00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 War broke out in Europe in 1914.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 And while the war was raging in Europe,
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 the United States maintained a policy of neutrality.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 Life pretty much went on as normal for people in the US.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 The general population knew that there was a war going on.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:21 The Great War was going on over in Europe,
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 but they pretty much wanted to stay out of it,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 and it did not impact their life day by day.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 In fact, that was the vast majority of people were polled,
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 to say the vast majority of the population
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 wanted nothing to do with this war in Europe.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 President Woodrow Wilson,
00:00:39 --> 00:00:43 his efforts to maintain neutrality in World War I
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 were disregarded by German submarines.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 On the 3rd of February 1917,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 the USS Housatonic was sunk by German subs.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 It was a United States cruiser ship.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:03 And three more US ships were torpedoed in the following weeks.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:07 And so Wilson's trying to do some negotiations with Germany.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 Give it a slap on the wrist and please don't do that again.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:14 And it got harder and harder as the death toll of American citizens
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 continued to climb.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 What tipped the balance for the United States
00:01:19 --> 00:01:23 was when British intelligence intercepted a telegram
00:01:23 --> 00:01:24 from Arthur Zimmerman.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 He was the German Secretary of State
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 attempting to come up with an allegiance with Mexico
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 so that Germany and Mexico together
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 would invade Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 And he should have known that you never mess with Texas.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 And so on the 6th of April 1917,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 Woodrow Wilson signed the declaration of war against Germany.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 And in that moment,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 everything changed for the United States.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 From a nation wanting to stay out of this war
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 and live in peace and harmony
00:01:59 --> 00:02:00 and let the war rage somewhere else,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 they shifted their mentality very quickly
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 into a full-blown wartime mentality.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 Within two and a half weeks,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 on the 27th of April 1917,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 Congress passed the Liberty Loan Act
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 to raise funds for the war effort.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 And $20 billion was raised
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 from American citizens within the next two years.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 The same citizens who wanted to stay out of the war.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 On the 18th of May,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 this is a few weeks later,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 six weeks after the declaration of war,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:40 Congress passed the Selective Services Act.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 24 million men between the age of 21 and 30
00:02:43 --> 00:02:47 were registered for military action.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 Three million were drafted immediately for service.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 On the 15th of June,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 a couple of weeks later,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:58 the Espionage Act puts a 20-year prison sentence
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 on anyone who hinders the war effort
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 or aids the enemy in any way.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:04 On the 10th of August,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 the Lever Food and Fuel Control Act
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 gave the US Food Administration
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 and the Federal Fuel Administration powers
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 to increase production,
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 to reduce waste,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 and to crack down on any speculators
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 who were attempting to make any money whatsoever
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 out of the war effort.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 The 3rd of October,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 the War Revenue Act increased
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 corporate and personal income taxes
00:03:27 --> 00:03:32 and establishes excessive profits
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 and luxury taxes.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 The 5th of April, 1918,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 the War Finance Corporation is formed
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 with capital of $500 million
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 to support war industry.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 And so from the declaration of war
00:03:46 --> 00:03:47 in April, 1917,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:52 to the armistice in November, 1918,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:58 4 million Americans
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 take part in frontline combat
00:04:02 --> 00:04:06 and 116 would die.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 That's just over 18 months.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 All that in 18 months
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 from going from peaceful,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 leave us alone,
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 we're the greatest country in the world,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:23 to full-blown wartime mentality
00:04:23 --> 00:04:27 where the nation gets behind it
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 in quite a massive way.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 You see, during wartime,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:32 everything changes.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 Everything shifts.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 And I want us to see today
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 from Ephesians chapter 6
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 that as Christians,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:42 we're in war
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 and we are in a war
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 that's far more devastating
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 than any world war.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 The stakes are infinitely higher.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 World Wars I and II
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 devastated the world
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 with 120 million deaths
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 in about 11 years.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 The war that we're involved in
00:05:01 --> 00:05:05 sees over 50 million people a year
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 slip into a Christless eternity.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 As one person has described it,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 it is a conveyor belt of corpses
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 slipping into a Christless eternity.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 Now this message
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 that I'm preaching tonight
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 wasn't on our preaching roster
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 a month ago.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 I believe that this one
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 is pretty crucial
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 for us to understand
00:05:28 --> 00:05:28 at this stage
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 of our vision and mission
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 as a church.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 I'm convinced that we need
00:05:32 --> 00:05:32 to hear it
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 because I'm concerned
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 that maybe we've lost sight
00:05:37 --> 00:05:37 of the reality
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 of the war that we're in.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 There's just a few elements
00:05:42 --> 00:05:42 of it for me.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 The latest National Church
00:05:45 --> 00:05:45 Life Survey
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 reports that only 14%
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 of St. Paul's Chatswood
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 looks for opportunities
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 to share their faith.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 And only 6% say
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 that they would with certainty
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 follow up someone
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 who's drifting from the faith.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:01 Only 6%.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 Those figures concern me.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 The worst case
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 is that they reveal
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 apathy or indifference
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 to the war for souls
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 that we're engaged with.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 Over the past
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 five years or so
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 we have been reforming
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 what we do as a church.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 For me it flows out
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 of a biblical conviction
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 more than it being
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 effective strategy
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 although strategic thinking
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 is part of the direction
00:06:33 --> 00:06:33 we've been heading.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 And this year
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 we will take further steps
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 to reform even further
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 what we do as a church
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 to align ourselves
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 I believe even more
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 with the biblical design
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 that God has
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 for his church
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 and I'm convinced
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 that Satan hates it.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 The biblical design
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 that God has
00:06:52 --> 00:06:52 for his church
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 is what you see
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 unfold in the book
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 of Ephesians.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 It's God's grand purposes
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 for his people
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 for the church
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 for the world
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 from eternity
00:07:02 --> 00:07:02 to eternity.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 Ephesians chapter 1
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 2 and 3
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 reveal what God
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 is doing
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 about all the mess
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 that this universe
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 is in.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 It reveals that he cares
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 about it quite deeply.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 The disintegration
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 and the disorder
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 the chaos
00:07:19 --> 00:07:19 the brokenness
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 the sin
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 is all solved
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 by Jesus Christ
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 being made king
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 over all things
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 it's what we just
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 sang a moment ago.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 And under his kingship
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 all that's disintegrated
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 in the world
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 gets integrated
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 in him.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 And God's purpose
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 is to create
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 a single new humanity
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 through the death
00:07:44 --> 00:07:44 and resurrection
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 of his son
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 the Lord Jesus.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:47 The death
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 and resurrection
00:07:48 --> 00:07:48 of Jesus
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 which is the core
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 element
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 the core fact
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 the foundation
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 the hope
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 of the Christian faith
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 is the solution
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 to the sin
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 the evil
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 the chaos
