SPEAKER_00: You can open your Bibles to the book of Ephesians this morning.
SPEAKER_00: We will begin today in Ephesians chapter 2.
SPEAKER_00: For the bulk of our time so far in our series on spiritual warfare, we have focused on the concept of the believer's fight against sin.
SPEAKER_00: And predominantly we have identified that when the Bible teaches on spiritual warfare, that this is what it's talking about.
SPEAKER_00: Your fight against sin.
SPEAKER_00: But there's another angle to spiritual warfare that we have not yet really touched on.
SPEAKER_00: There is another sense in which the Bible presents spiritual warfare as the fight to free others from sin.
SPEAKER_00: So, on one hand, spiritual warfare is your fight against sin yourself, fighting your sin.
SPEAKER_00: But on the other hand, there's also an angle the Bible speaks to that presents spiritual warfare as your fight to help others be freed from sin.
SPEAKER_00: And it's that other angle that I'd like for us to take some time this morning exploring.
SPEAKER_00: In fact, Jesus himself presents the church as an offensive force that is advancing upon the very gates of hell with the message of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: So this morning, we're going to examine how we as believers and we as the church are called to engage in spiritual warfare by fighting the enemy for the lost with the power of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: Did you hear that clearly this morning?
SPEAKER_00: Fighting the enemy for the lost with the power of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: So we'll begin this morning in Ephesians chapter 2.
SPEAKER_00: Before we dig into the text, let's pray, and then we'll get into it.
SPEAKER_00: Heavenly Father, thanks for today.
SPEAKER_00: Thanks now for this opportunity to open up your word and to take some time together studying what the text says, thinking carefully and seriously about the meaning of the passage, and then also thinking seriously about how we are called to live out and respond to what we hear from your word this morning.
SPEAKER_00: Father, we understand, we recognize that the Bible is your very word.
SPEAKER_00: And therefore, we approach it this morning with humility.
SPEAKER_00: We approach it with open hearts and open minds.
SPEAKER_00: Lord, shape us and mold us more and more into the image of your Son through your word today.
SPEAKER_00: It's in Jesus' name we pray.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: In Ephesians chapter 2, we notice that the enemy fights to keep the lost enslaved to sin and blinded to the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: So I want us to notice, first of all, this morning in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 1 through 3, how we see this in the text.
SPEAKER_00: So Paul writes, and he says, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.
SPEAKER_00: So notice right away who Paul is identifying here.
SPEAKER_00: He is referring to those who are unsaved.
SPEAKER_00: These would be a this is a reference to unbelievers, those who don't know Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: This refers to our state before we are made alive by faith in Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: He says, before that takes place, you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.
SPEAKER_00: And notice how he elaborates on this condition, this state of a person before they are made alive by faith in Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: He says, you followed the course of this world.
SPEAKER_00: We notice the first enemy of the Christian identified here, the world.
SPEAKER_00: We've spoken on the world as an enemy.
SPEAKER_00: We've understood the world is the set of values and beliefs that are organized in rebellion against God.
SPEAKER_00: We recognize this morning that the lost adhere to these values and beliefs and are conformed into this mold of settled rebellion against God.
SPEAKER_00: And it's the world.
SPEAKER_00: It's the world that is at work conforming unbelievers into this mold.
SPEAKER_00: We see here in verse 2, we followed the course of the world.
SPEAKER_00: But not only the world, he goes on and says, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
SPEAKER_00: This reference to the prince of the power of the air is a title that Paul assigns to the devil.
SPEAKER_00: This is a reference to Satan.
SPEAKER_00: What it communicates to us is that Satan has been given a measure of authority in this world to influence.
SPEAKER_00: And he utilizes that authority to utilizes that authority to shape and mold and influence the lost.
SPEAKER_00: And finally, in verse 3, he says, Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind.
SPEAKER_00: So we notice here the three enemies of the Christian are all brought together into this single passage.
SPEAKER_00: The flesh here, of course, being a reference to the desires and the affections that are corrupted by the flesh, that natural inclination we all have towards sin in our fallen human nature.
