1. Spiritual Naiveté vs. Spiritual Victory How to deal with the real world through the power of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:1-7

2. 2 Cor. 10:2 I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh…

3. 2 Cor. 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, [4] for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. [5] We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

4. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. T he Spiritual Realm Exists Believe God Exists? Is He alone? You are not a bag of molecules! Evil Exists! Naïve View: “think nice thoughts…” Naturalist View: “no comment” Eastern Religions: “evil=good…” Postmodern View: “evil=arbitrary” “If you want to get the plain truth, be not concerned with right and wrong. The conflict between right and wrong is the sickness of the mind.” Yun-Men, Buddhist master (Guiness, "No Exit", p.221)

5. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. T he Spiritual Realm Exists 2. T he Bible: there is a “god of this world…” Pervasive, intelligent, creative, powerful… Beautiful and persuasive… A Counterfeit Kingdom: “the World System” Over 180 Passages describe… (Especially by Jesus Christ!) From Beginning to End: Bible’s Story 2 Cor. 11:14 No wonder, for even Satan 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

6. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone!

7. We live in a Battle Zone! It will not go on forever!It will not go on forever! You must take sides!You must take sides! (We are taking sides…)(We are taking sides…)

8. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone! 4. You have a powerful enemy! Satan hates God and those standing with Him. Satan hates God and those standing with Him. He manipulates and controls through fear. He manipulates and controls through 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.

9. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone! 4. You have a powerful enemy! 5. A war of ideologies. 2 Cor. 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God…

10. The Power of Ideology for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 2 Corinthians 10:4 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 2 Corinthians 5:11

11. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone! 4. You have a powerful enemy! 5. 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 of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 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

12. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone! 4. You have a powerful enemy! 5. Decide: Fight or Flee? 6. Equipped to fight… 2 Cor. 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the 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.

13. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone! 4. You have a powerful enemy! 5. Decide: Fight or Flee? 6. Equipped to fight… 7. Fight together… 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, Eph. 6:18

14. The Impact of Spiritual Warfare 1. The Spiritual Realm Exists 2. The Bible: there is a “god of this world…” 3. We live in a Battle Zone! 4. You have a powerful enemy! 5. Decide: Fight or Flee? 6. Equipped to fight… 7. Fight together…in love "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

15. 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: “You are looking at things as they are outwardly…” 2 Cor. 10:7 Thinking Like This:

17. 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: 2 Cor. 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

18. Peace vs War

19. Imperatives

20. Imperatives

21. Imperatives Ephes. 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…

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