Continuing Pastor Kyle’s message on spiritual warfare, (C) Believers may be more susceptible to spiritual attacks when making choices to of dedication, devotion to and acts to serve God in all areas of their life. InMatthew 13:7 Jesus continues metaphorically parable speaking that, “Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.” Then explains in Matthew 13:22 , “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word [the Word of God], but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” There are competing worldviews and priorities in society, but what are they based on? The cares of this world are easily shifted by our weak flesh desires for godly basic necessities of food, shelter, clothes, means of income, peace, love , family and faith to materialism {things], hedonism [fun and entertainment], busyness [an overloaded schedule], competition and position [discrimination], popularity [self-worship], wealth {greed], depravity [sexual immorality] and drugs [addictive altered state of mind} that loses sight of God’s foundational Word, Will and Way. Satan (the deceiver) is quick to point out all of the things that you don’t like or do not have, instead of the truth of what God is doing in your life. It takes spiritual discernment to figure out what God is speaking to you in the midst of the distracting environment that you are in. Prayerful stay committed to God’s work as they take root, connect and become a regular part of your life.
(D) Believers may be more susceptible to spiritual attacks when they and the Christian church are on the verge of significant Gospel advancement. In Matthew 13:8 Jesus continued the parable of the Sower saying, “Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” In Matthew 13:23Jesus explains that, “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” When the church body is effectively fulfilling the good works of the Great Commission in making disciples though taking the Gospel word to the world, that is when a spiritual attack can appear out of nowhere, so Christians must be alert and aware but not afraid. Satan knows that he cannot un-convert a true born-again Believer sealed by the Holy Spirit (one who preservers unto the end – Matthew 24:13). Remember that “the thief [the devil] comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. Why?
Satan deceived Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:1-7 to doubt God, ushering in sin and death into the world, as promised in Genesis 2:16-17. In Genesis 3:15, God proclaimed the protoevangelium (the first Gospel of redemption) which condemned the devil. Satan (a murderer from the beginning – John 8:44) attempted to circumvent his judgment in the temptation of Christ (Matthew 4:1-11), but failed. Knowing his end in Revelation 20:10, “the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”, so now“your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8), using a spiritual attack, attempting to deceive everyone he can with divisions, temptations through our sinful flesh desires, distractions and discouraging mishaps in life to get us to reject the Gospel of Salvation and take them to Hell with him. His goal is to make born-again, who are sanctified saints on their way to Heaven, less affective at reaching others who do not know the Savior of the world – Jesus Christ, because disciple of Christ makes disciples that make disciples and decreases the population of Hell.
What should we do if we think that we are under a spiritual attack? First thing, claim the power and authority of Jesus Christ, rebuke or resist the demonic work and command it to leave. In Luke 9:1-2, Jesus “called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Resist him, firm in your faith. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, the Apostle Paul explains that, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” The point of Christian spiritual warfare is to take down demonic strongholds (anywhere that Satan has a strong hold on or easy access point into us). 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 goes on to say, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience,
when your obedience is complete.”
The main battlefield for the heart of mankind is fought in our soul (mind, will and emotions). How do we recognize spiritual conflict in our life? We are to have no others gods [idols] before our one true almighty Creator, so nothing is to be between His our face and His face. Anything that is distracting or obstructing our face-to-face relation and conversation with our Lord Father is a stronghold. If it is sin, then we need to repent, confess and give it to Jesus, for it is only paid for on the Cross to rid ourselves of them. Our flesh’s sin nature is drawn to egocentric idols and sin. James 4:7 tells us to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Galatians 5:16 tells us to “let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
Remember that Ephesians 6:10-13 instructs us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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 firm. The strength of the armor is fortified when the Christian soldiers stand together, shoulder-to-shoulder in the battle. There is strength in numbers. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says that “a person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” We are never alone in the spiritual conflicts in life. The Lord is with you. Stand firm, do not retreat and you shall be victorious.
In Christ, Brian
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