Spiritual Naiveté vs. Spiritual Victory How to deal with the real world through the power of Jesus...

Spiritual Naiveté vs.Spiritual Naiveté vs.Spiritual VictorySpiritual Victory

How to deal with the real world How to deal with the real world through the power of Jesus Christ.through the power of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:1-72 Corinthians 10:1-7

2 Cor. 10:22 Cor. 10:2

I ask that when I am present I I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh…according to the flesh…

2 Cor. 10:3-52 Cor. 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, [4] for not war according to the flesh, [4] for the weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. [5] We the destruction of fortresses. [5] We are destroying speculations and are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christobedience of Christ

The The ImpactImpact of Spiritual Warfare of Spiritual Warfare

1.1. The Spiritual Realm The Spiritual Realm ExistsExists Believe God Exists? Is He Believe God Exists? Is He alone?alone? You are not a bag of molecules!You are not a bag of molecules!

Evil Exists!Evil Exists! Naïve View:Naïve View: “think nice thoughts…”“think nice thoughts…” Naturalist View:Naturalist View: “no comment”“no comment” Eastern Religions:Eastern Religions: “evil=good…”“evil=good…” Postmodern View:Postmodern View: “evil=arbitrary”“evil=arbitrary”

““If you want to get the plain truth, be not concerned with If you want to get the plain truth, be not concerned with right and wrong. The conflict between right and wrong is right and wrong. The conflict between right and wrong is the sickness of the mind.”the sickness of the mind.” Yun-Men, Buddhist master (Guiness, "No Exit", p.221)Yun-Men, Buddhist master (Guiness, "No Exit", p.221)

The Impact of Spiritual WarfareThe Impact of Spiritual Warfare

1.1. The Spiritual Realm The Spiritual Realm ExistsExists

2.2. The Bible: there is a The Bible: there is a “god of this world…”“god of this world…” Pervasive, intelligent, creative, powerful…Pervasive, intelligent, creative, powerful… BeautifulBeautiful and persuasive… and persuasive… A A CounterfeitCounterfeit Kingdom: “the Kingdom: “the World SystemWorld System”” Over 180 Passages describe…Over 180 Passages describe…

(Especially by Jesus Christ!)(Especially by Jesus Christ!)

From Beginning to End: Bible’s StoryFrom Beginning to End: Bible’s Story

2 Cor. 11:142 Cor. 11:14 No wonder, for even Satan No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. disguises himself as an angel of light.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News… 2 Cor.4:4

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 1 John 2:16



2.2. The Bible: there is a The Bible: there is a “god of this world…”“god of this world…”

3.3. We live in a Battle Zone!We live in a Battle Zone!

We live in a Battle We live in a Battle Zone!Zone!

• It will not go It will not go on forever!on forever!

• You must take You must take sides!sides!

• (We (We areare taking taking sides…)sides…)





4.4. You have a powerful enemy!You have a powerful enemy! Satan Satan hateshates God and those standing with Him. God and those standing with Him. He manipulates and controls through He manipulates and controls through fear.fear.

1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Hebrews 2:14-15 …him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, to free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.





4.4. You have a powerful enemy!You have a powerful enemy!

5.5. A war of A war of ideologiesideologies..

2 Cor. 10:52 Cor. 10:5 We are destroying speculations We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God…knowledge of God…

The Power of IdeologyThe Power of Ideology

for the weapons of our warfare for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of powerful for the destruction of fortresses. fortresses. 2 Corinthians 10:4 2 Corinthians 10:4

Because we understand our fearful Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to hard to persuadepersuade others. God knows others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. this, too. 2 Corinthians 5:11 2 Corinthians 5:11






5.5. Decide: Fight or Flee? Decide: Fight or Flee?

1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4

"I do not ask You to take them out "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them of the world, but to keep them from the evil from the evil one. one. John 17:15 John 17:15

“He might not be the best general in the world, and he drinks too much, but he sure can fight…Let me know what brand of whiskey he’s using, because I’d like to send it to the rest of my generals.” A. Lincoln







6.6. Equipped to fight…Equipped to fight…

2 Cor. 10:52 Cor. 10:5 We are destroying speculations We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God…knowledge of God…

2 Cor. 2:11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.








7.7. Fight Fight togethertogether……

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, perseverance and petition for all the saints, Eph. 6:18 Eph. 6:18








7.7. Fight Fight togethertogether…in …in lovelove

"By this all men will know that you are My "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35 John 13:35

In the Final Analysis…In the Final Analysis…

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Jesus Christ, John 10:10

Not This:Not This:

““You are looking at things as they are You are looking at things as they are outwardly…”outwardly…” 2 Cor. 10:72 Cor. 10:7

Thinking Like This:Thinking Like This:

Daniel 10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.”

Our Part:Our Part: 2 Cor. 10:5 We are 2 Cor. 10:5 We are

destroying speculations destroying speculations and every lofty thing and every lofty thing raised up against the raised up against the knowledge of God, and knowledge of God, and we are taking every we are taking every thought captive to the thought captive to the obedience of Christobedience of Christ

Peace vs WarPeace vs War

ImperativesImperatives

ImperativesImperativesEphes. 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…

Christian Naïvete Christian Naïvete

2 Cor. 10:7 You are looking at things as they 2 Cor. 10:7 You are looking at things as they are outwardly…are outwardly…

Spiritual Naiveté vs. Spiritual Victory How to deal with the real world through the power of Jesus...

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