SPEAKER_00: We notice here that these three enemies work in tandem, fashioning, shaping, influencing, and tempting the lost for the purpose of influencing unbelievers to oppose God and his truth.
SPEAKER_00: The enemy fights to keep the lost enslaved to sin.
SPEAKER_00: But notice, notice that this isn't the only activity the enemy is engaged in if you turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 4.
SPEAKER_00: In 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 4, Paul says this.
SPEAKER_00: 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 4.
SPEAKER_00: This is again a reference to the lost, a reference to unbelievers.
SPEAKER_00: He says in verse 4, 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.
SPEAKER_00: We notice here, secondly, the devil keeps the lost blinded to the truth.
SPEAKER_00: He keeps them blinded to the truth.
SPEAKER_00: And then this reference here to the God of this world, notice in our English Bibles, God is translated with a lowercase G.
SPEAKER_00: This is because this is again, this is a title, this is a reference to the devil.
SPEAKER_00: This is a reference to Satan.
SPEAKER_00: And again, speaks to the influence and power that Satan wields in this world.
SPEAKER_00: And it's with this influence that he strives to keep the gospel veiled from those who don't know Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: Several years ago, I'd say we reached the peak or the height of the Krispy Kreme Donut Craze.
SPEAKER_00: Remember when all those Krispy Kreme donut shops began popping up all over the place?
SPEAKER_00: And there was a real craze for the Krispy Kreme Donut.
SPEAKER_00: Anyone here remember those days?
SPEAKER_00: Anyone here remember eating many Krispy Kreme donuts?
SPEAKER_00: I see that ant.
SPEAKER_00: There was something special about those donuts.
SPEAKER_00: You could get them, you could buy them, you know, old and they were fine.
SPEAKER_00: But do you remember when they would, and maybe they still do this, I don't know, but they would they would have that light in the window.
SPEAKER_00: Remember it would say, hot now.
SPEAKER_00: Hot now.
SPEAKER_00: And when that light was on, do you remember, if you went in the store, do you remember what you would get?
SPEAKER_00: One free donut.
SPEAKER_00: That's right.
SPEAKER_00: Fresh off the vat.
SPEAKER_00: One free donut.
SPEAKER_00: And so what that had the effect of doing, that light that was on, that would draw the people in, like moth to light.
SPEAKER_00: That light would bring the hungry people in to go and to partake in the deliciousness of the Krispy Kreme donut.
SPEAKER_00: That light was effective.
SPEAKER_00: What we need to understand this morning is that the glory of Christ is an irresistible glory.
SPEAKER_00: The excellencies and the glory of Christ is irresistible.
SPEAKER_00: The gospel is an irresistible message that when confronted with the beauties and the splendor and the wonder of Jesus, that is something that we simply find irresistible.
SPEAKER_00: It's referred to as irresistible grace.
SPEAKER_00: When the Father draws us to his son, we say, we can't resist.
SPEAKER_00: We can't resist going to Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: And so the reality is the devil knows this.
SPEAKER_00: The devil understands the splendor and the glory of Christ is an irresistible glory.
SPEAKER_00: And so what does he have to do?
SPEAKER_00: He's got to keep it blinded.
SPEAKER_00: He's got to keep it veiled.
SPEAKER_00: He's got to cover it up so that people can't see and hear and wonder at the glory of Christ.
SPEAKER_00: And so the devil works very hard to keep people blinded to the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: He works very hard to keep people veiled to the glory of Christ.
SPEAKER_00: We notice that the devil is very active in this endeavor.
SPEAKER_00: If you turn to 1 John chapter 4, you'll notice one way in which the devil does this.
SPEAKER_00: 1 John chapter 4.
SPEAKER_00: Look with me beginning in verse 1.
SPEAKER_00: 1 John chapter 4, beginning in verse 1, John says, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.
SPEAKER_00: For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
SPEAKER_00: By this you know the Spirit of God.
SPEAKER_00: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
SPEAKER_00: And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.
