December 7, 1941 started as a peaceful Sunday morning, but at 7:55 am, Pearl Harbor was attacked by 200 Japanese aircraft. People often say that the attack was without warning, but that’s not the case. In the months leading up to the attack, the Pearl Harbor commanders were warned three times to prepare for war, as negotiations had ceased. Little was done to prepare. On the morning of the attack, a decoded Japanese message indicated that war was at hand. Four hours before the attack a Japanese submarine was sighted, but no report was made. On the morning of the attack, radar operators saw a large blip which they considered a squadron of aircraft approaching Pearl Harbor. Their report was not heeded. As a result of ignoring the attack warnings, 2300 Americans were killed, 1300 injured and 1000 were missing.
Today, we begin at new message series called “Spiritual Warfare.” The Bible warns us repeatedly to prepare for spiritual warfare. However, many ignore those warnings and as a result, Satan’s attacks kill, injure and lead astray friends, relatives and neighbors.
In this series, we’re going to look at questions, such as:
- Who is our real enemy?
- What is their plan of attack?
- How can we defend ourselves in battle and be victorious?
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Our real enemy is Satan and his demonic forces, which many people don’t believe exist. Very clever of him, isn’t it. Satan attacks unbelievers and seeks to prevent them from being saved. He uses unbelievers to attack believers in different ways. When unbelievers are no longer useful to him, he seeks to kill them and bring them directly into hell with him.
Satan also attacks believers and seeks to render them ineffective in reaching the lost. He tempts believers into falling into sin and seeks to lead them away from their faith.
Today, our message is entitled “Detecting the Deceiver.” Just as in Pearl Harbor, the most dangerous attacks are those that come undetected.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
We must become aware of Satan’s schemes so that he won’t outwit and blindside us. Our society today is largely unaware of Satan’s schemes. Our culture today is rapidly sliding away from God and the principles of His word into moral decadence. Believers and churches are susceptible to this culture change and many are slowly sliding away from God, one slip at a time. So, what can we do about it? How can we be strong in spiritual warfare and start to win the battle?
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
The battle is won and lost in our minds. In this series, we’re going to learn how to demolish ungodly arguments that oppose the truth of God’s Word. We’re going to learn to make our thoughts obedient to Christ and His Word and not to our culture. So, let’s get started in our passage today from 2 Corinthians 11 in which the apostle Paul is warning believers about false teachers in the church.
Message Audio, Outline & Study Guide
Spiritual Warfare Message Series
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