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 the brokenness
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 of this world.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 Makes it very clear
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 that there is no
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 other way
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 to find salvation
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 there's no other
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 rescue plan
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 for this world
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 than
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 the blood
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 of Jesus.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 Ephesians 4
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 5 and 6
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 how to live
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 in accord
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 with the reality
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 of who it is
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 that we are
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 as a church
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 as Christians
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 who are now united
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 in Jesus Christ.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 And so
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 Ephesians is rich
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 with the mystery
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 of election
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 the wonder of salvation
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 peace with God
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 unity amongst believers
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 giftedness
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 that we
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 that God gives us
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 change our hearts
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 so that we serve each other
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 and we serve this world
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 in humility
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 so we've got
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 things like
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 unity and diversity
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 and peace
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 and purity
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 and harmony
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 these are
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 some of the
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 wonderful characteristics
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 of this new society
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 this new life
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 in Jesus
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 and they are
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 such exalted thoughts
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 and just when you think
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 that Paul would get
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 to the end of Ephesians
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 he'd get to the end
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 of chapter 6
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 that he'd kind of
00:09:10 --> 00:09:10 finish with
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 and they all lived
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 happily ever after
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 he in effect
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 he grabs us
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 by the throat
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 and slaps us
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 in the face
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 to wake us up
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 from our dreamy reflection
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 you see
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 what this letter does
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 is it closes
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 unexpectedly
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 with the ugly
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 blood and grime
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 of warfare
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 with evil
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 the beautiful life
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 that Ephesians
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 is preoccupied with
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 is lived out
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 while camping
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 in the trenches
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 of war
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 in enemy territory
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 and it's so crucial
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 for us to understand that
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 so crucial
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 for us
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 in terms of understanding
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 what the Christian life
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 is like
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 imagine
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 you've just won a contract
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 to build a hospital
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 and it's a hospital
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 in a land
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 where there is
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 no hospitals
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 and people
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 are dying
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 and being ravaged
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 by disease
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 and sickness
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 and so you have
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 an opportunity
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 to build this hospital
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 in this land
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 to bring healing
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 and health
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 to a people
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 who are desperately
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 in need of it
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 and you assemble
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 the architects
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 and the engineers
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 and the designers
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 and the builders
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 for this wonderful plan
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 and this wonderful vision
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 of what's going to happen
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 everyone's excited
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 about this building project
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 and what good
00:10:37 --> 00:10:37 it will do
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 when it's accomplished
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and just before
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 you head off
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 you've got everyone
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 who's got the plans
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 tucked in your arms
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 and just before
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 you head off
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 the resourcer
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 of it all
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 the person
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 who dreamed it all up
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 says just one little piece
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 more information
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 I've got to give you
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 one last thing
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 the hospital
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 that you're building
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 is located
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 in hostile territory
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 the people
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 that the hospital
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 is for
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 don't want you
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 to build the hospital
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 and in fact
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 they're going to
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 frustrate your work
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 to build the hospital
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 and in fact
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 they'll probably
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 attempt to kill you
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 in the process
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 of building a hospital
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 that's an important
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 piece of information
00:11:17 --> 00:11:20 it will change
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 the way you build
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 the hospital
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 change your expectations
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 and Ephesians 6
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 12 does that for us
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 for our struggle
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 is not against
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 flesh and blood
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 but against the rulers
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 against the authorities
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 against the powers
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 of this dark world
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 against the spiritual
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 force of evil
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 in the heavenly realms
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 in other words
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 there is a
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 war raging
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 it's an unseen war
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 raging
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 J.C. Ryle
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 he was born
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 just over
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 200 years ago
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 went on to become
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 the first
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 Anglican bishop
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 of Liverpool
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 he was a critic
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 of ritualistic
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 Christianity
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 in the Anglican church
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 which he was part of
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 as an Anglican bishop
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 he's a critic of it
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 that is
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 people just going
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 through the motions
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 of tradition
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 standing where they
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 need to
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 sitting where they
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 need to
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 attending church
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 but actually having
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 no impact on their
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 life
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 he once preached
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 a message about
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 the war
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 that the Christian
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 is involved in
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 and he said this
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 true Christianity
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 he said
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 mind that word
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 true
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 there is a
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 vast
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 quantity
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 of religion
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 current
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 religious
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 current
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 in the world
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 which is
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 not true
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 it's not
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 genuine
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 Christianity
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 there are
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 thousands of
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 men and women
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 who go to
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 churches
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 and chapels
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 every Sunday
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 and call
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 themselves
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 Christians
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 but you
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 never see
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 any fight
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 about their
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 religion
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 of spiritual
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 strife
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 and exertion
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 and conflict
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 and self-denial
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00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 it says
