Our Adversary’s Schemes Footholds, Strongholds, Traps, and Captivity Call of Duty: Spiritual Warfare 02 Pastor Nathan Mains Introduction: At birth all humans enter into a war between God and Satan where we are the targets and the trophies—the environment surrounding us, as we journey through life, is not neutral. Because of our enemy’s influence, evil, and the potential to be influenced by it negatively, surrounds us like the air we breathe. What kinds of things are at stake? Do you have relationships that haven’t become what they could be, that leave you, or others, longing for more? Do you have ideas for doing good for God that you’ve never followed through on? Do you have God pleasing hopes and dreams that have never become reality? Do you have secrets that keep you feeling you must stay hidden and ashamed? Do you think your enemy wants you to become a beautiful reflection of Jesus for God’s glory? How do you think he might try to keep this from happening? Because of our enemy’s schemes, we will not journey well and finish strong if we just stroll through life doing what we want, or what everyone else is doing. We need to have a vision of our lives as canvasses upon which our God desires to paint beautiful pictures that make a powerful impact for His glory—pictures whose value may not be seen in this life, but will be seen in eternity, in their full Christ reflecting glory. Ephesians 5:15-‐16 Be very careful, then, how you live-‐-‐not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 6:10-‐12 …be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 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 1 Peter 5:8-‐9 Be self-‐controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith (NIV84) If we are going to be shining reflections of Jesus with our lives and be making the most of the opportunities life offers us (Eph 5:16), we must take seriously this war we find ourselves in. A starting point for this is to increase our awareness of and alertness to the “schemes” our adversary is likely to use against us. A. Our Adversary’s Schemes -‐ The Bible describes our enemy as: the evil one, deceiver/liar, and accuser of the brethren. Our enemy does not want us to trust God, walk with God, or shine by reflecting Jesus. He does not want us to make the most of our opportunities for God’s Glory. He wants us: 1. Distracted/Detoured – keep us off track from living as Father, Son & Spirit’s heritage. He wants us ineffective and unproductive 2. Disarmed/in the Dark – Blinded so I don’t see or live out of what is true 3. Deceived/Distorted – I’m not who God says I am. The future is not what God says it is. What is important is not what God says it is. God’s and His promises cannot be trusted. Live-‐trapping comes this way-‐–it can sneak up on us through “false”=unhealthy teaching 4. Discouraged – It’s too hard. I don’t have what it takes 5. In Denial – don’t “own” anything. It’s always someone else’s fault 6. Disunified/Divided – Flesh & Blood is my real enemy. I’m going to take may own revenge. 7. Denounced/Accused – The Accuser always brings up my sin and faults 8. Demonized – by fallen angels (demons) assisting Satan in his attacks on humans (see C.3 below) 9. Devoured – Satan wants to own you, to have you living as a slave to some fear, some compulsion, some secret you think can’t be brought into the light 10. Dead – Satan wants God’s family out of the picture so they can no longer be displaying our Triune God’s heart and inviting others to trust Him. He wants those not yet “saved” to never be able to respond to God’s gracious offer of what Jesus Christ has provided for their redemption, justification, sanctification and glorification. B. Our Adversary has Allies 1. World – 1 John 2:15-‐17 2. Our own Flesh (sinful nature) – Romans 8:3-‐14; Col 3:5-‐9 3. Demons– Satan also has fallen angels under his control who are active in support of his anti-‐God agenda. These are probably most often the source of … all the flaming arrows of the evil one–which we are promised can be extinguished by the shield of faith (Eph 6:16). The continuum below illustrates how their involvement in people’s lives tends to get progressively more powerful unless resisted/rooted out. Opposition > Influence > Oppression > Obsession > Control > Invasion > Possession > Death Pastor Nathan Mains 04-26-15 @ Word/Sermons/Spiritual Warfare