SPEAKER_00: This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
SPEAKER_00: We notice first and foremost that the devil veils the gospel by perpetuating false teaching.
SPEAKER_00: The devil veils the gospel by perpetuating false teaching.
SPEAKER_00: John warns the believers that he's writing to here in this epistle.
SPEAKER_00: He warns them that there are false prophets, there are false teachers who are out proclaiming a false gospel, a distortion of the truth.
SPEAKER_00: And what he says here, it's interesting, he correlates false prophet in verse 1 with spirits.
SPEAKER_00: And what this indicates or what this communicates to us today is that a false teacher, someone who is proclaiming a false gospel, is ultimately driven by demonic teaching.
SPEAKER_00: Or as Paul refers to elsewhere, the doctrines of demons, meaning that Satan himself is the root of every error, of every distortion of the truth, of every false gospel and false teaching.
SPEAKER_00: It is Satan who's at the root of all false teaching in the world today.
SPEAKER_00: Every false religion, every false worldview, every false philosophy, every belief system that is arrayed against God and his truth and his gospel has its source in the devil and is perpetuated by him through false teachers today who are out proclaiming and teaching different ways to get to heaven, different ways to know God, different truth that contradicts the truth of his word.
SPEAKER_00: If the devil can get you to believe a false gospel, he has blinded you to the truth of the true gospel.
SPEAKER_00: If he can get you to believe a false truth, he has succeeded in drawing you away from the truth.
SPEAKER_00: If you're believing in something, if you have something you're holding on to, a set of beliefs, a system of beliefs, a worldview that you're holding on to that is opposed and contrary to the gospel, then the devil has succeeded.
SPEAKER_00: This is one way in which he's very active today.
SPEAKER_00: But not only does the devil perpetuate false teaching, if you flip over to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, we notice what else the devil is doing to veil the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: 1 Thessalonians chapter 2.
SPEAKER_00: Look in verse 17.
SPEAKER_00: 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 17.
SPEAKER_00: Paul writes, but since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person, not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face.
SPEAKER_00: Because we wanted to come to you.
SPEAKER_00: I, Paul, again and again.
SPEAKER_00: But Satan hindered us.
SPEAKER_00: Satan hindered us.
SPEAKER_00: Not only does the devil veil the gospel by perpetuating false teaching and false gospels today, we notice here that the devil is active in hindering the spread of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: The devil is active in hindering the spread of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: We notice here that Paul attributes the physical circumstances and roadblocks that hindered his travels to the very work of the enemy.
SPEAKER_00: We see this today, don't we?
SPEAKER_00: We see it in the many nations today who have shut their doors to missionaries.
SPEAKER_00: We refer to these as closed countries, countries that are hostile to any kind of missionary effort or endeavor.
SPEAKER_00: Who's behind that?
SPEAKER_00: Who's behind the leaders and influencing the people and those nations that make those decisions to be so hostile to any kind of gospel work?
SPEAKER_00: We see it, the answer here.
SPEAKER_00: We see it in cultures today that have made sharing the gospel socially unacceptable.
SPEAKER_00: Don't we see that so active today in our own culture, many cultures in the West?
SPEAKER_00: It is socially not acceptable for you to be vocal about proclaiming the truth of Jesus to people today.
SPEAKER_00: We're conditioned to believe that that's something we're not supposed to do.
SPEAKER_00: That's impolite.
SPEAKER_00: It's a culture that's trying to condition you to not tell people about Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: Where is that influence coming from?
SPEAKER_00: It's the enemy who's seeking to hinder the spread of the gospel so that people can remain enslaved in their sin.
SPEAKER_00: Dead in their sin.
SPEAKER_00: Let me ask you this morning, what method is the enemy using in your own life to keep you silent about the gospel?
SPEAKER_00: What excuses do you find compelling in your own life?
SPEAKER_00: That oftentimes are the reasons why perhaps you don't share the gospel when you could or when there's an opportunity.
SPEAKER_00: The influence of the enemy is at work seeking to keep the church silent, stopping the spread of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: And if he can do that, he has succeeded in keeping the lost enslaved to sin and blinded to the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: This is our enemy.
