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\u201cSpiritual Warfare\u201d

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,\xa0since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,\xa0and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)

We have to stop looking at the SPIRITUAL through the LENS of NATURAL\u2026 and start looking at the NATURAL through the LENS of the SPIRITUAL.

When we understand the SPIRITUAL fight\u2026 it helps us make more sense of the NATURAL fight.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted\xa0by the devil.\xa0 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.\xa0Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

The tempter came to him and said, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.\u201d Jesus answered,\xa0\u201cIt is written: \u2018Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.\u2019 Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

Then the devil took him to the holy city\xa0and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.\xa0\u201cIf you are the Son of God,\u201d he said, \u201cthrow yourself down. For it is written: Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

\u201c\u2018He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.\u2019 Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

Jesus answered him,\xa0\u201cIt is also written: \u2018Do not put the Lord your God to the test.\u2019 Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.\xa0\u201cAll this I will give you,\u201d he said, \u201cif you will bow down and worship me.\u201d Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

Jesus said to him,\xa0\u201cAway from me, Satan!\xa0For it is written: \u2018Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.\u2019 Then the devil left him,\xa0and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

3 things you have to know about the Spiritual Fight:

1. You have to KNOW it\u2019s coming.

Therefore put on the full armor of God,\xa0so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)

1. You have to KNOW that it will typically follow significant spiritual moments.
2. You have to know that the enemy thrives in ISOLATION and works in COUNTERFEITS.

Be alert and of sober mind.\xa0Your enemy the devil prowls around\xa0like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.\xa01 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

Resist him,\xa0standing firm in the faith,\xa0because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

In the spiritual fight, Isolation is his strategy and counterfeits are his weapons.

Counterfeit GOOD

Counterfeit TRUTH

The main objective of spiritual attack is to get us to doubt who WE are\u2026 and who GOD is.

Counterfeit WORSHIP

1. You can WORRY

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

1. You can get WEIRD
2. You can WORSHIP
3. You can follow the WORD

Finally, be strong in the Lord\xa0and in his mighty power.\xa0Put on the full armor of God,\xa0so that you can take your stand against the devil\u2019s schemes.\xa0Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,\xa0but against the rulers, against the authorities,\xa0against the powers\xa0of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.\xa0Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

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Therefore put on the full armor of God,\xa0so 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,\xa0with the breastplate of righteousness in place,\xa0and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.\xa0Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,\xa0with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.\xa0Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Take the helmet of salvation\xa0and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

And pray in the Spirit\xa0on all occasions\xa0with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying\xa0for all the Lord\u2019s people. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV).

Big Idea: The Spiritual Fight is very real\u2026 but if we aware of it\u2026 and prepared for it\u2026 not matter the circumstances\u2026 it won\u2019t take us out.

\u2026Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,\xa0which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.\xa0Colossians 2:14-16 (NIV)

And having disarmed the powers and authorities,\xa0he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them\xa0by the cross. Colossians 2:14-16 (NIV)