Christians are at war. Not against another nation, but against sin, evil, Satan and all that is wrong in our world.

1. WE ARE AT WAR
2 Corinthians 10:4-6
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal
but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to
punish all disobedience when your obedience is
fulfilled.

2. We are at War!

Not about military might
or political or physical
warfare

I want you to focus on
spiritual warfare

Our text – not with
weapons, not carnal

Our fight is against evil
and wickedness

3. We are at war – with Satan

Jesus fought this battle

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High
Priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as
we are, yet without sin.

We must fight this battle

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one
man sin entered the world, and death through
sin, and thus death spread to all men, because
all sinned

4. We are at war – with Satan

Elders must fight this battle

1 Timothy 3:6-7 6 not a novice, lest being
puffed up with pride he fall into the same
condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must
have a good testimony among those who are
outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare
of the devil.

5. We are at war – with Satan

Each Christian must fight this war

1 Peter 5:8-9 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil walks about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that
the same sufferings are experienced by your
brotherhood in the world.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the
devil and he will flee from you.

6. We are at war – against the world

Our society is in a sinful state

Abortion

Similar to Sodom and Gomorrah
1 John 2:15-17 , the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the
world. 17 And the world is passing away, and
the lust of it; but he who does the will of God
abides forever. yes, and the pride of life--is not
of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the
world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he
who does the will of God abides forever.

7. We are at war – against the world

Our society is in a sinful state

Abortion

Similar to Sodom and Gomorrah

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form
of evil.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before
God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself
unspotted from the world.

8. We are at war – against perverting
the gospel

Any false doctrine or practice is of the devil.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 13 For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no
wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself
into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also transform themselves
into ministers of righteousness, whose end will
be according to their works.

9. We are at war – against perverting
the gospel

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits, whether they are of God;
because many false prophets have gone out
into the world.

Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to
write to you concerning our common salvation, I
found it necessary to write to you exhorting you
to contend earnestly for the faith which was
once for all delivered to the saints.

10. We are at war – within self

James 1:13-16 13 Let no one say when he is
tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God
cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself
tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted
when he is drawn away by his own desires and
enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown,
brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my
beloved brethren.

11. We are at war – within self

We are responsible to overcome this battle.

James 4:1-3 1 Where do wars and fights come
from among you? Do they not come from your
desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and
covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet
you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You
ask and do not receive, because you ask
amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

12. We are at war – within self

We are responsible to overcome this battle.

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body
and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have
preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my
heart, That I might not sin against You!

Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks in his heart,
so is he.

13. We are at war – within self

Romans 7:18-21 18 For I know that in me (that
is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is
present with me, but how to perform what is
good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to
do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I
practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is
no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me,
the one who wills to do good.

14. We are at war – within self

Romans 7:22-25 22 For I delight in the law of
God according to the inward man. 23 But I see
another law in my members, warring against
the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my
members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who
will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I
thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So
then, with the mind I myself serve the law of
God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

15. We are at war

This is a battle that we must win.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am already being
poured out as a drink offering, and the time of
my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who have
loved His appearing.