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. Living
Hope Fellowship Church
Church Study Course
SAINTS, AN ARMY FOR GOD
Lesson 10
SAINTS, AN ARMY FOR GOD
CHURCH #10
Outline:
1. WARFARE
2. BATTLE
3. ARMOR AND WEAPONS
4. ABLE TO POSSESS THE LAND
5. TWO KINDS OF FEAR
6. DON'T GIVE UP!
7. RANKS IN THE ARMY
8. TRAINING AND EXERCISE
9. GET MAD AT THE DEVIL. Get up and fight!
1. WARFARE
We are in a battle for our souls, and the devil is our
adversary.
The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Exodus 15:3.
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to
war, and my fingers to fight: Psalm 144:1
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a
time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:8.
(22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
(23) But I see another law in my members, warring against
the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the
law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:22-23.
(8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that
the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that
are in the world. (10) But the God of all grace, who hath
called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that
ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:8-10.
And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his
camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his
word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible;
and who can abide it? Joel 2:11.
(71) That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the
hand of all that hate us; (74) That he would grant unto us,
that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might
serve him without fear, (75) In holiness and righteousness
before him, all the days of our life. Luke 1:71, 74-75.
Read Matthew 11:12.
2. BATTLE
Don't compromise because you are tired of the fight. Seek
the Lord and he will give you strength even though the devil
tries to wear out the saints (Daniel 7:25). Don't stop
fighting the devil because you want peace. Sometimes we HAVE
to fight, resisting the devil. Priorities are made clear
when we are in confrontation. Read Matthew 16:26 and Mark
8:36 about gaining the whole world, but losing your soul.
This battle is over your soul! There will be wars till the
end of the earth (Matthew 24:6). The same is true with
souls, but if we are born again, the battle is the Lord's (1
Samuel 17:47). To stay saved is a fight (1 Timothy 6:12, 2
Timothy 4:7-8, & 1 Timothy 1:18-19). We know we are in a
spiritual battle.
Our flesh, the world, and the devil are against God (James
4:1). We are soldiers in God's army. He is the Captain of
our salvation and leads us as we go into battle against the
devil, but He protects us. Read Job 36:10 about discipline.
A soldier must have this.
(3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of
Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself
with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4.
Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like
unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he
is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians
3:21.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look
straight before thee. Proverbs 4:25.
3. ARMOR AND WEAPONS
Read all of Ephesians Chapter 6 about the armor of God. Read
Jeremiah 17:5.
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the
flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2
Corinthians 10:3-5.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner
destroyeth much good. Ecclesiastes 9:18.
They all hold swords, being expert in war; every man hath
his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Song
of Solomon 3:8.
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and
every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou
shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the
LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 54:17.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the
Lord. Proverbs 21:30.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews
4:12.
4. ABLE TO POSSESS THE LAND
Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do ". . .
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us."
(31) Or what king, going to make war against another king,
sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able
with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with
twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other is yet a
great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth
conditions of peace. (33) So likewise, whosoever he be of
you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple. (34) Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (35) It is neither
fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it
out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 14:31-35.
(27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after
me, cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, intending
to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the
cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:27.
(30) And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said,
Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able
to overcome it. (31) But the men that went up with him said,
We be not able to go up against the people; for they are
stronger than we. Numbers 13:30-31.
There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD
your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon
all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto
you. Deuteronomy 11:25.
5. TWO KINDS OF FEAR
(A) THE FEAR OF GOD WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH AGAINST SINNING!!
The Bible gives us specific scriptures about how we will be
judged according to our works (what we do). God is no
respecter of persons. Read Acts 10:34, Proverbs 24:12,
Matthew 16:27, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Romans 2:11, Colossians
3:25, and Hebrews 12:29.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from
the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27.
(12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God,
and the books were opened: and another book was opened,
which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of
those things which were written in the books, according to
their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in
it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in
them: and they were judged every man according to their
works. Revelation 20:12-13.
(B) OTHER FEAR
God requires that we fear him and that we do not let any
other fear take precedence in our lives. Read Revelation
21:8 about the fearful, the unbelieving, and others who will
have part in the lake of fire which is the second death.
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his
trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25.
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of
you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall
fall before you by the sword. Leviticus 26:8.
How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to
flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had
shut them up? Deuteronomy 32:30.
Sneak attacks from the devil: Psalm 25:15, Psalm 119:110.
Read Psalm 59:16-17, Psalm 140:7, Psalm 18:2, and Psalm 91.
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear
not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God
with a recompence; he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4.
Read Romans 12:19.
FEAR OF DEATH: You don't have to fear mankind or devils,
only God. Read 1 Samuel Chapter 17 how David killed Goliath!
Read Numbers 14:9. Sometimes we are afraid of battle because
of the possibility of death (Hebrews 2:15). Read these
scriptures about death: Romans 12:1-3, John 15:13, & 2
Samuel 17:10. Read Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:4.
