The Fight - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

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New Life COTR
Sunday May 25, 2008
“Dressed for Battle”
THE FIGHT

INTRODUCTION: Last week we started a series called “Dressed for Battle.” Whether you realize it or not, as Christian’s, we are in a battle. There’s warfare going on all around us.
God wants you and me to win the battle.
Daniel 10:12,13,20,21
This is a clear picture of what is going on in the heavenlies. The Bible clearly informs us of fallen angels over a city. Fighting against believers in that city.
Today there are still demons and there are still angels.
Daniel is praying doing his part and the angels are battling over the answer.
Ephesians 6:10-12
Principalities- a prince over a region, a prince who has authority over a city or a region.
Here’s the New Testament confirming what we read in the Old Testament. Telling us there’s a war going on in in the air. IT IS REAL!
We’re not wrestling against flesh and blood but against principalities.
Have you ever driven into a city and felt evil? Satan takes advantage of these places.
One of the gloomiest places in America is Seattle. This city has more suicides than any other city.
THERE’S A REAL WAR GOING ON!
TRANSITION: How do you win this battle?

I. RECOGNIZE YOUR IN THE BATTLE
Don’t ignore it. Don’t sit our the battle. If you don’t show up you will loose!
Jude 1:9- “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
2Timothy 2:4- “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer.”
You and I have been enlisted as soldiers.
In the natural the best advice is to walk away form a fight. It will not work in the spiritual.
You are in a fight with a bully, someone who doesn’t fight fair. He will sneak up from behind you and kill you if he can.
He’s the meanest, cruelest, violent, most vicious hateful person whose ever existed.
He’s a kidnapper, rapist, murderer, a thief. HE commits every violent crime. Satan is behind every violent crime.
He’s worse than Hitler and he hates you!
He’s prideful and arrogant and the accuser of the brethren.
He’s a divider and causes strife in the family of God!
AND HE HATES YOU!
TRANSITION: Now that’s the bad news. Here’s the good news!

II. RECOGNIZE WHO IS IN THE BATTLE WITH YOU
Satan is a bully! But big brother is behind you!
Satan is so scared of your big brother!
HERE’S YOUR CHOICE- Are you going to walk with big brother or fight the battle on your own?
Daniel was thrown in a lion’s den, guess who was in the lion’s den with him?
God sent His angel who was probably the Lord Jesus Christ.
The great thing is not that someone shut the mouth’s of the lions but that Daniel was not
alone!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are cast into the fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:24,25 (KJV)- “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto the counselors, Did we not cast three men into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the King, True, O King. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
YOUR CHOICE IS ARE YOU GOING TO WALK WITH BIG BROTHER OR NOT?
It’s not hard for your big brother to take care of Satan! Satan is not a problem with Jesus!
Psalm 18:15-17- God blows His nose and gets rid of Satan!
Luke 11:20- “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.”
Satan is not a problem for God!
1Timothy 6:12- “Fight the good fight of the faith….”
Do you know the difference between a good fight and a bad fight? A good fight is one you win!
Have you ever lost a fight? I have. It was five against two. Those were the toughest two guys I’ve ever met!
YOU AND JESUS ARE THE TOUGHEST TWO GUYS!!!
If you choose to walk with Him!
TRANSITION: If Jesus is in the fight with you, then what’s your part?

III. PUT ON YOUR ARMOR
Ephesians 6:11- “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Why would God tell you to put on armor if you don’t need it.
WHAT IS THE ARMOR? Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, scripture and prayer.
HOW DO YOU PUT IT ON?
PRAY AND OBEY! The Christian Life boils down to that. Hear God and do what He says!
We are in a battle! The only way you are going to win is to go meet with the Captain of the army!
You need to do it every day. Start your day with God!
You choose who you are going to walk with that day. It’s who you put first!
The enemy is waiting out the door for you. Take Big Brother with you!
WHO WOULD YOU SAY THE GREATEST WARRIOR IN THE BIBLE IS?
Most of us would probably say David. What made David a great warrior?
1Samuel 23:2- “he inquired of the Lord saying, Shall I go and attack these Philistines? The Lord answered him, Go attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
1Samuel 30:8- “and David inquired of the Lord, Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them? Pursue them, he answered, You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
2Samuel 2:1 - “In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah? He asked. The Lord said go up. David asked where shall I go? To Hebron the Lord answered.”
ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE?
2Samuel 5:18,19,22-25
What made David a great warrior? He kept inquiring of the Lord!
GOD WANTS YOU TO RELY ON HIM THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
Every day go into a room and ask God for help!
Every time you meet with God He will give you wisdom and strength!
2Samuel 22:40- “You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.”
Job 12:13- “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.”
If you will meet with God every day He will give you wisdom and strength.

CONCLUSION: What does the word inquire mean? TO ASK!
That’s how deep the Christian life is. It doesn’t get any deeper than this.
Ask God what to do, do it, and you’ll win the battle!
PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD IS A RESULT OF SPENDING TIME WITH GOD!
Remember I told you how bad your enemy is. Now let me tell you how good your God is!
Romans 8:37-39
You and I are in a battle. The devil wants to destroy your life. He wants hell on earth for you. He hates you!
The question is: will you meet with God?