The Invasion - Week #1

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Definition of Invasion: 
An invasion is a military offensive in which large parts of combatants of one geopolitical entity aggressively enter territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a territory, forcing the partition of a country, altering the established government or gaining concessions from said government, or a combination thereof. An invasion can be the cause of a war, be a part of a larger strategy to end a war, or it can constitute an entire war in itself. Due to the large scale of the operations associated with invasions, they are usually strategic in planning and execution.
 
As a country we focus on how not to be invaded by our enemies and as Christians we spiritually focus on how not to be invaded by satan & sin & the world…
 
I have found a significant issue in our strategy that for all of its good and benefits still needs to be addressed…
 
For trying at all cost to keep the enemy from invading we have restricted and often completely eliminated access to our allies…
 
There is aid and insight and reinforcements that our allies have that are vital to our long term success…
 
This series is going to focus on how to be invaded by our allies and how as individuals to be invaded by our ultimate ally… God…
 
Once the line between how we treat our enemies and our allies is blurred even our allies must attempt an INVASION if they are going to be able to help us…
 
So the question this morning is what are you afraid of spiritually that you should be welcoming into your life?…
 
What else are you actually being invaded by because you are unwilling to overcome your fears and learn why God wants to bring certain things into your life…
 
In our first week of our series I want to look at “The Invasion of a Country”...
 
A few things happen when a country is invaded…
 
The group that invaded begins to change the culture by enforcing their world view upon all the people… Politically, socially, & religiously…

Has the kingdom of heaven begun to enforce their world view upon your previously sovereign nation?
 
After an invasion it usually takes a generation or two to take root in the hearts and minds of the people and become their own…

Many of us are first generation believers without a Christian upbringing so what are you doing to develop a strong biblical world view and embrace the rule of the kingdom of heaven?…
 
Because we we’re born and raised in a different kingdom under a different set of political, social, and religious ideals it will take more from us to assimilate than our children and grandchildren…
 
So how did the children of God carryout their “Invasions”?…
 
They carried the ark of the covenant into a region…
 
The ark was about the presence of God…
 
In Exodus 33:15 Moses said… "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”…
 
At the end of Moses’ life listen to what he has to say to the people and to Joshua who would lead the future “Invasions”…
 
Deuteronomy 31:1-9
1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2And he said to them: "I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.' 3 The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said. 4And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. 5 The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you.6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." 7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." 9 So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
 
So when we begin to look at our lives and how difficult it can be to feel surrounded by a world and culture that is strong and anti-God it is easy to find ourselves discouraged…
 
We can find ourselves being influenced by the powers that be instead being influenced by the King of our hearts…
 
1 Peter 2:11 says that we are sojourners and pilgrims
 
Ephesians 2:19 says that we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God
 
Philippians 3:20 says our citizenship is in heaven
 
So what is it like to be invaded by the kingdom of God but live in a held-out stronghold of the old regime…
 
When a country is invaded and overthrown there are often a few cities the remain loyal to the previous government until they are overrun…
 
Until every knee bows to Jesus and every tongue confesses Him as Lord every nation on earth is like an enemy stronghold where the citizens of heaven find themselves surrounded…
 
Our nation has been invaded and now belongs to Jesus and we are being assimilated into kingdom life but the culture of our past lives is doing everything it can to maintain their authority over us…
 
Don’t be afraid even though we live in many ways as citizens of heaven within enemy territory…
 
2 Kings 6:8-25
8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place." 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there." 10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?" 12 And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." 13 So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan." 14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Now Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." But he led them to Samaria. 20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, "Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria! 21 Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?" 22 But he answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master." 23 Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel. 24 And it happened after this that Ben-Hadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver. 

It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You Lord!!!