WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:00.800 C.S. 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:15.119 Lewis, in his introduction to the screw tape letters, wrote that there are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:28.079 One is to disbelieve in their existence, the other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:41.200 They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail the materialist or a magician with the same delight. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:56.799 I believe Lewis so perfectly captures the two opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to understanding the supernatural and more specifically spiritual warfare today. 00:00:57.200 --> 00:01:04.560 Indeed, we could say we live in a culture that embraces both of these spectrums. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:12.239 On the one hand, especially here in the West, those are the wrong slides. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:17.760 We are done with 1 Corinthians, people. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:18.400 Okay. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.959 We'll just, I'll do my best to help you fill in those blanks as we go along today. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:39.680 On the one hand, we live in a culture today that is very materialistic, that in one sense very much so disregards anything supernatural or considers that anything supernatural really lands in the realm of fairy tale. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:52.480 On the other hand, we live in a culture that seems to express an unhealthy obsession with the spiritual, particularly in the realm of pop culture and media. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:55.280 It's interesting. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:58.400 Both sides of the spectrum very much present in culture today. 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:05.519 We would say the same kind of uh the same kind of paradigm exists within the church today. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:15.039 That it seems as though there are these two opposite ends of the spectrum that tend to have churches and believers gravitate towards today. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:22.639 On the one hand, within the church, I think there are many who ignore the reality of spiritual warfare. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:29.199 It's something they don't really consider, think about, pay attention to, or maybe even want to know about. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:43.919 While on the other hand, I believe that there are certainly many who have sensationalized spiritual warfare today, which has led to some unbiblical and unhealthy practices in the church and within Christianity. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:49.599 To state it bluntly, we live in an age of confusion. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:58.319 With this new sermon series, kicking off this morning on the topic of spiritual warfare, I have two primary goals. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:02.639 First, I want to clarify the confusion. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:10.000 I want to present to you a healthy and biblical understanding of what spiritual warfare really is. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:15.680 But then, secondly, I don't want this just to be an exercise in the intellect. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:20.000 I don't want this to just be something that we learn and study with our minds. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:34.639 In the second half of the series, I want to present what I hope is a heavily practical guide for how Scripture teaches us and instructs us to fight and to win spiritual battles. 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:39.840 The spiritual battles that we are all engaged in, whether we realize it or not. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:50.960 So, this morning we'll begin with an introductory overview of the topic by examining three of the primary views of spiritual warfare today. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:04:04.960 Three of the primary views of spiritual warfare, and the view that I believe is the most faithful to scripture, and the one that we will be using as our basis for understanding spiritual warfare as we go on through the series. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:09.520 So with that being said, everybody with me so far? 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:10.560 Okay. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:16.480 I believe the first blank in your notes should say Satan isn't real. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:18.319 View number one, Satan isn't real. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:19.920 Is that true in your notes? 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:21.279 Okay, good, good, okay. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:24.000 View number one, Satan isn't real. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:25.279 This is what C.S. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.519 Lewis refers to as the materialist. 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:32.480 This is the view that is predominant within what is known as liberal Christianity. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:45.279 And I don't necessarily mean liberal politically here, I mean that these are churches who have jettisoned beliefs that are essential to Christianity, such as the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, and even the resurrection. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:48.399 Or, in other words, these are churches really in name only. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:49.920 Churches in name only. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:57.519 According to this view, Satan, when Satan is encountered in the Bible, they would say Satan isn't a real being. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:05.279 He's not a real personal being, rather, he's an allegorical image or a character that represents evil. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:12.800 He's a literary device that personifies evil in the text, but is not an actual being. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:30.079 When the church engages in spiritual warfare, they do so by fighting against the evils of our age, commonly identified as poverty, world hunger, and social, racial, gender, and climate inequality. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:40.560 This view says that evil is produced by corrupt systems, and those systems would include governments, economic systems, big corporations, various ideologies. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.000 These are where the sources of evil come from today. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:49.439 And then in order to fight them, as the church, we need to fight the evils. 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:55.600 For the Bible-believing Christian, view number one is untenable. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:57.199 It's untenable. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:59.120 Why do I say that? 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:05.680 Because for the Bible-believing Christian, we would have to disagree with the entire premise of this view. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:15.920 The entire premise of the view states that there is no such thing as the supernatural, that there is nothing miraculous that actually exists. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:24.000 That everything that we can see and touch and feel and observe is real, but anything beyond that is superstition. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:31.839 And so for the Bible-believing Christian, we have to recognize that the scriptures are steeped in what is supernatural. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:38.560 The scriptures are steeped in what goes beyond the physical material world that we can see. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:47.920 And therefore, we must accept the very real existence of angels, demons, and of Satan. 00:06:48.240 --> 00:07:00.079 There are several passages that indicate to us that Satan is more than a force, more than a power, more than just an evil philosophy or idea or an amalgamation of evil. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:09.199 If we go to Genesis chapter 3, we notice in the garden, Satan is depicted there as a serpent who has intelligence. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:18.639 He's depicted as an intelligent being that is able to converse, that's able to engage in discussion and argumentation. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:25.439 And if you remember the word that's used in Genesis chapter 3 to describe Satan, he's described as, anybody know? 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.920 Crafty, crafty. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:35.360 So we see here a clear indication of this being who has intelligence, the ability to think and to reason. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:49.600 Isaiah chapter 14, a passage that is commonly identified with Satan, we notice in Isaiah chapter 14 that Satan has the ability to exercise his own independent will. 00:07:50.240 --> 00:08:08.800 In fact, if you go to the book of Isaiah, chapter 14, Isaiah chapter 14, verse 13, we read, You said in your hearts, I will ascend to heaven above the stars of God. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:11.839 I will set my throne on high. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:17.040 I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:18.160 What do we notice here? 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.639 Satan exercising independent will. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:21.920 I desire what? 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:23.600 What does Satan say he desires here? 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:27.680 I desire to ascend to heaven above the stars of God. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:30.000 I will set my throne on high. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:34.159 So we notice independent will, which indicates personhood. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:38.960 And finally, in the book of Revelation, chapter 20, we know Satan's fate. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:45.120 Satan's ultimate destiny is to face judgment in the lake of fire. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.440 You can't judge a force. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.559 Moral accountability indicates personhood. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:09:01.279 He is a real personal being with real personhood who will face accountability for his actions one day. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:05.919 Imagine with me there's a crime scene. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:10.080 And imagine that a detective shows up at the crime scene. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:13.919 And at the crime scene, that detective can see a murder weapon. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:18.559 That detective can see the broken glass in the window. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:22.320 That detective can see the victim lying on the ground. 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:29.840 The detective can observe and can notice that the safe has been busted open and all valuables have been removed. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:46.879 And imagine with me for a moment that that detective seeks to give an explanation for all of these things based off of the presupposition that there is no criminal, there is no person that is actually involved in perpetrating these crimes. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:50.159 We would all say that's ridiculous. 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:51.279 That's ridiculous. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:54.639 You're missing a pretty key component to the investigation. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:04.240 And for those that seek to assume this view of spiritual warfare, they're missing a key component to their understanding. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:08.320 By removing Satan from the equation, you're actually doing him a favor. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:14.320 You're allowing him to operate in the shadows, which is exactly where he wants to be. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:27.759 This is a faulty and deficient view because it seeks to address, confront, and identify evil while missing one of the chief architects and contributors of evil in the world today. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:32.720 So you can take view number one, you can do a right nice big X through view number one. 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.279 Okay, let's try another one. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:36.320 View number two. 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:38.000 View number two. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:44.799 Satan and his demonic host are meant to be fought through direct and personal confrontation. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:50.879 Satan and his demonic host are meant to be fought through direct and personal confrontation. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:55.039 And there are really two primary strands in this view. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:57.200 Did you guys just make all those up right now? 00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:58.879 Or did you find the right ones? 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:01.519 Okay. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:02.720 Thanks, Colin. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:05.039 Alright, two primary strands. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:08.720 First is the strategic level deliverance view. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:09.840 That's the technical term. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:11.200 Let's explain it. 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:24.399 This view is based on the premise that Satan and his demons have been given a measure of authority over the world, and they are the spiritual beings behind the scenes ruling over nations. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:28.799 Now, interestingly enough, we do see some biblical support for this concept. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:41.039 If you go in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 4, you'll notice one of the titles for Satan is 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 4. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:12:07.759 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 4, we read, and in their case, the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:12.639 So we notice here, who is this lowercase G God of this world? 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.840 Who is this a reference to? 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.879 This is a reference to Satan, the great deceiver. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:20.159 And why is he given this title, the God of this world? 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:24.399 This indicates a measure of authority has been granted to him. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:30.879 That there is a measure of authority that Satan has been allowed to utilize in his work in the world today. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:34.320 In other places, he's referred to as the prince of the power of the air. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:44.399 These are titles that indicate that Satan has authority and power to influence and to work behind the scenes in the world today. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:49.360 To see the most clear example of this, you have to go back to the book of Daniel, chapter 10. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:52.480 Daniel chapter 10. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.159 Verse 12. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.679 Daniel chapter 10, verse 12. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:17.679 Daniel chapter 10, verse 12, Daniel is having an interaction with an angelic being. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:23.600 And this is what the angelic being says to Daniel in verse 12. 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:36.799 Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you're set that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:41.600 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:48.480 But Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:57.919 So interestingly enough, we have ruler type language being utilized to refer to spiritual beings here in the text. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:18.879 And we have this reference to the prince of the kingdom of Persia, who is opposing the archangel Michael, which seems to indicate to us that not only do demons exist, not only do these spiritual beings we call demons exist, but they have been given a level of authority to influence and to work in the world today. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:23.039 And perhaps even in geographic specific locations. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:34.480 Here we notice this being tethered to Persia, which seems to indicate that if that's true for that guy, then that's probably true for other rulers and authorities in the world today. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:43.120 So we do recognize, we do acknowledge there is some biblical support for understanding how demons work and how Satan operates in this way. 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:51.519 However, where this view ultimately gets off the tracks, I believe, is in its methodology. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:57.600 How it seeks then to respond to these spiritual realities. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:14.080 And the strategic level deliverance model teaches that Christians are meant to directly confront Satan and his demons essentially by evicting them from their positions of authority. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:19.200 The strategy or the method used is something called spiritual mapping. 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:22.240 Maybe you've heard this term before, spiritual mapping. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:38.240 This is the method which seeks to identify the demon that is ruling over the city or region or country, and then seeks to drive that demon out through prayer and rebuke. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:48.240 So, for example, a group of uh strategists will come together and they'll do a deep dive on the history of a specific city or country or region. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:16:03.200 And so, say, for example, that within this deep study, this deep dive, perhaps they are discovering that this city, this city, has an abnormally higher rate of sexual promiscuity and adultery. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:15.759 And so, in their studying of the history of that region, these strategists will come together and they say, This points us to, this helps us to understand that there is a demon of lust that is ruling this city. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.120 It's a demon of lust. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:31.440 And knowing that, knowing now who this demon is, this demon, we've identified him, these strategists will then come together and they'll organize efforts of believers and churches to pray and strategically pray and rebuke the demon. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:33.759 Get them out, push them out. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:54.480 The strategy, the strategy goes, or the strategy says that that once you do that, once you remove the ruling authority, the ruling demon from that city, that then allows the gospel to spread, and it allows churches to begin to be planted, and it allows churches to grow, and it allows for spiritual health to now return to that city. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:56.960 So, but this is the this is the first thing you have to do. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:03.440 You have to evict the ruling power before you can see the work of the church really begin to flourish. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:06.160 So this is known as the strategic level deliverance model. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:10.960 You can see how the philosophy it really boils down to direct confrontation. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:15.359 Satan and his demonic hosts must be directly confronted by Christians. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:22.480 The other strand to this view is referred to as the ground level deliverance model. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.039 And this is this is, by the way, I hope you're not nodding off. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:28.559 This is kind of important to set the stage for where we're going for the for the next several months. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.519 So stick with me. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.359 Are you with me so far, church? 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.359 Okay, good, good. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:41.759 The next model that is in this same strain of direct confrontation is known as ground level deliverance. 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.480 So you have strategic level, you have ground level. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:18:02.960 Ground level is similar to strategic level in the sense that believers, Christians, are called to engage in spiritual warfare through direct confrontation, but the ground level model says that we do that at a personal level: believer to unbeliever, or person to person. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:08.240 And so this is the view that embraces deliverance model ministries. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:13.599 This is the view that embraces exorcisms as a legitimate form of spiritual warfare. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:20.880 That we engage in spiritual warfare by directly confronting demons that are terrorizing, demonizing, and possessing people. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:26.319 And there are those who are gifted and have powers and abilities to rebuke those demons. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:31.839 So rather than evicting the demon from a city, ground level deliverance says you need to evict the demon from the person. 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:35.759 And similar strategies are used. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:38.799 So this person, boy, they're steeped in this sin. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.960 You could take the same example, the same exact example. 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:46.079 This person steeped in adultery, steeped in sexual perversion. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:53.599 And so the ground level deliverance model says that that person must be dominated by a demon of lust. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:19:06.160 And therefore, we cast out that demon of lust in order to free that person and enable that person to then either be saved or to be able to have a thriving, healthy, growing Christian walk. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:18.480 Both of these views, I believe, seek to engage in a method of spiritual warfare that is not what the Bible prescribes. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:28.000 I believe, and I use prescribe, I use that word specifically, because we're gonna get into, we're gonna see, because certainly we certainly we see demons being cast out of people in the Bible. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:30.720 We see that especially in the gospel accounts, we see it in the book of Acts. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:33.759 So we're gonna spend a whole sermon talking about that specifically. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:50.160 Um, but in terms of what the Bible teaches, commands, exhortations, teaching, doctrine that the Bible gives us for how to engage in spiritual warfare, I don't think that these views hit the mark. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:20:05.200 And so the result, the result is, I think, dangerous methods, and perhaps even worse than that, ineffective methods. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.799 Ineffective. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:14.400 It's a little bit like, I don't know, I'm assuming some of you got out yesterday and got some yard work done. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.680 A little bit. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:16.880 Come on. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:21.039 You guys got out and got some, you couldn't, you couldn't sit inside yesterday, could you? 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.480 It's too nice. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:26.319 Get outside, enjoy some good hard labor. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:39.119 And of course, if you are outside, you notice that right now we have the grass is growing, the flowers are growing, and what else is growing in the midst of all of these beautiful things? 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.799 Lisa, you know, weeds. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.359 Lisa was like, I pulled them all day yesterday. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:45.359 Weeds are everywhere, right? 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:55.920 Now, I will admit there's a temptation, there's maybe just maybe just for me, but there's a temptation to go into the shed and get out the weed whacker and just go to town. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:59.119 Just you know, just blast them all down, right? 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:05.039 It's quick, it's easy, it's satisfying, isn't it? 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:15.279 But what happens if that's your method of dealing with the weeds in your yard, if that's your strategy, then what happens three days later? 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.200 They're all back. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:21.279 And you're whacking weeds all summer long. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:21.759 Right? 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.119 We all know, we all understand. 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:25.519 To get rid of the weeds, what do you gotta do? 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.000 You gotta do what's actually effective. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.119 You gotta pull them out at the weed, at the root. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.920 You gotta get the weed, you gotta pull it out at the root. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.920 And that's what truly removes it. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.119 That's what's effective. 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:41.759 And I think sadly, the problem with view number two is that there's good intentions, right? 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:44.160 We recognize Satan is real, the demons are real. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:58.720 We want, we, we want to, we want to help believers who are struggling in sin, and we want to go into cities, and we want churches to grow, and we want churches to thrive, and we want churches to be planted, and there's good intentions in view number two. 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:03.599 I just think the entire Strategy is completely ineffective. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:16.960 It's not helpful because it's not what God prescribes, it's not how God teaches us to engage in spiritual warfare. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:24.079 And so you may be whacking weeds, but the roots are dug down deep and they're not being treated. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:26.319 And so people aren't being helped. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.480 People aren't being helped. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:35.759 So, if it's not view number two, Colin, you got view number three queued up? 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:38.240 No, no. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:38.960 Yes. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.160 Yes, good. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.599 Okay. 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:49.119 The enemies of the Christian are resisted through the normal means of sanctification. 00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:53.440 The enemies of the Christian are resisted through the normal means of sanctification. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:56.000 This is also known as the classical model. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:00.160 You'll find a lot of this in the writings of the Puritans. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:12.079 This is the view I believe that is the biblical and therefore healthy, normative, and effective method of spiritual warfare. 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:16.720 This view states that there are three primary enemies of the Christian. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:19.039 Three primary enemies of the Christian. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:24.960 That includes the devil, he's one of them, but it also includes the world and the flesh. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:29.200 Three primary enemies of the Christian: the world, the devil, and the flesh. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:38.960 This view states that these three enemies work in concert to accomplish two goals. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:44.000 To keep unbelievers in sin and unbelief. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:49.839 We saw that in 2 Corinthians 4, 4, the God of this world blinding people to the gospel. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:56.480 But also, secondly, to draw believers into sin and unbelief. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:24:06.880 The three enemies of the Christian, the three enemies, they seek to keep unbelievers in darkness, and they seek to draw you, a believer, into sin. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:10.640 They want to turn you away from God and to sin. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.839 That's their goal. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:13.519 That's their goal. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.279 How do they do that? 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:19.759 That's going to be the topic that we'll be addressing in this series. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:27.680 If you look in Ephesians, we have a couple of passages we want to look at in Ephesians as we close out the sermon this morning. 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:41.200 Ephesians chapter 2. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:50.079 I want us to notice how these three enemies work together. 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:53.279 Ephesians chapter 2, look with me beginning in verse 1. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:56.319 Ephesians chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:29.119 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:34.160 As we went through those verses, did you pick out each of the enemies of the Christian in the text? 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:41.680 What before you were saved, when you were dead in trespasses and sins, what ruled you? 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.440 What ruled you? 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:46.640 Verse 2, you followed the course of the world. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:49.519 The course of the world ruled you. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:52.000 You followed the prince of the power of the air. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:53.119 Who's that? 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:56.240 That's Satan, enemy number two. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:59.759 And what else were you ruled by in verse 3? 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:05.279 The passions of your flesh, your flesh, the enemy within. 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:10.720 Three enemies, three enemies of the Christian, and notice how they all work together. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.640 They all work together. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:15.519 So we notice here that these are the enemies. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:19.119 The question then remains: how do we fight? 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:21.440 How do we fight these enemies? 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:23.440 What does the Bible say? 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:39.039 According to Scripture, for the Christian, spiritual warfare is the everyday battle to resist the temptations of sin and to instead grow in holiness and in sanctification. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:42.079 That's spiritual warfare. 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:44.960 That's the battle you've been called to. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:47.039 And church, hear me. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.880 It's a battle. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.559 That is a battle. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.519 That is a fight. 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:54.160 You say, boy, that doesn't feel like a fight to me. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.960 That's a problem. 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:01.839 It's a fight. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:06.559 It's a daily fight to fight sin. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:09.920 Sin wants to dominate you this morning. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.039 Did you know that? 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.759 You may say, I don't want to get involved. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:15.680 I don't like fighting. 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.680 I like to be neutral. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:21.759 If I just mind my own business, I'll be left alone. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.640 Wrong. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.319 Wrong. 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:25.599 You're wrong. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:28.079 This is dead serious. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:31.200 It's why John Owen, one of those Puritans, you know what he said? 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:35.839 Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you. 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:39.680 Church, I hope you're hearing me this morning. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:42.640 I hope you're understanding how serious this is. 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:45.440 It's why I've raised my voice a couple decibels. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.359 This is serious. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:58.799 We're in a fight, and it's a daily fight, and your enemies hate you, and they want to rule you and dominate you in sin. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:06.240 And you've been called to fight, fight, fight every day. 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:08.559 Fight these enemies. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.319 That's the war. 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:12.079 That's the war. 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:14.559 So how do we do it? 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:16.240 How do we do it? 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:18.640 Ephesians chapter 6. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:21.119 This is the chief passage. 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:25.119 This is like the hallmark passage on spiritual warfare. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:28.160 And it's very instructive to us today. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.519 It's very instructive. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.599 Ephesians chapter 6. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:34.079 Look with me beginning in verse 10. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:42.079 He says, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:50.880 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:29:11.039 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. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:25.359 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand firm. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:28.240 Notice, notice the language. 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.519 This is war. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.720 This is war. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:32.079 You're in a fight. 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:34.240 And what are you called to do? 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.160 Stand firm. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:38.000 Stand firm. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:47.039 Don't allow the enemy to draw you away from your faith, to draw you away from your God, and to bring you into sin. 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.799 Stand firm. 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.160 Stand firm. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.599 Don't falter. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:52.799 Don't fall. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:56.799 Church, keep standing, keep standing. 00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:58.240 That's the fight. 00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.839 That's the fights. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:02.720 And we notice the prescribed method. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:05.359 This is extremely informative. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:07.759 This is very informative to us today. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:10.000 Notice how you fight. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.519 Notice how you fight. 