I’m guessing “Spraying bullets� will stir up some questions among readers. I want to provide some materials to get people started in their understanding of their role in this spiritual battle. For Brook Hills people, you’ll be familiar with these resources. While in Kenya, I used excerpts from Angels, demons, and spiritual warfare and scripture to preach a sermon on spiritual warfare during the adult Thursday night service and teach my Sunday school class (9-11 yr. olds).
Materials used: Angels, demons, and spiritual warfare
The Church of Brook Hills
Dr. David Platt
secretchurch.org
· A reality exists: there is a kingdom of God and a kingdom of Satan.
“Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.�
John 18:36
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the way of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is not at work in those who are disobedient.�
Ephesians 2:1-2
· The battle between these two kingdoms has existed since the beginning of time. We have evidence from Genesis to Revelation.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?�
Genesis 3:1
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.�
Matthew 4:1
“When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.�
Revelation 20:7-8
· Our weapon: The Word of God
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.�
2 Corinthians 10:4
· “Satan has two primary objectives: 1) To destroy God’s people and 2) To defame God’s glory.� — David Platt
· “The scope of this spiritual war is universal. It involves every language, every people, every nation, every tribe, every life.�- David Platt
· There is a distinct contrast in what the God of heaven and the god of this world desire for a person’s destiny.
“The God over this world wants people to be saved.� — David Platt
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.�
2 Peter 3:9
“The god of this world wants people to burn in hell.� — David Platt
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.�
Revelation 20:14-15
· There is good news . . . We know the outcome of this war. Satan has been defeated and will be destroyed.
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown in to the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.�
Revelation 20:10
· “We do not fight this war for victory; we fight from victory.�
“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.�
Revelation 11:15
If anyone struggles with “Why is there pain and suffering in this world?� [I’ve asked], then I encourage you to think of these issues within the framework of this battle between two kingdoms.
I’m 23 years old and traveled to 24 nations, and I’ve seen a lot of brokenness in this world. I’ve asked so many questions along the way . . .
Why are 1,000s and 1,000s of children trafficked in Southeast Asia? Why are there so many orphans worldwide? Why so many people who are malnourished in Africa? Why is prostitution such a large industry in Bangkok, Thailand? Why is there a mansion next to a wooden shack in Cambodia? Why? Why? Why?
These issues are all evidence of the great battle that is occurring. The battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Lately, I’ve been asking the Lord to allow my heart to break for what breaks His heart. I don’t want my heart to become callous and numb to matters of injustice. The enemy would want me to believe that it is just too much for me to make a difference. As the church, we don’t have time to twiddle our thumbs. We need to be moved to action. Our actions stem from love. Agape love. Yes, the unconditional love, the unnatural love. As the church, we don’t have to look long to find people to love and opportunities to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. You can probably take a few steps from your door wherever you are in the world.
[Krystle loving on one of the kids in a village]
