Winning Battles in The Spiritual War Dr. Bob Suggs
Battles • Bunker Hill • Attack on Canada Revolutionary • Siege of Boston • Battle of Trenton War • Battle of Germantown • Valley Forge Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 2
• The ruler (prince) of this world is Satan, the father of evil (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) • Satan has declared war on God, His will, and all who follow Him • We live in this fallen and wicked world • Jesus, our forerunner, also experienced trials • Trials bring about growth and maturity. (James 1:1-12) What Satan does for evil, God uses for good. (Consider both Job and Joseph) • Also, we are fighting against our “selves.”(Rom. 7:15) Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 3
Understanding the passage Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 4
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. 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. Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 5
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.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 saints. Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 6
Paul was at the end of the letter. He carefully presented our place in Christ Jesus. He also put forward the basics of the Christian walk. At this point he inserts; Finally , given… • all that God has done for you. • the glorious standing you have as a child of God. • His great plan of the ages that God has made you part of. • the plan for Christian maturity and growth He gives to you. • the conduct God calls every believer to live. • the filling of the Spirit and our walk in the Spirit. • all this, there is a battle to fight in the Christian life . Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 7
It is a spiritual thing! Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 8
DEVIL (Greek) "the accuser" or "the slanderer" (Job 1:6-11; 2:1-7; Revelation 12:10). In Hebrew Satan means "adversary." The two- fold designation marks the two-fold objects of his malice-the Gentiles and the Jews. • There is only one Devil, many "demons― (KJV uses ―devils‖ 55 times) . • He slanders God to man & man to God (Genesis 3; Zechariah 3:1). His misrepresentation of God as; arbitrary, selfish, and envious of human happiness. He is to be feared lest He should hurt [His creatures.] This falsehood runs through all pagan idolatries. • Demons, "knowing ones,‖ are spirits who tremble before, but love not, God (James 2:19), incite [humans] to rebellion against Him [God] (Revelation 16:14). "Evil spirits" (Acts 19:13,15) recognize Christ the Son of God (Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41) as absolute Lord over them, and their future Judge; and even flee before exorcism in His name (Mark 9:38). As "unclean" they can tempt man with unclean thoughts. They and their master Satan are at times allowed by God to afflict with bodily disease (Luke 13:16): Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 9
Who‘s Our Enemy? • Scripture teaches that in idolatry the demons are the real workers behind the idol. Compare 1 Corinthians 10:19-21; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 9:20. • Idolatry is part Satan's engines for holding dominion. • Our word "panic," from the idol Pan, represented as Satan is, with horns and cloven hoofs, shows the close connection there is between the idolater and Satan his master. (Fausset's Bible Dictionary) Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 10
T wo O.T. passages that speak to who he is: • Isaiah 14:12-14 "How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. 13 For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. 14 I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.‗ NLT Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 11
• Ezekiel 28:11-19 Then this further message came to me from the Lord: 12 "Son of man, sing this funeral song for the king of Tyre. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: "You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone — red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald — all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. 14 I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. 15 "You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. 16 Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 12
17 Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings. 18 You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire out from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 19 All who knew you are appalled at your fate. You have come to a terrible end, and you will exist no more.― NLT Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 13
What he is: What he isn‘t • He is not equal to God • He is an angel (fallen) • He is not all-knowing, created by God (omniscient), all-powerful • Given a position of (omnipotent) and not responsibility able to be everywhere at • intelligent, capable, and once (omnipresent) • He can‘t make us do powerful, anything (unless we • Beautiful agree) • proud and envious (of • He is not to be trusted God) • ―He was/is not strong enough‖ to win against • part of a war fought God against God in heaven • He isn‘t fair, just, merciful • He is the enemy of God or righteous and therefore our enemy, • He ―leads the whole too. world astray‖ Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 14
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are . (1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT) Even the very words of the devil disclose his plan, purpose, and activities. To the question from God, ― Where have you come from?‖ Satan answered, ―I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that‘s going on.‖ (Job 1:7 NLT) Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 15
Knowing the enemy’s character gives us insight into his world view, his frame of reference or where he’s coming from. Character determines methods. • He is the father of lies (John 8:44) • He is a deceiver (Matt. 24:24) • He is subtle (2 Cor. 11:3) • He is slanderous (Job 1:9-10) • He is an accuser (Rev. 12:10) • He is fierce (James 1:2) • He is powerful (Eph. 6:12) Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 16
• He is proud (Isa. 14:13) • He is an imitator (2 Cor. 11:14) • He is wicked (1 John 3:12) • He is the adversary (1 Tim. 5:14) Victorious Christian Life (Ephesians 6:10-20) R.C. Suggs 17
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