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:14.000 He mentions this armor you're called to put on. 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:15.680 He's using the imagery of the armor. 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:20.559 We're going to get into this a little bit later, but notice with me this armor in verse 14. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:24.160 He says, Stand, therefore, how do you stand? 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:59.440 Stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace, in all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication. 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:07.839 To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:13.119 Notice, notice the armor as it's listed here. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:19.119 Notice the armor pieces, but notice specifically what the attributes are. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:21.039 What is the armor? 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:24.559 Notice what, notice what he doesn't say. 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:33.039 Stand firm through directly confronting demons from for casting out demons. 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:35.920 Notice this isn't prescribed in the text. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:40.400 There's an acknowledgement that they're real, they're very real. 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:42.880 But how do you fight? 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.160 How do you fight? 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:46.240 What does this sound like to you? 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:55.599 Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, scripture, prayer? 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:58.960 What does that sound like to you? 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:03.519 Does that not sound like the normal means of growth as a Christian? 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:12.720 Does that not sound like the day-to-day, ordinary, normal means by which you put off sin and seek to embrace holiness? 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.079 How do you do it? 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:16.319 We just we just looked in Sunday school this morning. 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:17.599 How did the people of Israel do it? 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:19.599 And Ezra and Nehemiah, what did they do? 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.880 You know what Ezra did? 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:23.440 He stood up and he started reading the Bible. 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:34.240 And people started to weep because God was working in their hearts through the ordinary means of his word to convict them of sin and draw them back to himself. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:36.559 It was an amazing revival. 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:43.680 And all Ezra did, he said, Hey, open your Bibles to Genesis chapter 1, people. 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:46.000 We're starting in verse 1. 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:49.039 Let's get busy, let's get to battle. 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.880 Let's start reading. 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:56.319 The normal means of sanctification, the normal means. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:59.279 God has given you ordinary means to fight. 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:02.079 He's given you exactly what you need. 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:05.519 So you're you're confronting lies of the enemy. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.720 What do you do? 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.480 You go to the truth. 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:10.079 You go to the truth. 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:12.559 You're seeking to fight the temptations of sin. 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.599 What do you do? 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:15.200 You walk in righteousness. 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:18.880 You say, Lord, set my feet on the path of righteousness. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:20.480 What do you do? 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:25.519 You say, I am feeling crushed by the weight of temptation. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:28.480 I'm feeling crushed through the trials I'm going through. 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.599 What do you do? 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.880 You pray. 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:34.880 You get on your knees and you start praying. 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:38.799 That's warfare. 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:41.440 That's the fight you're called to. 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:44.240 It's the fights. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:49.759 The Christian that is regularly falling into sin. 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:54.400 The Christian who is never putting off sin. 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:58.720 Is the Christian who is losing the war. 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:15.679 But the Christian who is battling sin, daily killing the flesh, daily putting on Christ-likeness from one degree to the next is the believer that's winning the war. 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:23.599 One last note as we close this morning. 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:26.719 Ordinary does not mean weak or ineffective. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:32.800 I hope you don't come away this morning thinking, wow, what a letdown. 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.880 How deflating. 00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:43.679 I was hoping for some secret, enormous, massive like formula that'll give me ultimate victory. 00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:46.960 The cheat code for spiritual growth. 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.519 Sorry. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:51.280 There isn't one. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:56.639 But ordinary does not mean ineffective. 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:04.800 Used to get ear infections all the time growing up. 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:11.119 And you know, if you've gotten ear infections before, those are pretty painful experiences. 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:14.719 The inner, you know, the inner ear ones. 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:16.159 Those ones hurt. 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:18.320 And you know what the doctor prescribes. 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:20.719 You know what the doctor prescribes for those? 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:24.239 Little tiny eardrops. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:26.639 Tiny little drops, right? 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:36.079 Um, I'm like, I want you to like perform surgery on my ear right now and remove the source of pain, please. 00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:38.000 And what's the prescription? 00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:39.679 Tiny little drops. 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:42.880 And you put one drop in your ear, and are you healed? 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:45.360