Sermon Notes
PSALM 149:6
As we look around and see what is taking place in the church today, we are seeing a proliferation of books, seminars, radio shows and-so-on, speaking on spiritual warfare. It is a hot topic, that for the most part, is being taught in a very questionable way to say the least, and at the most, the teachings are bizarre and un-Scriptural.
But what is spiritual warfare? T. A. McMahon puts it this way, and correctly so. He says that spiritual warfare "...is a figurative way of describing what takes place every day as [we] attempt to live [our] lives in a manner pleasing to God. The very real adversaries on the spiritual battlefield are the world, the flesh, and the devil, and the 'good fight' consists of resisting temptation, overcoming personal sin, and being an effective witness for Christ. The figurative language of this term expresses the nature of the literal, temporal struggle in which all believers find themselves."
And yet there is a new spiritual warfare revival today that has come up with new revelations of how to defeat the enemy, to rip the enemy to pieces. We see terms like "demon possession" of Christians, "strategic - level intercession," "territorial spirits," "spiritual mapping," "tearing down strongholds," "indentificational repentance," "prayerwalking, prayer journeys, prayer expeditions" that are proclaiming a militant assault on the enemy. You know, grab hold of the Devil and tear him to pieces mentality.
Many in the church would be and will be outraged at my lack of sensitivity to these new revelations from God, or so they say they are. They feel that I am quenching the Spirit of God by not allowing these practices to come into the church. And to speak against the Lord's anointed is deserving of death. Don't get the idea that I think of myself as better or more knowledgeable than anyone, because I don't. Not at all! Then how can I stand here and come against these new revelations of God?
Very simply, and please understand this, my premise in evaluating anything, even this strategic - level spiritual warfare movement, is going to be the Word of God. In Isaiah 8:20 we read "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Thus, God's inerrant, authoritative and sufficient Word has to be our only objective basis that we as believers have for discerning the truth, knowing what to believe. And understand that God is saying if we go outside His Word, if we gravitate to new revelations, then there is no light in us, we are walking in darkness, because we are not walking according to the truth, the light that is found in His Word.
Now our text is going to be Psalm 149, but before we get to it, I want to share with you from the March 1998 newsletter of "The Berean Call". T. A. McMahon wrote some quasi-hypothetical letters to Paul the apostle, letters that Paul might receive today because of his hard nose stand on certain issues that seem to be getting much attention today. The one I would like to look at this morning is titled:
FROM THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE STRATEGIC COMMAND CENTER IN EPHESUS:
Greetings. While we have been blessed by your teachings in general, we marvel at how uniformed you are concerning spiritual warfare. You seem to recognize the powerful organization of the spirit world of demons as "principalities," "powers" and "rulers" - and we do find helpful your teaching which encourages the believer to take up "the whole armor of god," and especially "the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Yet you remain terribly vague regarding the critical necessity of confronting demons.
Since you were with us last, God has raised up individuals to teach us to bind and loose spirits, identify territorial demons, utilize spiritual mapping, develop prayerwalking, and become more effective in tearing down demonic strongholds. We have also learned how to remove generational curses through indentificaitonal repentance. How is it that you were not aware of these spiritual techniques for vanquishing our satanic enemies?
You seem to be ignorant of territorial spirits, which must be bound in order for the gospel to advance. That became clear to us through word of your failure to convert Philippi. No wonder you could only cast a demon out of one young lady there - and even that led to your beating and imprisonment! Obviously, much strategic - level spiritual warfare was needed to bind the strongman of that city and thereby to assure your success.
We, on the other hand, have learned what brings victory. By marching around the temple of Diana here in Ephesus, our prayerwalkers have had great success in reducing the sales of her statutes, as well as restricting the business of her shrine prostitutes. Whereas you were mute on the subject and the methods involved in spiritual warfare, we found information gleaned from converted pagan priests to be very insightful, particularly in learning the spiritual history of this great city. Our exorcisms also proved helpful, and provided us with intelligence from the demons themselves - that is, of course, after our commanding them to speak the truth.
Should you still be suffering from that "messenger of Satan," we have an eager deliverance team ready to set you free. However, we would ask you to please refrain from the feeble and questionable plea that Christ told you, "My grace is sufficient for thee." We feel that is a defeatist attitude at best, and certainly not suited for the spiritual militancy required in our times.
Now we may laugh at that, but the reality is, T. A. McMahon was just writing out of the many letters he has received over this issue and what is being taught in this movement. Thus, in our study this morning we are going to talk about being victorious in this battle we are in. As soldiers we should be equipping ourselves for the battle so that the enemy will not have victory over our lives. And thus, we are not going to get into an emotional battle, but look at the truths found in the Word of God to guide us in this area.
And so this morning, if you would, please turn to Psalm 149 and lets read verse 6.
PSALM 149:6
Now for the most part, we would look at Ephesians chapter 6 to see the armor that God has given to us for this battle we are in. And it is a very important section but one that has been covered already, and so we are going to quickly just touch on these.
