WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:06.639 And I think something that says the greatest tactics of the devil is the digital world that does not exist. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:16.000 I believe when it comes to the topic of spiritual warfare that all we've learned about this morning, Christians are hopefully guilty of two extremes. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:27.120 On one hand, they become overdose about the demonic ground and become fearful and far too preoccupied and therefore superstitious. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:35.359 Or on the other side, they act as if the spiritual realm doesn't even exist and it's nothing to be bothered with. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:50.880 Well, with the Apostle Paul, he calls us to be sober-minded, not superstitious, to be alert, but not trembling in fear, standing strong in the Lord and in his power. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:58.640 If you didn't know, Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 20 is the longest passage in the entire Iowa of Gareth teaching about spiritual form. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:04.560 So it's wise of us to consider Paul's words here this morning. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:12.640 Now, I won't go all the way down to verse 20, but for our time this morning, we're kind of just spent our time in verses 10 through 13. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:23.519 I just want to lay a foundation for supposed to be a two-part sermon where I'll explain lay a foundation of what is spiritual warfare, who is our enemy, what are these the fact these things? 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:30.719 What resources does the Lord provide us as his children to combat these spiritual forces? 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:36.480 Well, before we get into that, I think it's helpful to understand the context of the city of Ephesus. 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:50.959 Well, uh, there's some debate here, but I believe it's very plausible that this letter is like being written to a group of churches in Asia Minor, by which Ephesus was the most popular and influential, but this letter was certainly throughout Asia Minor. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:02:02.799 So imagine if Paul were to write the letter to Los Angeles, which is the most influential city in Kai, but it would have been spread throughout several other areas to just the entire state. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:13.919 But to appreciate Paul's first, you can understand its obvious and what pictures understood when it came to uh Demonic and other types of deities in their culture. 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:16.560 So Ephesus was well known throughout. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:22.479 The church said Artemis was in their city, and it was wise to have the whole practices. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:29.439 As a matter of fact, in the book of Acts, specifically chapter 19, uh, it shows us how deeply magic actually city. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:36.879 People were gonna faith in Jesus, and these new believers were taking their magic books in the occult and burning them. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:50.879 They burned scrolls, which ended up being worth a fortune, but they did it to show Christ's power over these false religious beliefs that they once uh uh propped up as true and showed that Christ's power was far greater. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:55.599 So for the Fijian church, the ritual warfare wasn't just a theory, it was reality. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:03:01.280 They already have some idea about those spiritual forces and the cults. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:08.159 And so Paul is riding into these groups of Christians, and he's essentially given them a blueprint for how they live the Christian life. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:22.000 So to put this in the context, remember, Paul had just started out in the beginning of Ephesians, unpacking the gospel, reminding them, hey, this is what it is that you're gonna be saved by Jesus Christ, that you're an adopted son and daughter of God. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.520 And then he went on to talk about uh the church's unity. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:31.199 He encouraged them, hey, Jesus has purchased your unity on the cross, never preserves that unity. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:38.719 And then he went on to talk about uh how being filled in the spirit should change every aspect of our lives. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:43.759 It should change how we sing, it should change our marriages, it should change our family, our creator. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:49.919 And as we heard last week, it also even changes how we view ourselves within the wordplace. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.680 And all of that, teaching by Paul, is no accident. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:01.120 Because I believe those of the very paragons of life that the enemy attached us in through spiritual warfare. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.039 So Paul's wisdom and exhortation is no accident. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:16.480 But we thought we've got the discussion, it's good to consider what Paul said already about spiritual warfare. 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:31.439 So, for example, in Features chapter 2, verses 1 through 3, we learned that all of us, before we came to faith in Christ, we progress today in sin, following the world and the devil living under God's wrath. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:39.439 In chapter 2, he has already only about before you became the faith in Christ, who were a slave to sin as a saints. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:43.600 That was my position in life of God's wrath meaning the overhead. 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:57.839 And then in Ephesians chapter 4, when we start giving these fragwaices in how to live a Christian life, he makes it clear unchecked anger in our hearts gives the enemy a foothold into your life. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:01.199 So even then, it was laying some groundwork. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.319 But in our text today, he takes it to the new degree. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:11.120 He says, okay, let's take this man online, and I'm going to give you guys wisdom on how you can prevail against your enemy. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:18.959 Starting in verse 10, he starts out finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his best strength. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:26.879 Now that we're finally obviously signals, hey, I am I am coming, I'm bringing all that teaching you, church, to a conclusion. