Not Today, Satan | Week 1 | Pastor Kevin Kringel
Not Today, Satan!
Week 1
Not Today, Satan: The Real Battle of Spiritual Warfare
Main Scripture: Ephesians 6:12-14
Introduction: The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
Reference The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (1942)
Lewis’s insight: Two errors concerning the devil:
o Believing too little (disbelieving his existence)
o Believing too much (being obsessed)
Keith Green’s song “No One Believes in Me Any More” as a reflection of society’s apathy
Historical and Contextual Background
WWII as a backdrop of chaos and evil
Why did Lewis focus on spiritual warfare during such chaos?
Key question: What is real life? What should be our primary focus?
The Enemy and Spiritual Warfare
The devil as a fallen angel, not equal with God
Clarification: Satan is not omnipresent, omnipotent, or omniscient
Our personal spiritual battle:
o Distractions, delays, confusion, and torment
Biblical reminder: 1 Peter 5:8
The Universality of Belief in the Spiritual Realm
6,000 years of human history across cultures affirm the reality of spiritual entities
Modern society’s denial vs. historical belief
Does denying unseen things make them unreal?
The Shift Towards Naturalism and Materialism
Aristotle and the laws of nature
Enlightenment and the decline of spiritual acknowledgment
Darwin and the false dichotomy: Creation vs. chance
The danger: dismissing what we can't see or measure
The Limitations of Human Perception
Our senses perceive only a fraction of reality
Examples:
o Colors (Red, Blue, Green; dogs see differently)
o Dimensions (3D vs. String Theory's 10+ dimensions)
o Technological advances (microscopes, telescopes, AI)
Reality extends beyond perception
The Question of Reality and What’s Happening
“What’s really happening when what’s happening is happening?”
The unseen realm’s influence on our lives
Biblical Examples of Spiritual Warfare and Perspective
Daniel 10:1-21 – Delays in answers and spiritual warfare
2 Kings 6:15-17 – Elisha’s prayer for spiritual sight:
o “Open his eyes, Lord, so he may see.”
o Reminder: God's army surrounds us
Focus on Eternal and Spiritual Realities
2 Corinthians 4:18 – Fix eyes on the unseen, eternal
Recognize the spiritual realm’s ongoing activity
Call to Action & Prayer
1. Pray: “God, please open our eyes”
2. Pray: “Help us fix our eyes in a distracted world”
3. Invitation for salvation and deeper spiritual awareness
Summary:
The battle is real and ongoing. We are surrounded by spiritual influences, both good and evil. Awareness, vigilance, and faith are our weapons. Let’s not underestimate the unseen battles, but trust in God's victorious power.
Week 1
Not Today, Satan: The Real Battle of Spiritual Warfare
Main Scripture: Ephesians 6:12-14
Introduction: The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
Reference The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (1942)
Lewis’s insight: Two errors concerning the devil:
o Believing too little (disbelieving his existence)
o Believing too much (being obsessed)
Keith Green’s song “No One Believes in Me Any More” as a reflection of society’s apathy
Historical and Contextual Background
WWII as a backdrop of chaos and evil
Why did Lewis focus on spiritual warfare during such chaos?
Key question: What is real life? What should be our primary focus?
The Enemy and Spiritual Warfare
The devil as a fallen angel, not equal with God
Clarification: Satan is not omnipresent, omnipotent, or omniscient
Our personal spiritual battle:
o Distractions, delays, confusion, and torment
Biblical reminder: 1 Peter 5:8
The Universality of Belief in the Spiritual Realm
6,000 years of human history across cultures affirm the reality of spiritual entities
Modern society’s denial vs. historical belief
Does denying unseen things make them unreal?
The Shift Towards Naturalism and Materialism
Aristotle and the laws of nature
Enlightenment and the decline of spiritual acknowledgment
Darwin and the false dichotomy: Creation vs. chance
The danger: dismissing what we can't see or measure
The Limitations of Human Perception
Our senses perceive only a fraction of reality
Examples:
o Colors (Red, Blue, Green; dogs see differently)
o Dimensions (3D vs. String Theory's 10+ dimensions)
o Technological advances (microscopes, telescopes, AI)
Reality extends beyond perception
The Question of Reality and What’s Happening
“What’s really happening when what’s happening is happening?”
The unseen realm’s influence on our lives
Biblical Examples of Spiritual Warfare and Perspective
Daniel 10:1-21 – Delays in answers and spiritual warfare
2 Kings 6:15-17 – Elisha’s prayer for spiritual sight:
o “Open his eyes, Lord, so he may see.”
o Reminder: God's army surrounds us
Focus on Eternal and Spiritual Realities
2 Corinthians 4:18 – Fix eyes on the unseen, eternal
Recognize the spiritual realm’s ongoing activity
Call to Action & Prayer
1. Pray: “God, please open our eyes”
2. Pray: “Help us fix our eyes in a distracted world”
3. Invitation for salvation and deeper spiritual awareness
Summary:
The battle is real and ongoing. We are surrounded by spiritual influences, both good and evil. Awareness, vigilance, and faith are our weapons. Let’s not underestimate the unseen battles, but trust in God's victorious power.