The Sycamore Church

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God vs. gods Pt. 3: Know Your Enemy, Know your Weapons

Pastor Eric Burton

Sunday Nov. 8th, 2026

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God vs gods

Know your weapons, Know your enemy

“Spiritual resistance requires spiritual assistance” - John Arcovio

2 Corinthians 10:1-4

The issue is never the issue.

Context: Paul is defending his authority against people that are trying to insult him. They think his letters to the church are bolder than his actual ministry. He says when I arrive you will see.

2 Corinthians 10:11 Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.

They are trying to engage him in a fight to which he replies though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh. In other words the issue is not the issue.

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We are getting into arguments with people in our flesh hoping to defend our views and our faith. We’re fighting fights after the flesh because someone said something we didn’t like.

1.Know your enemy

A battle of strength and size but was actually between flesh and spirit.

1 Samuel 17: 26,45

Goliath was a the champion of the Philistines. Champion means, a man that stands between two armies.

David was a shepherd boy while Goliath was a trained warrior.

1 Samuel 17: 5 says, he wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder that weighed 15 pounds.

-140 pounds of armor

-The average ratio of armor to body weight is 10%

-If his armor and weapons were 140 pounds or 10% of his body weight he was nearly 1400 pounds. This guy was a giant!!!

David’s credentials were that he had fought lions and bears with his bare hands but he doesn’t intend to fight this same way with Goliath.

It became spiritual when Goliath defied David’s God.

1 Samuel 17: 45 Goliath did not insult God, he defied God. Don’t get in a fight over an insult. We fight in the spirit because of defiance (things that exalt themselves above God)

David reminds Israel don’t you remember Who we serve. Do you think the impossible battles that lead to victory before are any different than this battle today?

Church do you think the battle you face today in your home is greater than the ones God has given us victory over in the past?

David also had a weapon but he did not use like we would have used it.

David said, “You come to me with sword and shield and javelin”, ‘ but I come in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." David is declaring the glory, victory and militant reputation of His God.

David recognizes you are coming to me in the flesh but I’m coming to you in the power of the Spirit.

We’ve got to know our enemy.

1 Samuel 17:46-47

Paul says there is a way to fight and its not by what you see.

2 Corinthians 10:3 We’re humans but we don’t fight as humans. We use God’s mighty weapons.

Paul says when we fight in the spirit we tear down strongholds, cast down imaginations that exalt themselves against God. Paul is referring to thoughts, and reasoning, and arguments that defy God.

The more it is exalted the more powerful it becomes. But we have the ability to tear it down when we fight in the spirit. If you’ll find a place to pray God will destroy the machinery of the enemy that exalts itself.

The way you conquer the flesh is through the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:10-12

A final word from Paul. Be strong in the Lord and in this mighty power.

Paul says our weapons are mighty through God…

Put on every piece of God’s armor.

2. Know your weapons

Belt of Truth

Armor of Righteousness

Shoes of Peace

Shield of Faith

Helmet of Salvation

Sword of the Spirit

The Name of Jesus

The Blood of Jesus

The Word of our testimony.

Prayer

Praise

It’s important to know we have spiritual weapons. NOTICE David may have come in the name of the Lord but he also carried a sling.

The point of the story is that God uses what our enemy looks at as useless.

Gideon had 300 men with jars and trumpets

Israel defeated Jericho with a walk and a shout

If you will use what you have for God it will become mighty. Your weapons will pull down strong holds.

If we’re going to win we have to let God fight our battles. And that means surrendering to the spirit.

“Spiritual resistance requires spiritual assistance”- John Arcovio

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3. Don’t let your enemy engage you in a fight that isn’t the issue. Goliath wanted to fight to see who would serve who. David wanted to fight because Goliath defied his God.

Today we’re fighting with praise and prayer not because someone insulted us but because the enemy wants to defy God and make you his slave.

But we have a God that is the Lord of heaven’s armies!