Battling Spiritually and Clashing with the Unseen part 8 

ENLIGHTEN US TO MANAGE OUR ADORNMENT

   Our Protection Eph. 6:11  

      Be a Force

Our Array It’s Clothing                   Put on

Our Armor It’s Complete                the whole armor

Our Almighty It’s Christ                  of God

The phrase, whole armor, is the Greek word panopia, where we get the word panoply. Panoply is defined as a full array of protective covering.  Panopia comes from two words, Pas, which is “all” and, hoplon, which mean a weapon.

God has given us a weapon to protect us in spiritual battle, and that protection is His complete armor.

One of the interesting lessons on battle technique is when Jesus, in Luke 11:17-22, is accused of being devil possessed which prompted Him to give a lesson on warfare.  I have placed an outline of that narrative at the end of this writing.

Jesus sums up that defeat of the enemy is by God’s finger, God’s facts and God’s force.

Commandments Written By God’s Finger  But if I with the finger of God

Conquest Worked By God’s Facts

The Power of Truth                                          cast out devils,

Control Welcomed By God’s Force     no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you

We’re up against a strong man who’s massively powerful.

When a strong man, armed to the teeth, stands guard in his front yard, his property is safe and sound.

But what if a stronger man comes along with superior weapons?

Then he’s beaten at his own game, the arsenal that gave Him such confidence are hauled off, and his precious possessions plundered. This is war, and there is no neutral ground.  If you’re not on Jesus side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.

1. The strong man is Satan

2. The palace is the front yard of his kingdom, the world

3. His property or his goods are people held under his sway

4. The stronger man is Jesus

5. His superior weapons are Christ’s power of grace & truth 

It’s an amazing image that the finger of God casts out devils. Jesus alerts us to this reality, which means that the kingdom of God is upon us.

The Bible speaks of God’s finger, God’s hand, and God’s arm. Each part suggests the consigning of more power than the other.

The Finger of the Lord

The Lord needed only finger strength to rout the kingdom of Satan. The whole demon world stampedes in terror at the smallest exhibition of the Lord’s power.

God did miracles through Moses and the magicians told Pharaoh it was the finger of God.

When Moses was up on the mount with God the law was written by the finger of God.

The Hand of the Lord 

The Lord’s hand is where we experience His touch of blessing

Nehemiah 2:18   Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

When God’s hand is on us it works for our good and His glory.

The Lord’s hand is what brings great deliverance

Deuteronomy 6:21 Then you shall say unto your son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: 

The Lord’s Hand is our provision of protection

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. 

The Lord’s Hand is our assurance of security

John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave me them, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

The Lord’s Hand is how we influence others for Him

Acts 11:21 and the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 

The Lord’s Hand is sovereign over everything

Daniel 4:35 and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and God does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what are You doing?

The Lord’s hand moves and His Arm extends and nothing resists

Deuteronomy 7:18-23  You shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,  

The great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So will the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.

Moreover, the Lord your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed.  You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. 

The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you.

But the Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed. 

Insightful Master Luke 11:17‑26
The Demonic Kingdom v.17‑19
  Reason For Failing Positions  v.17

Self Disclosure             But he, knowing their thoughts, said

Subversive Division

In a Country                Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation

In a Community          and a house divided against a house falls
   Reaction For Faulty Principle  v.18

Satan is Organized            If Satan also be divided

Satan is Ordered                against himself,

Satan is Operational        how shall his kingdom stand?

 Satan isn’t Oppositional because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

    Result Fixing False Premise v.19

Light Dispels Darkness    And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils

Legitimacy Disrupts Demons

Check Authenticity         by whom do your sons cast them out

Check Authority           therefore shall they be your judges 

The Divine Kingdom v.20‑26
   It’s Proof v.20

      Commandments Written By God’s Finger      But if I with the finger of God

Conquest Worked By God’s Facts

             The Power of Truth                                           cast out devils,

Control Welcomed By God’s Force                   no doubt the kingdom 

                                                                                               of God is come upon you

 It’s Picture  v.21,22

    Powerful Peace v.21

Protective Strength  When a strong man armed keeps his palace

Peaceful Stability     his goods are in peace:

     Prevailing Provocateur v.22

Dominating Force       But when a stronger than he shall come upon him,

 Devastating Failure

Defeated                      and overcome him,

Disarmed                    he takes from him all his armor wherein he trusted,

Divided                         and divides his spoils.

It’s Plan v.23

Determining Allegiance  He that is not with me is against me:

Deciding Assembly            and he that gathers not with me, scatters