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00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 4
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00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 God
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00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 image
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00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 and
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00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 2
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 2
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00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 chain
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00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 Satan
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 is
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 terribly
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00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 evil
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00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 all
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 you see
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 Satan's
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 got no
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00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 no
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00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 no
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 remorse
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 no
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 morals
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 he
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 feeds
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 on
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 pain
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 and
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 anguish
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 and
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 filth
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 there's
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 nothing
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 about
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 him
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 at
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 all
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 that
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 is
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 redeemable
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 there is
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 no
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 virtue
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 he is
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 literally
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 a dark
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 void
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and his
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 schemes
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 are cunning
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 verse 11
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 speaks of
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 the devil's
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 schemes
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 or another way of saying it
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 the devil's
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 methods
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 and he's been
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 honing these
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 methods for
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 millennia
00:17:31 --> 00:17:35 he's
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 an accomplished
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 philosopher
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 theologian
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 psychologist
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 he has
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 studied
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 for
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 thousands
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 of
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 years
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 enough
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 time to
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 be
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 astonishingly
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 brilliant
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 at every
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 discipline
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 he's the
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 ultimate
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 manipulator
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 subverter
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 and actor
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 2 Corinthians 11
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 says that one of his
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 deadly methods
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 is he
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 masquerades
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 he acts
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 as if
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 he's an
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 agent
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 of
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 God's
00:18:00 --> 00:18:03 he specialises
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 in many
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 dirty
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 techniques
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 to win
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 this battle
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 he's not
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 governed by
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 a Geneva
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 convention
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 in spiritual
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 warfare
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 he desires
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 to win
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and when I say
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 win
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 what he desires
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 ultimately
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 is to
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 destroy
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 and one of his
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 techniques
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 is he
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 mixed just
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 enough
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 truth
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 with
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 falsehood
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 to make
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 something
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 sound
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 plausible
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 another
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 is
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 sensuality
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 many souls
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 are sold
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 to accommodate
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 a downward
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 spiral
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 in morality
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 another
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 is instilling
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 doubts
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 about
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 God's
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 goodness
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 whatever
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 his
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 tactic
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 is
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 he
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 seldomly
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 attacks
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 openly
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 his
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 strategies
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 which is
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 administered
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 by his
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 devils
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 are nearly
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 always
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 unseen
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 they are
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 shrewd
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 and they
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 are perfectly
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 tailored
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 for every
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 victim
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 he operates
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 best when he
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 convints people
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 of his
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 non-existence
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 especially
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 he does
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 that in
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 the west
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 he persuades
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 us
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 in the west
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 that the
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 Christian life
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 is not a
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 fight
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 that he
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 doesn't
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 exist
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 in other
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 parts of
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 the world
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 like Africa
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 and in
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 the east
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 he generally
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 convinces
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 people that
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 he's more
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 powerful than
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 anything else
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 and so
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 fear is
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 rampant
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 he's evil
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 beyond our
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 comprehension
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 and without
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 conscience or
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 principle
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 he is
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 diabolically
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 cunning
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 and he is
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 after us
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 that's the
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 consensus of
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 scripture
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 he hates
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 God
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 he hates
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 God's
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 children
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 he hates
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 the church
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 he hates
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 the mission
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 and vision
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 of St. Paul's
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 to see
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 Jesus
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 known
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 treasure
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 and represented
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 in such
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 a way
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 that more
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 and more
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 people
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 from our
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 culture
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 and from
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 our community
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 are rescued
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 from all
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 different backgrounds
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 are rescued
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 from his evil
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 clutches
00:19:40 --> 00:19:43 I would suggest
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 he hates
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 our plan
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 to be
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 transcultural
00:19:45 --> 00:19:48 he desires
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 to destroy
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 the work
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 of the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 father
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 to make
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 one
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 society
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 in Christ
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 forever
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 which is
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 exactly what
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 we are
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 working towards
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 as a church
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 here in
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 multicultural
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 Chatswood
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 he desires
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 more than
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 anything else
