The Spirit of War
Introduction: The Holy Spirit of God is a gentle, wonderful Spirit. In fact, He is often typified in Scripture as a dove – a picture of gentle grace. He is a healer, a teacher and a comforter to all of God’s people. But He can also be a fierce warrior, a devouring lion against God’s adversaries. Today, we shall examine how the Holy Spirit can fight both for us, and through us.
Spiritual Conflict: Spiritual warfare is real. 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 establishes the fact that we wage a certain kind of warfare as Christians – “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does” (vs. 3). Nevertheless, we wage war. Our weapons of war are different from the world’s weapon of war; still, we are often called to wage a kind of war against spiritual adversaries. As if to erase any doubts, Ephesians 6: 10- 18 confirms the kind of spiritual forces that we fight against, and encourages us to equip ourselves so “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Holy Spirit, Our Spiritual Warrior: Ephesians 6: 10-16 can be intimidating – how can I fight against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”? After all, I am only human? It’s normal to have that kind of unspoken concern in your heart as you think of spiritual warfare; that is, until you get to verse 17 and 18: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” Notice it talked about the sword of the Spirit. Yeah, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of War. He is the One that rises up to fight in us and for us. We only have to place the sword in His hand, and take cover (in righteousness, faith, salvation etc). Isaiah 59: 15-20 confirms this principle that the Holy Spirit fights our battles if we let Him.
Bible Examples: Scripture is filled with examples of men and women who were merely human, weak and defeated – until the Holy Spirit decided to ‘fight’ in and through them. Othniel (Judges 3:7-11), Gideon (Judges 6: 33-35), and Peter (Acts 4:5-22). The Holy Spirit can stir up a dormant soul to do great exploits for God.
What about it? The point is that there are times in your life that you will have to face up to the devil and his cohorts. There are times when we inevitably have to stand up against the wiles of the devil, and wage war against the works of darkness. But don’t you fear, the Holy Spirit will stir you up in the spirit, and fighting through you and other loved ones, will accomplish great victory for you. You have the Spirit of God on your side (Romans 8:26-31).
Introduction: The Holy Spirit of God is a gentle, wonderful Spirit. In fact, He is often typified in Scripture as a dove – a picture of gentle grace. He is a healer, a teacher and a comforter to all of God’s people. But He can also be a fierce warrior, a devouring lion against God’s adversaries. Today, we shall examine how the Holy Spirit can fight both for us, and through us.
Spiritual Conflict: Spiritual warfare is real. 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 establishes the fact that we wage a certain kind of warfare as Christians – “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does” (vs. 3). Nevertheless, we wage war. Our weapons of war are different from the world’s weapon of war; still, we are often called to wage a kind of war against spiritual adversaries. As if to erase any doubts, Ephesians 6: 10- 18 confirms the kind of spiritual forces that we fight against, and encourages us to equip ourselves so “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Holy Spirit, Our Spiritual Warrior: Ephesians 6: 10-16 can be intimidating – how can I fight against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”? After all, I am only human? It’s normal to have that kind of unspoken concern in your heart as you think of spiritual warfare; that is, until you get to verse 17 and 18: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” Notice it talked about the sword of the Spirit. Yeah, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of War. He is the One that rises up to fight in us and for us. We only have to place the sword in His hand, and take cover (in righteousness, faith, salvation etc). Isaiah 59: 15-20 confirms this principle that the Holy Spirit fights our battles if we let Him.
Bible Examples: Scripture is filled with examples of men and women who were merely human, weak and defeated – until the Holy Spirit decided to ‘fight’ in and through them. Othniel (Judges 3:7-11), Gideon (Judges 6: 33-35), and Peter (Acts 4:5-22). The Holy Spirit can stir up a dormant soul to do great exploits for God.
What about it? The point is that there are times in your life that you will have to face up to the devil and his cohorts. There are times when we inevitably have to stand up against the wiles of the devil, and wage war against the works of darkness. But don’t you fear, the Holy Spirit will stir you up in the spirit, and fighting through you and other loved ones, will accomplish great victory for you. You have the Spirit of God on your side (Romans 8:26-31).
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