We are to put on and never take off the BELT OF TRUTH. The belt of truth speaks of our lives being filled with truthfulness that we don't become tripped up by our lies. It also speaks of us knowing the truth that is found in the Word of God so that we will not be tripped up by the lies of the enemy.
We are to put on and never take off the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. That is we are to live lives that are holy, set apart for God. It also speaks of us standing in the righteousness that has been imputed to us by Christ, His righteousness. And thus, the breastplate will keep us emotionally stable as we walk in His righteousness.
We are to put on and never take off our SANDALS. And the sandals speak of stability in our life as we are in these battles. And as we stand firm in the message of the Gospel, our feet will not be moved.
We are also to keep in readiness at all times, to pick up on a daily basis, the SHIELD OF FAITH, which guards us from the lies of the enemy that he fires at us. The HELMET OF SALVATION which protects our minds knowing that we have been saved by grace and not our own goodness. And the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the Word of God.
Now I encourage you, in your devotional time, to study this section in Ephesians chapter 6 regarding the armor of God, for it will truly bless you and equip you. But this morning I want to focus on 2 areas found in Psalm 149 that are essential for battle, PRAISE and the SWORD!
Now I can imagine what you are thinking this morning, "I understand having a sword in battle will be very beneficial, but how in the world is praise going to give me victory?" Let me show you as we examine these 2 areas that God has given to us to help us live that victorious Christian life.
1. ENTER THE BATTLE WITH PRAISE
I think that praise, the worship of God, drives the enemy nuts. It causes them to flee. Why? Because they hate the worship of God. In fact Satan wants to be worshipped as God and thus, any worship that is directed towards the true and living God is worship that is take away from Satan. It is something that he wants to usurp from God and when he can't get it, it drives him nuts.
In II Chronicles chapter 20, Jehoshaphat, king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, is confronted with a serious problem. There are 3 nations, Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir or Edom who are joining forces to come against him and his kingdom to wipe them out. And Jehoshaphat was overwhelmed by this news. But instead of running away, instead of hiding out, instead of being overcome with fear, he focuses on the Lord. He sets his face to seek direction from God.
Not only did Jehoshaphat fast and pray, but he called for the nation to do so also, and they did. That tells me that the people took seriously their faith in God, and as they looked at their leader and saw his response in this crisis situation, they followed his approach and fasted and prayed. That also tells me that they looked to their king for guidance and trusted him.
The entire nation of Judah have now come together for a time of fasting and prayer to seek direction from God in this situation that they have found themselves in. And as they gathered before the temple, praying before God, Jehoshaphat said "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." II Chronicles 20:12.
Instead of being defeated, discouraged, their joy being taken away, they saw the situation correctly. There was no human way out of this battle. There was no human way they could win against these 3 nations, and thus, their faith was not in their ability to bring about this victory. Their faith was placed upon the Lord, the one who would lead them in the battle and could give them the victory. Who else or where else are you going to look to for victory in your life? There is no one or nothing that will be able to help you like the Lord. And as they looked to the Lord they found comfort, peace, assurance of victory in what they were going through. But there is only heartache when we take our eyes off the Lord and look at the situation we are in, and we become defeated.
As Jehoshaphat and the nation were waiting upon the Lord, God speaks to the prophet Jahaziel by His Spirit and Jahaziel says "...'Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." II Chronicles 20:15-17.
Jahaziel tells the king and the people to go into battle with the worship team leading the way. Now me, being a man of faith, would have probably said "Is the Lord speaking to anyone else today? Does any one else have another idea?" But Jehoshaphat didn't do that. He said to the people as they rose up early for battle "...'Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: 'Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.'" II Chronicles 20:20-21.
Now as the worship people entered the battle, singing out to the Lord, all of a sudden the enemy is confused. The soldiers of Ammon and Moab begin to destroy their allies, the soldiers of Mount Seir. When they are completely wiped out then the soldiers of Ammon and Moab start fighting each other, and before long not one person is left alive. The enemy is completely wiped out.
Thus, here comes Judah, kind of whistling while they work, and they look over at the enemy and they are all dead! Not one soldier escaped this battle, the enemy had wiped themselves out. Now maybe if I was singing in battle the enemy might have committed suicide to ease the pain, but that was not the case here!
You see, praise unto God threw the enemy into confusion. They couldn't understand it, they were repulsed by it. Don't allow the enemy to rob you of praise, for when things are falling apart around you, when the enemy seems so big, praise gets us re-focused on the one that can truly help. It is as David said in II Samuel 22:2-4. We read "...'The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.'"
Now as Jehoshaphat and his men come to take the spoil of their victory, there is so much spoil that it takes them 3 whole days to haul it back home. And the interesting thing to me is that they come together on the forth day in the valley of Berachah or the valley of Blessing to praise the Lord.
That tells me that as you march into battle with praise, understanding that "the battle is not yours, but God's" (II Chronicles 20:15), that as the victory comes there is great blessing to be found. The question we must ask is "Where are those blessings to be found?" Not on the mountain top, but in the valley, which is a walk of faith. As you go through the valley you will grow in your walk with the Lord, your knowledge of Him, your trust in Him. The valley is where growth is accomplished.
