want you to walk in the manner worthy of your calling. The word worthy we get our English word axis.

It's a picture of those balances anything. Chapters 1 to 3 is all that God has deposited your new in Christ seated in heavenly places.

Love more than you could ever be love. It'll never ever change now live in a way where your belief in your behavior. Tell the same story and then in chapter 4 he'll talk about how that is happened.

The role of the church talk about life changing how that occurs in chapter 5 will talk about walking and purity. Talk about walking the light of being filled with the Holy Spirit what that looks like in your marriage. What that looks like with your children what that looks like in your employment and that day it with slaves and then after getting all that is going to say this new life and all those relationships in the spirit of God living his life after you is going to occur in a hostile environment you're in a battle and so beginning at verse 10 through verse 20. He's going to teach very clearly what the battle is where the battle is how to put on spiritual armor and how to actually experience the victory. The Christ is also given us so that you'll notice verses 10 to 12 inches. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. I like it.

Underline the phrase be strong in the Lord and put a number one above that and I want you to move over and says put on the full armor of God, I want you to underline that and put a number two there's two commands in this passage. The first is a general command and it's grammatically what's called the present tense in the passive voice. I'm going to give you for some of you Bible students you appreciate that another's will go on and what that is and it really doesn't matter. Here's what it means.

It means this is something that you are commanded to do right now but the passive voice. It's something that that you have to allow to happen to you. I'm commanded to do it but I can't make it happen. So, for example, right below the general command. I basically took the text and let me give you an expanded translation. Allow yourself to be continually strengthened by the power already made available to you in your new position in Christ in your relationship with him. The power that raised Christ from the dead. Now also dwells in you. First and foremost, there's a general command to be strong in the power that God has already given us. Allow that power to work in and through your life. And then there's the specific command.

This is how you do that you put on the full armor of God, spent some time talking about what that is what that looks like a very practically how to do that in the notice. The purpose clause that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil circle the words schemes we get our word strategies and and literally.

It's a picture of literally holding fast are standing firm. It's the idea that if you would understand that you when you trusted in Jesus Christ were taken of the kingdom of darkness and you were placed in the kingdom of light, then you were sealed with the spirit is spirit was deposited in your spiritual gifts were given to you or made a part of the body of Christ.

You are now protected in a part of it now says this is all that you have. I want you to stand firm or hold on to what you already have and then he says the way you do that is by putting on the full armor of God, and then he gives the reason he says for our struggle, put a circle around that word is not against flesh and blood. In other words, the men and people and material world but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, and so the specific command if you want sort of a little broader interpretation here. Okay I'm going to be strong in the Lord. How do I do that by continually and repeatedly putting on this at specific points of time. The spiritual protection.

God is provided for you. The spiritual armor. This is the and what's called an heiress imperative in unlocking to throw a lot of great words around here early on is really important because an heiress imperative has a sense of urgency. In other words, what you need to do is be ready in the urgent and ready and continually when the battle comes, you need to be strong in the Lord and you do that by appropriating this armor at any time at any moment when the darts of the enemy come goes on to say, for the express purpose of holding onto the positioning Christ as your bombarded by satanic strategies designed to destroy you and to render you ineffective and kingdom pursuits. The reason is it's because there is a real struggle and that word struggle you circled literally is a picture of a wrestling match.

They would have the gladiators go in and Russell to the death and this is that word. This is serious stuff. This is in a little man in a red suit with horns and a plastic tail. This is against the physical material adversaries. That's not the problem, people, circumstances, organizations, but he's literally giving us a hierarchy. You know if you're in the military and other generals and majors lieutenants and sergeants and he's giving as I hierarchy of demonic forces rulers powers were for world forces of darkness spiritual forces of darkness than the heavenly places.

