1\4 The Unseen War
The Unseen War • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Opening anecdote:
Imagine walking through your daily life unaware of an invisible enemy lurking in the shadows, ready to strike.
How prepared would you feel if you knew you were in the middle of a battlefield, but couldn't see the fight?
Spiritual warfare is exactly that—an invisible battle happening around us every day.
But unlike physical battles, this war isn’t fought with swords or shields; it’s a battle fought in the spirit, targeting our minds, our hearts, and our faith.
Today, we’re diving deep into what spiritual warfare truly means and why it matters in the life of every believer.
The stakes are high, and understanding this battle is essential if we are to stand firm.
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Main Point 1: What Spiritual Warfare Is (and Isn’t)
Main Point 1: What Spiritual Warfare Is (and Isn’t)
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 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."
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.
Explanation:
Spiritual warfare is the ongoing struggle between the forces of good and evil, God and Satan, fought on a spiritual level.
Unlike physical battles where the enemy is visible, spiritual warfare happens behind the scenes—unseen but very real.
Spiritual warfare is not a battle between people, nations, or political movements.
It's a battle for the hearts and souls of men and women, with eternal consequences.
Illustration:
Think of it like the wind—you can’t see it, but you can see its effects. Leaves scatter, trees sway, and even massive structures can fall if the wind is strong enough. In the same way, spiritual warfare is invisible, but its effects on our lives are undeniable.
Bible Illustration:
Bible Illustration:
Elisha and the Army of Angels (2 Kings 6:15-17)
When the king of Aram sent an army to capture Elisha, his servant was terrified, seeing only the physical army surrounding them.
But Elisha prayed for God to open his servant’s eyes to see the spiritual reality: an invisible army of heavenly forces was already there, far outnumbering the enemy.
Connection:
This story shows that spiritual warfare is real and happening in the unseen realm, even when we can't perceive it.
Just like Elisha’s servant, we need our spiritual eyes opened to understand that our battles aren’t just physical but spiritual.
Bible Character: Job (Job 1-2)
Job’s suffering was the result of spiritual warfare between God and Satan.
Satan sought to destroy Job's faith by attacking his health, family, and possessions.
Yet, Job didn’t see the spiritual battle behind his trials, making his steadfastness and faith even more remarkable.
Connection:
Job’s story highlights the invisible nature of spiritual warfare and reminds us that not all trials are what they seem—there are often spiritual forces at work behind the scenes.
"The greatest battles aren't seen with the eyes, but fought in the spirit."
Hashtags: #SpiritualWarfare #BattleUnseen #FaithFight
Main Point 2: Know Your Enemy – Satan and His Schemes
Main Point 2: Know Your Enemy – Satan and His Schemes
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Explanation:
One of the greatest deceptions Satan uses is convincing people that he doesn’t exist or that he isn’t a threat.
But Scripture paints a different picture: Satan is real, and his goal is to destroy our relationship with God, to steal our joy, and to pull us away from faith.
Satan operates through deceit, lies, and temptation.
His tactics often appear subtle—a little doubt here, a distraction there—but they can lead to great spiritual harm if we’re not vigilant.
Bible Illustration: Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)
Satan directly attacked Jesus by tempting Him in the wilderness. Each time, Satan used deceptive tactics, offering Jesus shortcuts to glory and questioning His identity.
But Jesus countered every temptation with Scripture, showing us how to fight spiritual attacks.
Connection: This story demonstrates Satan’s subtle but powerful schemes. Jesus shows us that knowing and standing firm on God’s Word is our greatest weapon against Satan’s lies and temptations.
Bible Character: Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:1-7)
In the Garden of Eden, Satan used deceit to lead Eve into sin. He twisted God’s words and appealed to her desires, planting doubt in her mind about God’s goodness and authority.
Connection: This story illustrates Satan’s strategy of deception, which he still uses today.
By distorting the truth, he draws people away from God's commands, just as he did with Eve.
Understanding how the enemy operates helps us guard against these schemes.
Quote from C.S. Lewis:
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them." — C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters.
"You can’t fight what you don’t recognise. Know the enemy, win the war."
Hashtags: #KnowYourEnemy #SpiritualWarfare #StayAlert
Main Point 3: The Battlefield of the Mind
Main Point 3: The Battlefield of the Mind
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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."
Explanation:
The primary battlefield in spiritual warfare is our minds.
This is where the enemy launches his most effective attacks—through thoughts of fear, doubt, temptation, and discouragement.
Satan knows that if he can control your thoughts, he can control your actions.
But God has given us weapons—prayer, Scripture, and the power of the Holy Spirit—to "take captive" every thought and bring it in obedience to Christ.
Illustration:
Imagine a computer infected with a virus. If the virus goes undetected, it can corrupt files, slow the system, or even crash the whole computer.
Our minds are like that computer, and Satan’s lies are the virus.
Without recognizing the attack and taking action, our spiritual lives can suffer.
Bible Illustration: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58)
Before David physically fought Goliath, he first won a mental battle.
While the Israelite soldiers were paralyzed with fear, David’s mind was focused on God’s power, not the size of his enemy.
He refused to let fear control him because he trusted in the Lord.
Connection: David’s confidence and mindset reflect the power of focusing on God rather than the enemy.
Spiritual warfare often begins in our minds—choosing faith over fear, confidence in God’s power over the enemy’s threats.
Bible Character: Peter Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33)
Peter walked on water when his eyes were fixed on Jesus, but the moment he shifted his focus to the wind and waves, doubt entered his mind, and he began to sink.
Connection: This illustrates how quickly doubt and fear can overwhelm us when our minds aren't anchored in faith.
The battle often isn’t in our circumstances but in our thoughts and where we place our trust.
Hashtags: #MindBattles #FaithOverFear #SpiritualWarfare
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Why Spiritual Warfare Matters to Believers
Why Spiritual Warfare Matters to Believers
Why does this battle matter to you and me?
Because spiritual warfare impacts every area of our lives—our faith, our families, our decisions, and our future, we cannot afford to be passive in this fight.
Just as a soldier wouldn't go into battle unprepared, we must arm ourselves daily with the truth of God's Word, prayer, and the support of fellow believers.
Closing Thought:
Closing Thought:
This battle isn’t easy, but we are not left to fight it alone. God has given us His power, His presence, and His protection.
Stand firm, fight the good fight, and know that victory is already won through Christ.
Appeal:
Appeal:
As we close this series on spiritual warfare, I want to make this personal.
Where is the battle raging in your life today?
Where is the battle raging in your life today?
Is it in your thoughts, where fear and doubt seem louder than God’s truth?
Is it in relationships, where division and discord have taken root?
Or maybe it's in your sense of purpose, where you feel attacked by discouragement and confusion?
Wherever it is, remember: you’re not alone.
You have the armor of God, and you have the support of a community around you. Take a step today—whether that’s committing to prayer, diving deeper into God’s Word, or simply reaching out for help. You don’t have to fight this battle by yourself.
Practical Applications:
Practical Applications:
Stay Alert: Be mindful of the enemy’s subtle attacks in your thoughts and actions. Ask yourself, “Where is Satan trying to deceive or distract me?”
Equip Yourself Daily: Pray and study God’s Word every day. You wouldn’t step onto a battlefield without armor—don’t go through your day without spiritual protection.
Guard Your Mind: Take every thought captive. When you’re tempted to fear, doubt, or feel defeated, remember that God has given you divine power to overcome.
Fellowship Matters: Surround yourself with believers who can encourage and pray with you. We’re stronger when we fight together.
