SPIRITUAL WARFARE

I Timothy 6:11-12

  1. Intro.
    1. a major theme in the Bible is that Christians are living in a war zone
    2. all men view war in a different manner
    3. we the church of Jesus Christ belong in the Lord’s army
      1. let us be involved in the fight, and let us be doing something
      2. our troop is always hostile toward Satan
      3. we cannot be neutral, we never have been
    4. the church of Jesus Christ can never talk peace (compromise)
    5. the only way to have peace is to have victory over Satan
  2. what are the Lord’s battles
    1. it is not a battle with swords and spears
      1. these may be the devil’s battles, but not the Lord’s
      2. they may be days of God’s vengeance, but in these we do not get involved
      3. the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual
    2. there is a difference between the battles of God, and our own
      1. it is not our business to fight our own battles, not even in defense of our character
      2. as soldiers of Christ we are to fight for our Master, and not ourselves
      3. all our time and power is to be given in His defense and For His war
      4. the noblest means of conquest in personal matters for a Christian is to stand still and see the salvation of God
      5. when God fights for us we will be more than conquerors
    3. the Lord’s battle is against sin
      1. we need to seek grace to fight this battle in our own hearts
        1. on our knees we must wrestle with our besetting sin
        2. as bad habits become known, we must break them with the battle-axe of strong resolution and faith
        3. we need to labor with ourselves to drive sin from our heart
        4. there can be no rest until all is consecrated to Christ as a loving sacrifice
      2. we need to fight other men’s sins
        1. smite them first with the weapon of holy example
        2. we ourselves must be clean if we hope to purify the world
        3. protest against sin daily, hourly, by act, by word, by pen,
        4. be a burning and shining light in the midst of darkness
        5. a Christian who lives near to God can stand in the midst of sinners and do wonders
        6. think about the marvelous feat that Jonah accomplished (Nineveh)
    4. the Lord’s battle is against error
      1. it is the preachers business to preach the whole gospel of God, and to defend and uphold the truth
      2. there are thousands of heresies that beset the church today
      3. Christian minds are growing soft, and they have become effeminate in the battle
      4. there can be no peace with sin, and no peace with falsehood (war forever with error and deceit)
  3. who is to fight the Lord’s battles
    1. not everybody, because the Lord has His army, and it is made up of His own choosing
    2. He has chosen them out of the world; and they are not of the world, even as He is not of the world
    3. who are the soldiers of the Lord
      1. those who have forsaken the rags of sin and self-righteousness, and put on His robe of righteousness
        1. the inner garment of imputed righteousness
        2. the outer garment of divine sanctification
      2. he that is a true soldier will love the whole army (by our love we show that we are His disciples)
      3. those who have forsaken all for Him (the consecrated man)
  4. the exhortation –"fight"
    1. there are some people who are very fond of looking on, and not fighting
      1. our Master does not say, "look at the Lord’s battles, but fight them"
      2. Christ wants all His soldiers to fight
      3. true religion is a personal thing (the religion that another man can do for you is good for nothing)
      4. soldiers of the heavenly King, should not leave the lieutenants and officers to fight alone
    2. military regulations for the army of Christ
      1. no union with the enemy
        1. "ye are not of the world" (no truce, no league, no treaty with the enemies of Christ)
        2. "come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing" – II Cor.6:17
        3. have nothing to do with its pretended friendship, and laugh at its scorn
      2. no weapons or ammunition taken from the enemy is to be used in battle by the soldiers of Christ
        1. never fight the Lord’s battles with the devil’s weapons
        2. for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds – II Cor. 10:4
      3. no fear, trembling, or cowardice
        1. fear not him that can kill the body
        2. fear Him who is able to cast body and soul into hell – Luke 12:4-5
      4. no slumbering, rest, ease, or surrender
        1. be always at it, with all our might
        2. our resting time will come soon enough
        3. be always fighting the enemy
        4. ask every day for grace to win the victory
    3. daily maneuvers for the soldiers of Christ
      1. down upon both knees
        1. on its knees, the church of Christ is more than conqueror
        2. the praying legion is a legion of heroes
      2. feet firm (steadfast and unmovable)
      3. sword in hand
      4. continually going forward
      5. patiently waiting for the return of Christ
    4. fight the good fight of faith