And so what I want to do is okay. We got it general command, be strong in the Lord. We have a specific man you do that by putting on the armor of God. You do that so that you can stand firm against the schemes, strategies of a personal angelic being with the third of the angels who are seeking to destroy your life render you useless hurt you emotionally, spiritually, relationally discredit Christ and do anything possible to make your life miserable and get you to trust anything or anyone other than Christ.

Now with that said, I want to give you five basic truths five things. This is 101. This is just directly with the Bible teaches about spiritual warfare. Are you ready basic truth number one is there is an invisible world that is just as real as the visible world, there is an invisible world is a world that you can't see, and I can't see that's just as real as the visible world there's there's a system.

There is angelic beings. There is a a world that is real as touching your skin kissing your child denied cutting a steak watching a sunset this very, very real and let me show you that from both old and New Testament. If you have your Bibles. You can look at second Kings chapter 6 and as you turn there. I'm going be looking at about verses 14 through 17 and it's it's about the prophet Elisha, and Elisha has been used by God to frustrate a certain king's plans multiple times multiple times multiple times and I can never figure out where he is and they want to get them and so they finally find out what city he's in.

And I mean he sends Calvary chariots, soldiers, and they surround the whole city and so now they've got in the story will pick it up is his servant goes out early in the morning, and he looks out the city and he goes oh my, were done and so notice we pick it up knowing the attendant verse 15 the man of God had risen and gone out, and behold, an army with horses and chariots were circling the city in his servant said to him, alas, my master, what shall we do so he answered, do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those with them. Now I don't know exactly where the servant was coming from but I imagine he'd been with Elisha for a while it seemed do miracles. The great prophet of God. But I'm guessing right at this point you think you know my master is very godly, very wise very close to God. He's just a really bad math as best I can tell it's you and it's me and as all of them and you're telling me there's more with us than them. And then it's very very interesting. Verse 17 and Elisha prayed and said, oh Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see in the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw behold the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha when they came down him. Elisha prayed to the Lord and said strike this people with blindness. I pray so.

He struck them with blindness. According to the word of Elisha and Elisha led them back to that King. All I want you to get is theirs to realities and there's one going on all the time that we don't see in the New Testament will look at it, minute and second Corinthians chapter 10 apostle Paul will write to this church and he'll talk about a a warfare that's going on. Not only is there is invisible world, but there's a battle going on in his visions, he says, look, it's not about flesh and blood. I don't know if any of you remember Francis Schaeffer.

He had a great impact in my early life and he wrote a lot. They had a tiny little booklet and his booklet was called to contents to realities, and it really changed my life. I read it. He was a philosopher and a brilliant guy and I did look free and all those things and traveled all around the world, but is just he said there's two concent two to realities.

There is a material world world and in the material world. There's a visible world and there's an invisible world and what happens in the invisible world has direct correlation and impact on the things that we see premise basic truth number one, there is an invisible world that is just as real as the visible world basic number two we are involved in an invisible war, a cosmic conflict that has eternal implications. He says in second Corinthians 10 for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and were taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ to the apostle Paul is saying I'm in a battle, but I don't battle flesh and blood in the same way. Spiritually, he says, and notice. Notice the keywords.

He says we have divinely powerful, pulling down fortresses, speculations, knowledge and thoughts. Here's what you need to get so often when people think about spiritual warfare they think of some scary movie and in the old days, it was the exorcists in and now it's like you just noticed on TV just how many dark just dark stuff and there's all kind of spiritual being, doing all kind of spiritual things and what you need understand is that the great great majority of all spiritual warfare is not like that at all. There are some overtimes will talk about that 90% of spiritual warfare and the battle is in your heart and your mind.

The number one thing Satan is is a deceiver and he has a world system is a world system that he takes got what God says is good and he twisted and wants to give it to a good thing the wrong time in the wrong way or with the wrong person. He takes beauty and he twisted. He takes what is right and twisted to make what is wrong. He takes truth and makes it relative and then he makes it different. And then he has all kind of things where what he's doing deception. Deception. Deception. Deception and if he can get you to believe lies about God's goodness is kindness. How could a good God let this happen lies about you.