SPEAKER_00: This is the activity and the work of the enemy that we the church are called to oppose.
SPEAKER_00: So how do we do that?
SPEAKER_00: How do we do that?
SPEAKER_00: We'll turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 10 this morning.
SPEAKER_00: 2 Corinthians chapter 10.
SPEAKER_00: We'll begin in verse 3.
SPEAKER_00: 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 3.
SPEAKER_00: The church fights for the lost with the truth of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 3.
SPEAKER_00: Paul writes, For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
SPEAKER_00: For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh.
SPEAKER_00: Paul reminds us in this text this morning that we are in a war.
SPEAKER_00: There is a spiritual war that is going on around us.
SPEAKER_00: Whether we realize it or not, whether we want to accept it or not, is irrelevant.
SPEAKER_00: It's reality.
SPEAKER_00: There are forces at work that are seeking to keep people lost in their sin, that are seeking to keep the gospel veiled.
SPEAKER_00: And Paul describes this as a war that is going on right now.
SPEAKER_00: There's a spiritual war that is going on right now.
SPEAKER_00: And the reality is that the church is not called to take a passive posture.
SPEAKER_00: The church can't approach this war as an isolationist philosophy.
SPEAKER_00: We want to stay on the sidelines.
SPEAKER_00: We don't want to get involved.
SPEAKER_00: We just want to come to our own church and we want to study the Bible together and we want to be around other people that we like and agree with us.
SPEAKER_00: And then when Sunday's done, we all go back to our own lives and we just try to kind of be quiet and make our way through the week till we get to the next Sunday and we keep keep all of this right in here.
SPEAKER_00: That's a passive church that is ignoring the reality of an active conflict.
SPEAKER_00: This is not our calling church.
SPEAKER_00: This is not our that's a that's comfortable.
SPEAKER_00: Look, that's comfortable.
SPEAKER_00: That's easy.
SPEAKER_00: That's an easy life for a Christian.
SPEAKER_00: That's not the life we're called to.
SPEAKER_00: Paul says there's a war.
SPEAKER_00: There's a war.
SPEAKER_00: But notice he clarifies the nature of the war.
SPEAKER_00: Notice he clarifies the nature of the war, the conflicts.
SPEAKER_00: Paul says we have weapons.
SPEAKER_00: We have weapons with which to fight in this war.
SPEAKER_00: But the weapons themselves inform us as to the nature of the war, because Paul clarifies, he says, this is not a flesh and blood war in which we use flesh and blood weapons.
SPEAKER_00: Paul's point is that this war that the church is in is not like a typical man-made war today, a man-made conflict in which two peoples are in conflict with one another and use physical man-made weapons to destroy physical flesh.
SPEAKER_00: Paul says that's not the kind of war we're in.
SPEAKER_00: The church isn't called to engage in warfare by picking up physical weapons to destroy physical people.
SPEAKER_00: Paul's point here is to clarify that the weapons that we have are used to fight in a different way.
SPEAKER_00: The weapons we have are not physical weapons meant for the destruction of human flesh.
SPEAKER_00: But notice very carefully in the text, this doesn't mean that these weapons we have are not extraordinarily powerful, potent weapons.
SPEAKER_00: In fact, quite the opposite.
SPEAKER_00: Notice he says in verse 4, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
SPEAKER_00: Notice Paul states here the kind of power.
SPEAKER_00: How powerful are all these powerful are these weapons?
SPEAKER_00: They may not be bazookas, they may not be tanks, they may not be atomic bombs, the powerful weapons of the flesh.
SPEAKER_00: But notice the kind of power we have at our disposal and the weapons that we use.
SPEAKER_00: He says it's divine power.
SPEAKER_00: The word there, theo, comes from the Greek themos, literally God, power.
SPEAKER_00: Power that is in its origin from God Himself, the creator of the universe, the one who spoke, and the universe burst into existence.
SPEAKER_00: Church, does that sound powerful to you?
