Sermon

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

June 3, 2017 St. Paul's Anglican Church Chatswood - Sermons

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War broke out in Europe in 1914.
And while the war was raging in Europe,
the United States maintained a policy of neutrality.
Life pretty much went on as normal for people in the US.
The general population knew that there was a war going on.
The Great War was going on over in Europe,
but they pretty much wanted to stay out of it,
and it did not impact their life day by day.
In fact, that was the vast majority of people were polled,
to say the vast majority of the population
wanted nothing to do with this war in Europe.
President Woodrow Wilson,
his efforts to maintain neutrality in World War I
were disregarded by German submarines.
On the 3rd of February 1917,
the USS Housatonic was sunk by German subs.
It was a United States cruiser ship.
And three more US ships were torpedoed in the following weeks.
And so Wilson's trying to do some negotiations with Germany.
Give it a slap on the wrist and please don't do that again.
And it got harder and harder as the death toll of American citizens
continued to climb.
What tipped the balance for the United States
was when British intelligence intercepted a telegram
from Arthur Zimmerman.
He was the German Secretary of State
attempting to come up with an allegiance with Mexico
so that Germany and Mexico together
would invade Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
And he should have known that you never mess with Texas.
And so on the 6th of April 1917,
Woodrow Wilson signed the declaration of war against Germany.
And in that moment,
everything changed for the United States.
From a nation wanting to stay out of this war
and live in peace and harmony
and let the war rage somewhere else,
they shifted their mentality very quickly
into a full-blown wartime mentality.
Within two and a half weeks,
on the 27th of April 1917,
Congress passed the Liberty Loan Act
to raise funds for the war effort.
And $20 billion was raised
from American citizens within the next two years.
The same citizens who wanted to stay out of the war.
On the 18th of May,
this is a few weeks later,
six weeks after the declaration of war,
Congress passed the Selective Services Act.
24 million men between the age of 21 and 30
were registered for military action.
Three million were drafted immediately for service.
On the 15th of June,
a couple of weeks later,
the Espionage Act puts a 20-year prison sentence
on anyone who hinders the war effort
or aids the enemy in any way.
On the 10th of August,
the Lever Food and Fuel Control Act
gave the US Food Administration
and the Federal Fuel Administration powers
to increase production,
to reduce waste,
and to crack down on any speculators
who were attempting to make any money whatsoever
out of the war effort.
The 3rd of October,
the War Revenue Act increased
corporate and personal income taxes
and establishes excessive profits
and luxury taxes.
The 5th of April, 1918,
the War Finance Corporation is formed
with capital of $500 million
to support war industry.
And so from the declaration of war
in April, 1917,
to the armistice in November, 1918,
4.744 million Americans
take part in frontline combat
and 116,000 would die.
That's just over 18 months.
All that in 18 months
from going from peaceful,
leave us alone,
we're the greatest country in the world,
to full-blown wartime mentality
where the nation gets behind it
in quite a massive way.
You see, during wartime,
everything changes.
Everything shifts.
And I want us to see today
from Ephesians chapter 6

Ephesians 6 chapter mention
that as Christians,
we're in war
and we are in a war
that's far more devastating
than any world war.
The stakes are infinitely higher.
World Wars I and II
devastated the world
with 120 million deaths
in about 11 years.
The war that we're involved in
sees over 50 million people a year
slip into a Christless eternity.
As one person has described it,
it is a conveyor belt of corpses
slipping into a Christless eternity.
Now this message
that I'm preaching tonight
wasn't on our preaching roster
a month ago.
I believe that this one
is pretty crucial
for us to understand
at this stage
of our vision and mission
as a church.
I'm convinced that we need
to hear it
because I'm concerned
that maybe we've lost sight
of the reality
of the war that we're in.
There's just a few elements
of it for me.
The latest National Church
Life Survey
reports that only 14%
of St. Paul's Chatswood
looks for opportunities
to share their faith.
And only 6% say
that they would with certainty
follow up someone
who's drifting from the faith.
Only 6%.
Those figures concern me.
The worst case
is that they reveal
apathy or indifference
to the war for souls
that we're engaged with.
Over the past
five years or so
we have been reforming
what we do as a church.