Your worthless your nobody will never amount to anything or if that doesn't work. You are wonderful you are entitled to everything you the most important person in the world lies about what makes you secure what makes you successful. If you just had enough money if you just had bigger muscles. If you just have those little purses that had the insignia on them so everyone would know how important you are.

If you just had a car that had little different emblem of the car that you have. If you go public and have so many patents then you're somebody. If your kids make the traveling team, you'll finally really be worthwhile if you get always right, and the lies are someway somehow your performance. You can either possess something or be something or impress people and somehow someway. The lie is that will bring joy and meaning and purpose and happiness, which is why we have people that are I would send the less than top 1% of the gene pool that are beautiful and talented go through relationships like other people go through underwear because no amount of money and no amount of beauty when it white powder up your nose or we have athletes making 20 or 25 or $30 million a year that struggle in relationships.

While I won't mention any names of current pros that seem to have their life completely met member when the sports page was about sports. I want you to ESPN I find out more about who's getting beat up by what player might my point is is that brings you what it's they win then theology of the enemy.

When you have when you can become when you look then you'll but the even if that then arrives. I remember I did the chapel for the Seahawks of the guy who normally does. It was heard are out of town or something. I got a call from Seattle and I got to pay the normal chaplain can do it.

Would you do it and they won the Super Bowl the year before us a picture do that in so doing, the chapel and you know cut all the names and people you would know and have a lot of believers in the guy who sort of the right-hand assistant to to the coach.

There was a really good guy would build a good relationship and so doing chapel and I said what, what, what are the issues coming little bit about what's life with you guys and one by one by one they said something to me were were believers on the butt. And so we thought we would not miss what happened us but he said one of the most depressing thing that happens in the world is winning the Super Bowl because it's like this is the this is the weed if if he goes sort of the depression that happens like it's this is when I got a ring. I went to Disneyland I got a bonus but we we thought would be here in the believers said you know what we thought would be immune to that, but we all by the lie to some degree so that's what he wants us to know. He says you're in a spiritual battle look speculations knowledge of God here. Here's the deal. What you can find as much of spiritual much spiritual warfare is about you putting good things in your mind and renewing your mind so you look at life the way God looks at life so you are focused on the truth because when you know the truth and practice the truth. It makes you free noticed the apostle Paul goes on there was a situation with the brotherhood send and other church was not handling the reconciliation very well and Paul's writing to them to correct that and he says insect rankings for four in whose case the god of this world, Satan has blinded what their minds of the unbelieving, that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Here's a little application that I would just like you to ponder is when you when you see that there's eternal implications people not believing in Christ is not primarily an intellectual issue. The moral issue.

It's not that people don't understand that there is an enemy, blinding people from understanding, making the connection. I mean if you just look at it logically the proposition of the gospel is like a win win win. How you turn it down. Unless your brains not working.

We all know we mess up the Bible calls sin. We all know we fall short. We've all said things thought things done things hurt other people. We all know that we long to be forgiven. We want life and purpose God in his great mercy sent God the son, who lived a perfect life to reveal what the father is like and then living a perfect life dies on the cross in our place to pay for our sin.

Literally the word is a tone he covers it. He rises from the dead improves its troop 500 eyewitnesses and this is some fairytale.

This is another religion. This is like all you got, ponder this and then it starts out with this mustard seed of a ragtag group of semi-uneducated people save one they transform the world is the largest movement in the world and we we have some people in the name of Christ done a lot of negative things, but I will say what when you see what happened last go around the world with me and and hospitals, orphanages, language, and it is been Christians, God's people salt like loving and he makes this offer. I want you to know that no matter what you do. You could never make yourself right with me on your own.