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 for the church
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 just to be
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 split up
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 he loves
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 that
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 he loves
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 the way
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 things are
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 generally
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 put this
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 group over
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 there
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 and that
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 group over
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 there
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 all
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 the barriers
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 that the gospel
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 had brought
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 down
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 everything
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 that Jesus
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 died for
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 and smashed
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 down
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 he loves
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 it when
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 the church
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 puts them
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 back up
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 again
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 splitting
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 people
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 up into
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 groups
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 we're
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 like
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 and like
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 whereas
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 the picture
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 the beautiful
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 picture of
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 Ephesians
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 is the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 barriers
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 are broken
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 down
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 and even
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 mortal enemies
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 of Jews
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 and Gentiles
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 are now
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 living together
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 in a new
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 society
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 and loving
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 one another
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 because of
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 what Christ
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 has done
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 he will
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 do
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 whatever
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 he can
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 to destroy
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 the work
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 of the gospel
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 of the Lord
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 Jesus
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 in your life
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 and in the life
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 of this church
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 that is
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 Paul's
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 cosmic
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 perspective
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 in all
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 its
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 chilling
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 implications
00:20:53 --> 00:20:56 and this
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 war
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 is something
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 that I've
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 become aware
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 of here
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 at St.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 Paul's
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 in recent
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 months
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 something
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 that I'm
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 seeing
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 and feeling
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 myself
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 something
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 that the
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 wardens
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 and parish
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 council
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 and the
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 staff
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 as well
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 as a
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 whole
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 number
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 of
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 leaders
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 around
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 this
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 place
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 are
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 experiencing
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 and feeling
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 and seeing
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 there are a number
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 of great things
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 that God is doing
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 amongst us
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 I'm convinced of that
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 and so naturally
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 it draws the attention
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 of the enemy
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 and so I decided
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 to put this message
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 in here
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 because I want the
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 whole church
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 to be aware
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 of it
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 to be alert
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 to be prayerful
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 and be prepared
00:21:29 --> 00:21:32 especially so
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 because in the
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 coming months
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 we're going to
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 make some
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 even
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 more
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 shifts
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 in the way
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 that we do
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 church
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 to align
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 ourselves
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 more and more
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 with God's
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 plan for his
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 church for all
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 time and eternity
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 we are planning
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 to in greater
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 measure
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 display the
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 unifying power
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 of the glory
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 of the Christian
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 gospel
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 and I'm convinced
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 that Satan
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 hates it
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 he wants
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 to distract
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 us from it
00:21:54 --> 00:21:57 having said
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 that
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 I would think
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 that all
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 would be
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 to spare
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 except
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 I've only
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 given you
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 part of
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 Paul's
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 cosmic
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 perspective
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 you see
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 on earth
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 amongst
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 mortals
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 Satan
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 has no
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 equal
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 but in
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 the heavenly
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 realms
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 he is far
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 far
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 far
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 far
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 exceeded
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 by the
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 triune
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 God
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 there's no
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 dualism here
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 there's no
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 you know
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 Satan
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 and God
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 and hopefully
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 one day
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 God will
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 ultimately have
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 the upper
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 hand
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 but whenever
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 God turns
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 his back
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 and fix
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 up some
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 problem
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 there
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 Satan's
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 havoc
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 over here
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 and oh
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 my goodness
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 I've got to
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 go and fix
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 that one
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 up now
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 there's no
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 dualism
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 there's not
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 the dualism
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 of Hollywood
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 where you
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 just hope
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 that good
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 beats evil
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 which it
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 generally does
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 otherwise it
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 wouldn't sell
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 movies
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 Satan is
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 not God's
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 equal
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 Satan is
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 finite
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 God is
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 infinite
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 in fact
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 Colossians
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 1 and 2
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 says that
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 the entire
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 spiritual realm
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 owes its
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 existence to
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 Christ
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 including
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 thrones
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 powers
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 rulers
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 authorities
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 both
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 invisible
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 and visible
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 both in
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 heaven
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 and on
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 earth
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 but Christ
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 is not
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 just more
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 powerful
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 by virtue
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 of being
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 Satan's
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 creator