For me it flows out
of a biblical conviction
more than it being
effective strategy
although strategic thinking
is part of the direction
we've been heading.
And this year
we will take further steps
to reform even further
what we do as a church
to align ourselves
I believe even more
with the biblical design
that God has
for his church
and I'm convinced
that Satan hates it.
The biblical design
that God has
for his church
is what you see
unfold in the book
of Ephesians.
It's God's grand purposes
for his people
for the church
for the world
from eternity
to eternity.
Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1 chapter mention
2 and 3
reveal what God
is doing
about all the mess
that this universe
is in.
It reveals that he cares
about it quite deeply.
The disintegration
and the disorder
the chaos
the brokenness
the sin
is all solved
by Jesus Christ
being made king
over all things
it's what we just
sang a moment ago.
And under his kingship
all that's disintegrated
in the world
gets integrated
in him.
And God's purpose
is to create
a single new humanity
through the death
and resurrection
of his son
the Lord Jesus.
The death
and resurrection
of Jesus
which is the core
element
the core fact
the foundation
the hope
of the Christian faith
is the solution
to the sin
the evil
the chaos
the brokenness
of this world.
Makes it very clear
that there is no
other way
to find salvation
there's no other
rescue plan
for this world
than
the blood
of Jesus.
Ephesians 4
5 and 6
how to live
in accord
with the reality
of who it is
that we are
as a church
as Christians
who are now united
in Jesus Christ.
And so
Ephesians is rich
with the mystery
of election
the wonder of salvation
peace with God
unity amongst believers
giftedness
that we
that God gives us
change our hearts
so that we serve each other
and we serve this world
in humility
so we've got
things like
unity and diversity
and peace
and purity
and harmony
these are
some of the
wonderful characteristics
of this new society
this new life
in Jesus
and they are
such exalted thoughts
and just when you think
that Paul would get
to the end of Ephesians
he'd get to the end
of chapter 6
that he'd kind of
finish with
and they all lived
happily ever after
he in effect
he grabs us
by the throat
and slaps us
in the face
to wake us up
from our dreamy reflection
you see
what this letter does
is it closes
unexpectedly
with the ugly
blood and grime
of warfare
with evil
the beautiful life
that Ephesians
is preoccupied with
is lived out
while camping
in the trenches
of war
in enemy territory
and it's so crucial
for us to understand that
so crucial
for us
in terms of understanding
what the Christian life
is like
imagine
you've just won a contract
to build a hospital
and it's a hospital
in a land
where there is
no hospitals
and people
are dying
and being ravaged
by disease
and sickness
and so you have
an opportunity
to build this hospital
in this land
to bring healing
and health
to a people
who are desperately
in need of it
and you assemble
the architects
and the engineers
and the designers
and the builders
for this wonderful plan
and this wonderful vision
of what's going to happen
everyone's excited
about this building project
and what good
it will do
when it's accomplished
and just before
you head off
you've got everyone
who's got the plans
tucked in your arms
and just before
you head off
the resourcer
of it all
the person
who dreamed it all up
says just one little piece
more information
I've got to give you
one last thing
the hospital
that you're building
is located
in hostile territory
the people
that the hospital
is for
don't want you
to build the hospital
and in fact
they're going to
frustrate your work
to build the hospital
and in fact
they'll probably
attempt to kill you
in the process
of building a hospital
that's an important
piece of information
it will change