SPEAKER_00: He says, this is the weapon of our warfare.
SPEAKER_00: We have divine power.
SPEAKER_00: And notice he says, we utilize.
SPEAKER_00: These weapons of divine power, utilize them to do what?
SPEAKER_00: At the end of the verse, to destroy strongholds.
SPEAKER_00: Now, what does he mean by this?
SPEAKER_00: I think this elaborate this helps us to clarify even further the power, the power we have at our disposal.
SPEAKER_00: It's interesting when Liz and I went to Israel a few years ago now, we got to go to a mountain fortress called Masada.
SPEAKER_00: And if you know anything about Masada, you know it's in an amazing story.
SPEAKER_00: It's an amazing story.
SPEAKER_00: Masada was a mountain fortress, and you can see there's like a carved statue of what it looked like.
SPEAKER_00: You see it's got this huge mountain, and then up here is the fortress itself.
SPEAKER_00: This was built by Herod, and it was considered an impenetrable fortress.
SPEAKER_00: No one, no one could conquer this fortress, and Herod built it as kind of his like escape.
SPEAKER_00: If you ever got in trouble with Rome, the idea was I can go to this fortress and they'll never get me.
SPEAKER_00: Because I'll I'll you'll there's no way to get into this fortress.
SPEAKER_00: You can see some pictures there of the uncovered remains of the top, some of the different fortifications that were built there at the top of the mountain.
SPEAKER_00: We had to take a gondola all the way up to the top of this massive fortress, which was a little terrifying.
SPEAKER_00: Wasn't there like some duct tape or something there that somebody was like, man, is this thing functioning?
SPEAKER_00: Is this thing working?
SPEAKER_00: This is from the top of the fortress.
SPEAKER_00: If you look down, see that square there?
SPEAKER_00: When Rome came, this is uh when they were when they were finally trying to wipe out the rest of the Jewish resistance in 70 AD, uh Titus and his and the Roman military came out and they built seven of these Roman forts all surrounding the fortress.
SPEAKER_00: That's all the way from the top of the mountain.
SPEAKER_00: That gives you an idea of how high up we were.
SPEAKER_00: This is way up there.
SPEAKER_00: You can see another view.
SPEAKER_00: This is down the front of the mountain.
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so Rome came and there was a group of Jewish zealots and warriors that went to Masada and like tried to make a last stand.
SPEAKER_00: This was like where the last stand was.
SPEAKER_00: And they would have held out for essentially forever, um, except for what ended up happening was they saw the Romans were trying to build this like um path.
SPEAKER_00: This is called this, I think it's the snake path.
SPEAKER_00: And they built this.
SPEAKER_00: You can see the remains of this.
SPEAKER_00: They basically just hauled in dirt and sand and rock, and they tried to build this like path to get up to the fortress to breach it.
SPEAKER_00: But what what the way the way they were building this entryway into the fortress was they were taking Jews that they had taken captive and using them as slaves.
SPEAKER_00: So the Romans weren't actually doing any of this work.
SPEAKER_00: They were using Jewish slaves in Jewish labor, and they pushed them so hard that the Jews kept on dying.
SPEAKER_00: And so they were working them so hard, then they just they bring in a fresh batch of Jews and have them keep on building.
SPEAKER_00: And so the defenders in the fortress saw that this was happening and ultimately decided that they couldn't keep on holding out anymore because of the toll it was taking on their own Jewish people that were being brought in as slaves and just being killed in labor to build this thing.
SPEAKER_00: So eventually, it's a crazy story.
SPEAKER_00: Eventually, they all committed uh suicide essentially within the fort.
SPEAKER_00: Um, and the Romans, they they have the only way they got in is because there were no more defenders.
SPEAKER_00: So they finally finished this thing and then realized that the door was open and nobody was left alive when they came up there.
SPEAKER_00: But otherwise, it was an impenetrable fortress.
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so why do I bring all this up?
SPEAKER_00: Because when you think fortress, this this would be, in Bible times, this would be the idea.
