Prayer - spiritual warfare
6 weeks ago spoke from Psalm 1 – introduced the Hebrew word hagah – need to be filled with the word of God – source of life to us and power to our prayers
Month ago spoke about the mind and how it can be a barrier to our prayers if we are double minded or listen to accusing thoughts or conform to humanistic thinking
Today – two words that stir different reactions in different people – spiritual warfare
Two things, though, are clear:
The question – are you winning the battle or losing it?
Karate kid film – teenage boy called Daniel who has moved to a new area and is being bullied by some older boys who also happen to belong to a karate club
Daniel is befriended by an old Japanese man who agrees to teach him karate
Daniel is keen to learn – he wants to be a winner, not a loser – he wants to be able to do the fancy moves that will enable him to deal with bigger and stronger opponents
First lessons are not what he expects – wash and wax car, paint fence, sand deck, paint house
He becomes frustrated – he wants to learn to fight, not do DIY projects!
Doesn’t realise that he has been building fitness and learning how to move effectively
Essential principle – there is some basic work that needs to be done in us before we can fight
All soldiers do basic fitness training for a good while before they get their hands on any kind of weapon!
Before you can fight any outside enemies you need to be fit yourself – internal battles need to be won
There can be an external aspect to spiritual warfare but we need to understand first that the battle must be won in us
2 Cor. 10:3-4 Context of difficult relationships at Corinth
Divine power to demolish strongholds – these words have been the basis of all kinds of activity and the strongholds have included all sorts of things that bind people or places
V5 Arguments, pretensions and thoughts! Where is the battle? It is in the mind – it is an internal battle
Whose mind? The mind of the believer!
This letter was not written to or about unbelievers – it was written to believers – believers who in a number of ways were not living as they should
You will struggle to overcome external battles unless the internal ones are won!
Many times I hear Christians say that they are unable to pray because a situation is too big for them
Many times I see a Christian who is so overwhelmed by life that they don’t have the strength or faith to pray
Many times I see Christians losing all hope after a series of unfortunate events
V4b Divine power to demolish strongholds
What is a stronghold? Dictionary definition is a fortified place such as a castle
Here they are described as thoughts, pretensions and arguments
Mind stuff that is a barrier to the knowledge of God – mind stuff that will keep you captive – mind stuff that will keep you from living as God intends – mind stuff that will keep you from praying – mind stuff that will rob you of all that is good
Field guide to strongholds (how to recognise them by their sounds):
Ever spotted any of these?
The problem with strongholds is that they are strong and generally seem to be immovable
Lobsters – live in holes – once inside they face outwards so the first thing any intruder encounters is a pair of claws (one cutting and one crushing)
How do you get a lobster out of a hole? At first glance this is pretty much impossible…but there is a way!
Need to touch his tail causing him to turn around and then you can grab him from the back where the claws can’t reach!
It is the same with strongholds in the mind – you need the right technique otherwise you will suffer at the hands of the cutting and crushing claws
V3-4a What are the weapons of the world?
Logical argument:
You are depressed?
Think positive, concentrate on the good, get out and do new things
You’ve got fears?
Find ways of facing your fears a bit at a time so that you are not overwhelmed but slowly become stronger
Will power and determination:
Anyone can change if you want it enough
You’ve just got to be strong and press in there
Don’t give up and you’ll make it through somehow
These can work a bit but they are also likely to fail leaving you feeling crushed and doubly discouraged
V4b On the contrary – something different!
Divine power to demolish – three significant words here!
Divine – not you but God! How strong are you? Wrong question! How strong is God?
Power – not weakness – the power of God. Not going up Porlock Hill on a bike –you’ve got a Ferrari!
Demolish (Kathaireo) – the same word used in Acts 13:19 overthrew seven nations
The same power of God that overthrew seven nations can do the same for your strongholds!
Seven Canaanite nations said “you can’t have this land” – God said “this is the land I promised to you – go and take possession”
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land the word of the Lord triumphed over Canaanite armies – his promise that they would have the land overrode any stronghold that the Canaanites might have built (remember Jericho!)
God’s power as promised by his word to them overcame the enemy
Divine power to demolish strongholds? It is primarily the power of God’s word
Familiar?
Said before that we need to use God’s word in our prayers.
We also need to meditate (hagah) on God’s word to empower our spirits in prayer
We also need to understand the power of God’s word to demolish strongholds
Book a seat on a train – someone in it – awkward person who does not want to give up the seat – tell him that the seat is yours and he may or may not move – get out your ticket and he has no choice
Strongholds cannot resist the word of God!
Feeling weak and inadequate?
1 Cor. 1:26-29 Now my weakness is not a liability anymore – it is an opportunity for God to show his glory and power!
When I read this the argument that I am not good enough is demolished
When I begin to confess that I am chosen the accusations about my weaknesses lose their power
I can now take thoughts captive and bring them into obedience – the thoughts that say I can’t because I am…. Or I am not… I can overrule them by confessing that I am chosen not because of what I am but because God has a plan for me
Positive confession on its own will not do this, but when we use the word of God we are then agreeing with God and that is powerful!
How about depression?
Isa. 61:1-3 A garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair
In myself there may be no strength to praise
Natural warfare would say “try and look on the bright side” or “pull yourself together”
Spiritual warfare takes hold of spiritual truths and prays them into reality
I might have a despairing spirit, but then I read that there is something better that has been given for me to wear
I can then begin to thank God for the garment of praise and confess that it is not my inheritance to live with a spirit of despair
The spirit of despair cannot resist the word of God!
Past sins coming back to get you?
1 Cor. 6:9-11 Washed, sanctified, justified!
When the accusations rise up confess that the sinner who stands accused is what you were, not what you are
You may have begun to slide back into the old sin, but as you pray these words you will find that they become real
When you start to use God’s word like this you will find that you can break the sin, repent, sin, repent, sin cycle that is so common and so demoralising
Temptation?
1 Cor. 10:13 It is possible to stand!
When you feel that you must fall, when you feel that there is no way out, take hold of these words and pray in faith that you will find the way that has been promised to you
“I am not destined to fall – in God’s strength I can stand!”
Fear?
2 Tim. 1:7 Not God’s intention for me to live in fear and timidity!
Thank the Lord that he has given you a better spirit
Say to fearful thoughts, “you shall not rule me – I have not been given a fearful spirit!”
What strongholds are there in your life?
Are you ready to see them demolished?