Spiritual Warfare – No Weapon Formed You have an enemy in Satan but a friend in Jesus. 1 John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. The very appearance of Jesus on this earth is to destroy the works of the devil. Not to make a treaty – not to have a standoff – not to have a trade-off but rather he comes to square off against the devil and destroy him. Isaiah 54:17 (NIV) “… no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. Weapons will not win because… Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. We have someone who is at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf and intervening as well. We have the devil destroyer on our side! 2 Corinthians 2:7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. When eyes can’t see it he is still working. When your ears can hear it he is still working. Your heart is confused he is still working. Joseph knew this. Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good… Elisha knew this. 2 Kings 6:16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Paul knew this. 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Jesus knew this. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” What a beautiful word that we need today; Jesus has overcome the world. That Jesus is a greater power, he has a greater purpose, he has greater plans and he is a greater provider. When Jesus says he overcomes the world he is saying that no matter what the tricks of the enemy are, or his schemes, or as devices or his roadblocks or his manipulations or his terrorism against you that he defeats it. That there is no stopping Jesus, there’s no limiting Jesus, there’s no way the devil can work around Jesus, the devil has no backdoor or hacker code that defeats Jesus, he doesn’t have some encryption that Jesus can’t figure out. He can’t outsmart Jesus or out want Jesus or outman Jesus or out plan Jesus or out last Jesus. Isaiah 54:17 “… no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. Jehoshaphat faced this… 2 Chron. 20:5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chron. 20:15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”