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There is an unseen battle going on in the spiritual, unseen realm. The devil and his demons are waging war against God, and against the church – however, through the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony, we will have the victory through Jesus Christ. There is a lesson in this battle for you. Are you ready to hear what God is teaching you?
We are in the 5th and final week of our series Unseen Battle.
Let’s look again at our scripture memory verse.
Ephesians 6:12(NIV)For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
This one verse of scripture has taught us so much over the past few weeks. It has more to teach us this evening
We are in a spiritual war. So, we need to understand what spiritual warfare is.
Spiritual Warfare – A conflict in the unseen angelic realm that is affecting the physical, visible realm.
I am persuaded that everything that happens in the physical has a spiritual counterpart. There is an unseen battle behind the battle you do see.
Last week we talked about the “shiny one,” an angel who is the source of the battle. Tonight, we are going to continue this topic in a message I want to entitle the lesson of the battle.
The lesson of the battle
God is a teacher. Jesus is our rabbi, a Hebrew word that means teacher. God always has something to teach us. It is wise to pray that God would help you to understand the lesson
I presented last week the idea that Eden was a teaching lesson from God for satan. I want you to know that you are a part of God’s lesson. God intends to use you to bring forth His lesson.
To see the lesson, we must understand the creation power-structure
God – The creation power structure
God is at the top of the power-structure hierarchy. There is none higher. This One God alone reigns supreme.
God is uncreated. God created all things.
This supreme God created other beings we know as angels.
Angels – The creation power structure
There is no such thing as a plain angel in scripture. God created angels and adorned them in beauty. We read last week in Ezekiel 28 where the “shiny one” (lucifer) was adorned with precious materials of gold, onyx, emerald, topaz, jasper… he was a walking jewelry display.
We taught last week that angels are made after the fashion of God’s brightness. God is described as ‘bright light’ in scripture, and angels are described in the same way.
Get a picture in your mind what you think an angel looks like… now get ready to throw that picture away.
Isaiah 6:2-4(NIV) 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
6 WINGS. 6 EYES. Fly with 2 wings, cover face with 2 wings, cover feet with 2 wings… Their voice shakes the temple… there is smoke… Seeing an angel sounds like an intense experience.
What are angels really? What kind of being is this? They are really beyond the physical…
Hebrews 1:14(NIV) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Angels can appear in the physical, but scripture says they are spirits.
God created angels in a brightness that reminds us of God, a beauty that reminds us of God, also as spirits; that too reminds us of God.
Angels are a special. I don’t think any of us can deny that.
Not all angels are created equal. This is yet another thing our scripture memory teaches us.
Ephesians 6:12(NIV)For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
These rulers, authorities, powers, and spiritual forces are not flesh & blood. Paul is pointing to a hierarchy within a spiritual realm – Angels.
In earthly warfare we understand a chain of command. These are military ranks from bottom to top… Private, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, colonel, general…
These spirits known as angels also have ranks. We do not know all there is to know about their power structure. We, from our scriptures, know that some angels are named – like Michael & Gabriel. Jude 9 calls Michael an Archangel which seems to be a ranking within the angelic order.
The best example of angelic power-structure is likely found in Daniel 10.
Daniel 10:5-6 & 12-14(NIV) 5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
This angel shows up in Daniel 10 and looks like a “BAD DUDE.” Body of topaz, face like lightning, eyes of flaming torch, arms and legs of bronze, a voice like the sound of a multitude… The ancient Hebrew is actually translated, “BAD DUDE… THIS ANGEL A BAD DUDE.” (Just kidding about the Hebrew translation)
This “bad dude” was sent from the throne room of God with a message straight from God… remember God?
Angels – The creation power structure
God is the one at the top of the creation power structure… God sent this “bad dude” angel AND YET the angel did not have the power or authority to overcome another spiritual force called the prince or king of Persia. There was a demonic angelic force with a higher rank than the angel who was sent from God with the message for Daniel. For 21 days the angel from God with His message was detained from reaching its target.
That angel was detained until one of greater angelic rank showed up. Not just a prince, but a CHIEF PRINCE, an archangel named Michael came and his strength, position, and authority allowed that original ‘bad dude’ angel to reach Daniel.
