"Spiritual warfare; The Enemy."
Spiritual Warfare • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 27 viewsSpiritual warfare has its origin in a rebellion of many angels against God. Satan is seen as the prince of this world, leading an array of forces opposed to God. Although disarmed by Jesus Christ on the cross, they remain a powerful threat to the church and to individual believers.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Satan and his angels fall
Satan and his angels fall
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
Satan and his angels comprise a well-organised army
Satan and his angels comprise a well-organised army
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.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
Satan and his angels will ultimately be fully disarmed by Jesus Christ
Satan and his angels will ultimately be fully disarmed by Jesus Christ
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
Satan persecutes the church
Satan persecutes the church
The woman is here thought to be symbolic of the church.
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
Satan opposes the gospel
Satan opposes the gospel
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Examples of opposition to the first Christians
Examples of opposition to the first Christians
Saul causes havoc in Jerusalem.
And Saul approved of their killing him.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Opposition to Paul and his companions:
Opposition to Paul and his companions:
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
Violent hostility to Paul and his companions:
Violent hostility to Paul and his companions:
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.
Jewish plots against Paul in Jerusalem:
Jewish plots against Paul in Jerusalem:
They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
Satan attacks individual believers
Satan attacks individual believers
Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.