C. Footholds & Strongholds – do not give the devil a foothold. -‐ Eph. 4:27 – Satan’s main strategy to keep unbelievers from responding to God’s grace, and to keep God’s children from brightly reflecting the glory of Jesus by their lives, is to find footholds (lit. “places”) in our lives. Satan is very shrewd. He begins by trying to get us to do something, say something or agree to something that gives him permission to be in the vicinity of our hearts. From there he will attempt to build a stronghold/base of operation from which to attempt control, capture and enslave them to his cause and away from God’s grace and goodness 1. Anger – I must protect myself and pay people back when they hurt me -‐ God says to give this to Him 2. Fear – What if… If something bad could happen, it probably will. Satan can suggest new things to fear. 3. Inadequacy – I don’t have what it takes, I’ll be found out – Phil 4:13 4. Control – I need to be in control; I can’t depend on God or others 5. Anesthetizing – I need to distract from or cover my pain by focusing on feeling good now – drugs, acohol 6. Substitution – the thrill of sex w/o intimacy > Pornography; the adrenalin of danger without risk > video game addiction; romance w/o risking myself in relationship > addiction to romance stories 7. Desire for Success/Acclaim – I must prove I am worth something deceive, cheat, run over others 8. Desire for approval – I can control what people think of me by hiding my heart/motives (1 Cor 4:5) 9. Materialism/Greed – this world’s things, money & food is what brings joy, comfort and security 10. I can be god to myself = Relativism -‐ I, not God decides what is truth for me. 11. Try harder-‐ism – If I can just do enough, more, my life will work, turn out well 12. There is “Secret” Knowledge/supernatural information – I need super help, but God won’t give it to me so I go elsewhere to get extra knowledge/power D. Live Traps & Captivity – Scripture alerts us also that believers can be live-‐trapped by Satan to do his will -‐ 2 Timothy 2:26 …come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive (lit. live-‐trapped them) to do his will. This is how Satan is able to foment division & disunity within churches. E. Important things to remember -‐ God knows Satan’s schemes but He also knows what He has provided. We must not forget that our Father loves us deeply, our Friend, Savior & Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for us, and our Advocate, Helper, Comforter, and Teacher, the Holy Spirit is available to help us beyond what we can imagine. So… q John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full; q I John 4:4 …the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. q Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience… q 2 Cor 10:3-‐5 -‐ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. -‐ So, even if Satan has successfully established a foothold or stronghold in your life, don’t despair; there is still hope. God always offers us a way of escape; a best next thing to do q I Cor 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. q I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. God convicts of specific sin so we can confess, be cleansed and get back in the battle Might God, right now be inviting you to: 1. “Put a stake in the ground” as a physical reminder that it is possible and your choice to be strong in the Lord and his mighty power and to stand and resist your adversary. Confess to God your awareness of any foothold(s) or stronghold(s) you’ve allowed into your life. Admit to yourself and to God any agreements you’ve made with your adversary. Picture the adversary’s places and internal strongholds in your soul being demolished because the one within you, the Holy Spirit is greater than Satan or anything he can throw at you. 2. Proactively draw near to God, believe that as you do, God will draw near to you and Satan will flee from you – nourish yourself on the truth in His Word, the Bible, and talk to him as you journey through the day. 3. Since people are the trophies in this war between God and Satan, no more significant blow can be given to our adversary than to turn to God and receive His grace gift of eternal life. So, if you’ve never accepted God’s offered gift of forgiveness of your sins and eternal life as part of His family, do it now. Trust Christ as your Savior and become God’s child forever. Pastor Nathan Mains 04-26-15 @ Word/Sermons/Spiritual Warfare
Next week > God’s Provided Protection: a Belt of Truth, a Breastplate of Righteousness – Ephesians 6:14 Message Essence: While Satan wants to keep people unaware of God’s grace, made available to them through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God invites people to respond in faith to His Good News regarding how Jesus’ death and resurrection provides them forgiveness and freedom . Those who respond become God’s children. these followers of Jesus to be aware and alert to Satan’s schemes His strategy to do this is to first seek out places in people’s lives where he can establish footholds. From each foothold he will attempt to create a stronghold that he can use as a base of operation within the person’s soul – giving him a fortress behind enemy lines. From these fortresses he will use every means he knows to expand his control until the person is his captive. He does this by getting people to agree with him and his lies. He wants people deceived, discouraged, and defeated, convinced that their only hope is to be totally focused on themselves; that following Christ is either impossible or not worth the effort. But even though all the forces of evil are allied against God and those who would join his army, God promises us that we can stand, we can resist, we can win against Satan! Pastor Nathan Mains 04-26-15 @ Word/Sermons/Spiritual Warfare