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 but because
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 he in fact
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 defeated
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 Satan at
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 the cross
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 Satan and
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 his crew
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 are under
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 Christ's
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 feet
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 that's what
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 the early
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 chapters of
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 Ephesians
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 make really
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 clear for
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 us
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 he has
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 sealed
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 their doom
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 and although
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 in his
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 present age
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 they still
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 exercise a
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 bunch of
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 control
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 over those
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 who have
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 not found
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 freedom
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 in
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 Christ
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 if you
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 are filled
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 with the
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 spirit of
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 God
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 if you
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 align yourself
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 with Christ
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 Satan's
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 forces cannot
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 subdue you
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 they can
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 influence you
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 but they
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 cannot subdue
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 you
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 in Christ
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 there's
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 always
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 always
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 victory
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 but
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 real
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 Christianity
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 is a
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 fight
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55 but the
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 fight is
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 the Lord
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 Jesus
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 fight
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 that's
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 the good
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 news
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 however
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 the
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 battling
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 is
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 ours
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 and Paul
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 leaves two
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 commands
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 that dominate
00:24:06 --> 00:24:09 his advice
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 in these
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 last verses
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 of the
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 letter
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 the first
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 is in
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 verse 10
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 he says
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 finally
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 be strong
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 in the
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 Lord
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 and in
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 his mighty
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 power
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 that command
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 is in
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 fact
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 is a
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 passive
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 command
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 it is
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 be strong
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 in the
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 Lord
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 or
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 in fact
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 be made
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 strong
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 in the
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 Lord
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 find your
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 strength
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 in him
00:24:32 --> 00:24:35 Christ
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 has the
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 victory
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 and
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 Ephesians
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 1 and 2
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 declare that
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 he has
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 given us
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 the resources
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 to stand
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 and flourish
00:24:43 --> 00:24:45 we cannot
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 fight
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 this war
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 by ourselves
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 we are
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 totally
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 dependent
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 upon
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 Christ
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 the power
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 is his
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 and without
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 his strength
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 we will
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 falter
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 and we
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 will
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 fall
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 and yet
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 the call
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 here is
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 even though
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 all the
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 victory is
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 his
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 and all
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 the powers
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 his
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 and all
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 the resources
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 are his
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 the call
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 is
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 we still
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 need to
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 be made
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 strong
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 in him
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 and so
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 what Paul
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 does here
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 is he
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 expresses
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 an appropriate
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 combination
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 of divine
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 enabling
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 and human
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 cooperation
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 working
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 with the
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 divine
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 enabling
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 and he
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 does it
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 again in
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 the second
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 command
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 where he
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 says
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 and this
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 is how
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 we are
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 to be
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 made
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 strong
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 in the
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 Lord
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 second
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 command
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 verse 11
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 put on
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 the full
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 armor of
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 God
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 so that
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 you can
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 take your
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 stand
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 against
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 the devil's
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 schemes
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 and without
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 these armor
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 of God's
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 we'll be
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 fatally
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 unprotected
00:25:36 --> 00:25:39 but we need
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 to take
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 it up
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 put it
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 on
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 that's
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 our
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 responsibility
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 God
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 has made
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 provision
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 for us
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 in Christ
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 so that
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 we can
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 stand
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 and we
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 will not
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 fall
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 and that
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 provision
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 is his
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 armor
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 and so
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 if you
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 aim to
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 persevere
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 in the
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 Christian
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 life
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 and not
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 just
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 persevere
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 but to
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 flourish
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 in the
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 Christian
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 life
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 and not
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 be defeated
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 by all
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 the schemes
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 and the
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 methods
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 of the
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 devil
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 then you
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 must put
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 on the
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 armor
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 that's
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 described
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 in these
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 verses
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 we're
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 we're
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 told
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 we're
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 told four
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 times
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 of the
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 need
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 to
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 stand
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 Paul
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 is
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 very
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 concerned
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 here