the way you build
the hospital
change your expectations
and Ephesians 6
12 does that for us
for our struggle
is not against
flesh and blood
but against the rulers
against the authorities
against the powers
of this dark world
against the spiritual
force of evil
in the heavenly realms
in other words
there is a
war raging
it's an unseen war
raging
J.C. Ryle
he was born
just over
200 years ago
went on to become
the first
Anglican bishop
of Liverpool
he was a critic
of ritualistic
Christianity
in the Anglican church
which he was part of
as an Anglican bishop
he's a critic of it
that is
people just going
through the motions
of tradition
standing where they
need to
sitting where they
need to
attending church
but actually having
no impact on their
life
he once preached
a message about
the war
that the Christian
is involved in
and he said this
true Christianity
he said
mind that word
true
there is a
vast
quantity
of religion
current
religious
current
in the world
which is
not true
it's not
genuine
Christianity
there are
thousands of
men and women
who go to
churches
and chapels
every Sunday
and call
themselves
Christians
but you
never see
any fight
about their
religion
of spiritual
strife
and exertion
and conflict
and self-denial
and watching
and warring
they know
literally
nothing at all
such
Christianity
may satisfy
man
and those
who say
anything
against it
may be
thought
very hard
and uncharitable
but it
certainly
is not
the
Christianity
of the
Bible
true
Christianity
is a
fight
the true
Christian
is called
to be a
soldier
must behave
as such
from the
day of
his
conversion
to the
day
of
his
death
he's
not
meant
to
live
a
life
of
religious
ease
indulgence
and
security
he must
never
imagine
for a
moment
that he
can
sleep
and
doze
along
the
way
to
heaven
like
one
traveling
in an
easy
carriage
verse
10
Ephesians
6
opens
with
the
word
finally
but it's
not
signaling
Paul's
final
thought
it's not
like he's
going
well you
know
I'm
nearly at
the end
of Ephesians
this letter
so finally
here's my
last point
it's
word
that's
probably
better to
understand
is for
the
remaining
time
what Paul's
indicating
here when
he says
finally
in verse
10
is that
the
whole
of the
remaining
time
before
Christ's
return
is
going to
be
characterized
by what
I'm
about
to say
the
peace
which God
has made
through
Christ's
cross
is to
be
experienced
only
in the
midst
of
relentless
struggle
against
evil
verse 12
says
it's not
a war
against
flesh and
blood
it's a
supernatural
war
it's a
personal
war
too
the word
struggle
has
connotations
of hand
to hand
combat
it's a
swaying
back
and
forth
while
locked
in
mortal
combat
breath
against
breath
sweat
on
sweat
it's
also
a
futile
war
if
fought
in
and
by
our
own
strength
we are
involved
in a
battle
with a
formidable
enemy
Paul's
quite
specific
about
them
verse
12
it says
rulers
against
the
authorities
against
the
powers
of
this
dark
world
against
the
spiritual
forces
of
evil
in
the
heavenly
realms
the
consensus
of
the
bible
is
that
this
world
is
satan's
domain
that
is
it's
the
place
where
he
does
his
work
it's
where
he
does
his
bidding
if
you
like
1
Timothy
sorry
1
John
5
19
says
we
know
that
we
are
children
of
God
and
that
the
whole
world
is
under
the
control
of
the
evil
one
2
Corinthians
4
4
4
the
God
of
this
age
has
blinded
the
minds
of
unbelievers
so
they
cannot
see
the
light
of
the
gospel
of
the
glory
of
Christ
who
is
the
image
of
God
and
in
Ephesians
2
2
the
devil
is
called
the
ruler
of
the
kingdom
of
the
air
the
spirit
who
is
now
at
work
in
those
who
are
disobedient
this
is
the
devil's
world
which
is
why
he
was
able
to
make
a
genuine
offer
of
the
kingdoms
of
the
world
to
Jesus
if
only
he
would
bow
down
and
worship
him
in
Matthew
4
and
what
we
see
from
the
Bible
is
the
devil
and
his
angels
are
a
great
demonic
enemy
with
a
defined
and
disciplined
chain
of
command
Satan
is
terribly
powerful
but
