Spiritual Warfare – The Battlefields

  • Due to technical difficulties the first 5 minutes of the sermon, the opening and introduction, was lost. The sermon begins at item #1.

In Spiritual Warfare: The Battlefields, Pastor Daren teaches that the Christian life involves two primary battlefields: the internal (the flesh and mind) and the external (the fallen world influenced by Satan’s kingdom). The sermon emphasized that victory is not achieved by self-effort or political activism, but by standing in the finished work of Jesus Christ and submitting to His Lordship. Drawing from Ephesians 6, Romans 8, and 2 Corinthians 10, the message calls believers to die to self, mortify sin, and be transformed by the Spirit in order to shine as witnesses of truth and reconciliation in a deceived world. The key reminder: the battle is real—but Jesus has already won.

🙏 Opening Prayer

Father, we come to You as Your children, desiring to be strengthened for the battles we face—both within and without.
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your finished work on the cross, for disarming the enemy, and for transferring us from the domain of darkness into Your Kingdom of light.
Holy Spirit, convict us of where we rely on our own strength and not Yours. Teach us how to submit our hearts, renew our minds, and walk in righteousness. As we reflect on this message, open our eyes to truth and guide us in deeper obedience and love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

❄️ Ice Breaker

Question:
When you hear the term “spiritual warfare”, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

(Encourage brief answers. Then ask:)
Would you say you think more about external struggles (culture, politics, demonic influence), or internal ones (temptation, sin, thoughts)?

🗣 Purpose: This helps set the tone for the internal vs. external framework of the sermon.

🔢 Sermon Headlines

1. The Real Battle: Not Against Flesh and Blood

This battle is not against people, politics, or opinions—it is against spiritual powers that manipulate systems and deceive hearts. We often wrongly direct our anger at individuals when the true enemy is the spiritual forces behind the scenes. The believer must learn to see with spiritual eyes and respond with truth and compassion.

Scriptures:
Ephesians 6:12–13, Matthew 16:21–24, Colossians 1:13

Reflection Questions:

  1. How can we guard our hearts against blaming people instead of recognizing spiritual forces at work?
  2. What does it look like to have compassion for people while opposing the spirit influencing them?
  3. How can we train ourselves to “see spiritually” instead of reacting emotionally?
  4. How does Matthew 16 show the danger of setting our minds on man’s interests?
  5. How can this truth help shape our witness in a hostile or deceived world?

2. The Real Power: Not Ours, But His

Spiritual victory does not come by human effort, clever arguments, or cultural activism. Only God’s power, through His Word and Spirit, can destroy strongholds. The call is to rely on divine weapons—not debates or anger—but truth, prayer, and surrender.

Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 10:3–5, Matthew 4:1–11

Reflection Questions:

  1. Are you attempting to fight spiritual battles with worldly tools?
  2. What does “taking every thought captive” look like practically?
  3. When have you tried to change others without letting God change you first?
  4. How does personal transformation serve as a testimony to others?
  5. How do we discern what battles God has called us to fight?

3. The Real Enemy: Sin and the Flesh

The greatest battlefield is internal—our own flesh, desires, and pride. Satan may tempt, but the true enemy is often within. Believers must learn to bring their sin, not just their circumstances, to the cross, and ask the Lord to clean the heart and change the mind.

Scriptures:
Romans 7:22–23, Romans 8:1–2, James 1:14–15

Reflection Questions:

  1. What sins or thought patterns still wage war in your life?
  2. How can you begin to recognize the roots of these struggles?
  3. Are you fighting sin with self-effort or surrendering it to Christ?
  4. How can your small group help you walk in freedom?
  5. How does Romans 8 offer hope to those struggling with repeated sin?

4. The Real Victory: Christ Has Won

The gospel truth is that Jesus already won the war. The cross disarmed Satan’s power, and believers now live in the reality of that victory. We fight from triumph, not for it. This truth must define our identity, prayer, and endurance.

Scriptures:
Colossians 2:13–15, John 19:30, 1 Corinthians 6:11

Reflection Questions:

  1. What does it mean to “stand in” Christ’s victory?
  2. How do we resist the enemy’s accusations with the truth of the gospel?
  3. What difference does it make to fight from victory rather than for it?
  4. How might your witness change if you believed you were already free?
  5. What lies from the enemy need to be answered with Scripture?

