grace community church

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Spiritual Warfare GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH October 17, 2015

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

EPHESIANS 6: 10-12

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INTRODUCTION “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight.” - Screwtape Letters, P. 3

ANGELS Where did angels come from? For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16

What are angels? They are similar to mankind in the following ways: A. They are called sons of God. (Job 1:6,2:1) B. They are intelligent and can learn. (1 Peter 1:12; Ephesians 3:10) C. They communicate intelligently. (Matthew 28:5) D. They have emotions. (Job 38:7; Isaiah 6:3; Luke 15:10) E. They have a will. (Hebrews 1:6; Jude 1:6) F. They are immortal. (Luke 20:36)

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They are different than mankind in the following ways: A. Angels have great power. (Psalm 103:20) B. Angels have great glory. They appear as very dazzling (Matthew 28:3), and those who see them are afraid. (Luke 2:9; 2 Kings 6:14-17) C. Angels have great beauty. (Ezekiel 28:17) D. They can perform miracles. (Genesis 19:11) E. They have no physical body but are spirit. (Hebrews 1:14) However they can materialize and assume bodies. (Genesis 19:1,5) F. They are not created male and female (Matthew 22:28-30) although when they appear they tend to appear masculine. There are different kinds of angels: A. Archangel - There is at least one named Michael. (Jude 9; Daniel 12:1) B. Cherubim - (Ezekiel 10; 28:14; Gen 3:22-24) They guard the holiness of God. (Psalm 80:1) C. Seraphim - (Isaiah 6:1-3) They have to do with the Worship of God. D. Living Creatures - (Revelation 4:7, 8) Similar function to Cherubim but with a different number of faces and number of wings. E. Guardian Angels - (Hebrews 1:14; for children, Matthew 18:10)

SATAN The Origin of Satan & His Fall A. In Ezekiel 28:11-17 B. In Isaiah 14:12-17 Instead of being grateful to God for all the power and beauty that was given to him, Satan committed the sin of pride and used the free will that God gave Him to lead a rebellion. This happened before Adam’s sin in Eden (Genesis 3:1) and after creation. (Genesis 1:1; Job 38:4a, 7) God cannot cause sin. (Habakkuk 1:13; James 1:13) When Satan rebelled he brought as many as a third of the angelic host with him. We call these fallen angels demons. (Revelation 12:9) Through Adam’s sin Satan got his kingdom, though not the one he originally wanted.

Satan’s Defeat When Jesus’ came Satan offered him all the kingdoms of this world (Matthew 4:8-9) because they were his by right to give. 1 John 5:19 says that the whole world is under Satan’s power. Through Jesus work on the cross, the kingdom of God is now a reality on earth although it has not been fulfilled completely.

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Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Colossians 2:14

Now & Not Yet Why did God ask us to pray that His will be done on earth in Matthew 6:9-13? We experience part of the benefits of the kingdom now although we do not yet experience all of the benefits of the kingdom. Example:

”Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:2 We experience part of the blessings now of being a child of God. We will some time in the future experience all of the blessings of being a child of God!

The Great Struggle Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6: 10-12

The Names of Satan Names Reflecting Position: Anointed Cherub who Covers (Ezekiel 28:14) The Prince of this World (John 12:31; 16:11) The Prince of the Power of the Air (Ephesians 2:2) The god of this Age (II Corinthians 4:4) The Prince of Demons (Matthew 12:24; Luke 11:15) Names Reflecting Character: Lucifer (star of the morning - NASB) (Isaiah 14:12) Satan (Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:9) Devil (Luke 4: 2,13; Revelation 12:9)

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Old Serpent (Revelation 12:9; II Corinthians 11:3) Great Dragon (Revelation 12:7,9) The Evil One (John 17:15; I John 5:1) Destroyer (Revelation 9:11) Names Reflecting Satan’s Activity: Tempter (Matthew 4:3; I Thessalonians 3:5) Deceiver (Revelation 12:9; 20:3) Accuser (Revelation 12:10; Job 1:9; Zechariah 3:1) The spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:2)

Satan’s Character Murderer (John 8:44) Liar (John 8:44) Highly intelligent (II Corinthians 2:11; II Timothy 2:26; I Timothy 3:7; II Corinthians 11:3) Persistent (Luke 4:13) Violent (I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:12)

Satan’s Strategy Deception (II Corinthians 11:13-15) 1) Counterfeiting God’s system of truth False ministers (II Corinthians 11:13-15) False doctrine (I Timothy 4:1-3) False christs (I John 2:18; 22; 4:3) False followers (Matthew 13:38-39) 2) Deceiving the nations (Revelation 20:3; Daniel 10:13) 3) Deceiving the righteous (Genesis 3:1-5) Accusing and slandering (Revelation 12:10) Attacking our minds (II Corinthians 10:3-5) Our bodies (Job)

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Tempts to lie (Acts 5:3) Tempts to commit sexual sins (I Corinthians 7:5) Tempts to rely on human wisdom and strength (I Chronicles 21:1-4, 7-8; Matthew 16:21-23) Tempts to take pride in spiritual matters (I Timothy 3:6) Tempts to discouragement (I Peter 5:6-10) Prevents ministry (I Thessalonians 2:18) Prevents acceptance of truth 1) Snatching away the Gospel (Luke 8:12) 2) Blinding minds to the Gospel (II Corinthians 4:3-4) Infiltrates the Church 1) Through false teachers (II Corinthians 11:13-15; II Peter 2:1-11) 2) Through false disciples (Matthew 13:38-39) 3) Promoting division (II Corinthians 2:10-11) Incites persecution (Revelation 2:10; 12:13; 13:7) Plants doubt (Genesis 3:1-5)

Who are Satan’s Allies? A. The world (I John 2:15-17; 5:19) B. The flesh (Galatians 5:17; Ephesians 2:3) C. The demonic

The Final End of Satan A. He has been judged (John 16:11) B. He will be judged (II Corinthians 11:14-15; Revelation 20:10)

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophets are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

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More Resources: 1. Gary’s sermon called “Angels Among Us” from August 16, 2015 - http://tinyurl.com/o3eva3k 2. Angels, Elect & Evil by C. Fred Dickason 3. Your Adversary the Devil - J. Dwight Pentecost

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