he
does
not
possess
anything
like
the
power
of
God
though
he
can
only
be
in
one
place
at
one
time
with
his
army
of
evil
spirits
he
imitates
God's
omnipresence
and
his
omnipotence
that
is
God's
ability
to be
everywhere
at
all
time
and
his
power
over
all
things
that
is
what
Satan
desires
more
than
anything
else
is
he
desires
to
be
God
and
his
desire
to
be
God
is
at
the
center
of
his
terrible
total
and
spiritual
evil
verse
12
alludes
to
this
in
describing
the
enemy
as
the
powers
of
this
dark
world
and
the
spiritual
forces
of
evil
and
there
are
plenty
of
people
throughout
history
of
humanity
who have
gone
very
low
in
evil
but
they
do
not
match
Satan's
evil
at
all
you see
Satan's
got no
conscience
no
compassion
no
remorse
no
morals
he
feeds
on
pain
and
anguish
and
filth
there's
nothing
about
him
at
all
that
is
redeemable
there is
no
virtue
he is
literally
a dark
void
and his
schemes
are cunning
verse 11
speaks of
the devil's
schemes
or another way of saying it
the devil's
methods
and he's been
honing these
methods for
millennia
he's
an accomplished
philosopher
theologian
psychologist
he has
studied
for
thousands
of
years
enough
time to
be
astonishingly
brilliant
at every
discipline
he's the
ultimate
manipulator
subverter
and actor
2 Corinthians 11
says that one of his
deadly methods
is he
masquerades
he acts
as if
he's an
agent
of
God's
he specialises
in many
dirty
techniques
to win
this battle
he's not
governed by
a Geneva
convention
in spiritual
warfare
he desires
to win
and when I say
win
what he desires
ultimately
is to
destroy
and one of his
techniques
is he
mixed just
enough
truth
with
falsehood
to make
something
sound
plausible
another
is
sensuality
many souls
are sold
to accommodate
a downward
spiral
in morality
another
is instilling
doubts
about
God's
goodness
whatever
his
tactic
is
he
seldomly
attacks
openly
his
strategies
which is
administered
by his
devils
are nearly
always
unseen
they are
shrewd
and they
are perfectly
tailored
for every
victim
he operates
best when he
convints people
of his
non-existence
especially
he does
that in
the west
he persuades
us
in the west
that the
Christian life
is not a
fight
that he
doesn't
exist
in other
parts of
the world
like Africa
and in
the east
he generally
convinces
people that
he's more
powerful than
anything else
and so
fear is
rampant
he's evil
beyond our
comprehension
and without
conscience or
principle
he is
diabolically
cunning
and he is
after us
that's the
consensus of
scripture
he hates
God
he hates
God's
children
he hates
the church
he hates
the mission
and vision
of St. Paul's
to see
Jesus
known
treasure
and represented
in such
a way
that more
and more
people
from our
culture
and from
our community
are rescued
from all
different backgrounds
are rescued
from his evil
clutches
I would suggest
he hates
our plan
to be
transcultural
he desires
to destroy
the work
of the
father
to make
one
society
in Christ
forever
which is
exactly what
we are
working towards
as a church
here in
multicultural
Chatswood
he desires
more than
anything else
for the church
just to be
split up
he loves
that
he loves
the way
things are
generally
put this
group over
there
and that
group over
there
all
the barriers
that the gospel
had brought
down
everything
that Jesus
died for
and smashed
down
he loves
it when
the church
puts them
back up
again
splitting
people
up into
groups
we're
like
and like
whereas
the picture
the beautiful
picture of
Ephesians
is the
barriers
are broken
down
and even
mortal enemies
of Jews
and Gentiles
are now
living together
in a new
society
and loving
one another
because of
what Christ
has done
he will
do
whatever
he can
to destroy
the work
of the gospel
of the Lord
Jesus
in your life
and in the life
of this church
that is
Paul's
cosmic
perspective
in all
its
chilling
implications
and this
war
is something
that I've
become aware
of here
at St.
