Message Date: January 10, 2021
Bible
“Spiritual Battles“
Ephesians 6:10-20 (NKJ)
- We are a battlefield between good and evil
- We, plus moral self-government restrains evil
- (2 Thessalonians 2 / Romans 13) ref
[Standing against the wiles of the devil]
- Wiles (strategies)
[Two major vehicles]
- False Religion / Man’s Philosophy
- 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NKJ)
- 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NKJ)
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NKJ)
- The Pharisee’s (false religion) and man’s philosophies (corrupt government)
[When to fight]
- King David’s life example
- When the sheep were attacked
- When the nation was attacked
- 1 Samuel 17:34-37 (ref)
- 1 Samuel / 2 Chronicles 20 – “The battle is the Lords” – But they had to engage
[When not to fight]
- When Saul attacked him
- When Shimei cursed him – (2 Samuel 16)
- Shimei repented – (2 Samuel 19)
- David was merciful and forgiving when it was personal
- Matthew 5 – “Turn the other cheek”
Psalm 20:2 (NKJ) – Our help comes from Zion (the church)
[When to pick a fight]
- We are to defend:
- The poor / widows / unborn / weak / the powerless
[Deborah’s song]
- Judges 5
- “Why did you stay with the sheep pens?”
- “Some stayed beyond Jordan”
- “Some stayed with the ships”
- “Some on the shoreline in coves”
Example – Numbers 32:23 – “Your sin will find you out”
- When some tribes refused to fight that was considered sin and would cost them in their inheritance. When Israel refused to fight and cross Jordan, it was a 40-year sentence in the wilderness.