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:31.040 Everything I have said now dominates in what I'm going to learn against. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:36.639 Which makes sense because what has he been doing for the last uh five, the last six chapters? 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:45.839 He's been helping the church enough to understand, number one, who you are in Christ, and then number two, how you've cleaned inside of who you are in Christ. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:54.560 And now he's with the violence saying, oh, and keep in mind, we have an enemy under the soul who wants to float everything I'm teaching you to live out to the glory of God. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:06:02.959 So he's starting with this finally be strengthened by the Lord and by his fast strength. 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:10.399 Now he starts out by helping them understand us as well, understand the source of their strength and power. 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:16.639 Paul is emphasizing that the source of our strength and scripture comes from outside of ourselves, doesn't he? 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:25.199 If you look at his verse, he says, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:30.639 So the clarification is that the power and the source of the power is not within us. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:31.519 Correct? 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:33.279 It is outside of us. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:38.399 As a matter of fact, the power itself is not even within our own, it's the Lord's. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:47.120 The clarification then is that alone you are not powerful enough to resist the enemy and his divine forces. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:55.279 You were not powerful enough on your own to stand against the spiritual force and that was the desire to destroy your soul. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:57.120 I mean, Paul couldn't be more clear. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:59.360 He does command, be strengthened. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:02.959 If you were to stop there, you might think, okay, this is something I do on my own. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:08.480 I get my own resources, but if he follows up, be strengthened by the Lord. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:09.920 And by his. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:12.879 And I love how he has he has of a backstair. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:19.439 Uh, depending on what your translation is, you might have another word, but by the Lord and by his bastard. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:21.839 The Saint doesn't mean you're always spread. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:23.839 The Saint doesn't be spread. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:28.240 Be strengthened by the Lord and his vast strength. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:30.639 He goes on in verse 11, pillar one. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.120 Again, we're called to do something there. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:40.160 The full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.920 Paul, keep in mind, was a Pharisee, he was a Jew. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:50.000 He was extremely familiar with the Old Testament and illustrations and imagery from the Old Testament. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:08:02.879 And the more you read Paul's writings and how he describes spiritual warfare and the Christians putting on and putting off, you can tell he's drawn up Old Testament language that often pictures the Lord as a warrior that us against enemy. 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:05.439 Psalm 110 game one of the best examples. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:11.759 Matter of fact, Psalm 11 verse 1 is the most often quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:22.720 So he's using this imagery that we find specifically in the book of Isaiah of the Lord be a warrior, a conqueror, a king who reigns over all creation. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:33.039 His parts can be strong, even declose language for many of you are familiar with in the book of Joshua, where the Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:39.279 However, the difference of us and Joshua is our human opponents, other nations are fighting against. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:47.279 But rather our battle is these powerful spiritual forces that we're going to prevail against in the Lord's strength. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:55.360 Now notice in these verses, the believer is commanded to take part in this battle that Paul is describing. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:08.559 He tells the Christians now, he says, be strengthened in verse 10, to put on, to stand, which means they are actively called to do something, correct? 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:08.960 Correct. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:16.320 They don't have something to sit on their hands and just say, I'm just going to recite the Lord's prayer and hope the dark forces go away. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:30.639 He said, No, you are to actively engage in the battle, however, all while realizing God Himself is the one who needs to supply the strength that you need to prevent. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:44.159 And in verse 11, he says, he uses the phrase, so that you can sin. 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:46.799 Well, friends, that makes it very clear. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:55.759 Without God's power, without God's resources, without God's vast friend, you are not just vulnerable to your energy. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:08.960 You're certain to be destroyed by you have concentration for some reason felt that you were wise enough, holy enough, confident enough to stand against the devil to your fallen angels, you are gravely miske. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:15.840 When the devil and his fallen angels look at us, they don't tremble in fear. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:23.039 They only tremble when they see the honor of God and the vast power of God that we are guilty in our defense. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:23.519 Amen. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:27.840 But notice how Paul uses for Jesus the word stand. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:34.720 So we are called to be stranded, we are called to put along, and we are called to stand. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:41.360 Now when you hear that word, maybe for some of you your thought goes to like more defensive posture, where you're just on the defense. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:43.120 However, that's not what Paul meaning. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:46.720 The word he's communicating there is actually a both game. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:50.320 It's a defensive posture and also an offensive posture. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:53.679 I go back to like my boxing days back in the day. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:56.960 Boxing, a lot of people who might not know a lot about boxing. 00:10:57.039 --> 00:11:03.200 They think it's all about just paymakers and trying to knock people out, but there's a phrase called the sweet science. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:08.639 Truly, the art of boxing is defense and delivering all paying things you take. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:14.559 It's the art of doing your best not to be a fit, but being prepared to counter to vanquish your being. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:28.960 So when Paul is using this language of stand, and he's saying, yes, be on the defensive as in equal, but also build the resources of the Lord as entrusted to you the full honor of God to also be only office. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:29.840 That's good. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:33.600 The exhortations in verses 10 to 20 are also. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:38.399 Here's something I think as Western Christians here in America, we can neglect. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:41.360 Paul's exhortations are torpedo and not even. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:47.120 So when we think of spiritual warfare, I think we often think of warfare as an individual battle. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:50.879 It's me, I mean it's the same thing in the spiritual realm. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:12:12.480 But Francis keeps them along with the reading this morning is a letter written to a church, encouraging them on vow to preserve their unity, to live as married people, how to parent their children, how to live in the workplace, and how to, as a church family, oppose the schemes of the devil. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:23.440 Which means spiritual border isn't just you versus the devil, it's us together standing in the Lord's friend to oppose spiritual and dark forces. 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:27.120 That changes hopefully some of our perspective. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:31.200 I'm not saying we individually don't have to oppose the work of the enemy. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:51.039 Yes, we all didn't fall in the emotions world, but contextually involved main exhortation is corporate in nature, which just shows God's wisdom in saying, I have designed the church for all to be a little militia who long arms together to oppose the schemes of the devil who is seeking to destroy your church family. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:56.399 Or picture it this way, one of my favorite zombies about the movie shows is uh a good warning. 00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:17.600 So imagine in Paul's day the Christians bring Rome, he would have been very familiar with Roman soldiers who had these like long rectangular shields, and if they were in a ballot, they would form up together and hold out their shields above their heads, and others would hold the front of the line to form one big fortress, so to speak, to guard against an onslaught of Arabs. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:22.639 So they would corporately come together as one big shield of defense. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:37.679 So in some regard, that is what Paul is exhorting the church to Ephesus, saying, You all are responsible for each other to recognize that the devil is aiming to destroy your church family and you are to resist him corporately together as one. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:38.960 That's sounded good. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:48.399 Well, what I love about this passages, when I was seeing stuff like this, I believe If you read passages like this and you just see God's lovely kindness towards you as his childhood. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:52.720 What I mean by that is God did not have to reveal this information to us. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:14:04.240 God could have just, y'all could have just been living your life, don't even know any means existence, no need to know that members of the double, and instead, God only reveals this type of information to us, but he also gives us a loop rate. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:06.559 He says, here's what you are to do. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:14.240 But he also makes it clear, you're to work, you're to do something, you're to be strengthened in my son, you are to flip one, you are to stand. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:17.200 I mean, he also makes it clear that I'm unwilling with it. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:20.320 And guys, you can't remember, this isn't like the movies. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:24.559 This isn't like you're watching a movie and you're alluding towards the good guy and you're helping the bad guy in the idea. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:27.519 It's not the remotely close to the middle of the earth. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:31.039 No, it's you start the movie already knowing how it is. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:34.320 The devil just already defeated foe. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:41.360 It's almost like stepping on the head of a tomato coach and yet is still running around with a little bit of light a little bit, saying the nose he's a defeated foe. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:47.120 But he is dead as said on how can I oppose God's kingdom to fill my demise. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:59.440 But just know, you know, we read each word, yes, we are all about to do something, we are all too engaged actively in the battle when Vegus though has our warrior king, the Lord, going before us in empowering us. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:07.039 I bring that up because I uh if you guys are like me, depending on your church background and what you have been taught and so on and so forth. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:11.519 There's a lot of misconceptions when it comes to this topic of spiritual warfare. 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:13.360 I don't have enough time to get into a lot of these. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:25.759 I haven't been a surveyable MPs, but too many Christians, I think, get their reviews of spiritual warfare from Hollywood or popular books or Instagram and TikTok, and but Paul wants to help us understand. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:27.519 No, this is inspiring Richard. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.919 This is what you need to know and what you need to do. 