OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons
Part of the series: THE ARMOR OF GOD
Next  Click to download Audio

THE ARMOR OF GOD

 

The Spiritual Battle Is Real

Lesson 1

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The word traces its meaning beyond 1150.

1.     The German word “werra” meant strife.

2.     The Old Norse word “verri” meant worse.

 

B.    The word about which we speak is the word “war.”

1.     It does involve strife.

a.     Active hostility or contention

b.     A conflict carried on by force of arms

2.     Too, all wars make things worse through hatred, division, destruction, and the loss of life.

 

C.    Sadly, as Christians, we are at war.

1.     Two verses

a.     I Timothy 1:18

 

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare.

 

b.     I Peter 2:11

 

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

 

2.     We often hear this war that we fight referred to as a spiritual warfare (II Cor. 10:3).

 

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.

 

D.    To assist us in this battle, God has provided us with spiritual armor (Eph. 6:10-18).

1.     We want to study each of the parts of the armor in a series of lessons on Sunday evening.

2.     This lesson is an introductory lesson.  We have entitled it:  “The Spiritual Battle Is Real.”

 

I.               THE ENEMY IS REAL

 

A.    The enemy designated:

1.     Satan (I Pet. 5:8)

 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour.

 

2.     Satan has allies.

a.     Angels

1)    Matthew 25:41

 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from ye, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

2)    Ephesians 6:21

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in his places.

 

b.     Evil men (II Cor. 11:13-15)

 

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

 

B.    The enemy described:

1.     Invisible (Eph. 6:12)

2.     Wicked (Matt. 13:19, 33)

3.     Subtle (II Cor. 11:3)

4.     Murderer (John 8:44)

5.     No truth in him (John 8:44)

6.     Father of lies (John 8:44)

7.     On the attack (I Pet. 5:8)

 

II.            HIS ATTACKS ON BIBLE CHARACTERS WAS REAL

 

A.    Adam and Evil (Gen. 3:4-5)

 

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

 

B.    Job (Job 1:9-11)

 

Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, doth Job fear God for naught?  Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house?  And about all that he hath on every side?  Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

 

C.    David (I Chron. 21:1)

 

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

 

 

 

D.    Jesus (Matt. 4:1)

 

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

 

E.    Peter (Luke 22:31)

 

And the Lord, said, Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.

 

F.     Judas (John 13:2)

 

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.

 

G.    Ananias (Acts 5:3)

 

But Peter said, Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

 

H.    Paul (II Cor. 12:7)

 

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

 

I.      Cain (I John 3:12)

 

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother…

 

J.     See also II Timothy 2:26

 

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

III.          THE TACTICS OF THE ENEMY ARE REAL

 

A.    Satan has devices that he uses against man.

1.     II Corinthians 2:11

 

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us:  for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

2.     Ephesians 6:11

 

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 

B.    Some of Satan’s devices:

1.     Deception

a.     To cause one to believe something that is not true

b.     John 8:44; II Cor. 11:3; Gen. 3:4; Rev. 20:8

 

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do:  he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:  for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

2.     Temptation

a.     Setting enticements before us that appeal to the flesh

b.     James 1:14; Gen. 3:6

 

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lusts and enticed.

 

3.     Accusations

a.     Claims made against one that are false, or, that are meant to shame and embarrass

b.     Job 2:3-4

 

And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

 

4.     Blinding the mind

a.     Causing one not to be able to see the truth of God’s Word

b.     II Corinthians 4:4

 

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, let the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

5.     False teaching

a.     This is teaching that seem plausible, or, that is appealing to man and opposes the truth.

b.     I Tim. 4:1; II Pet. 2:1-2

 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.

 

6.     Transforming evil into good (II Cor. 11:13-15)

a.     Three times the word “transformed” is used in this text.

1)    False apostle transformed into apostles of Christ

2)    Satan transformed into an angel of light

3)    Satan’s ministers transformed into ministers of righteousness

b.     Transformed

1)    Strong (3345):  to transfigure, disguise

2)    Thayer:  to change the form of, to transform

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    In this lesson, we have seen three things:

1.     Our spiritual enemy is rea.

2.     His attacks on others in the past were real.

3.     His tactics are real.

B.    Paul understood this enemy well and knew man needed to protect himself against him.  Therefore, he exhorted the church in Ephesus to put on the armour of God.

1.     Ephesians 6:11

 

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 

2.     Ephesians 6:13

 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.