SPIRITUAL WARFARE

             I.      The Battlefield

a.      Good vs. Evil, the combatants

                                                               i.      God gives free choice, we chose the Fall

                                                             ii.      I Peter 5:8-9 – Satan as a roaring lion

                                                            iii.      John 12:31 & I John 5:19 – Enemy-occupied territory

                                                           iv.      Matt. 13:24-30; 37-43 – Parable of the Weeds

b.      Origin of Satan

                                                               i.      Enemy is real, not just a concept (Gnostics)

                                                             ii.      Ezek. 28:11-19 – King of Tyre parallels

                                                            iii.      Luke 10:17-20 – Satan falling like lightning

          II.      Evidence of Spiritual Warfare

a.      Daniel’s Prayer & the Prince of Persia

                                                               i.      Daniel 12:10-14 – archangels & messengers

                                                             ii.      Sometimes we must be vigilant and patient in prayer

b.      Divination

                                                               i.      Prohibited

1.      Deut. 18:9-22 – instead God will raise up Prophets

2.      Definitely practiced by pagan cultures

                                                             ii.      The Witch at Endor

1.      I Sam. 28 – Saul seeks guidance

2.      Evil spirits can lie

                                                            iii.      Blessing & cursing

1.      Balaam

a.       II Peter 2:15-16 & Numbers 22-24 – Balaam wants money for divination

b.      There is power in evil that we can’t disregard

                                                           iv.      Simon the Sorcerer

1.      Acts 8:9-25 – wanted the Spirit’s power for money

2.      Acts 16:16-18 – slave girl tells the future

3.      Sometimes fortune-tellers do get advice

c.      The Unknown

                                                               i.      Ghosts

1.      Exceptional times; God’s power unleashed

2.      Matt. 27:50-54 – tombs open up

3.      Luke 24:27 – Jesus’ appearances after resurrection

                                                             ii.      Exorcism

1.      There is a Heavenly timetable that we do not know (Matt. 24:36)

2.      Matt. 12:43-45 – when an evil spirit leaves…

3.      Mark 5:2-15 & Matt. 8:29 – Legion and the pigs

4.      John 5:28 – those in their graves…

5.      John 7:30 & Luke 22:53 – Jesus’ timetable; when darkness reigned

       III.      The Christian in Battle

a.      Boundaries

                                                               i.      Dealing with the unknown; be careful of accusations and respectful of authority

1.      Jude 1:5-11 (all of it is good) – bringing accusations

a.       Balaam (Num. 22-24)

b.      Korah (Num. 16)

b.      The Name of Jesus

                                                               i.      The Authority

1.      Matt. 12:29 – the strongman

2.      Luke 10:17 – demons obey

3.      Mark 1:21-28; 34 – demons obey

                                                             ii.      Healing

1.      Acts 3:16 – healing in His Name

2.      Acts 16:18 – Paul heals

3.      Acts 19:11-20 – the seven sons of Sceva; sorcerer’s scrolls

c.      Equipping ourselves for the fight

                                                               i.      Strongholds

1.      II Cor. 10:3-5 – waging war against strongholds

                                                             ii.      The Armor of God

1.      Eph. 6:12 – the armor of God

        IV.      Sneak Attacks

a.      Possession & Oppression

                                                               i.      Can a Christian be possessed?

1.      Eph. 1:13-14 – sealed with the Spirit

2.      I John 5:18 – cannot be harmed

                                                             ii.      Can we be oppressed?

b.      The Occult

                                                               i.      The New Age movement

                                                             ii.      And Old Age practices

c.      Halloween & Superstition

                                                               i.      Costumes: what we say by what we portrait

1.      Revisit Deut. 18:9-12

                                                             ii.      Isa. 2:5-6 – don’t bring it with you

                                                            iii.      I Tim. 4:7 – superstitions

d.      Acceptance of Evil in our culture

                                                               i.      Video games

                                                             ii.      Sports team mascots

                                                            iii.      Movies