Spiritual Warfare Why?


February 17, 2010


1. Why the battle?
• If God is so powerful why doesn’t He get rid of the demons that attack us?
• When you ask this question how are you feeling?


2 Corinthians 4: 1-6 special interests in 3 and 4 (NET Bible)


4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. 4:2 But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4:4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. 4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 4:6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.



• What was Paul feeling when he wrote this section of Scripture?

Paul was fighting against the fallen angels to preserve the Gospel. The rulers of this world (the defeated) were trying to veil the Gospel with lies of works to make it unattainable.



• Satan is our enemy; Ezk 28:14, Rev. 12:4, Eph. 6:12
• Spiritual warfare is the battle for souls Luke 4:8-9, I Cor. 4:3-4
• Spiritual warfare takes place in the mind Eph. 6:12, I Cor. 4:14
• Spiritual warfare begins the day we are born
• Satan uses deception to blind the mind Ephesians 6:12, Daniel 10


2. How do I fight?
We fight from the position of victory and with authority
• How are we supposed to attack our enemies?
• Do we use our words and our hands?


2 Corinthians 3:183:18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


• What if you had never failed as a child? No bike wrecks, no hot water incidents, no failed attempts at walking on water?
• How would you respond in the face of adversity?


Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you have authority therefore you will not be attacked.


Our goal is to advance the kingdom of God on Satan’s territory, through the power of the Gospel, which transforms lives, bringing the lost to salvation (Matthew 28:18-20)
The Armor of God: Our Weapons
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.


Ephesians 6:11-17
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 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.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
(http://www.truthnet.org/Spiritual-warfare/5Spiritual-soldier/Spiritual-soldier.htm)

Next Week:
What CAN the devil do to us?