5. The Real Work: Submission, Mortification, and Declaration

The believer’s work is not to defeat Satan—but to submit to Christ, die to sin, and proclaim the gospel. Mortification of the flesh is done not by human willpower, but by the Spirit. Our job is to believe, obey, and testify of what God has done. Summary of John Owen’s teaching on Mortification of Sin

Scriptures:
Romans 8:13, John 6:29

Reflection Questions:

  1. What are you trying to “overcome” in your own power?
  2. How do we “partner with the Spirit” rather than rely on self-will?
  3. What lies have you believed about sanctification?
  4. How can your testimony speak of God’s work, not your effort?
  5. In what ways are you declaring Christ’s Lordship?

6. The Real Mission: Ambassadors of Reconciliation

We are not spiritual warriors in a vacuum—we are ambassadors. Our goal is to call people to reconciliation with God. The mission is not to destroy sinners, but to win them with the truth of the gospel and the love of Christ.

Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:20–21, Ephesians 3:8–10

Reflection Questions:

  1. Who around you needs to hear that they can be reconciled to God?
  2. What fears keep you from sharing the gospel?
  3. How do love and holiness work together in gospel witness?
  4. Are you able to speak truth without condemnation?
  5. How does your own transformation serve as part of the message?

7. The Real Hope: Jesus Reigns – The War is Won

Jesus is the reigning King, and the mountain of His Kingdom is growing. Though Satan’s time is short, Jesus’ rule is eternal. Our hope is not in fixing the world by force, but in declaring the victory of the King who reigns now and forever.

Scriptures:
Revelation 11:15, Romans 16:20, Psalm 2, Daniel 2

Reflection Questions:

  1. How does it comfort you to know Jesus reigns over all things?
  2. What discouragements are lessened by remembering this truth?
  3. How can you live today like Jesus is King?
  4. What does it mean that His Kingdom will fill the earth through the Church?
  5. How does Psalm 2 help you pray for the world and its leaders?

🙏 Group Prayer Points

  • Pray for Revelation – “Lord, show us where we’re fighting in our own strength. Help us see the spiritual reality around and within us.”
  • Pray for Humility – “Jesus, teach us to confess our sin, receive correction, and walk in submission to Your Lordship.”
  • Pray for Hunger for the Word – “Father, stir in us a deeper desire to know Your Word and seek Your righteousness.”
  • Pray for Victory Over Sin – “Holy Spirit, show us where to mortify sin, and lead us in true freedom.”
  • Pray for Missional Boldness – “Empower us to speak truth in love and to represent Your Kingdom as Your ambassadors.”

🔥 Challenge for the Week

Take time this week to examine where you’ve been fighting in your own strength instead of standing in Christ’s victory. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be hungry for truth, humble in heart, and teachable in spirit. Share with someone how God is transforming your inner life—and let that be your testimony in the world.

🙌 Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for revealing the truth of the spiritual battle. You have not left us alone—we have Your Word, Your Spirit, and Your Son.
Jesus, You are our victory. You finished the battle on the cross, and we stand in that triumph. Teach us to live from what You’ve already accomplished.
Holy Spirit, guide our hearts. Convict us where sin still lingers. Teach us to submit, mortify the flesh, and love others with Your truth.
Let us leave here changed, not just informed, and ready to walk out the calling You’ve given us.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

📆 Daily Devotionals

Day 1 – The True Battlefield

Focus: Ephesians 6:12–13
Ask God to help you discern the difference between human conflict and spiritual opposition.
Challenge: Journal one area where you’ve misidentified the real enemy. Ask God to renew your mind.

Day 2 – Captive Thoughts and Renewed Minds

Focus: 2 Corinthians 10:3–5
Take stock of your thoughts today. Are any raised up against the knowledge of God?
Challenge: Practice taking a specific thought captive. Submit it in prayer to Christ.

Day 3 – Fighting Sin by the Spirit

Focus: Romans 8:12–13
Identify a habit or sin where you rely too much on self-effort.
Challenge: Write a prayer of surrender asking the Holy Spirit to mortify that area of your flesh.

Day 4 – Declaring Victory

Focus: Colossians 2:13–15
Meditate on the truth that Jesus has already triumphed.
Challenge: Declare out loud, “Jesus has triumphed over every enemy. I am free in Christ.”