So my son died in your place, and he paid for your sin. He rose from the dead improves its troop and the offer is whosoever, by faith we believe and receive that gift has eternal life. I mean, if someone said excuse me sir, you could never have $1 billion because matter how long you work and so I have a friend he would like to give that to you but you need to receive that by faith and put your trust in him.

In order for him to give you $1 billion would we have to easy. It's probably a Robo call enough and yet that that's the gospel mean and if it's clear it's simple, it's the substitutionary work of Jesus. But the issue is people's minds there blinded. This is why intercessory prayer so important. There is a correlation between praying and beseeching God asking the father to cause his spirit to work in the heart of someone to open their eyes open their mind where they could lay down their pride or or or or feeling unworthy in order to believe and trust in what Christ has provided the question I have and you'll see this in your notes. When is the last time you honestly considered some struggle or relational conflict that was rooted in Satanic opposition and what I mean by this is that CS Lewis has wisely said the greatest error when it comes to spiritual warfare is to think far too much about Satan or to think far too little and I'm amazed that we have a modern mindset and somehow we just think everything's cause-and-effect. I did this and this happens I did this except look at the pervasive evil in the world. All human beings are made in the image of God have amazing dignity and value but there some unspeakable evil historically and currently mean a member of a member reading the story of a little 10-year-old boy who took a hammer and smash the head of the little securable Bureau kilter evil and we seen Isis beheading people that's evil we know about what's happening whether it's Idi Amin or whether it was the Holocaust store things enforcing me. There's amazing amazing.

There is evil in the world and is pervasive and what I want to say is that everything that happens isn't just cause-and-effect or human problems. Now again extremes over here. I've been with some groups and yet that's right. Rather, I agree with you I had a flat tire. You know those flat tidings of hitch.

Every time you know and you know Nina my wiper legs what you know we got the Bernie agreement. I really do that in you know I lost my job. It's a bad boss the night and come in on time did a very good job. You know the devil yet listen very carefully. We take absolute personal responsibility for our behavior and our choices and that there is a cause-and-effect to those things and some things have been very difficult in the world because it is a fallen world, bad things happen to good people.

There are tornadoes and hurricanes. God never designed the world to be this way. But there's also an enemy that tempts you in ways have you ever had a really close friend and you just can't explain it that there's there's a wedge that comes between you and no matter how many conversations like you just can't get it if you ever going then about your life and maybe you're taking some spiritual steps and have what feels like an almost irresistible urge to sin or have you ever, I know this is a confession never had a really deep time to look. I'm really talking with God and have and have a cuss word start to flow through your mind and then you go ON the workforce in the presence of God cuss words were both not much we can bring in their just my point is, have you ever seen good people in a marriage, or good people in the church are good people in a small group, and you know they're godly and their golfing are both great people and it's just like no matter what happens, there's this in this division, or at least in my case. This used to happen about 9/10 Saturday afternoons I was a very slow learner.

We had a Saturday night service and I would review everything work, message reviewed to three hours in the morning and then I would go in and you know when I had kids, we would do all the sports and things you do on Saturday and then about 2 to 30.

I would drive to the church pride in my heart) hour hour and 1/2, but about 130 and often when I was driving and I be driving to church and literally it would be like him in the light and then just get depressed, but I don't but I don't mean like I'm starting to little blue I mean to be like likes not worth living.

I don't preach his message. I'm the worst person in the whole world and I mean it was dark dark dark and was like what happened and then I was struggling.

You know, unity, study lung condonation for you are a loser and it and it was just like you. I pray and pray and get the guys to pray with me and him. Mr. how many weeks it took you to realize what a second. I'm going to preach God's word.