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 about
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 the
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 need
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 for
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 Christians
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 to have
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 firm
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 stability
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 as the
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 battle
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 rages
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 stability
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 wobbly
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 Christians
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 who don't
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 have a
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 firm
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 foothold
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 in
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 Christ
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 are easy
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 prey to
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 Satan
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 he wants
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 to see
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 Christians
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 so strong
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 so stable
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 that they
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 are so
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 stable
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 especially
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 in the
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 face
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 of
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 Satan's
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 schemes
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 even
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 as
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 verse
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 13
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 says
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 when the
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 day
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 of
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 evil
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 comes
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 or the
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 time
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 of
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 special
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 pressure
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 Paul
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 is
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 concerned
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 that he
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 wants
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 us
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 to
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 stand
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 really
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 strong
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 in
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 that
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 moment
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 and so
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 full
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 armor
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 is
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 essential
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 I'm
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 going to
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 quickly
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 go
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 through
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 this
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 really
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 quickly
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 verse
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 14
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 it
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 says
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 the
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 belt
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 of
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 truth
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 held
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 the
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 sword
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 in
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 its
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 place
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 to
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 stand
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 firm
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 in
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 the
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 battle
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 you
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 must
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 be
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 a
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 person
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 filled
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 with
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 the
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 truth
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 the
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 revelation
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 of
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 God's
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 scriptures
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 and
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 for
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 that
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 truth
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 to
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 transform
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 you
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 into
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 a
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 person
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 of
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 truthful
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 character
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 it's
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 especially
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 important
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 in a
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 world
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 where
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 there
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 is
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 no
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 absolute
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 truth
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 apparently
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 it's
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 all
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 been
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 rejected
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 absolute
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 truth
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 is
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 rejected
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 and
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 yet
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 ironically
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 and
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 strangely
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 also
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 filled
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 with
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 counter
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 truth
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 claims
00:27:22 --> 00:27:25 secondly
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 the
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 breastplate
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 of
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 righteousness
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 verse
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 14
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 was a
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 image
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 that we
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 had up
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 there
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 the
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 metal
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 piece
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 which
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 covered
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 the
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 front
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 of
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 the
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 body
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 to
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 protect
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 all
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 the
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 vital
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 organs
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 and
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 especially
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 the
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 heart
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 the
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 breastplate
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 of
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 righteousness
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 is
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 God's
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 own
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 righteousness
00:27:44 --> 00:27:48 which is
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 freely
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 given to
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 those
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 who
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 truly
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 believe
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 in
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 Jesus
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 Christ
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 that is
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 this is
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 the good
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 news
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 of the
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 Christian
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 gospel
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 Christ
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 right
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 standing
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 before
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 God
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 perfect
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 obedience
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 to
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 God
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 perfect
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 peace
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 perfect
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 harmony
00:28:02 --> 00:28:05 becomes
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 ours
00:28:06 --> 00:28:08 because
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 on the
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 cross
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 he took
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 all of
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 our
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 unrighteousness
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 and not
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 just dealt
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 with our
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 unrighteousness
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 but he
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 credited
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 all of
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 his
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 good
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 works
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 all of
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 his
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 righteousness
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 all his
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 perfect
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 standing
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 with
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 God
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 to
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 us
00:28:18 --> 00:28:21 a
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 great
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 protection
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 against
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 the
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 thrust
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 of
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 Satan
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 which
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 reminds
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 us
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 consistently
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 of our
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 unrighteousness
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 and our
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 unworthiness
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 before
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 God
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 and I
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 know
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 there are
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 people
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 sitting
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 in this
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 room
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 right now
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 who are
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 struggling
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 with that
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 issue
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 and I
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 would
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 encourage
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 you to
