SERMON MANUSCRIPT
I suspect that many of us checked the news this morning to see if the world had gotten any better overnight. It doesn’t appear that it has. Often, as I am thinking about the state of the world, the words of Charles Dickens come to mind: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
Yes, indeed, a winter of despair. So much fighting. So much war. So much tension. So much hostility. So much senseless crime. So much hatred. So much arguing. So much anger. So much mass murder. So much depression. So much suicide. So much, well, EVIL.
We are living in revolutionary times! Social revolution. Moral revolution. Economic revolution. Temporal Revolution. Technological Revolution. Everything so fast! You just cannot keep up! And if the author, Tom Friedman, is right, it is just going to get worse!
Social scientists tell us that we are moving into an era which is described as a New Cold War.
But, I guess I don’t need to tell you these things. As a church you have been studying the book of Revelation and surely, these things are to be expected! After all, the Antichrist is a reality. And the FINAL BATTLE is nearer now than ever. But, we must not miss a point. The work of the antichrist is not simply a late in the game thing!
In fact, an interesting thing is this – the term antichrist is never used in the book of Revelation. It is used 3 times in 1 John and one time in 2 John. In only two of those verses is the term used for a specific person – the antichrist. John makes clear that the antichrist is present and he is not merely present in the future he is present now. Right now!!!
One of the antichrist’s latest moves in Canada is pretty interesting. The Girl Guides have cancelled marching in any Santa parades because Santa is too friendly with Jesus! Who would have thought! And if you are a Canadian soldier and you need counsel and help, you are in trouble because a chaplain cannot use the name God.
I am not sure what we should call this but I call it Evil Incrementalism! Bit by bit, little by little – the influence of God in our culture is being eroded – marginalized. Or as Malcolm Gladwell would put it – we have passed the tipping point!
To put it simply: the battle of good and evil is not merely in the heavens, it is right here on earth.
- IT IS A REAL BATTLE
1] It is a battle that takes place in Heaven when the fallen angels rebel. Isaiah 14
2] It is a battle that takes place in the Garden as the Devil dupes Eve Gen. 3
3] It is a battle that takes place on Heaven and Earth as the Devil seeks to break the godliness of Job. Job 1&2
4] It is a battle that takes place in Egypt as the Egyptian Magicians seek to mimic the miracles of Moses and Aaron Exodus 7 – 11
5] It is a battle that takes place on the plains of Moab where Balaam seeks to curse the children of Israel Numbers 22-24
6] It is a battle that takes place in the land of Canaan as Israel fights for the Promised Land [Joshua]
7] It is a battle that takes place in Jerusalem as Sennacherib the Assyrian King seeks to capture Jerusalem and defame God in the same moment. Isaiah 38, 39
8] It is a battle that takes place in the prophetic book of Daniel as Antiochus seeks to destroy the Jewish faith
9] It is a battle that takes place when Christ comes into the world. John 1
10] It is a battle that takes place when Herod seeks to kill the baby Jesus. Matt. 2
11] It is a battle that takes place at the temptation of Jesus and the Devil seeks to get Jesus to jump off the temple roof. Luke 4
12] It is a battle that takes place where the people of Nazareth seek to throw Jesus off a cliff. Luke 4
13] It is a battle that takes place when Jesus is nailed to the cross – the Devil thinking that he had won the battle.
And, it is the story of the Book of Acts. It is the story of church history as believer after believer is martyred. And this is but a brief list!
But most importantly today – if you are a believer – it is your story too. What believer here today can say that they have never been in a battle with the Devil; a battle with evil? The battle rages all around us!!! What will we do?
We will take a few moments to put things in perspective. And we will do this by looking at the Scripture.
1] We could do this by looking at Galatians 5.
2] We could do this by looking at Romans 6-8
3] We could do this by looking at 2 Cor. 4
4] We could do this by looking at 2 Thes. 1, 2
But we are going to do it by looking at Ephesians.
It is in the book of Ephesians that we hear these words: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:12
The question for us today is this: how do we face life in the midst of this spiritual battle. How do we live in this world and not be conformed to this world? How do we retain spiritual integrity and impact if the face of evil forces? Ephesians answers this question.
