How to Wage Warfare in the Arena of the Heart

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How to Wage Warfare in the Arena of the Heart

July 23, 2023 • Mark Davies • Proverbs 4:23–27, Psalm 119:10, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Ephesians 6:10–11, Galatians 5:24

How to Wage Warfare in the Arena of the Heart

Four Ways to Wage Warfare in the Arena of the Heart

Recognize the value of your heart

Proverbs 4:23–27 (ESV)

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

2. Craft offensive strategies

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Job 31:1 (NIV)

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.”

Question: If I were the Devil, how would I attack me?

3. Issue eviction notices

Galatians 5:24 (ESV)

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Colossians 3:5 (ESV)

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Psalm 119:11-12 (ESV)

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord ; teach me your statutes!”

Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 119:10 (ESV)

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!”

4. Rest

1 John 3:19-20 (ESV)

“we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV)

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

“Delight yourself in the Lord , and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

2 Chronicles 16:9a (ESV)

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.”

Walking in Spiritual Authority

August 6, 2023 • John 16:13–15, Matthew 21:18–22, 2 Corinthians 13:10, Mark 1:27, Matthew 28:18–20

Walking in Spiritual Authority Mark 1:27 (ESV) “They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” Luke 9:1 (ESV) “He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.” Spiritual Authority Where do you get it? Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) “Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” John 12:49 (ESV) “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has Himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” John 14:10 (ESV) “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does His works.” John 16:13-15 (ESV) “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore, I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you.” “So, if Jesus and the Holy Spirit functioned under God’s Authority then naturally you and I as followers of Jesus and temples of the Holy spirit should also.” How do you get it? Matthew 21:18-22 (ESV) “In the morning, as He was returning to the city, He became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, He went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” How do you lose it? Matthew 8:5-10 (ESV) “When He had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, appealing to Him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And He said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who followed Him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” James 4:7 (CSB) “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” How do you use it? 2 Corinthians 13:10 (ESV) "For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.”

Spiritual Warfare - Watch Your Mouth

July 30, 2023 • James 3:3–12, Matthew 12:34, Psalm 19:14, Proverbs 18:21, Ecclesiastes 10:12

Spiritual Warfare - Watch Your Mouth Ecclesiastes 10:12 (ESV) “The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.” Ecclesiastes 10:12 (NLT) "Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words” Proverbs 18:20-21 (NLT) “Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words [chosen words] bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” James 3:3-12 (NLT) “We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” Matthew 12:34b (NLT) "For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” Matthew 12:34b (ESV) “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Genesis 35:17-18 (NLT) “After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, ‘Don’t be afraid—you have another son!’ Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means ‘son of my sorrow’). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin [which means ‘son of my right hand’ [or strength]).” Psalm 19:14 (ESV) “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Psalm 141:3 (ESV) "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Not Today Satan - The Gate and Access Point of the Mind (thought life)

July 16, 2023 • Jason King • 2 Corinthians 10:3–5, John 8:44, Galatians 3:10, Galatians 3:11–14, 1 John 1:9

The Gate and Access Point of the Mind (thought life) 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV) “though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” The Gate and access of our mind (thought life) John 8:44 (ESV) “…When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Thoughts that destroy. - Pride Proverbs 8:13 (NIV) “I hate pride and arrogance” - Criticism, judgment and negativity - Fear - Unbelief - Strife and contention - Inferiority - Condemnation Deuteronomy 27:26 (NIV) “Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’” Galatians 3:10 (NIV) “’Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them” Galatians 3:11-14 (ESV) “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather ‘The one who does them shall live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” 1 John 1:9 (ESV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”