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 take up
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 the breastplate
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 of righteousness
00:28:38 --> 00:28:40 and realize
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 that you have
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 perfect standing
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 perfect standing
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 in God
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 through Christ
00:28:45 --> 00:28:49 plunged into
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 darkness
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 the God of
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 this age
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 has blinded
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 the minds
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 of unbelievers
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 so they cannot
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 see the light
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 of the gospel
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 of the glory
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 of Christ
00:28:56 --> 00:29:01 thirdly
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 feet fitted
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 with the
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 readiness
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 that comes
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 from the
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 gospel of
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 peace
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 verse 15
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 what Paul
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 has in
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 mind here
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 that the
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 boots
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 that the
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 soldiers
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 wore
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 they were
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 especially
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 designed for
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 traction
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 which is
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 what you
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 need
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 if you're
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 in
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 face to
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 face
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 combat
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 it's the
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 gospel of
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 peace
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 the peace
00:29:21 --> 00:29:26 with God
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 that comes
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 to us
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 through the
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 gospel
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 the Christian
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 message
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 through the
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 Lord Jesus
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 that plants
00:29:30 --> 00:29:32 our feet
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 firmly
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 and gives
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 us stability
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 in battle
00:29:35 --> 00:29:37 it's the
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 peace that
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 says
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 there is
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 no war
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 between you
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 and God
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 perfect
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 harmony
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 between you
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 and God
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 in Jesus
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 the wars
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 between you
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 and the
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 evil one
00:29:48 --> 00:29:51 what Satan
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 does
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 he says
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 no no no
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 I'm on
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 your side
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 God's the
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 one who's
00:29:56 --> 00:29:58 against you
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 whereas the
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 gospel of
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 peace
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 gives you
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 firm
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 stability
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 the war
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 is with
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 Satan
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 not with
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 God
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 number four
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 the shield
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 of faith
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 verse 16
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 as you are
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 locked in
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 battle
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 what the
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 enemy does
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 is he just
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 repeated
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 volleys of
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 blazing
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 arrows
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 of temptations
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 and rejection
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 and criticism
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 and hypocrisy
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 and deceptions
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 and doubting
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 of God's
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 goodness
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 doubting the
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 truth of
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 his word
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 doubting
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 that God
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 even exists
00:30:24 --> 00:30:27 and in that
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 moment
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 comes up
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 the shield
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 of faith
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 where I'm
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 trusting
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 believing
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 in what
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 God has
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 declared
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 to be true
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 and right
00:30:35 --> 00:30:37 and not
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 what Satan
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 is throwing
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 at me
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 five is
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 verse 17
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 the helmet
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 of salvation
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 helmet of
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 salvation
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 protects my
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 mind
00:30:44 --> 00:30:47 it's a
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 confidence
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 that
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 no matter
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 what happens
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 in this
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 battle
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 no matter
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 what happens
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 in this
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 war
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 no matter
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 what loss
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 there is
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 to me
00:30:59 --> 00:31:02 I will be
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 saved
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 and I will
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 always experience
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 victory in
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 Christ
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 that's the
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 helmet of
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 salvation
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 sword of the
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 spirit
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 verse 17
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 we are told
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 that it's the
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 word of God
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 what we are
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 to understand
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 about the
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 sword of the
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 spirit
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 is that
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 when we
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 take up
00:31:17 --> 00:31:20 God's
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 word to
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 fight
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 spiritual
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 warfare
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 we have
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 the supreme
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 weapon
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 for both
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 offensive
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 and defensive
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 battle
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 the word
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 of God
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 cuts the
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 heart
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 it lays
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 it open
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 so that
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 people
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 would believe
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 and repent
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 and be made
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 alive in
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 Christ
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 so they
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 might see
00:31:36 --> 00:31:38 as I just
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 read out
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 from 2
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 Corinthians 5
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 the light
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 of the
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 glory of
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 Christ
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 the Christian
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 gospel
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 they might
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 see it
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 they might
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 see the
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 beauty and
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 the wonder
00:31:48 --> 00:31:50 of Christ
00:31:50 --> 00:31:55 we're at
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 war
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 that is our
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 razor sharp
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 weapon
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 and we
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 would be
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 fools to
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 lower it
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 simply because
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 our culture
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 says it
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 doesn't
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 cut
00:32:03 --> 00:32:06 our enemy
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 wants us
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 to believe
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 that our
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 weapon
00:32:07 --> 00:32:09 is irrelevant
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 it's archaic
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 it's not
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 understandable
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 it's keeping
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 it in its
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 sheath
00:32:12 --> 00:32:17 put your
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 trust in
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 something else
00:32:19 --> 00:32:21 use something
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 else to
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 win over
00:32:23 --> 00:32:25 people
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 to Christ
00:32:26 --> 00:32:29 and what the
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 word here is
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 is we must
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 read it
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 we must
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 memorize it
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 we must
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 meditate on
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 it
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 we must