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:39.120 So let me briefly do my best to clear up just a few minutes before we step into a clear understanding of what Paul is trying to help us understand this morning. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:44.000 I was given some brief square summary thoughts because I can do a whole sermon on each and every one of these. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:46.240 But I'm just gonna speak to a few. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:50.320 The first is that there's a there's a teenage divine problem. 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:56.559 So, for example, if I'm preaching and this might go out, someone can say, Oh, the devil's in the system. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:00.240 I heard a story of a pastor who went to this in the church, and that actually happened. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:07.440 The audio system went out, and the pastor sat the service and said, Open the back door, we're gonna frail stay now with service. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:10.799 And the gentleman looked at his wife and said, really? 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:13.120 And she's like, Where are we gonna go? 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:13.600 She's like, really? 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:26.559 But there are some people who take that posture of the devil or demons are in every little thing, anything that goes on, they attribute it to some kind of satanic uh infamous. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:35.120 Or two, if I just say the right words, I myself can command the devil and fallen angels. 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:40.720 However, I guess the anything in scripture where power comes from ourselves. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:45.919 You don't cast out demons by magical incantation or formulas. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.679 It comes from Christ alone. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:59.919 Don't believe me, don't forget the story of uh seven sons of Siva who tried to, they weren't superfollowers of Jesus, but they tried to cast out some demons in Jesus in vain, and they ended up being jumped. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:04.160 And the demons you inspired, I know Jesus not recognized Paul below you. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.880 You've got to be careful with that. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:12.400 Or another common phrase I intend to hear is the devil may be doing. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:18.880 Well, I don't see a single verse in the Bible in which any force whatsoever you think so command. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:19.279 Amen. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:22.640 You're all responsible for the Lord for our additional choices. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:28.240 Not, don't get me wrong, there are external forces that can influence us and tempt us and provoke us. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:37.200 But to say the devil's maybe do it, Satan tempts, but our own simple desires will bring the Lord in our souls, according to Jacobs chapter 1. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:42.880 It is our own simple desires and external influence that tempt an enticement. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:45.519 Well, we also are responsible. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:48.720 And then the devil is not left out. 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.480 He is not long not present. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:54.000 He cannot be in every place at the same time, left with the Lord. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:18:03.039 He can only be in one place in one time, and I love everyone in this room, but trust me, you are denying special enough for Satan to be following you around to the bigger contempting. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.880 I'm sure he's given something far more than the people. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:12.000 Or another thought is that the devil thinks I'm wrong, he's in my mind, he's putting things in my body. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.079 We gotta be careful of that. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:16.960 Like, what happens to you have a simple nature? 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.759 That sin has been used. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:25.599 Or another is that can Christian be demon possessed? 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:30.160 Can the demon possess a true born immediately God? 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:35.839 I don't see a single passage of scripture that I support that. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:40.720 The Spirit of God in the Bible is indwells a child of God. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:46.480 So while Satan can tempt, accuse, and oppressed, you cannot ever own God's people. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:51.200 Believers can be demonized, but not demon possessed. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:19:03.119 Colossians 113 says, Jesus, he has rescued us from the darkness and is transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of He loves. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:11.440 So if you get rescued and a demon can possess you, that sounds like rescue you say. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:33.920 So if the very Spirit of God, who is pure and holy and righteous, and tells every believer how on earth can the Lord occupy the same space as a dark world. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:38.559 Number five, if I ignore the spiritual realm, then it won't perfect me. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:45.519 If I'm just trying to do the hell of science of my pain, then maybe those demons and dark thors won't bother me. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:51.759 Well, President Bled doesn't get full safety because the enemy is after how do we acknowledge them or not? 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:59.039 As a matter of fact, it's probably one of the most accused of the fact that they accomplish this to them to not seem to be bothered. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:06.559 Or six Christians are found by generational curses. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:12.640 Well, Christ being valuable to the most true because in Christ we are set free from every curse. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:16.160 Primarily like sin, shame, and guilt hus. 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:19.359 In Christ, we are set free from every curse. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.519 We are adopted things to God's family. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:29.200 We are not slaves to our circumstances, or slaves to our ancestors for invoke's sinful decisions. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:35.359 Our battles like his family history, but against our own sin to say it is lost. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:42.240 Lastly, another misconception is that Christians have the power to tear down on things strongholds. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.559 Tear down since the manies. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:53.440 There's not a whole lot of them in the data that even paints this picture of, you know, there's a demon who's over Greensboro kind of thing. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:57.440 Let's get gathered and praise and destroy the stronghold over Greensboro. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.960 Maybe that's true. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.440 I don't know. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:03.440 The Hope of Davis doesn't seem to give us that concrete information. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:07.839 But only Christ has ultimate authorities to overthrow powders and strongholds. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:14.000 Our role is to stand firm in his victory, not to assume authority God hasn't given us. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:22.880 We want to spend our time finding the right battles and the right in towards and not wasting our time creating fake battles that aren't supported by scripture. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:32.079 So, friends, instead of claiming to myth, Paul calls us to cling to the truth, to stand strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:36.559 But in order to do that, he's using this vivid warrior language. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:38.559 We gotta know our hidden, don't we? 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:42.799 It's hard to know battles and image you don't understand. 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:46.559 So what I'm gonna do is just to help us know our enemy. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.519 Who is Satan? 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:51.200 What are his schemes according to the Bible? 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:53.759 Now, Paul doesn't want us to be naive. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:55.359 We gotta know our hidden. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:59.839 Even the Apostle Peter, first Peter 5 8 says to the Christians, he's writings who deal with. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.480 Still remind you, be alert. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:11.599 Your adversary, the devil, is crowding around a gloring wine, looking for an end of life he can devour. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:21.119 Resist him firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:35.359 So even in tears I sort of speech, at least exhorting this congregation, and this guy is here to also engage in the battle, to be sober-minded, to be alert, to resist by being firm in their faith. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.279 So who is who is Satan? 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.480 Let's spend some time in there. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:41.920 Number one, he's a fallen angel. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:51.680 So you need to remove any images you have, the mark of the ultrasound, of this guy in a you know a red bag and disborn, who is terrorized and look at that. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.839 No, he isn't angel. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:59.200 And remember, whenever people in the Bible encountered angels, they often had two experiences. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:06.160 Either the angel said, get out, because they fell in fear, or they told him, fear not. 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:13.200 If Satan walks into the same thing write it down, everybody's gonna be tempted to bow down and worship him from the beauty he would exhibit. 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.720 He is an angel. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:26.720 However, the Bible gives him many titles, such as the devil, Satan, the adversary, the prince of the power of the air. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.880 However, those aren't names. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.640 Satan is not his name. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:32.640 The adulter is the devil. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:41.440 These are titles or labels that absolutely describe his nature, who he is, and what he does. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:49.759 He's the deceiver, he's the accuser, he's the slanderer, he's the enemy of God and his people. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.839 Now you know you're bigly. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:55.839 If the titles you have describe how a big two are. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:59.759 They're not his name, just like Jesus Christ is not his name. 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.880 It's a title, right? 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:04.240 It's describing his very nature there. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:13.200 That means he spends all of this time accusing the brethren, lying and deceiving, and plotting and devouring who opposed God's will. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:18.160 But don't get it twisted, he is innovation or form God's people. 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:29.039 But above all of us this morning, compared to us, he is far more powerful, and he is far more intelligent to some of us. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:32.319 Thus to ourselves, we don't stand a chance. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:32.880 Think about it. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:36.000 We're human, made in God's image. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.279 He's an angel. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:40.480 He is a spiritual force. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:44.799 He's been alive birth who knows how many thousands of years. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:49.680 He knows the Bible and theology better than you ever will in your time in this earth. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:54.720 He has seen the story of spring shirt unfold with his own eyes. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:25:02.000 He knows far more than you ever will, which is why Paul exhorts. 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:08.880 He strengthened by the Lord and his steadfast strength. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:19.279 Our only hope in resisting the devil is not our flutterness, thunderness, it's not our willpower, but the strength of only Christ supplies. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:26.240 We try to stand on our own as languages, walk in the streets and everything with our control on earth. