For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

-Ephesians 6:12

Struggle = Pale: aggressive wrestling or boxing.

Flesh = Sarka: flesh body, extension of human.

Blood = Haima: blood shed by violence.

Rulers = Archas: architect, draws out plans: “Principalities,” highest order of demons. “Authorities,” determine legislation.

Powers = Exousias: execute, generals who lead the demonic forces.

World forces = Kosmokratoras: Terrestrial, relating to the earth. Demons who infiltrated various political systems & human leaders, demonic army.

Spiritual = Pneumatica: not physical but spiritual.

Wickedness = evil, extremely perverse, sexual practices.

Heavenly Places = Uranos: atmosphere.

• Different strata and rankings of demons in supernatural empire.
• Dupes of satan and his demons.
• Highly structured and organized for the most destructive warfare possible.

1. The Unseen Impacts the Seen

  

Louis Pasteur: Spontaneous Generation & Germ Theory.

Jesus: What is true in the biological world is true in the spiritual world.

2. The Demonic Forces are Well Organized

  

• Architects who determine legislation
• Generals who execute strategy
• Forces who march and enact

3. The Demonic Forces are Led by Satan

  

Not omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent

4. The Demonic Forces are Anti-God and Anti-Christ

  

They seek to corrupt all that is good.

They seek to deceive all the people & nations.

They seek to destroy allegiance away from God.

Bottom line: Why are we doing this series?

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

-Matthew 12:28-29

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’

-Luke 10:17-18

When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.

-Matthew 12:43-45

   

   

  

When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, ‘If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’

-Matthew 8:28-31

Although this series will wake us up to spiritual realities previously hidden, it is not designed to bring fear and trepidation.

Dealing with the demons in our lives is not about discovering a specific technique to expel them.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

-Colossians 1:13-14

Resist the devil and he must flee.

What does your spiritual workout look like?

And do not give the devil a foothold.

-Ephesians 4:27

In any area of life that you give the devil a foothold, tomorrow he will take us residence.

Resist Spiritual Atrophy!

  

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

-Ephesians 6:11

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

-1 John 5:19

Don’t give the devil a foothold…

-Ephesians 4:27

What happens when he (the enemy) resides in a nation or culture?

Pray that you will be spiritually awaken.

  

Repent, rededicate, and restore your devotion to Him.

• Return to the Word.
• Reinvest in Community.
• Reignite your passion for the House of the Lord.

What are your main takeaways from this sermon?

Make a Decision What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? by Dr. James Kennedy Who is This Man? by John Ortberg