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 study it
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 we must
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 obey it
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 we must
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 love it
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 weapons
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 that we
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 fight with
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 are not
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 the weapons
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 of this
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 world
00:32:41 --> 00:32:44 now the
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 christian
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 dressed in
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 their full
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 armor is a
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 fairly formidable
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 picture
00:32:48 --> 00:32:51 these verses
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 here are in
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 fact a call
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 to action
00:32:52 --> 00:32:55 we will rise
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 and we will
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 use our
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 sword
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 the word
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 of god
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 but it
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 will be
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 bathed in
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 prayer
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 verse 18
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 says and
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 pray in the
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 spirit on
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 all occasions
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 with all kinds
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 of prayers
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 and requests
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 and with
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 this in
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 mind be
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 alert and
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 keep on
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 praying always
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 for all
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 the saints
00:33:10 --> 00:33:12 what paul's
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 not doing
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 here is he's
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 not adding an
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 extra bit
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 to the armor
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 it actually
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 this prayer
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 pervades the
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 whole war
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 that's what i
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 would suggest
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 here that you
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 know quite
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 simply the
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 christian gospel
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 we have in
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 christ which is
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 revealed through
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 the word of
00:33:28 --> 00:33:30 god by the
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 spirit and
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 prayer which is
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 a privilege so
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 god speaking to
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 us and us
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 speaking to god
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 belong together
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 as the two
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 chief weapons
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 that god puts
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 in our hand
00:33:40 --> 00:33:42 to be able to
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 stand firm
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 in the wall
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 in this spiritual
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 battle and not
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 just stand firm
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 but in fact to
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 thrive and to
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 take ground
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 notice there's
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 there's a
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 breastplate of
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 righteousness
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 there's nothing
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 at the back
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 here there's no
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 protection he
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 doesn't envisage
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 that we're going
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 to turn and
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 run
00:33:57 --> 00:34:01 the prayer
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 referred to
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 here is
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 comprehensive
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 we're to pray
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 on all occasions
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 both regularly
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 and constantly
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 with all kinds
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 of prayers
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 requests because
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 it takes many
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 and varied forms
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 being alert and
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 always keep on
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 praying because
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 we don't want to
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 ever give up and
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 fall asleep in this
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 battle for all the
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 saints since the
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 unity of god's new
00:34:16 --> 00:34:18 society which is the
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 preoccupation of
00:34:19 --> 00:34:22 ephesians and the
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 bible and ultimately
00:34:23 --> 00:34:26 this church must be
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 reflected in our
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 prayers
00:34:27 --> 00:34:30 most christians pray
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 sometimes with some
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 prayers with some
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 degree of perseverance
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 for some of god's
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 people but to
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 replace the word
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 some with all
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 that would just
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 climb us to new
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 dimensions I believe
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 as a church
00:34:41 --> 00:34:44 and against such
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 prayer
00:34:44 --> 00:34:46 and
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 the principalities
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 and powers are
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 helpless
00:34:49 --> 00:34:52 without it we are
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 too feeble and
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 flabby
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 against the mighty
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 forces of evil
00:34:56 --> 00:34:58 so that's what we're
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 involved with
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 our struggle is not
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 against flesh and
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 blood but against the
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 rulers against the
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 authorities against the
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 powers of this dark
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 world and against the
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 spiritual force of evil
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 and the heavenly realms
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 and the basic weapons
00:35:08 --> 00:35:12 of we have is the word
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 of god which reveals the
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 beauty and the glory of
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 christ the magnificence of
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 god the beauty of the
00:35:16 --> 00:35:19 christian gospel and
00:35:19 --> 00:35:22 prayer and so i would
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 suggest that this time
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 we're up to as a church
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 my first and probably my
00:35:25 --> 00:35:27 most simplest challenge is
00:35:27 --> 00:35:29 to encourage you to
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 rethink your priorities in
00:35:30 --> 00:35:32 those two areas right
00:35:32 --> 00:35:35 now commit to a new
00:35:35 --> 00:35:37 resolve today to be a
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 christ-centered bible
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 saturated warrior who's
00:35:39 --> 00:35:41 devoted to prayer that's
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 my that's my just simple
00:35:42 --> 00:35:44 simple call tonight
00:35:44 --> 00:35:48 commit to a new venture
00:35:48 --> 00:35:50 with god today to pray for
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 this church to pray for
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 its leadership to pray for
00:35:52 --> 00:35:55 its ministries to pray for
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 its mission to pray for
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 lost hearts to know christ
00:35:57 --> 00:35:59 to pray for wobbly christians
00:35:59 --> 00:36:03 to stand firm pray for it
00:36:03 --> 00:36:07 my second simple challenge
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 is linked with what i said
00:36:08 --> 00:36:11 last week and that is a
00:36:11 --> 00:36:13 call for us to take on a
00:36:13 --> 00:36:16 wartime mindset in regard to
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 this war that we're involved
00:36:18 --> 00:36:21 in we are encamped in enemy
00:36:21 --> 00:36:24 territory and so it makes no
00:36:24 --> 00:36:26 sense whatsoever to construct
00:36:26 --> 00:36:28 mansions and to build up
00:36:28 --> 00:36:30 treasures jesus said that
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 a number of points in the
00:36:31 --> 00:36:33 gospels so let us stand
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 together it's a call here
00:36:34 --> 00:36:36 for us to stand together
00:36:36 --> 00:36:38 with a more time mindset
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 firmly trusting in the
00:36:39 --> 00:36:41 power of the lord jesus
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 through his word to bring
00:36:42 --> 00:36:44 transformation into people's
00:36:44 --> 00:36:46 lives and hearts it is so
00:36:46 --> 00:36:48 easy for us in our culture
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 just to give it up and say
00:36:49 --> 00:36:51 no no just there's no power
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 in the word of god there's no
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 power and i want to say there
00:36:53 --> 00:36:56 is so let's stand firm in it
00:36:56 --> 00:36:59 this wartime mindset is where
00:36:59 --> 00:37:01 we pour our resources into
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 winning that war we work
00:37:02 --> 00:37:04 together to give our time and
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 our treasures and our talents
00:37:05 --> 00:37:07 and our prayers and our energy
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 and our resources
00:37:08 --> 00:37:15 so i'm concerned if we are not
00:37:15 --> 00:37:18 concerned for people who are
00:37:18 --> 00:37:22 lost and drifting as those
00:37:22 --> 00:37:24 statistics reveal might be the
00:37:24 --> 00:37:28 case people are going to hell
00:37:28 --> 00:37:30 under the influence of the enemy
00:37:30 --> 00:37:32 and one of these chief
00:37:32 --> 00:37:34 seductions in the west is to
00:37:34 --> 00:37:36 lull us into a comfortable
00:37:36 --> 00:37:41 distracted peace time lifestyle
00:37:41 --> 00:37:49 now let me say one bit of good
00:37:49 --> 00:37:52 news i'm pleased that we saw an
00:37:52 --> 00:37:54 immediate response to this the
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 message i preached last week
00:37:55 --> 00:37:58 last time i looked earlier in the
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 week the love thy neighbor
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 project which we were seeking to
00:38:00 --> 00:38:03 raise 15 grand for and we had
00:38:03 --> 00:38:05 about six and a half this time last
00:38:05 --> 00:38:08 week last time i looked we had
00:38:08 --> 00:38:12 16 000 against that so that's about
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 a grand more than we were
00:38:13 --> 00:38:18 anticipating although 15 grand was
00:38:18 --> 00:38:20 the minimum so just keep doing it
00:38:20 --> 00:38:24 and another four grand on top of
00:38:24 --> 00:38:27 that in demission's account and i
00:38:27 --> 00:38:29 knew that the clintos account had
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 about another two and a half put
00:38:30 --> 00:38:33 into that as well and so there has
00:38:33 --> 00:38:37 been well you know quite a lot
00:38:37 --> 00:38:41 in the last few days what i'm
00:38:41 --> 00:38:45 calling us to today is to make a
00:38:45 --> 00:38:48 sustained effort not just a once
00:38:48 --> 00:38:51 off response but a sustained effort
00:38:51 --> 00:38:55 to resource the mission that we're
00:38:55 --> 00:38:58 involved in so may this reality of
00:38:58 --> 00:39:00 the spiritual warfare that we're
00:39:00 --> 00:39:03 engaged in move you to action in
00:39:03 --> 00:39:05 both word and prayer grasping more
00:39:05 --> 00:39:07 and more of the gospel move you to
00:39:07 --> 00:39:09 action in reshaping your lifestyle
00:39:09 --> 00:39:13 certainly i believe in the next
00:39:13 --> 00:39:16 weeks and months as we move up into
00:39:16 --> 00:39:18 our vision series in november but
00:39:18 --> 00:39:22 ultimately until christ returns in
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 final triumph amen