LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD
- A blessed marriage is a marriage between a man, a woman, and God in which through their fear of Him have aligned themselves with His Word.
- There are two realms where this field takes place.
- Physical Realm (The Seen Realm)
- Spiritual Realm (The Unseen Realm)
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
- A few examples in the Bible of traveling between dimensions/realms:
- (1) Jacob’s Ladder (Genesis 28:10-19)
- (2) Elisha & the spiritual eyes (2 Kings 6:17)
- (3) Paul & trip to Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-4)
- (4) Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36)
4 Truths we must understand about the seen & unseen realms:
#1) GOD BUILDS FAMILY IN THE SEEN REALM
Romans 8:14–16 ESV
all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Matthew 6:9 ESV
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
#2) GOD BUILDS FAMILY IN THE UNSEEN REALM
Job 38:4-7 ESV
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
A) “Stars” — ancient language for angels, between us & heavens
- 3 named angels Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12 KJV, NKJV)
- Categories— archangel, commander, cherubim/seraphim, guardian (Rev 2-3)
B) “Sons of God”
- No human body, gender, physical limitation (sons of God are not angels— Hebrews 1:5)
- No divine attributes or qualities
- Undercover (Heb. 13:2)
#3) SATAN DESTROYS FAMILY IN THE UNSEEN REALM
Revelation 12:7-9 ESV
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
A) The war is always over singular headship & plural leadership.
B) A family in God’s presence is not exempt from spiritual warfare
C) It’s not enough to be in God’s Presence but also have God’s Presence in You
#4) SATAN DESTROYS FAMILY IN THE SEEN REALM
Genesis 2:24-25 ESV
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Genesis 3:1-3 ESV
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
3 but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
Ref: Genesis 2:16-17.… And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 3:6-13 ESV
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Genesis 3:24 ESV
He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
CONCLUSION
- How do you win the battle in the marriage?
- 1) Be in His Presence and His Presence in You… Maintain His Word in you.
- 2) Take responsibility in fighting the spiritual war for your marriage & family.
- You have an enemy. It is Satan and his dominion.
1) Where has Satan showed up in your marriage?
2) What has Satan been saying about you and your marriage?
3) How are you blame-shifting for your spouse (the devil made me do it)?
4) Where are you?
5) Do you realize that if you do not lead your family, Satan will?
6) Do you believe you married the wrong woman?
7) If any, What is your forbidden fruit? (selfishness, anger, lust, unforgiveness)
Genesis 3:15 ESV
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
- God promised us hope through Jesus Christ. Adam blew it. Eve blew it. Satan blew it. Jesus came to help us fix it. Think about this.… God promised us a gift that He did not offer His divine family. We get Jesus!
- A blessed marriage is between 3 — a man, a woman, and God. And it only works with 4.cIn other words, marriage is a warfare between a team of 3 against the one uninvited.