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:33.920 Satan is called the God of this age and the prince of the air. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:40.960 Now, some miscreant script is bursting away, so Satan literally he rules the earth until Jesus returns. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:44.319 Like he's the king, he's reigned over earth. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:54.160 I don't believe that's what the that's what Paul is getting at when he writes that in his or keep in mind, Jesus, he has this saying, Jesus is sovereign over all things. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:58.559 Ephesians, Colossians, and the scriptures is extremely clear about that. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:01.519 So what does he mean by he is the God of the stained? 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.880 He is the prince of the hair. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:09.200 Well, I would say it's not because he has real authority, but because he deceives the world. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:14.799 He rules through lies, through sin, through human rebellion. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:20.480 Yet he's a defeated imposter who enslaves people through the darkness of sin. 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:40.079 So Acts 26, verse 18, Paul writes to, oh I'm sorry, Luke writes to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness of the light and from the power of sickness of God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and the share among those who are sanctified by faith in me. 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:53.920 So when it talks about him being the fruit of the air, I don't believe Paul is referring to, though, he literally is reigning over the entire world, and Jesus is just kind of like just pacing back and forth in heaven and just saying, I can't wait for the father to send me back, so I can throne him. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:58.160 He's already the throne, but he operates within this realm of me. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:03.599 Every person who's not in Christ is a slave to sin and safety. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:07.039 They can't choose Christ because it goes against the very nature. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.640 We choose according to our nature. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:22.240 If you're dead in your sins of trespassing according to Obedience 2, well then Christ is not trustworthy, he's not a treasure to you, you desire sin, which means you function under the domain, so to speak, of Satan. 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:24.079 Now, what are Satan's schemes? 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.440 How does he attack us? 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:30.960 Because when we look at Paul's words, he gives the exhortation, be strengthened in the Lord in his baptism. 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:40.799 And he goes on to make further verse 11, put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:53.759 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:28:01.920 Paul calls them schemes because the devil doesn't just show them in a red suit in a pitch for. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:10.400 He doesn't need sleep like you and I. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.799 And what does he say this time doing? 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:20.799 Plotting, scheming, how he can identify the vulnerable and devour them. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:24.160 That is his sole existence. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.920 He knows he's defeated. 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:33.759 He knows he has no chance in stopping God's plan of expanding the gospel for the kingdom of God, but he is dead setting. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:43.039 Until I am grown in the lake of fire, I will excel all my enemies to oppose God's kingdom. 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:44.799 Now, how does he do that? 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.960 What are some of his schemes? 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:54.079 We need to be wise soldiers, so to speak, and know our enemy and his tactics, so we can't stand in Christ. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.359 Here's a few. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:29:01.440 This isn't an exhaustive list, but here's just a few economics. 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:07.599 Number one, to tempt us as believers to doubt God's business. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:11.359 From the very beginning, Genesis 3, what does Satan do? 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:14.559 He whispers in each ear, if God believes. 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:17.039 And why was he doing that? 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:19.759 To convince her God is holding out a little. 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:22.880 God is not as loving as you think he is. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:25.599 He's not revealing everything to Egypt. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:27.599 There's norms, there's stories. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:36.640 He wants to convince us that God is not good, God is not loving, God is not merciful and patient as he says he is in his word. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:41.440 Or that his commands are too strict. 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:46.000 Or that his love is not enough, and he's holding back some of that love. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:48.400 So, for example, just think it's very practical. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:57.920 If someone is struggling with prolonged undesired simpleness, they might think, well, if God doesn't love me, it doesn't know I'm being older and I'm moving past out there in years. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:01.119 It's like, I'm gonna be good, you want to give me the desired land. 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:05.839 Or be man, this is a job and it's laid off, he wasn't expecting it. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:12.640 You might be tempted to think, if God loved me and he said to provide my relief, why would he allow me to get rid of? 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:21.119 Right, that's what they look at footholes to get you into doubt, this goodness and faithfulness and love. 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:23.839 Is that not the story of Joseph? 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:40.799 That's why I'm loving Joe's egg, it's not a dude, because I don't need the answers as why some of the way I do, because all I need to know is that God is good, God is faithful, everything he does towards me because God and mine is goodness, even if I don't get all my all the answers I desired, because those answers are done into the same. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:48.960 A second scheme of the devil, maybe his most prevalent, is to attack God's word. 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:51.839 Is to attack God's Word. 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:56.160 Satan often goes after the Word of God. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:59.440 Look at how he accepts Jesus in the wilderness. 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:02.000 How in the end he quotes scripture. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:04.160 And he quotes it fairly accurately. 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:09.200 He just twists it just a little bit to try to deceive Jesus. 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:21.119 Satan often goes after the Word of God, and he doesn't just accept individuals, but he spreads actively false doctrine, leading entire churches sometimes astray. 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.440 Think about it. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:34.160 If Satan gets you to believe they have to believe, such as other world religions that are identify as Christians, but they just change gospel just a little bit? 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:39.039 Yes, we believe in Jesus, but he's not the device when God gave a flesh. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:42.079 Okay, that is a false gospel. 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.839 That is so hell. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:50.559 Or, hey, if you baptize a baby, that child is guaranteed to go live in hell. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:55.920 We believe in Jesus, we believe in the gospel, just baptize the baby, just think of it. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:59.519 That is false teaching, that is a false gospel. 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:02.079 Say we won't attack God's word. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:05.039 It's not how the Bible describes the Bible. 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:14.559 The Bible is living in African, or the Bible is profitable for teaching and training and repeating all these things that encourage us to live a life worthy of the gospel. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:27.920 Well, say nothing would happen after we go Romans for to teach and share God below others that they too can have their eyes open to the book and come to know the keeping on. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:29.440 How do we advance the gospel? 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:32.799 How do we help planet churches and see people come with faith in Christ? 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:36.799 Well, by proclaiming God's word and taking the gospel. 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:43.279 So if the enemy opposes that, then it's gospel because people come into the faith and live with Jesus Christ. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:46.640 Or third, he exploits our sin. 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:49.039 He exploits our sin. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:55.039 I think one of the things most effective about this is our own disobedience to the health. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.240 Think about it. 00:32:56.400 --> 00:33:01.920 Every act of disobedience in our lives plagues into the students of the devil, to some extent. 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.519 You know what I mean by that? 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:27.279 Well, in Ephesians chapter 2, if we just jump over to Ephesians chapter 2, by Luke chapter 3, in Ephesians chapter 2, 1 to 3, Paul says, and you are dead in your trespasses to sins, in which you emphasis on previously walks, according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, his spirit, now ordering into disobedience. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:33.920 We too all previously lived among them without the flesh of the side, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts. 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:39.759 And by nature, children under wrath, as the others were also. 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:44.480 Whenever we give into sin, we're going back to our ways. 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:46.160 And what was our own ways? 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:49.680 Well, back when we were slaves to sin is they under his and faith. 00:33:50.880 --> 00:34:06.160 Or Ephesians 4, 27 warns us, don't give the devil an opportunity or a football, which the complication, friends, is you have the ability to give the enemy a football into your life. 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:24.480 Now I don't think Paul means there the devil or an evil people possession kind of a thing, but you say, no, if, for example, let's just in the relationship as an example, if you have uh a spouse sin against you and you refuse to forgive, and you are the seaful behavior, and you've left that fester and it goes on and on. 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.199 Well, guess what? 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:40.000 You have now given a football into your life, in your marriage, in your moment, to bring further disputes in sustainability comically that does not please the Lord and continues you then to replicate that sin, which pleases your man. 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.440 Does that make sense? 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:46.800 This comes home into our daily lives. 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:51.440 Everyone confessed sin is like being a bathroom of wolf and the enemy. 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:57.119 Who here would raise their hand and say, I follow this here to give the devil a foothold into my life? 00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:58.719 None of us. 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:02.480 This is why we need to be wise and stand in front of them. 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:10.559 He gives us our pride, our anger, our lust, our bitterness as footholds to gain greater influence. 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:14.320 Keep in mind, friends, when it comes to interpersonal relationships. 00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:19.760 Paul makes it clear our battle was not against flesh and blood, they were spoiler. 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:36.239 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual realities and authorities refers to, which means, friends, if someone sins against you or brings pain into your life, they're not your enemy. 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:38.239 The enemy is your enemy. 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:42.480 Don't get me wrong, they guess that they're guilty of sin, damn it's true. 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:51.199 However, whenever we sin, as I just read in Ephesians 2, we're just returning back to our old ways, which is to follow Satan. 