In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway
thereof there is no death. Proverbs 12:28.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus'
sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in
our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:11.
(20) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that
in nothing I shall be shamed, but that with all boldness, as
always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,
whether it be by life, or by death. (21) For to me to live
is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold,
the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be
tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou
faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelations 2:10.
Nicodemus asked how a man could be born again. We must be
born of the Spirit (John 3:3). We are made new creatures in
Christ, and that new life has to be nourished continually as
the old man dies continually (2 Corinthians 5:16). Each day
is a new day. Matthew 6:34 says, ". . . Sufficient unto the
day is the evil thereof." It is a daily walk. Read
Colossians 3:1-3. Getting born again is instant, but full
sanctification is progressive.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
me. Luke 9:23.
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our
Lord, I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:31.
Read Mark 9:43-48. Also read Matthew 18:8-10. A besetting
sin is one that is like part of your body and it seems it
would hurt you terribly or even kill you to get rid of it.
You must get rid it of so you can escape hell (Hebrews
12:1)! That is why we follow Christ and carry the cross,
dying daily to the flesh that we can walk in the Spirit (1
Corinthians 15:31). Mortify means "to control (one's
physical desires and passions) by self-denial, fasting,
etc., as a means of religious discipline". Read Romans 8:13
and Colossians 3:5.
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count
them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in
him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith: (10) That I may know
him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of
the dead. (12) Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ
Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (15)
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and
if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal
even this unto you. Philippians 3:8-15.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
6. DON'T GIVE UP!
God is God of the impossible and will not put more on you
than you can bear (Matthew 19:26 and 1 Corinthians 10:13).
What happens to somebody that deserts the army?
Yea, they turned back and tempted god, and limited the Holy
One of Israel. Psalm 78:41.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1
Corinthians 15:58.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompense of reward. Hebrews 10:35.
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your
souls. 1 Peter 1:9.
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38.
7. RANKS IN THE ARMY
There are ranks in the actual earthly armies. Basic ranks in
an American army are: general, colonel, major, lieutenant,
sergeant, corporal, and private. Consider that there are
ranks in God's army and even in the devil's army. Neither
armies are haphazard; if they were, they wouldn't be
effective. There would be chaos! Generals in God's army must
be like the apostles who knew how to fight in God's army
from the bottom to the top (at any level). However, privates
only know the (bottom) basic or foundation fighting in the
army of the Lord.
8. TRAINING AND EXERCISE
We must learn to war in the Spirit and fight the devil,
praying and standing in the gap for others. Warriors must
become mature Christians who are able to stand against the
devil with the whole armor of God. Younger Christians should
be in training by the older ones. Where do you think God
would place you in his army right at this time? You can be
promoted by the Lord in His army! You may not have any
experience fighting in an army, but you get experience by
doing.
(3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience, (4) And patience,
experience; and experience, hope: Romans 5:3-4.
We may as well get some experience at fighting the devil
because we are promised tribulation (Acts 14:22). Read
Romans 8:35-39. We want to know how to fight effectively so
we can overcome, not accepting any surrender to the devil (1
Thessalonians 2:13). Remember, we have a God-given sword and
we can pull down strongholds through Jesus Christ.
In God's army, spiritual (fitness) training is necessary. As
in the physical, spiritual exercise is beneficial. The Bible
teaches us not to faint, and we build our strength as we
exercise. We are to study the Word and use it against the
devil. We are to fast and break the devil's bondage (Isaiah
Chapter 58). Prayer is an absolute necessity, because
without it you won't stay clean before the Lord, having full
confidence that he will hear and answer you (1 John
3:19-21). Without calling on God for help, you cannot defeat
the devil. The power of God defeats the devil! Praise the
Lord!
(16) For which cause we faint not; but though our outward
man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (17)
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
(18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18.
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that
ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:3-4
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14.
9. GET MAD AT THE DEVIL. Get up and fight!
Your own anger at the devil, by itself, profits you nothing
(James 1:20). It is not enough to just get mad at the devil.
Get mad enough at him for stealing, destroying, and or
killing you and others that you will do warfare in the
Spirit against him (Jude 1:20 and others). Get angry enough
to be stirred to action, not just thought.
WHY FIGHT? Immediately after you get saved, the devil is
going to try to rob you of it. You have to resist him to
survive and keep it (James 4:7). WHY FIGHT FOR SOMEBODY
ELSE? It is hard, so why can't they fight for themselves?
Who fought for you in prayer when you were a sinner? Jesus
died for all of us, not willing that any perish.
In God's army, individuals and troops must have a "strategy"
or a plan (known through prayer). If you jump and run to
battle, being unprepared, you could be injured or killed.
Pray and know God is directing and holding you; then go
forward as he leads, courageously!
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah
40:31.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall
strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm
27:14.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is
small. Proverbs 24:10. Read 1 Corinthians 16:13 and
Deuteronomy 31:6.
In Zechariah 4:6 the Lord told Zerubbabel, ". . . Not by
might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of
hosts."
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