Principles of Warfare.
To engage in effective spiritual warfare, we must know how to watch, defend, and fight from principle, governed by the knowledge of God's Word.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the principles of spiritual warfare, urging believers to don the whole armor of God as outlined in Ephesians 6:10-18. He highlights the importance of being vigilant in prayer, knowing how to defend and attack against the powers of darkness, and the necessity of knowledge in effective prayer. Nee warns against the subtle and indirect attacks of Satan, encouraging believers to guard against wrong motives and ineffective prayer practices. He calls for a readiness to pay the price for victory and to remain alert, as spiritual warfare is constant and requires diligence.
Text
The whole armour on. (Ephes. vi. 10-18.)
Knowing how to watch. (Matt. xxvi. 41.)
Knowing how to DEFEND, as well as how to ATTACK: to (1) stand, (2) withstand, and (3) resist.
Fight (or pray) from principle--in cold blood, and irrespective of an apparent flow, because opposition of Powers of Darkness may account for lack of flow.
A need seen is a call to prayer; we must not wait for burdens or feelings, or we may get spurious ones.
KNOWLEDGE GOVERNS PRAYER (1 Cor. xiv. 15). Lack of knowledge means unintelligent and less effectual warfare. If there is no knowledge prayer must be made for knowledge, (or more knowledge, as the case may be).
As the warfare means great strains at times, these must be protective prayer, asking for (1) strength, (2) vision (not visions), and (3) knowledge; all for prayer.
Recognize that there is a difference between Satan and his works, temptations and wiles, the strong man and his goods, and deal with each as such.
Guard against indirect attacks of Satan--often the most violent, and often through your nearest and dearest.
Guard against (1) wrong motives, (2) indefinite prayer, (3) spasmodic prayer, (4) anxiety in prayer, (5) impatience in prayer, (6) being over-burdened in prayer (gauge your capacity), (7) fainting by the way, (8) false fighting (evil burdens, wasting strength), (9) wrong use of weapons, (10) misjudging by appearances.
We must be willing to pay the price of victory in the deliverance of others; have no preconceptions as to how God will work; watch every opportunity to co-operate with God as a means of answering our prayers; and walk softly, for great victory is a time of great danger, as the devil is then scheming to rob you of your victory.
* Neither time, place nor season are exempt from the attacks of Satan and his host--which, in itself, is a call to arms.
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Sermon Outline
- I. Knowing how to watch
- A. Recognize Satan and his works
- B. Deal with each as such
- II. Knowing how to DEFEND
- A. Stand
- B. Withstand
- C. Resist
- III. Fight from principle
- A. In cold blood
- B. Irrespective of apparent flow
- IV. Knowledge governs prayer
- A. Lack of knowledge means unintelligent warfare
- B. Pray for knowledge
- V. Protective prayer
- A. Ask for strength
- B. Ask for vision
- C. Ask for knowledge
Key Quotes
“Fight (or pray) from principle--in cold blood, and irrespective of an apparent flow, because opposition of Powers of Darkness may account for lack of flow.” — Watchman Nee
“KNOWLEDGE GOVERNS PRAYER (1 Cor. xiv. 15). Lack of knowledge means unintelligent and less effectual warfare.” — Watchman Nee
“We must be willing to pay the price of victory in the deliverance of others; have no preconceptions as to how God will work;” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- We must be willing to pay the price of victory in the deliverance of others.
- We must have no preconceptions as to how God will work in our lives.
- We must walk softly, for great victory is a time of great danger.