Spiritual Battles Drive Us
To Our Knees
Benefits
Part 3
Spiritual Warfare is Real and You Are In IT!
Spiritual Battles Target Our Enemies. v. 12 (part 1)
Spiritual Battles Test Our Armor. v. 13-17 (part 2)
Spiritual Warfare Drives Us To Our Knees. v. 18 (part 3)
Isa. 64:1 ¶ Oh that thou wouldest rend the
heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at
thy presence, 2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the
waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations
may tremble at thy presence! 3 When thou didst terrible things which we
looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. 4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the
ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for
him that waiteth for him. 5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh
righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth;
for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
6 ¶
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have
taken us away. 7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that
stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou
hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 8
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
16 ¶
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness,
it sustained him. 17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and
an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on
the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. 18 According to their deeds, accordingly he
will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands
he will repay recompence. 19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD
from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy
shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard
against him.
Spiritual Battles
Drive Us To Our Knees (Eph. 6:18)
Benefit
#3 Spiritual Battles
1-
Ever been in a dark confusing struggle that filled mind
w/fear & trash? Welcome to the Club! (Common)
2-
Spiritual Warfare is REAL and you are in it!
3- Regardless
of what you are tempted to think Spiritual Warfare is beneficial: (God is at
work! Rom. 8:28)
1. Targets
our Enemies.
2. Tests
our Armor. (Truth, Commitment & Dependence) [Know who you are & Who to
count on)
4- This
morning we are going to look at another fantastic benefit of Spiritual Warfare.
1 - Spiritual Warfare
Challenges Our Complacency.
(Apathy, indifference, lack of concern)
1.
We are equipped but unmotivated c Spiritual Warfare
works when nothing else does. (Acts 6)
2.
Wakes us from spiritual slumber!
3. Spiritual
Warfare will disrupt the status quo!!!! (Attack on the Comfort Zone)
2 - Spiritual Warfare
Makes Us Desperate!!!! (Isa. 64:1-8)
1.
This is where battles are fought and won. (The only
place real help is found!)
2.
Are you desperate enough????
3. Never
underestimate the power of desperation!!!
3 - Causes Us To
“Stir” Ourselves Up.
1.
We need to incite a Holy Riot!!! (Provoke, spur, arouse)
2.
Illustrations of this GREAT principle: Job; Moses;
David; Paul & Silas; and even Jesus.
3. ME!!!
Satan has learned that applying pressure to my life puts me on my face before
God.
4 - Desperate Prayer
Ultimately Brings the Lord to our Aid.
1.
Where is God when the pressure is on? (Isa. 59:1-2,
9-19)
(1) The
Lords hands and ears are working. (v. 1)
(2) Sin
has caused a breach. (v. 2)
(3) Because
of this “truth” is dying around us. (vv. 9-15a)
(4) God
saw it and was displeased. (v. 15b)
(5) God
is seeking someone to interceded. (v. 16)
(6)
God decided to do something about it Himself. (vv.
17-19) “Raise up Standard”
2.
God is close to the “broken”.
Ps 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of
a contrite spirit.
Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of
God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not
despise.
Ps 147:3 He healeth the
broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the
Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings
unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Lk 4:18 The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised,
Isa 57:15 For thus saith the
high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the
high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to
revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isa 66:2 For all those
things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but
to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and
trembleth at my word.
3.
He will be found by those who seek Him will all of
their heart!
Jer 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your
heart.
ARE YOU DESPERATE ENOUGH????
Are You Ready
for change????
Then get ready for Spiritual
Warfare
Acts
15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder
one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And
Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the
grace of God. (KJV)
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