You see all Angels look like bad dudes to us… but some of them are “badder” than others. Some of them have rank.
When it comes to rank, it could be that the “shiny one,” our adversary the devil is the top-ranking angel. I think it is plausible and highly likely that the top ranked angel is our enemy… IMAGINE THIS… If it weren’t for God, this shiniest angel would be the most powerful being in the universe.
God is supreme.
Then Angels.
And then God creates man…
Now before we put this next slide up… where do you think man is on this creation power structure?
Humanism would place man above God… or it replaces God entirely with mankind. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT… We know it is “HE WHO HAS MADE US NOT WE OURSELVES!” (Psalm 100:3 KJV)
So where do you think Man fits? Above or below angels? Scripture clearly tells us…
Hebrews 2:6-7(NIV) “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor
MAN – The creation power-structure
Man is lower than the angels… What does this mean for us?
Well… we are in a war with invisible spiritual beings who absolutely have more power than we do.
They are made of precious stones, we are made of dust.
They are born eternal creatures, we are born finite.
They are spirit, and we are flesh just preparing to turn back to dust.
You are no match for an angel. The lowest angel far surpasses any number of humans. Looking at this power-structure, it is impossible for us to win this war… How sad it this? It is sad enough to make someone in heaven cry…
Revelation 5:1-4(NIV) Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
The lesson of the battle
For any of you who ever wondered WHY?
Why did God send a lower ranked angel to fight the king of Persia? Why not just make the lower angel stronger?
Why don’t you just snap your fingers God and remove the devil?
Why not just make us better than the angels?
And this is the lesson of the battle… Are you ready? Class is in session and the LORD is our teacher.
Scripture is clear that God sent His son into the world to save the world. (John 3:17)
Scripture is clear that Jesus is more than just a man but is God Himself come into the world.
MAN – The creation power structure
So where would this Jesus fit into this power-structure? It would make sense if God created someone a little better than the strongest angel… He could have made a new #2 most powerful being in the universe and just pushed the shiny one down one notch… But there is no lesson in this.
Instead, this is where God the Father places Jesus within the power-structure.
Jesus – The creation power structure
Jesus entered the world, not as an angel, but as a man.
Jesus did not enter the world as a king.
Jesus did not enter the world waving a flag and banner that declared Himself God to be worshipped.
Jesus, God robed in flesh, entered the world as a man-child, born under the most humble and lowly conditions.
2 Corinthians 8:9(NIV) 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
God became poor. This is counterintuitive. God, I didn’t think we needed you to send a rescuer who was poorer than us…
God became weak. God, I don’t think I need a weak hero… I am plenty weak already…
God, who created everything, can do everything, and knows everything… somehow came to save us by becoming nothing.
Philippians 2:6 speaking about Jesus…
Philippians 2:6-8(NIV) 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Jesus is God in very nature. He is equal to God… and yet lives a legitimate human life. In his life on Earth, Jesus Christ does not use His deity, His divinity, His God-ness to His advantage… He operates as another human, like you and me.
7(NIV) rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8(NIV) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
What is going on here? Lesson time!
1 Corinthians 1:27-29(NIV) 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not (nothing)—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
God created Adam in the garden… Adam & Eve fell prey to a lying angel. When they sinned in the garden, they lost all of their dominion over the earth and they fell victim to death, hell, and the grave.
Sin entered the world by the man Adam. (Romans 5:12) Everyone in the line of Adam has met the same fate. We are all powerless and on our way to experiencing death, hell & and the grave.
But Jesus… is not in the line of Adam. Jesus’ physical father was not a man… but God. Who else could say that? ONLY ADAM could say that His Father was God… and now, Jesus.
Paul refers to Jesus as the LAST ADAM in 1 Corinthians 15:45.
Jesus is the Last Adam! Jesus is the Son of God.
When the demons saw the man named Jesus, they did not recognize God in the flesh… instead they screamed SON OF GOD. The demons recognized Adam as He was before the fall into sin, and this is why they called Him son of God.
They sensed in the man Christ Jesus something they thought they had defeated long ago. They sensed in Jesus Christ A MAN in perfect harmony WITH GOD! Sinless & Perfect.
