I. Introduction
A. We are at War!
1. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese forces.
a. The day after, FDR gave a famous speech on December Pearl Harbor: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
b. It marked the beginning of America’s entry into the worldwide conflict at the time, WW2.
c. No one doubted that the United States was at war after December 7th.
2. There is another war that continues to rage, but for some reason, we often don’t admit its existence. It is the war for our souls.
B. Spiritual Warfare
1. Unlike the Pearl Harbor attack, our entrance into the spiritual war for our souls is not a surprise attack, although it often catches us unaware.
2. Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been doing all he can to derail man’s reconciliation with God.
C. Equipped for War
1. Over the next few weeks, we will equip ourselves for war against our enemy.
2. It’s not who we often think it is, though.
II. Know Your Enemy
A. Enemy’s
1. In verse 11, we learn that our real enemy is not of flesh and blood. The Christian’s real enemy is the .
2. Descriptions of the devil in the Bible
a. Luke 8:12 He steals the Word from people.
b. John 8:44 …murderer…liar…father of lies
c. Acts 13:10 …full of deceit and fraud…
d. 1 Timothy 3:6 …conceited…
e. Hebrews 2:14 he used to hold the power of death
f. 1 Peter 5:8 …adversary…prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.
g. 1 John 3:8 described as a sinner
h. Jude 1:9 argued with archangel Michael over the body of Moses
i. Revelation 12:9 …ancient serpent…
3. Enemy’s Allies
a. The devil can’t make anyone do anything, but that doesn’t mean people haven’t allowed him to use them to do his bidding.
b. When we allow evil in, evil takes on flesh and brings chaos. (e.g., Judas Iscariot, John 13:2)
4. Agents of the devil (1 John 2:18-19)
a. The list at the end of verse 12 is intimidating.
b. Actually, this is just a list of those with whom we are really at war, not one another.
c. Andrew Lincoln suggests that this list is not one of classification, but emphasizes the powers the enemy has at his disposal.
5. When we return to chapter 2, we find that Paul has already discussed the spiritual. We are reminded that we are not expected to defeat wicked angels; rather, the picture is meant to remind us that we are fighting from a position of because we have already been seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:1-7).
6. When we realize that our true enemy is not each other, we can finally get down to the business of finding in our lives.
B. Enemy’s
1. Christians need to know the enemy’s for deceiving us.
2. In verse 11, we also read that the devil has schemes. A word that is synonymous with schemes would be strategy. (see also Ephesians 4:14)
3. The Devil’s (1 John 2:15-17)
a. Desires of the flesh- What makes me good.
b. Desires of the eyes- What good to me.
c. Pride of life- What makes me look good to .
d. This same playbook was used in the Garden of Eden! (Genesis 3:6)
e. That’s one other thing about the devil’s playbook. He knows that if he can get you to buy in, you’ll convince others as well.
4. The enemy’s tactics are not complicated. They haven’t changed in a long time; just the way they are presented.
5. If we know the devil’s playbook, we can better recognize how to defeat him.
C. Enemy’s
1. The weakness of the enemy is the of God.
a. Christians are told to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
b. Robert Mounce translates the first phrase as “…grow strong…”
c. Learning the enemy’s tactics is not enough. We must prepare for his attacks and train ourselves for spiritual warfare.
2. Spiritual
a. James 4:7-8
b. to God- put yourself under His authority
c. the devil- deny him access to your mind and heart
d. Draw to God- seek the Lord’s counsel
e. Cleanse your & purify your – when we mess up, fess up
3. Simply put, God is Satan’s kryptonite.
4. Beyond what we are capable of doing, however, is God’s power.
a. As Paul defends his apostleship, which had come under scrutiny by some, he writes about the power by which he wages war. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)
b. When you feel overwhelmed or losing the spiritual battle, remember that the One who fights for you is stronger than any who you. (2 Kings 6:8-23)
5. Whatever the origin of the temptation or trial, God’s strength never fails.
III. Conclusion
A. Scars from Battle
1. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial, located in Hawaii, is a bucket list item for many who visit Hawaii. My understanding is that it is also very much a sobering experience.
2. Within the memorial is the USS Arizona Memorial. The memorial design, which you have probably seen in person or in pictures, looks somewhat ordinary, but it’s not.
3. The memorial’s design initially droops down to represent how America entered the war, but then rises sharply at the other end to represent America’s victory in the face of defeat (we just reflected on the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Paris after the June 6th D-Day landing). Architect Alfred Preis explained that the structure “sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expressing initial defeat and ultimate victory…. The overall effect is one of serenity.
4. Scars from battle can represent victory and healing.
B. Invitation
1. It is by Jesus’ wounds that we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-6).
2. You may be war weary, something we’ll talk about soon. Perhaps you need your fellow soldiers to lift you up.
3. Maybe you need to tell the devil once and for all that he does not have a hold on you because of who you want to have hold of you.