1/26/2014
Spiritual Battle—Pt. 2
John 8:44 …he (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Spiritual Battle Requires Spiritual Fitness
Matthew 3:1&6 John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” …people went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Spiritual Honesty Produces Spiritual Fruit
Matthew 3:7-10 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Spiritual Condition Is of Eternal Consequence
Matthew 3:11-12 I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One Who is more powerful than I, Whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
The Savior Engaged the Battle as One of Us
Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John tried to deter Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all that is right.” So John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. A voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”
Commitment to God Drafts You Into Spiritual War
Matthew 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Spiritual Gifts Must Be Subject To The Giver of Gifts
Matthew 4:3-4 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Understand Your Spiritual Identity But Do Not Abuse It
Matthew 4:5-6 The devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.'”
Do Not Push the Limits With God He Is NOT Obligated to Intervene
Matthew 4:7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”
The Spiritual Battle Concerns Your Soul
Matthew 4:8-9 The devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if You will bow down and worship me.”
Resist the Devil; Serve God & Be Content
Matthew 4:10-11 Jesus said to him, “Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'” Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”