Paul's
in recent
months
something
that I'm
seeing
and feeling
myself
something
that the
wardens
and parish
council
and the
staff
as well
as a
whole
number
of
leaders
around
this
place
are
experiencing
and feeling
and seeing
there are a number
of great things
that God is doing
amongst us
I'm convinced of that
and so naturally
it draws the attention
of the enemy
and so I decided
to put this message
in here
because I want the
whole church
to be aware
of it
to be alert
to be prayerful
and be prepared
especially so
because in the
coming months
we're going to
make some
even
more
shifts
in the way
that we do
church
to align
ourselves
more and more
with God's
plan for his
church for all
time and eternity
we are planning
to in greater
measure
display the
unifying power
of the glory
of the Christian
gospel
and I'm convinced
that Satan
hates it
he wants
to distract
us from it
having said
that
I would think
that all
would be
to spare
except
I've only
given you
part of
Paul's
cosmic
perspective
you see
on earth
amongst
mortals
Satan
has no
equal
but in
the heavenly
realms
he is far
far
far
far
exceeded
by the
triune
God
there's no
dualism here
there's no
you know
Satan
and God
and hopefully
one day
God will
ultimately have
the upper
hand
but whenever
God turns
his back
and fix
up some
problem
there
Satan's
havoc
over here
and oh
my goodness
I've got to
go and fix
that one
up now
there's no
dualism
there's not
the dualism
of Hollywood
where you
just hope
that good
beats evil
which it
generally does
otherwise it
wouldn't sell
movies
Satan is
not God's
equal
Satan is
finite
God is
infinite
in fact
Colossians
1 and 2
says that
the entire
spiritual realm
owes its
existence to
Christ
including
thrones
powers
rulers
authorities
both
invisible
and visible
both in
heaven
and on
earth
but Christ
is not
just more
powerful
by virtue
of being
Satan's
creator
but because
he in fact
defeated
Satan at
the cross
Satan and
his crew
are under
Christ's
feet
that's what
the early
chapters of
Ephesians
make really
clear for
us
he has
sealed
their doom
and although
in his
present age
they still
exercise a
bunch of
control
over those
who have
not found
freedom
in
Christ
if you
are filled
with the
spirit of
God
if you
align yourself
with Christ
Satan's
forces cannot
subdue you
they can
influence you
but they
cannot subdue
you
in Christ
there's
always
always
victory
but
real
Christianity
is a
fight
but the
fight is
the Lord
Jesus
fight
that's
the good
news
however
the
battling
is
ours
and Paul
leaves two
commands
that dominate
his advice
in these
last verses
of the
letter
the first
is in
verse 10
he says
finally
be strong
in the
Lord
and in
his mighty
power
that command
is in
fact
is a
passive
command
it is
be strong
in the
Lord
or
in fact
be made
strong
in the
Lord
find your
strength
in him
Christ
has the
victory
and
Ephesians
1 and 2
declare that
he has
given us
the resources
to stand
and flourish
we cannot
fight
this war
by ourselves
we are
totally
dependent
upon
Christ
the power
is his
and without
his strength
we will
falter
and we
will
fall
and yet
the call
here is
even though
all the
victory is
his
and all
the powers
his
and all
the resources
are his
the call
is
we still
need to
be made
strong
in him
and so
what Paul
does here
is he
expresses
an appropriate
combination
of divine
enabling
and human
cooperation
working
with the
divine
enabling
and he
does it
again in
the second
command
where he
says
and this
is how
we are
to be
made
strong
in the
Lord
second
command
verse 11
put on
the full
armor of
God
so that
you can
take your
stand
against
the devil's
schemes
and without
these armor
of God's
we'll be
fatally
unprotected
but we need
to take
it up
put it
on
that's
our
responsibility
God
has made
provision
for us
in Christ
so that
we can
stand
and we
will not
fall
and that
provision
is his
armor
and so
if you
aim to
persevere
in the
Christian
life
and not
just
persevere
but to
flourish
in the
Christian
life
and not
be defeated
by all
the schemes
and the
methods
of the
devil
then you
must put
on the
armor
that's
described
in these
verses
we're
we're
told
we're
told four
times
of the
need
to
stand
Paul
is
very
concerned
here
about
the
need
for
Christians
to have
firm
stability
as the
battle
rages
stability
wobbly
Christians
who don't
have a
firm
foothold
in
Christ
are easy
prey to
Satan
he wants
to see
Christians
so strong
so stable
that they
are so
stable
especially
in the
face
of
Satan's
schemes
even
as
verse
13
says
when the
day
of
evil
comes
or the
time
of
special
pressure
Paul
is
concerned
that he
wants
us
to
stand
really
strong
in
that
moment
and so
the
full
armor
is
essential
I'm
going to
quickly
go
through
this
really
quickly
verse
