The Fallen from Spiritual Warfare - 2
Spiritual Warfare • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction: As we close this series, we are looking at three last topics.
In the last lesson we saw the Forging in Spiritual Warfare.
There is work that is taking place in the life of every Christian.
The warfare of this life has a purpose for the Christian.
We understand that we are here for the purpose of bringing glory to God.
We understand that we are to witness because we posses a treasure in these earthen vessels.
But we also understand that the Lord is conforming us to His image.
The forging effect of these battles that we face, navigated properly work together for good, and that good is to be more like our Savior.
When we looked at that account in John chapter 1 and saw what Nathaniel had to say concerning the Lord at the first, we realize His perspective at that juncture was based on worldly wisdom.
The Christian’s perspective is based on the truth, the Word of God.
We have a filter with which to understand all that is going on in this world.
In this lesson, we will look at the Fallen in Spiritual Warfare and conclude this series with the Frontier of Spiritual Warfare.
As with the rest of this series, we want to look at what the Bible has to say concerning this matter in Spiritual Warfare.
We see that we fight battles everyday.
We see that we are pulling men and women out of the fire by labouring together with God in declaring the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible says in Jude 23 “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
In the midst of spiritual warfare, unfortunately there are failures.
There are those who are wounded and fallen into the trap and snare of the Devil.
We would have to admit, if we are honest that there are in our lives a great many wounds we have taken and failures that have taken place.
Every one of us can think of things that we wish we could do over or in some cases erase.
I want to encourage you though, as we speak about the fallen we must once again understand that the war is already decided.
The Lord Jesus Christ is coming again to receive us unto Himself.
The Lord Jesus Christ will come again to reign 1000 years here on this earth and in the end, Satan and His workers and all evil will be put away forever!
When we speak about the Fallen from Spiritual Warfare, we are not speaking about losing ones salvation, but rather about being effective as a Soldier for the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible clearly teaches that those who are saved possess eternal life.
Those Who Are Saved Possess Eternal Life
John 3:36 “36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
John 10:27-29 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
Romans 10:13 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Philippians 1:5-7 “5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”
That being said, what we are talking about is the fallen/failures in the Christian life.
When see a grave warning in I Corinthians 9:26-27 Paul speaking first of all about himself.
And this by the way, is where we all need to be. Not speaking about the failings and falling of others. But understanding that we are responsible for the warfare that we are involved in personally.
(This does not mean I do not teach or preach what is truth, but rather that I need to be concerned with the Lord Jesus Christ and my fellowship with Him so that I may minister to others.)
Paul stated this,
“26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
I think we could sum this up by using again the language of Scripture and a particularly strong phrase that the Bible uses,
I Corinthians 10:12 the Bible says, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Or we might say, the Fallen from Spiritual Warfare.
What we realize in this short passage is that Paul saw the danger and possibility in Himself being a castaway.
In I Timothy 1:18-20 “18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
So what are we to be concerned with? What dangers have many fallen into?
And we could list all manner of sin…for is an abomination unto God and results in broken fellowship and ineffectiveness for the Lord.
I would like to point out what we see in this phrase used over and over again, “Take heed...”
And the references are dire warnings that command us to look at these things, to hold them in our minds and remember them.
Be Concerned With Our Personal Walk With the Lord
Many have fallen to the darts of the enemy because they have been consumed with everyone else but themselves.
I Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Paul is telling Timothy if you are going to be effective in this warfare, in instructing others, you need to make sure you are taking heed to your personal walk with the Lord.
This is not implying that Timothy must be perfect to help others. But that Timothy must keep His eyes on the Lord Himself and be concerned with His own spiritual growth first.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
It will never be wrong for you to teach others truth. But the command is that you are taught of God as well.
We may be tempted as we look at these two verses to say, well that was spoken to those who were in prominent positions in the ministry, but my friend there is only one type of Christian.
There is only one standard of holiness and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
If this injunction is given to those who are spiritual leaders, it is given to every Christian.
A Christian Soldier will become a casualty if they do not concern themselves with their own personal walk with the Lord.
Be Concerned with Unbelief Entering In
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
This is expressing that there are those who lower the shield of faith and in doing so are left wide open to become a casualty from the fiery darts of the wicked.
Our Christian lives as we have looked at before are lived out by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Unbelief can enter in and the result is spoken about here that we depart from the living God.
Be Concerned with What You Are To Be Engaged In
The question should be asked from you to your Lord and Savior, what am I to be doing Lord.
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
I am reminded of how Paul responded during His encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ in Acts chapter 9.
It was here that Paul encountered the Lord Jesus Christ.
Turn to Acts 9.
The Bible says in Acts 9:1-6 “1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
“6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
Those that determine to sit on the sidelines are falling into the Devil’s trap and doing exactly what he would have you to do which is nothing!
Be Concerned with With Reaching the Lost and Encouraging the Brethren
I Corinthians 8:9 “9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.”
Be Concerned with the Long View
I Corinthians 3:10 “10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”
My friend we are all in a building project so to speak. What is it that is being built in your life?
How is your family being built?
What is being built up in your life?
What is being built in the ministry you are involved in?
As we would look out a this temporal world there are many that work recklessly. They are flippant about the work they are doing.
We may have said this phrase before, “It’s hard to find good help!”
This is again were many have become casualties in the battles they face. They get to the place where they say, “I just don’t care!”
Be Concerned With God’s Judgment
Romans 11:21 “21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”