When The Fight Calls – Sermon One

When the Fight Calls | 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
1 Corinthians 14:8 “Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?”

Ephesians 6:12 “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.”

This battle is fought in your mind.John 8:44b “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Satan has three weapons that he uses to influence our thinking:

1. Satan lies.
Genesis 3:1b-5 “He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
2. Satan tempts.

3. Satan accuses.

The Glorious Church by Watchman Nee “But we must remember that we originally possessed no positive goodness before God. There was nothing good in ourselves that we could offer to God. We could only present one thing to Him—the blood. We could only be justified by the blood. We do not have any positive righteousness in ourselves. We become righteous only because of the righteousness which we receive through redemption.”

Isaiah 64:6 “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”

1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

2 Corinthians 10:4 “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Neil Anderson Victory Over Darkness “Anything that has been learned can be unlearned. This is the major path of renewal in the New Testament. Through the preaching of God’s Word, Bible study and personal discipleship you stop being conformed to this world and experience the transformation of the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).”

2 Corinthians 10:5 “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.”

Key Truth: Satan has no authority over you except what you give him.

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Our Weapons
1. The Bible!

John 8:31-32 (AMP) “if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Joyce Meyer “We must “abide” (continue) in the word until it becomes a revelation given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”

www.ncclex.org/groups2. Our praise!

3. Our prayers!

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Listen Carefully Key Point: Don’t fall for the Imposter
Mark 4:24 “Consider carefully what you hear,”

2 Corinthians 11:14“Satan…masquerades as an angel of light.” 

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.”

A Strategy to Fight Back:

1. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
   
   Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

   Colossians 3:16a (NASB) “the word of Christ richly dwell within you.”

2. Prepare your mind for action.
   
   1 Peter 1:13a “With minds that are alert and fully sober,”

   Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

3. Take every thought captive in obedience to Christ
4. Turn to God.

The good news is that God is fighting on your side.