title: the invisible war topic: a look at the spiritual war raging in the spiritual realm text:...

TITLE: The Invisible War

• TOPIC: A look at the spiritual war raging in the spiritual realm

• TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18

• THEME: The believer should be aware of the spiritual battle being waged in the spiritual realm.

Imagine, John Lennon

Imagine there's no Heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today


Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace


Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world


You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one

Forcing the Unwilling

• Alexander the Great Napoleon tried to conquer Europe

• Hitler tried to conquer the world.

• Iran

• Al Qaeda

• North Korea

What should every person know about this invisible

war?

I. There is a spiritual realm with two opposing forces:


• It began with the fall of Satan.



• Mans beginning was the Garden of Eden.



• Mans beginning was the Garden of Eden.

• It has been lived out in history


Satan does not care whether you believe in him or not- he would

prefer the second.

Recent Article

“We always mention some of the techniques” spies use to pry secrets from sailors, the officer added. “Namely, the use of good-looking women to lower a man’s defences…”

Recent Article

“These women will elicit from their males what kind of job they have, and determine if they have a security clearance, and then try to develop the relationship further, until the woman believes the male is ready to be approached by the actual case officer, who will then try to recruit him to commit espionage,” the officer said.

What should every person know about this invisible

war?

II. Every person is on a side:

Matthew 12

“a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand…if Satan drives out Satan he is divided against himself”

He later says that “whoever is not for me is against me.”


A. We are in Christ or out of Christ.



B. We walk in light or darkness.



B. We walk in light or darkness. .

C. We put on the new man or live in the old.



B. We walk in light or darkness. .

C. We put on the new man or live in the old.

Your default is the side against God.

John 3:16-19

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-19

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

What should every person know about this invisible war?

III. God provides defensive and offensive resources for

believers.

Ephesians 6:10-18

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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

13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:10-18

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 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.”

III. God provides defensive and offensive resources for believers.

A. God has given us armor to:



Be strong in the Lord:




Stand against the devils schemes (12)




Stand against the devils schemes (12)

Prepare you for Satan’s attacks (13-when the day of evil comes).

Five pieces of Amor

• Helmet of Salvation-

• Belt of Truth-

• Breastplate of Righteousness-

• Feet shod with the readiness

• Shield of Faith-


B. God has given us offensive weapons



The Spirit of God-The Sword of Gods word. Use by Christ in the wilderness




Prayer- Keeps our focus on God and his answers.




Prayer- Keeps our focus on God and his answers.

We are incapable of victory apart from God. There is no room for boasting on our part.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda":

1. If you're attacked by an anaconda, do not run; the snake is faster than you are.

2. Lie flat on the ground.

3. Put your arms tight at your sides and your legs tight against one another.

4. The snake will begin to climb over your body.

5. Do not panic.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda":

6. The snake will begin to swallow you from the feet end.

7. Step 6 will take a long time. After awhile, slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take your knife, and very gently slide it into the snake's mouth. Then suddenly sever the snake's head.

9. Be sure your knife is sharp.

10. Be sure you have your knife.

What should every person know about this invisible war?

IV. The ultimate outcome has already been determined

Romans 16:20

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

One thing is certain- Satan’s days are numbered. He may be creating havoc but he cannot win.


A. The resurrection of God settled it.

Hebrews 2:14

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”


A. The resurrection of God settled it.

B. The final judgment finishes it completely:

Revelation 20:7

But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

APPPLICATION:

1. Accept the reality that you are in a spiritual war and that you need God’s strength to endure the battle.

APPPLICATION:

2. If you have not placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ you are on the wrong side. There is no middle ground and you must decide what side you are on by accepting Jesus Christ.

APPPLICATION:

3. Never lose hope in that Satan has already lost- we are just waiting for him to cast away before we will see the end to the damage he is doing.

title: the invisible war topic: a look at the spiritual war raging in the spiritual realm text:...

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