Matt Nelson - October 3, 2021
Spiritual Warfare
STREAM IN THE DESERT Spiritual Warfare 10.3.21 Weekly Liturgy: Good Father, We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty. Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom. As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you? Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence, As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water. As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation Sam Storms: People often respond to the call to spiritual warfare in one of two ways: either with obsessive preoccupation or with complacent indifference. Why many Christians are not prepared for spiritual warfare? We don’t have a biblical worldview of the spiritual realm Ignorance of the Bible Ephesians 6:11-12 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. Irrelevance of the Bible Screwtape Letters: “I do not think you will have much difficulty in keeping the patient in the dark. The fact that ‘devils’ are predominantly comic figures in the modern imagination will help you. If any faith suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that…he therefore cannot believe in you.” Insulated Lifestyles The Fear of Imbalance Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The greatest tactic of the enemy is deception. The only power the enemy has over you is the power you give him. Satan is looking for an opening, a small window where the seeds of deception and destruction can find fertile soil. 1 Peter 5:8 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. How do we overcome? We preach the centrality of Jesus and the power of the gospel and we confront any and all false gospels We understand our authority and victory in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in us We protect the unity of the believers from the division of the enemy We are prepared for the schemes of the enemy and daily putting on the armor of God We live a holy and righteous life We are a praying people We live in biblical community and practice honesty and confession