Spiritual Naivet vs Spiritual Victory How to deal

Spiritual Naiveté vs. Spiritual Victory How to deal with the real world through the power of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 10: 1 -7

2 Cor. 10: 2 I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh…

2 Cor. 10: 3 -5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, [4] for the weapons of our warfare not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. [5] We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. The Spiritual Realm Exists l Believe God Exists? Is He alone? You are not a bag of molecules! l Evil Exists! l l l Naïve View: “think nice thoughts…” Naturalist View: “no comment” Eastern Religions: “evil=good…” Postmodern View: “evil=arbitrary” “If you want to get the plain truth, be not concerned with right and wrong. The conflict between right and wrong is the sickness of the mind. ” Yun-Men, Buddhist master (Guiness, "No Exit", p. 221)

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. 2. The Spiritual Realm Exists The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” l l Pervasive, intelligent, creative, powerful… Beautiful and persuasive… A Counterfeit Kingdom: “the World System” Over 180 Passages describe… (Especially by Jesus Christ!) From Beginning to End: Bible’s Story For only of a craving for physical pleasure, l the world Satan, who isoffers the god this world, has blinded the a craving for everything we see, that and pride in our 1 John 5: 19 We know we are of those who don’tfor believe. They arefrom unable to 2 minds Cor. 11: 14 No wonder, even Satan achievements and possessions. These are not the of God, andlight thatof the whole world see the glorious the Good … 1 2 John Cor. 4: 4 Father, but are from this 2: 16 disguises himself asworld. an angel News of light. disguises as an angel light. lies inhimself the power of the evil of one.

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. 2. 3. The Spiritual Realm Exists The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” We live in a Battle Zone!

We live in a Battle Zone! • It will not go on forever! • You must take sides! • (We are taking sides…)

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. 2. 3. 4. The Spiritual Realm Exists The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” We live in a Battle Zone! You have a powerful enemy! l l Satan hates God and those standing with Him. He manipulates and controls through fear. 1 Peter 5: 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Hebrews 2: 14 -15 hadaround the power Your adversary, the…him devil, who prowls like aof death, that is, lion, the devil, to free thoseto who through fear of roaring seeking someone devour. death were subject to slavery all their lives.

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Spiritual Realm Exists The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” We live in a Battle Zone! You have a powerful enemy! A war of ideologies. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God… 2 Cor. 10: 5

The Power of Ideology for the weapons of ourour warfare Because we understand fearful are not of theto flesh, but divinely responsibility the Lord, we work powerful for the others. destruction of hard to persuade God knows we are sincere, and I hope fortresses. 2 Corinthians 10: 4 you know this, too. 2 Corinthians 5: 11

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” “He might not be the best 3. We live in a Battle Zone! general in the world, and 4. he. You have powerful drinks tooamuch, but enemy! sure can. Fight fight…Let me 5. he. Decide: or Flee? 1. know what brand of do you not know that You adulteresses, 1 John 4: 4 not ask You to take them out "I do whiskey he’swith using, friendship the world is hostility toward You are from God, little children, and have of the world, but to keep them because I’d like towhoever send it wishes to be a friend God? Therefore overcome them; because greater is He who is toofthe rest of my from the evil the world an 17: 15 enemy of God. in you than hemakes who one. ishimself in the. John world. generals. ” A. Lincoln James 4: 4

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Spiritual Realm Exists The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” We live in a Battle Zone! You have a powerful enemy! Decide: Fight or Flee? Equipped to fight… 2 Cor. so that no advantage would We 2: 11 are destroying speculations be taken us byraised Satan, up foragainst we are not and every loftyofthing the ignorant of his schemes. knowledge of God… 2 Cor. 10: 5

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone! 4. You have a powerful enemy! 5. Decide: Fight or Flee? 6. Equipped to fight… 7. Fight together… With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the 1. Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Eph. 6: 18

The Impact of Spiritual Warfare The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone! 4. You have a powerful enemy! 5. Decide: Fight or Flee? 6. Equipped to fight… 7. "By Fight …in lovethat you are My thistogether all men will know 1. disciples, if you have love for one another. " John 13: 35

In the Final Analysis… Thinking Like This: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ” Jesus Christ, John 10: 10 Not This: “You are looking at things as they are outwardly…” 2 Cor. 10: 7

Our Part: l 2 Cor. 10: 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Daniel 10: 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ”

Peace vs War

Imperatives

Imperatives

Imperatives Ephes. 6: 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…

Christian Naïvete 2 Cor. 10: 7 You are looking at things as they are outwardly…