00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:54.880 Which is why if Jesus first commanded, when we were being the Pharisee, what did he say? 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:58.480 You were doing the will of your father, the devil. 00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.800 So we've got to keep that in mind. 00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:11.119 If someone is sinning against us, whatever it may be, we have to like look past that person and keep a heavenly reality in our lives and say, no, this person isn't my enemy, the enemy is the enemy. 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:19.039 So, for example, some of you who I know, they're having a hard time with maybe friends and coworkers who failing them because you're a Christian and they they don't share your faith. 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:21.039 Maybe they mocked you or give you a hard time. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:23.199 Just know it is a spirituality. 00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:28.159 Because they're not opposing you, they're opposing Christ in you. 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:28.559 Amen. 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:50.079 You're seeking to exhibit Christ to them and love and persuade it, and they don't share your faith, they don't desire your faith, so it's Christ over here and not you, so the enemy is using culture and worldbeat to lead us in the world astray. 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:58.239 Satan doesn't just focus on tempting individuals, he climb friends, he's far wiser than us, he's been at us for thousands of years. 00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:12.000 I believe he tries to influence whole cultures, whether it's using media, music, entertainment, false belief systems to normalize sin and to blind people to the truth. 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:13.679 I look at how I grew up. 00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:15.360 I didn't come to play until I was an adult. 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:23.760 I grew up, I ended up following them all, I grew up listening to all kinds of uh hip-hop music, I hung out with a lot of game makers and drug dealers and so on and so forth, but guess what? 00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:30.320 That music and entertainment and the world I surrounded myself with shaped how I do a lot of things. 00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:35.039 Shapes how I do manhood, women, relationships, money, you name it. 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:45.760 My friends and I, we would drive to go do criminal activities, play rap music that glorified the very things we're gonna go do. 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:49.599 And that music ramped us up to one of the given. 00:37:49.840 --> 00:38:01.760 I spurly leave that on myself because I absolutely have some demonic influence, utilizing my own sinful nature to lead me to think something the Lord calls evil, I would call good. 00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:21.760 Paul in 2 Corinthians 4.4 says, in their case, speaking of unbelievers, the guy of this age, Satan, 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. 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:23.519 Let me read that again, Francis. 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:44.320 However, Satan has the ability, it says, in their case, the God of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers for this purpose, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:57.599 The enemy loves to use the world's values and voices to shape how we think, often without us even realizing it, so that we don't see the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:38:57.840 --> 00:39:07.119 Which is why we play churches, we send missionaries, we go out to this church building and we share the gospel with anyone who gives us the audience. 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:18.639 Because despite saying seeming and trying to uh mind people's eyes, we know that it is not even remote people from our Holy Spirit, ruminating the truth of the gospel and to save a sinner like good. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:29.199 But Satan loves nothing more than a Christian to hold on to that powerful message of Christ staying more than the cross and to just sit on like a chair with God. 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:34.079 So, church work on us who stand firm as all that things to work on us. 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:37.119 We have to take part in seriously. 00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:46.719 But taking him seriously does not mean we fear him, because the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world, he's in for shot. 00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:54.559 But I want us to I want us to lay that foundation, one of us to know our hidden reason this is happening. 00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:59.360 But now I want to spend the rest of our time focusing on our resources and points. 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:02.320 How we are to stand firm. 00:40:02.639 --> 00:40:12.320 Because again, I just want to reiterate if you leave it, and all you took through a stern now is, you know what, I'm just gonna trade them a little way and I'm gonna spend my own resources that you learn nothing. 00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:16.000 It's almost like trying to fight someone and you have no idea how to fight. 00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:17.199 I mean, an environment. 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:20.639 I wrote I grow in and say, you know, you ain't got any case. 00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:27.599 That's how same thing is a teacher to look at you, a part of your life putting off full on God. 00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:29.280 They look at you and say serious. 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:51.679 However, you might remember a couple weeks ago when we were looking at Ephesians 1 group two specifically, where we talked about our reunion with Christ, how if you're a child of God, you are baptized in Christ, you are raised with Christ, you are united in Christ. 00:40:51.840 --> 00:41:03.679 One of the most common uh descriptors of Christian is not a Christian or disciple, it's those who are in Christ, which means when God looks at you, receive the righteousness of Christ, you are still united to him. 00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:28.239 That's important because our union with Christ is our union with Christ is the source of the battle, or rather the source of our power for the battle, going all the way back to chapter one, where he starts like making it clear that before the foundation of the earth, God sent his affections on this people called the church, who said Jesus denied for it, and we are conducted into his family. 00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:43.119