14
it
says
the
belt
of
truth
held
the
sword
in
its
place
to
stand
firm
in
the
battle
you
must
be
a
person
filled
with
the
truth
the
revelation
of
God's
scriptures
and
for
that
truth
to
transform
you
into
a
person
of
truthful
character
it's
especially
important
in a
world
where
there
is
no
absolute
truth
apparently
it's
all
been
rejected
absolute
truth
is
rejected
and
yet
ironically
and
strangely
also
filled
with
counter
truth
claims
secondly
the
breastplate
of
righteousness
verse
14
was a
image
that we
had up
there
the
metal
piece
which
covered
the
front
of
the
body
to
protect
all
the
vital
organs
and
especially
the
heart
the
breastplate
of
righteousness
is
God's
own
righteousness
which is
freely
given to
those
who
truly
believe
in
Jesus
Christ
that is
this is
the good
news
of the
Christian
gospel
Christ
right
standing
before
God
perfect
obedience
to
God
perfect
peace
perfect
harmony
becomes
ours
because
on the
cross
he took
all of
our
unrighteousness
and not
just dealt
with our
unrighteousness
but he
credited
all of
his
good
works
all of
his
righteousness
all his
perfect
standing
with
God
to
us
a
great
protection
against
the
thrust
of
Satan
which
reminds
us
consistently
of our
unrighteousness
and our
unworthiness
before
God
and I
know
there are
people
sitting
in this
room
right now
who are
struggling
with that
issue
and I
would
encourage
you to
take up
the breastplate
of righteousness
and realize
that you have
perfect standing
perfect standing
in God
through Christ
plunged into
darkness
the God of
this age
has blinded
the minds
of unbelievers
so they cannot
see the light
of the gospel
of the glory
of Christ
thirdly
feet fitted
with the
readiness
that comes
from the
gospel of
peace
verse 15
what Paul
has in
mind here
that the
boots
that the
soldiers
wore
they were
especially
designed for
traction
which is
what you
need
if you're
in
face to
face
combat
it's the
gospel of
peace
the peace
with God
that comes
to us
through the
gospel
the Christian
message
through the
Lord Jesus
that plants
our feet
firmly
and gives
us stability
in battle
it's the
peace that
says
there is
no war
between you
and God
perfect
harmony
between you
and God
in Jesus
the wars
between you
and the
evil one
what Satan
does
he says
no no no
I'm on
your side
God's the
one who's
against you
whereas the
gospel of
peace
gives you
firm
stability
the war
is with
Satan
not with
God
number four
the shield
of faith
verse 16
as you are
locked in
battle
what the
enemy does
is he just
repeated
volleys of
blazing
arrows
of temptations
and rejection
and criticism
and hypocrisy
and deceptions
and doubting
of God's
goodness
doubting the
truth of
his word
doubting
that God
even exists
and in that
moment
comes up
the shield
of faith
where I'm
trusting
believing
in what
God has
declared
to be true
and right
and not
what Satan
is throwing
at me
five is
verse 17
the helmet
of salvation
helmet of
salvation
protects my
mind
it's a
confidence
that
no matter
what happens
in this
battle
no matter
what happens
in this
war
no matter
what loss
there is
to me
I will be
saved
and I will
always experience
victory in
Christ
that's the
helmet of
salvation
sword of the
spirit
verse 17
we are told
that it's the
word of God
what we are
to understand
about the
sword of the
spirit
is that
when we
take up
God's
word to
fight
spiritual
warfare
we have
the supreme
weapon
for both
offensive
and defensive
battle
the word
of God
cuts the
heart
it lays
it open
so that
people
would believe
and repent
and be made
alive in
Christ
so they
might see
as I just
read out
from 2
Corinthians 5
the light
of the
glory of
Christ
the Christian
gospel
they might
see it
they might
see the
beauty and
the wonder
of Christ
we're at
war
that is our
razor sharp
weapon
and we
would be
fools to
lower it
simply because
our culture
says it
doesn't
cut
our enemy
wants us
to believe
that our
weapon
is irrelevant
it's archaic
it's not
understandable
it's keeping
it in its
sheath
put your
trust in
something else
use something
else to
win over
people
to Christ
and what the
word here is
is we must
read it
we must
memorize it
we must
meditate on
it
we must
study it
we must
obey it
we must
love it
weapons
that we
fight with
are not
the weapons
of this
world
now the
christian
dressed in
their full
armor is a
fairly formidable
picture
these verses
here are in
fact a call
to action
we will rise
and we will
use our
sword
the word
of god
but it
will be
bathed in
prayer
verse 18
says and
pray in the
spirit on
all occasions
with all kinds
of prayers
and requests
and with
this in
mind be
alert and
keep on
praying always
for all
the saints
what paul's
not doing
here is he's
not adding an
extra bit
to the armor
it actually