SPEAKER_00: This kind of fort that no one could could get into.
SPEAKER_00: I mean, a picture of might and power and strength, that it doesn't matter what weapon you have, you can't tear that down.
SPEAKER_00: You can't destroy it.
SPEAKER_00: This is the idea of fortress.
SPEAKER_00: And Paul says that you as a Christian, you have divine power to actually assault this kind of a fortress and tear it down.
SPEAKER_00: This is incredible.
SPEAKER_00: This is incredible, the image that should be in our minds right now of this kind of power.
SPEAKER_00: So then the question then becomes what is the stronghold?
SPEAKER_00: What's the stronghold we're called to assault with the power of God?
SPEAKER_00: Notice what he says in verse 5.
SPEAKER_00: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God.
SPEAKER_00: What is the enemy stronghold that Paul is talking about here?
SPEAKER_00: He is talking about beliefs, opinions, philosophies, worldviews that are array in opposition to God, the gospel, and the truth.
SPEAKER_00: This is the stronghold that the enemy is seeking to build, and this is the stronghold that you, a Christian, you are equipped to destroy.
SPEAKER_00: To destroy, to dismantle.
SPEAKER_00: So how do we do it?
SPEAKER_00: How do we do it?
SPEAKER_00: Well, if you turn to 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 15, you'll notice.
SPEAKER_00: The first way in which we engage in the fight.
SPEAKER_00: 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 15, Paul says, If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave, and the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
SPEAKER_00: Notice the believer's weapons for assaulting the enemy, one, the church upholding the truth.
SPEAKER_00: We assault the very gates of hell.
SPEAKER_00: We assault the stronghold of the enemy by standing for the truth, by standing for and proclaiming and spreading and teaching and explaining the truth, the truth of God's word.
SPEAKER_00: Paul uses this imagery to describe the church as a pillar and buttress of the truth.
SPEAKER_00: These are architecture type terms.
SPEAKER_00: One of my boys' favorite activities is to build forts.
SPEAKER_00: They love to build different forts with blankets and pillows and other items.
SPEAKER_00: And within that fort, there is always a load-bearing pillar of some kind.
SPEAKER_00: And without a doubt, as the fort is being built and as the kids begin to play in the fort, without a doubt, every time somebody's not careful and bumps into the load-bearing pillar.
SPEAKER_00: And what happens, do you imagine, when the load-bearing pillar is bumped over?
SPEAKER_00: What happens?
SPEAKER_00: The fort collapsed amidst much yelling and arguing and accusing.
SPEAKER_00: Dad, you're too big.
SPEAKER_00: You knocked over the fort.
SPEAKER_00: I've tried to build it.
SPEAKER_00: The idea here is that the church serves as a load-bearing pillar supporting what?
SPEAKER_00: The truth.
SPEAKER_00: We as a church, we are called to uphold and stand for the truth.
SPEAKER_00: The truth, church.
SPEAKER_00: We can't be silent.
SPEAKER_00: We can't be silent in a culture, in a society that desperately needs the truth.
SPEAKER_00: What happens to a culture or a society in which the church goes silent about the truth?
SPEAKER_00: What do you think happens to that kind of a culture in society?
SPEAKER_00: You're seeing it right now.
SPEAKER_00: The absolute fabric of reality itself begins to unravel as a culture detaches itself from the truth.
SPEAKER_00: We have the power to destroy strongholds.
SPEAKER_00: How do we do it?
SPEAKER_00: By using the truth, by telling people the truth, by explaining the truth.
SPEAKER_00: And that doesn't necessarily mean shouting people down with the truth.
SPEAKER_00: It's not the loudest person that gets their point across.
SPEAKER_00: We don't need to be loud.
SPEAKER_00: We don't need to scream and yell at people.
SPEAKER_00: We don't need to be angry.
SPEAKER_00: We just need to tell people the truth.
SPEAKER_00: With joy, with peace, with the fruit of the Spirit.
SPEAKER_00: But unabashedly, with great clarity, without giving an inch, explaining, teaching, proclaiming, sharing the truth.
