We must get the church strengthened and ready to face the level of spiritual warfare that is being released today.
We are in a real spiritual war that is being manifested in the natural realm. The level of this spiritual war is increasing. There are examples in the Old and New Testaments of times of heightened spiritual warfare.
Daniel prayed for twenty-one days. Then an angel came to him and said, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia" (Daniel 10:12-13).
When Moses was sent to Pharaoh to tell him to let God's people go. A heightened level of spiritual warfare was released.
The greatest example is when Jesus Christ came into the world. The devil knew that Jesus was here to change the world. A new level of spiritual warfare was released.
Luke 3:21-11, “Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
Luke 4:1, "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil."
Luke 4:14 NKJV, "Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee."
Ephesians 6:10-14, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (strategies) of the devil. 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." (BELT of TRUTH)
1. We have A Real Personal Spiritual Enemy.
Luke 10:18, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
John 10:10 NKJV, The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
2. This Devil uses WEAPONS.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (strategies) of the devil.
2 Corinthians 2:11 NIV, In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Isaiah 54:17, NKJV, No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
Ephesians 4:27, “Do not give the devil a foothold.” (Opportunity, place)
Ephesians 5:18 NLT, Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:11, Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, rather expose them.
Matthew 11:12 ESV, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”
3. This War is over TRUTH.
Genesis 3:1 NLT, The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?
1 Timothy 3:15 NKJV, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Proverbs 14:12 NKJV, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
Matthew 15:14, KJV, “Blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
Isaiah 5:20, “Beware, those who call evil good and good evil.”
4. The Challenge is to Stand Strong on the Promise of his Power.
Ephesians 3:10-14, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (strategies) of the devil.
5. Jesus promised You Power over all the power of the enemy.
Luke 10:17-19, "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority (say I have authority) to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
"We are a supernatural people, born again by a supernatural birth, kept by a supernatural power, sustained on supernatural food, taught by a supernatural Teacher, from a supernatural Book. We are led by a supernatural Captain in right paths to assured victories.”—Hudson Taylor
Larry Neville