What is it this is demonic activity to really get me off my game and I remember it. Then it happened multiple times. Okay other things later. But I remember that would happen and find I got okay. I refuse to allow this to happen, and I'll share you how to do this I would quote two or three verses about who I am in Christ commanded demonic spirits to link back to God. But what if you would've asked me grown-up that's that's weird stuff knowing where people have those kind of experiences to realize that addictions deep-seated issues a person may be happen years ago maybe some shame that you feel like you can never get over there is an adversary. I am not saying in any way everything is caused by the enemy, but just for our purposes. Would you consider if there are struggles that you've worked very hard trying all that you can or relationship or situation, would you just possibly consider that there is an animated seeking to destroy you, and you can go the physical. The psychological right the spirit you can do all these things, but if you don't address this may be nothing changes to be back with this application but just a quick reminder this message. What is the invisible war is from chip series.

The invisible war. What every believer needs to know about Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare using Ephesians chapter 6 to sort out fact from fiction giving you clear biblical insight on how to think about prepare for and engage in spiritual warfare. Evil is present and active all around us, but as believers number one we don't have to be afraid. And number two, equipped with the truth of God's word. We can engage like Jesus did with truth and amazing grace. This series comes in multiple formats. Small group video either DVD or online streaming with study guide audio and the book however you like to study, we've got you covered for all the details, visit us@livingontheedge.org Special offers on the app or give us a call at 888-333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003. I'll be right back in just a minute to give you some very specific application about today's teaching but if you're concerned about our nation and our world and the strife in the chaos and the violence in your ear just really uptight about. So what's really going on and you hear may be other Christians or you watch the news and you hear the strong statements and social media postings, here's what I want you to know James chapter 3 says the wisdom that is from the enemy is chaotic, it's demonic. It's divisive.

It brings this order so when you see those things.

That's not flesh and blood people are not the enemy. It's demonic forces that are causing that level of chaos and disorder Satan and demonic forces are energizing these things see and be very careful not to attack the people, but attacked the cause and if you don't know how to discern what's from the enemy and what's just natural. You will be deeply stuck about how to respond in some tough situations right now.

These spiritual warfare cards will give a clear perspective of what spiritual warfare is how to respond and what you need to do once you recognize this isn't just a person's bad attitude.

There's demonic power behind this. In fact, let me give you a quick description of these cards.

These cards are very systematic. They will help you understand the basic principles of spiritual warfare when you're in spiritual warfare. One of the promises in the Bible about spiritual warfare, how to understand the tactics of the strategies of the enemy, what protection God has given you and actually how to put on the armor of God, and then when necessary out loud how to engage the enemy and when these cards I think it be great for people in your world that you love the you want to help and were living in a world that's getting crazier and crazier.

But here's the promise greater is he that is in us that he that's in the world was brand-new set of spiritual warfare. Scripture cards is organized in several categories to help you remember the truth about Satan and his tactics. Remember your position in Christ and then know how to use Scripture to battle and win whether there for you or to give as a gift to help and encourage someone else. I hope you'll pick up a set or two while supplies last. For all the details on our newly revised spiritual warfare. Scripture cards visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or tap special offers on the app without your strip with his application. As we close today's program. I ask you question I asked when was the last time you considered that possibly some of the things that we think are just every day occurrences might in fact have a spiritual warfare component and as I ask you that know for sure were not saying there's a demon under every bush or all our problems are because of Satan or demons. What were saying is, yes, it's a fallen world and bad things happen yes we make bad decisions and there are consequences. But in addition we are in an invisible battle and we need to recognize it and learn to deal with it. So right now I want you to pray. Dear God, will you show me if any of the issues I'm struggling with today. Any relationship, any circumstance could be rooted in demonic opposition he will show you have a great one.

Just before we close. I want to thank those of you who make this broadcast possible through your generous giving Living on the Edge invests your gifts to purchase airtime, create programs and provide resources to help Christians live like Christians Living on the Edge is been a blessing to you, would you consider sending a gift today.

You can donate online at http://livingontheedge.org tap the donate button or give us a call a 8883336003 that's AAA 333-6003 and thanks in advance for your partnership with us. Well, I hope you'll join us again next time. When Chip continues his series. The invisible war.

For now, this is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this vision of living on the