SPEAKER_00: We as the church must do this.
SPEAKER_00: We must do it.
SPEAKER_00: This is how we fight the enemy.
SPEAKER_00: The truth has the power to penetrate the darkness of the enemy and bring people into the light of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: The church can only reach the culture and community with the gospel if it is upholding the truth.
SPEAKER_00: We must uphold the truth.
SPEAKER_00: But secondly, this morning, we understand that the church is composed of individual believers.
SPEAKER_00: We together make up the church.
SPEAKER_00: And we as individual believers are also tasked with the responsibility of engaging in this warfare.
SPEAKER_00: If you go to Romans chapter 10, we'll end with this verse this morning.
SPEAKER_00: Romans chapter 10, verses 14 and 15.
SPEAKER_00: Romans chapter 10, verses 14 and 15, we read, How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?
SPEAKER_00: And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?
SPEAKER_00: And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
SPEAKER_00: Notice here in the text.
SPEAKER_00: How is it that a person believes in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins?
SPEAKER_00: They have to hear.
SPEAKER_00: This is what we're talking about.
SPEAKER_00: You go to destroy a stronghold by going out and sharing the gospel with that neighbor, by going out and starting a Bible study with that friend or family member.
SPEAKER_00: By going to someone that is in the church, maybe someone new, and saying, Hey, do you know Jesus?
SPEAKER_00: Just because you're here doesn't mean you know him.
SPEAKER_00: It starts with believers being willing to go out and proclaim the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: And it's why Paul says, the gospel is what?
SPEAKER_00: It is the power of God for salvation.
SPEAKER_00: The gospel itself is the power that penetrates the darkness, that destroys the stronghold of the enemy, and brings people into the light.
SPEAKER_00: This is the war, church.
SPEAKER_00: This is the fight.
SPEAKER_00: Are you fighting?
SPEAKER_00: We need you.
SPEAKER_00: This world needs you.
SPEAKER_00: This community needs you.
SPEAKER_00: It needs believers who are willing to pick up pick up their sword and begin the fight.
SPEAKER_00: How reassuring for us to know this morning that the weapons our warfare are energized by the power of God Himself.
SPEAKER_00: Bring the gospel, bring the truth into your relationships, reach people with the truth of Scripture and the truth of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: Rip the veil away.
SPEAKER_00: Let them see the glories and the excellencies of the crucified and now risen Savior.
SPEAKER_00: And believe this church, not even the most powerful enemy stronghold can stop the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: It can't.
SPEAKER_00: The enemy doesn't stand a chance against the power of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: Your own life can testify to that, by the way.
SPEAKER_00: Father, thanks for today.
SPEAKER_00: Thankful for the opportunity to be here this morning and to once again open up your word to once again think through our current series topic on spiritual warfare.
SPEAKER_00: We understand this morning that there is a war going on.
SPEAKER_00: Not only does the enemy want us to turn to sin, but he also jealously guards those who are currently dead in sin.
SPEAKER_00: We notice from the text this morning that we as a church are not called to be passive in this fight, but we're called to pick up our weapon and go to war.
SPEAKER_00: We understand this morning the clarity of Scripture that we aren't called to fight people necessarily.
SPEAKER_00: That's not the nature of this conflict.
SPEAKER_00: We're called to fight the enemy for people.
SPEAKER_00: We're called to fight the enemy for lost souls.
SPEAKER_00: And help us to keep that into perspective.
SPEAKER_00: Help us to speak with boldness, with clarity, with love, the truth.
SPEAKER_00: To not be ashamed of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: But with great energy.
SPEAKER_00: May we be faithful to go out seeking opportunities to tell people about Jesus, to invite them to learn more about Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: We pray that as we're faithful to do that, you would open up doors and opportunities for the gospel, that you, Father, would remove that veil and draw people to yourself with the glories and the excellencies of the risen Christ.
SPEAKER_00: We're thankful for the life we have in him.
SPEAKER_00: And it's his in in his name we pray.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.