this prayer
pervades the
whole war
that's what i
would suggest
here that you
know quite
simply the
christian gospel
we have in
christ which is
revealed through
the word of
god by the
spirit and
prayer which is
a privilege so
god speaking to
us and us
speaking to god
belong together
as the two
chief weapons
that god puts
in our hand
to be able to
stand firm
in the wall
in this spiritual
battle and not
just stand firm
but in fact to
thrive and to
take ground
notice there's
there's a
breastplate of
righteousness
there's nothing
at the back
here there's no
protection he
doesn't envisage
that we're going
to turn and
run
the prayer
referred to
here is
comprehensive
we're to pray
on all occasions
both regularly
and constantly
with all kinds
of prayers
requests because
it takes many
and varied forms
being alert and
always keep on
praying because
we don't want to
ever give up and
fall asleep in this
battle for all the
saints since the
unity of god's new
society which is the
preoccupation of
ephesians and the
bible and ultimately
this church must be
reflected in our
prayers
most christians pray
sometimes with some
prayers with some
degree of perseverance
for some of god's
people but to
replace the word
some with all
that would just
climb us to new
dimensions I believe
as a church
and against such
prayer
and
the principalities
and powers are
helpless
without it we are
too feeble and
flabby
against the mighty
forces of evil
so that's what we're
involved with
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 force of evil
and the heavenly realms
and the basic weapons
of we have is the word
of god which reveals the
beauty and the glory of
christ the magnificence of
god the beauty of the
christian gospel and
prayer and so i would
suggest that this time
we're up to as a church
my first and probably my
most simplest challenge is
to encourage you to
rethink your priorities in
those two areas right
now commit to a new
resolve today to be a
christ-centered bible
saturated warrior who's
devoted to prayer that's
my that's my just simple
simple call tonight
commit to a new venture
with god today to pray for
this church to pray for
its leadership to pray for
its ministries to pray for
its mission to pray for
lost hearts to know christ
to pray for wobbly christians
to stand firm pray for it
my second simple challenge
is linked with what i said
last week and that is a
call for us to take on a
wartime mindset in regard to
this war that we're involved
in we are encamped in enemy
territory and so it makes no
sense whatsoever to construct
mansions and to build up
treasures jesus said that
a number of points in the
gospels so let us stand
together it's a call here
for us to stand together
with a more time mindset
firmly trusting in the
power of the lord jesus
through his word to bring
transformation into people's
lives and hearts it is so
easy for us in our culture
just to give it up and say
no no just there's no power
in the word of god there's no
power and i want to say there
is so let's stand firm in it
this wartime mindset is where
we pour our resources into
winning that war we work
together to give our time and
our treasures and our talents
and our prayers and our energy
and our resources
so i'm concerned if we are not
concerned for people who are
lost and drifting as those
statistics reveal might be the
case people are going to hell
under the influence of the enemy
and one of these chief
seductions in the west is to
lull us into a comfortable
distracted peace time lifestyle
now let me say one bit of good
news i'm pleased that we saw an
immediate response to this the
message i preached last week
last time i looked earlier in the
week the love thy neighbor
project which we were seeking to
raise 15 grand for and we had
about six and a half this time last
week last time i looked we had
16 000 against that so that's about
a grand more than we were
anticipating although 15 grand was
the minimum so just keep doing it
and another four grand on top of
that in demission's account and i
knew that the clintos account had
about another two and a half put
into that as well and so there has
been well you know quite a lot
in the last few days what i'm
calling us to today is to make a
sustained effort not just a once
off response but a sustained effort
to resource the mission that we're
involved in so may this reality of
the spiritual warfare that we're
engaged in move you to action in
both word and prayer grasping more
and more of the gospel move you to
action in reshaping your lifestyle
certainly i believe in the next
weeks and months as we move up into
our vision series in november but
ultimately until christ returns in
final triumph amen