Controlling the Narrative – Spiritual Warfare

Here are the notes for this sermon:

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Controlling the Narrative and Spiritual Warfare

2 Corinthians 10:3  “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

Developing awareness of the spiritual battle in our minds. We are engaged in a war. Not a sporting event.

1. Spiritual warfare:
   1. Takes into account both natural and spiritual realities
   2. Spiritual reality: we don’t wage war as mere humans
      – in the west who are immersed in rationalism and naturalism
      – i.e. mass shootings … not just mental illness but demonically controlled evil
2. Natural reality

Verse 6 – And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.

– after just saying “we are not waging war according to the flesh” Paul tells us he is going to directly confront those individuals who are causing so much controversy

3. We need to take care we do not error on either extreme
4. Have you observed how one can emphasize either the natural or the spiritual at the expense of the other?

II) Takes into account the larger battle
1) “Warfare” means a campaign
– the attack of the enemy is part of a larger satanic campaign
– the Kingdom Of God is at war with the kingdom of this world
2) Stronghold:  a walled city
– walls made of huge stones…these are ideas, or narratives that oppose what God says
– strongholds are a resting place for the enemy who works to kill, steel, and destroy
– Mt 12:43  “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

3) We need to remove that which defends the enemy
4) What are the larger narratives the enemy has a stronghold in

III) Takes into accounts the belief systems of the mind
1)  We destroy (false) arguments or human reasonings
– Walls of resistance in the mind – reasonings opposed to truth
2) Leaven example – Mk 8
– feeding of 4000
– Pharisees demand a sign – he sighed deeply in his spirit – left them and got in a boat
– Mk 8:15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod
– Jesus is warning about negative influences on how you think
– disciples responded in fear because they didn’t have food for lunch

3) We are to make these thoughts captive to obey Christ

4) Do you have an example of an area where you have had to consistently battle to take certain narratives and surrender them to the Lordship of Christ?

IV) Takes into account the condition of the heart

1) destroying every lofty opinion –  proud obstacle
– against the knowledge of God – keeps you from knowing God
– 2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2) Repenting of the darkness that is in our lives
– go beyond a vague submiss but exact area of our darkness

– Jude 6  “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home‑‑these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on that great Day.”

Jn 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

– the areas we hide in darkness are the areas of our future defeat

3) Demons feeds upon our earthly carnal dust nature
Gen 3:14 the curse on the devil…on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat.

4) Don’t give place to the devil
– Eph 4:26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

5) Grace to the humble
– James 4:7 – submit to God then resist the devil
– To be humble is to refuse to defend our nature

6) Have you had the experience of identifying an area of darkness in your heart that the enemy has exploited?

V) Takes into account intentional prayer

1) Destroying strongholds means violent action
– Not a mere battle of ideas
2) In 1Jn 2: 12-14 it describes the characteristics of a “young man” as one who can overcome the evil one.
3) God’s Word is not just a comfort in times of trouble but a sword in warfare
– proclaiming God’s word in faith releases power
– Isa 55:11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

– Isa 54:17  no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication[fn] from me, declares the LORD.”

– 2Co 12:9  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

4) How might you be prompted to be more aggressively intentional in tearing down the strongholds of the enemy in your life?

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