Day 5 – Living the Mission

Focus: 2 Corinthians 5:20–21
Ask God to show you one person you can reach out to with love and truth.
Challenge: Take one action step to be an ambassador this week: a text, a prayer, an invitation, or sharing your testimony.

📖 Key Verses (All from NASB95)

Ephesians 6:12–13

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
📝 Used to establish the foundation of the spiritual battlefield. It sets the lens for interpreting both cultural and internal opposition.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
📝 Used to explain how the battle of ideas, thoughts, and internal pride must be brought under submission to Christ.

Romans 7:22–23

“For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts.”
📝 Illustrates the believer’s internal struggle with the flesh, the heart of internal spiritual warfare.

Romans 8:1–2

“Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
📝 Brings the good news of freedom and victory in Jesus over sin, ending the despair of Romans 7.

Colossians 2:13–15

“When you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”
📝 A triumphant declaration of Christ’s victory over all spiritual enemies.

📚 Supporting Verses

  • Colossians 1:13 – Used to contrast the Kingdom of Light and Darkness.
  • John 19:30 – “It is finished.” Christ’s declaration of the completed work.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:11 – Emphasizes transformation in Christ (“such were some of you…”).
  • Psalm 2 – Demonstrates the rebellion of nations and the Lord’s installed King.
  • Ephesians 2:1–10 – Highlights our past bondage and current life in Christ.
  • Ephesians 3:8–10 – Reveals God’s intent to display His wisdom through the Church.
  • Romans 8:13, John 6:29 – Describes the believer’s “work” as faith-driven obedience and mortification of sin.

Additional Study For New Believers

🔍 Part 1: Scripture Meditation (20 minutes)

Read and meditate on:

  • Ephesians 6:10–20
  • 2 Corinthians 10:3–6
  • Romans 7:14–8:13

Write short reflections:

  1. What is the nature of the spiritual battle?
  2. What weapons has God given us?
  3. What does walking in the Spirit look like in real-time spiritual conflict?

📘 Part 2: Study of Reformed Thought (20 minutes)

Read: John Owen, The Mortification of Sin, chapter 1. (Available PDF free online or Read it on web page)

Write:

  • 2–3 sentences explaining Owen’s view of the believer’s “work” in mortification.
  • 2–3 sentences comparing that to your current understanding of “fighting sin.”

📖 Part 3: Theological Reflection on Victory (10 minutes)

Read: R.C. Sproul’s commentary on Colossians 2:13–15 (Ligonier)

Write:

  • How does Christ’s triumph over demonic powers impact how we do spiritual warfare?
  • How does this reinforce your desire to emphasize the finished work of Christ?

🙏 Part 4: Prayer & Declaration Practice (10 minutes)

  • Spend 5 minutes in private prayer, asking the Lord to help you rest in His victory and lead others in truth.
  • Write out a personal declaration rooted in the Word (e.g., “I am not my own strength, Christ is my strong man…”).
  • End by reviewing Psalm 2 and noting how you might apply its vision of Christ’s kingship to today’s rebellion.

Additional Study for Mature Believers

Title: “Clarifying and Communicating Spiritual Warfare to All Audiences”

Duration: ~1 Hour
Goal: Refine communication of the sermon topics for accessibility to unbelievers and believers while maintaining theological precision.

🔹 1. Study & Define (20 mins)

Read: Westminster Larger Catechism Questions 75–77
Task: Write a 2–3 sentence definition of:

  • Mortification
  • Sanctification
  • Spiritual warfare (in Reformed terms)

🔹 2. Simplify to Clarify (15 mins)

Write 3 analogies or metaphors that explain the concept of spiritual warfare to:

  • A 10-year-old
  • A new Christian
  • A non-believer

🔹 3. Scripture Meditation (15 mins)

Read & Reflect on:

  • Romans 8:1–13
  • 2 Cor. 10:3–5 Write: What do these passages reveal about God’s role vs our role in spiritual battle?

🔹 4. Practical Preparation (10 mins)

Write down how you would explain the following to a new believer:

  • “You are free in Christ, but you will still battle sin.”
  • “Jesus has won the war, but we are still fighting the battles.”