Years and years ago a man by the name of Watchman Nee wrote a short commentary on the book of Ephesians – it was entitled: “Sit, Walk, Stand”. Nee’s point was simple. The Christians duty was spelled out in these three words. For him, it was kind of like the outline of Ephesians. But for us today it is the recipe for victory. It is the spiritual battle plan.
- BATTLE PLAN
We turn to the 2nd chapter of the book of Ephesians. It begins with a horrific description of our former spiritual condition. We dead in trespasses and sins. We are under the power of the devil. We are filling our lives with the pleasures of wickedness. We are in a desperate circumstances. Helpless but not hopeless!!!
Two little words change everything: BUT GOD!!! BUT GOD!!!
2:4 Made us alive in Christ. 2:6 He seated us with Christ in heavenly realms.
Colossians is the companion epistle of Ephesians and the same truth is expressed there! One of my favourite truths. 1:12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified youto share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued usfrom the dominion of darkness and brought us [transferred] into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The very first thing that we need to know in this battle is that we are in Christ, we are with Christ, we are in Christ’s kingdom and it is God who put us there. Do you get the picture? You can be in a furnace of fire – Christ is there. You can be in a lion’s den – Christ is there. You can be in a pit waiting to be sold into slavery – Christ is there!!!
And, if we want to slip a little O.T. in here – The Lord Your God Will Fight For You!
Battle Principle #1
1] Understand who is on your team – or should I say understand whose team you are on.
Battle Principle #2
Be Battle Ready
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [NIV]
4 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, [NASB]
If you are going to be successful in this battle with evil – you must keep yourself spiritually fit. Walk worthy of the calling!!!
In chapters 4 and 5 Paul lists out things that help in our staying ready for battle.
He talks about Humility.
He talks about Purity.
He talks about Stability.
He talks about Maturity.
He talks about being imitators of God.
He talks about gifts.
It is all about spiritual character.
All of these things result in spiritual strength and prepare us for the attacks of evil.
In reality Paul is telling us to follow in the steps of Jesus who does always those things that are pleasing to the Father.
Battle Principle #3
Take Cover – Put your Armour on!!!
6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Whenever I read this text I am reminded of my childhood. Particularly when I might be scared at night. I would pull the blankets up over my head – and somehow I would feel safe.
In a sense this is what the text talks about – getting under the covers. The panoply of God. The covering of God. The armour of God!!!
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
There is no armour for your back.
Put your amour on.
You are now fully ready for battle:
1] You are in Christ
2] Your spiritual life is in good order
3] You have put your armour on.
The final part of the battle plan is to STAND!!!
And, don’t forget to pray for yourself and for one another. The prayer of a righteous man, the prayer of a righteous woman avails much!!!
Every day we go to the battlefield. We go as a child of God. A member of Christ’s kingdom. Rescued. Transferred. Redeemed.
As I prepare to close this off this morning – I am reminded of the story about the Sunday School pupil whose mother asked him what he was studying in Sunday School that morning. He told his mom that they were studying the book of Revelation. His mother was most confused. What on earth could a little kid learn from the book of Revelation? So she asked him. What did you learn? He said simply –GOD WINS!!!
Indeed, God does win! The outcome of the Battle is very clear – Satan and his cohorts are defeated.
THE FINAL BATTLE IS ALREADY DECIDED!!!
Lew is a retired career pastor and professor with a long-time connection to Oakridge, who currently resides with his wife, Marguerite, in London, Ontario. Lew did his undergraduate studies at Moody Bible Institute and Houghton College and his graduate studies at Cornell, Lehigh, and New York Universities. His career has taken him in both the educational and pastoral realm, having served as Dean of the New York School of the Bible, Chairman of the Philosophy Department of the King’s College, Chairman of the Pastoral Studies Department at Ontario Bible College. In addition, he has served as a faculty member at The International School of Theology in Budapest, Hungary; Linguistics University in, Moscow, Russia; and the Kazak American Free University, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In recognition of his academic achievements and contribution to the educational process in Kazakhstan he was awarded the degree of Doctor and Professor. In addition, Lew was a founder and the director of the Central Asia Leadership Training Centre in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He was also a founder and faculty member of the Centre for Advanced Theological Studies in Moscow, Russia. He continues some of his work overseas serving as Leadership Consultant for the Brethren Churches of Romania, and he also continues in a teaching and consulting role in several Eastern European countries. Presently, Lew helps churches that are in transition.