Now for us as Christians we lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, but we also can enjoy the blessings we receive as we go through the dark valley and head to the mountain top. Judah had to carry their spoil from the valley up to the city of Jerusalem, to the mountain top you might say. And as we bring with us the spoils of victory, those lessons of faith, there is great blessing and joy for what God has shown us, and we may impart those lessons to others.
2. THE SWORD IN OUR HAND
The second thing that will help us be victorious in our spiritual life is that we need to enter the battle with a sword in our hand. And the sword spoken of here in Psalm 149 was not the large, broad sword, but a short sword that was used in hand-to-hand combat.
I see this double edged sword as having on one edge truth, and the other responsibility. You see, the truth is found in the Word of God. From Genesis through to the book of Revelation are truths of God. It is not that the Bible just contains the Words of God, it is the Word of God! And if it is the Word of God then it is truth, for God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all. In fact Paul tells us that all Scripture is from God, it has been breathed out of Him you might say.
In Hebrews 1:1-2 we read "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds." The writer is saying that God used the prophets as instruments for Him to communicate His truths through and we are the recipients of that truth. And now, in these last days, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, that is God became flesh and He spoke directly to the people and now those truths have been written down for us.
It is one thing to know the truth, it is quite another to apply that truth to our lives. Peter exhorts us in I Peter 1:13-16 "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'"
We do have a responsibility as representatives of Christ to live lives that would honor the King. Thus, we need to allow the Word of God to be like a surgical instrument in our lives, to cut away the hardness, the garbage that is in there. We also need to allow the Word of God to direct our steps and conform us into His image as the Holy Spirit works in us.
Let me show you what the Word of God should be like in our life, this offensive weapon of war that is called the Sword of the Spirit. In II Samuel chapter 23, we are seeing some of David's mighty men, and I would like to begin reading in verse 9. "And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder." II Samuel 23:9-10.
Eleazar was a man of the Word. You see, as the Philistines gathered against Israel, all had fled except one man, Eleazar. And he fought against the Philistines with the sword, and by the time he was done and the victory was assured, his sword cleaved to his hand. It became a natural extension of his body, part of his life. It was as if his sword was glued to his hand and because of that relationship, the enemy was defeated.
We love to use the sword in the lives of other people, but many times it must be used on our own heart. The flesh loves to resurrect itself and try to defeat us, and it is the Word of God that exposes those subtle areas, those small errors in our lives that if they are not dealt with, will turn into big areas that can cause much harm. I remember John MacArthur, a great pastor and Bible teacher, say that when his dad gave to him a Bible, I believe after getting out of Seminary, he wrote in it "Son, this book will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from this book!"
How true that is. The Word of God will expose sin in our life, but if we refuse to apply those truths of God, sin will overtake us and we will be drawn away from His Word. I have seen this happen over and over again.
Also, as you look at this story in II Samuel chapter 23 you see that those that were not prepared for battle, fled for their lives. You see, any soldier who is not prepared for battle daily, and it is a spiritual battle we are in, will not put his life on the line. We are daily in a spiritual battle and it is this spiritual battle that we must take seriously or we will become discouraged and defeated. The Word of God must permeate our lives and sink deep down into our hearts. We must be like Eleazar and use our sword as a precise instrument for the glory of God and not swing it like a broad sword, destroying all that get in our way, kind of like a bull in a china shop.
The Word of God should be comfortable in our hand, it should be a natural extension of our life, for it is truth and if applied properly, it will bring us blessings and will defeat any enemy that comes our way!
Yes there is a spiritual battle taking place but if you enter the battle with lies, foolish plans, plans that are not of God, then you will be defeated. I can think of one story that a gentlemen told me about World War II. He was part of a group of soldiers that used to shell the enemy with shells fired from these free standing units. And as they came over this one hill they saw a group of their soldiers all pilled in a big pile with a tarp over them, all killed. When they asked how it happened, they were told that when they launched these shells in the air, they did not make sure there was enough clearing and when they hit the trees above them the shell went off, killing all the men. You see, it is not only having the armor, the equipment for battle, it is using it correctly. This gentlemen told me that after they saw that, everyone was looking up to make sure there was nothing in the way before they launched any shells into the air. They saw the devastation that could take place when things are done incorrectly. We too must be aware!
I want to leave you this morning with these words from T. A. McMahon, which I think sum up what we have been talking about very nicely. He said:
Spiritual warfare is not hand-to-hand combat or strategic battle in the heavenlies against spirit entities. It is contending for the truth, vanquishing false teachings, and resisting the lies. The "wrestling" of Ephesians 6:12 refers to disputations over the truth (v 14), not body slamming demons. Our weapon is the "sword of the Spirit [ of Truth], which is the [written!] word [rhema] of God" (v 17). Jesus himself used that sword against the devil: "It is written..." (Mt 4:4, 6-7,10).
The strongholds of the devil to be pulled down are not literal "territories ruled by demons," but Satan's lies, which hold captive the minds ("every thought") of the lost (2 Cor 10:4-5), and can even deceive God's "very elect" (Mt 24:24). Scripture tells us clearly and simply how we are to deal with such strongholds: "...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn 8:31-32).