When they saw another Adam, they sought to destroy Him… defeat Him… Trick Him into giving up His authority. They thought this should not be too hard… after all its just a man.
Little did they know that Jesus is more than a man.
Little did they understand the lengths God would go in love to rescue a lower creation.
The revelation that the man Jesus is God is to never be treated lightly.
But today can I tell you the revelation that God would become a man is the greatest lesson of the battle?
Colossians 1:15(NIV) 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
This is about the man… The son… the firstborn… that which is created lower than the angels.
Yet this man, everything was created with Him in mind and even created through Him.
Colossians 1:17-18(NIV) 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
The what? The supremacy.
The supremacy of the man Jesus Christ
Jesus is God… but I want you to understand this….
It was as a MAN, He was born into the world.
It was as a MAN, He stared the “shiny one” in the eyes and defeated Him with 3 words – IT IS WRITTEN.
It was as a MAN, He was tempted in every way but remained holy and without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
It was as a MAN, He came in the likeness of sinful flesh and condemned sin in that flesh (Romans 8:3)
It was as a MAN, He poured out His blood.
It was as a MAN, He died upon the cross.
It was as a MAN, He was buried in a grave.
It was as a MAN, He descended into the place where those apart from God are to go in punishment…
It was as a MAN, He descended into Hell…
The devils threw a party. They had once again defeated the son of God.
But 3 days later…
It was as a Man, He came busted out of Hell with the keys.
It was as a Man, He defeated the law of sin & death.
It was as a Man, He came back to life and the stone was rolled away.
It was as a Man, He ascended to the throne room of God and is found in that very throne.
It was as a MAN; He won the supremacy over everything.
We need to change the creation power structure.
King Jesus – Creation Power Structure
THE MAN, who was made lower than the angels, Jesus Christ has the supremacy. In everything He has the supremacy the scripture says!
Don’t you know power hungry angels hate this? Can’t you see the face of the enemy of your soul, angry as ‘you know what’ that a man has supremacy over him. Can you see the moment where every knee bows, and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He has put everything under his feet?
Jesus Christ is risen to the highest place and is given authority… Those that follow Him, those that love His name, those that are filled with His life-giving Spirit… they are raised with Christ and sit in His throne in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6 Colossians 3:1)
Now imagine how your enemy will feel when this revelation hits him.
Jesus Christ is supreme over your enemies… all your enemies.
Jesus makes you supreme over all your enemies…
When does this happen? Now! It happens now!
We are not waiting for our Lord to win another battle… He has already won.
This means you should be walking in His victory & supremacy. You should be putting all things under your feet.
I want you to get ready to come talk to God today. I think we need to worship a supreme Jesus! I think we need to put somethings in our life under His subjection.
But first… there is a final lesson of the battle.
The lesson of the battle
This lesson is not for you… You are used to teach the lesson.
To all the fallen angels… To the leader of the fallen angels comes this lesson.
You were given everything. Fashioned after light and beauty… Given supernatural power and access to the throne room of God. You were only exposed to holiness and glory. You were given a life where your feet would tread on streets of gold… the lowest materials of heaven and are the highest materials of earth.
Angels… you had it all.
But in your disobedience 1/3rd of you have fallen. You have fallen from your place of glory, and you continue to fall.
So, God took a lesser being, made from the dust of the earth.
God took a weaker being, a foolish being, a being that is lesser in every way, and simply because that lesser being was obedient, God has raised them in glory.
God does glorious things through obedience
The angels who wanted glory, only needed to have been obedient.
This is the lesson of the battle. God wants to use you to teach the enemy what it looks like to love and obey God.
God has taken the lesser things… the foolish things, the weaker things, the lowly things… and through simple obedient love although our bodies are just made of dust…
1 Corinthians 15:42-44(NIV) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
God has been using you to show the enemy the power of love and obedience.
There is no lesson if God had created a superior creature to overcome the enemy… Instead, God creates a lower being… God incarnates within a lower being… as a lower being he wins all supremacy and shares it with all who love Him.
Who wants to be God’s object lesson today? Who is willing to be obedient to the Lord and allow Him to bring glory into their life?