we are at war!. at the outset of world war ii, when did the war with japan actually begin? a...

We are at War!

We are at War!

At the outset of World War II, when did the war with Japan actually

begin?

At the outset of World War II, when did the war with Japan actually

begin?

A Question…A Question…

With the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941

With the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941

(That’s what people usually

think.)

(That’s what people usually

think.)

When did did the war with

al-Qaeda actually begin?

When did did the war with

al-Qaeda actually begin?

A Question…A Question…

With the attack on the World Trade Center September 11,

2001

With the attack on the World Trade Center September 11,

2001(That’s what people usually think, too.)

(That’s what people usually think, too.)

But is that when these wars actually

started?

But is that when these wars actually

started?Didn’t Japan plan their attack months, even years in advance?

Didn’t Japan plan their attack months, even years in advance?

And didn’t al-Qaeda do the same thing? Weren’t their attacks something they had planned for years?

And didn’t al-Qaeda do the same thing? Weren’t their attacks something they had planned for years?

Weren’t we at war with Japan long before December 7th

and weren’t we at war with

al-Qaeda long before

September 11th?

Weren’t we at war with Japan long before December 7th

and weren’t we at war with

al-Qaeda long before

September 11th?But we just didn’t realize

it?

But we just didn’t realize

it?

When thought of in these terms, doesn’t it seem rather odd - even frightening - to realize…

When thought of in these terms, doesn’t it seem rather odd - even frightening - to realize…

That we could be at war and not even know

it!?

That we could be at war and not even know

it!?

But that’s precisely what IS

happening for so many of us - right now!

But that’s precisely what IS

happening for so many of us - right now!We ARE at

war!We ARE at

war!And a lot of us haven’t noticed!

And a lot of us haven’t noticed!

This weekend we begin a new Sermon

series.

This weekend we begin a new Sermon

series.

The Armor of God

The Armor of God

(Ephesians 6:10-18)

(Ephesians 6:10-18)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Ephesians 6:10-18

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Ephesians 6:10-18

Notice how Paul uses combat

terminology and the imagery of

warfare. He uses words like

struggle and armor. He is

trying to make his point very clear.

Notice how Paul uses combat

terminology and the imagery of

warfare. He uses words like

struggle and armor. He is

trying to make his point very clear.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Ephesians 6:10-18

We are at warWe are at war

It is a war that is spiritualIt is a war that is spiritual

It is a war that is against Satan and all that is evil

It is a war that is against Satan and all that is evilIt is a war that is

fought on many different fronts

It is a war that is fought on many different frontsAnd it is a war that we must constantly be engaged in

And it is a war that we must constantly be engaged in

We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil


Notice how very real and very

present this war is:

Notice how very real and very

present this war is:Paul puts it: “For our struggle

is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “

Paul puts it: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “


We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil Paul uses the

present tense when he describes this struggle.

Paul uses the present tense when he describes this struggle.He wants to make sure that we

know that it IS happening right now!

He wants to make sure that we know that it IS happening right now!

He wants us to know that it IS happening all around us!He wants us to know that it IS happening all around us!

And he wants us to know that it IS happening to us!And he wants us to know that it IS happening to us!

It IS OUR struggle!It IS OUR struggle!

And since it IS OUR struggle, that means that WE have to FIGHT!

And since it IS OUR struggle, that means that WE have to FIGHT!


We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil Notice who our

enemy is (and who our enemy isn’t):

Notice who our enemy is (and who our enemy isn’t):

As Paul puts it: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “

As Paul puts it: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “


We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil We

usually think of war this

way

We usually think of war this

wayAs a clash

between people of opposing sides

As a clash

between people of opposing sides


We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil We think

in terms of

enemies and

opponents

We think in terms

of enemies

and opponentsAnd all of them

are people

And all of them

are people


We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil As we fight for such

things as the sanctity of marriage and the

rights of the unborn or against such things as pornography and drug

abuse…

As we fight for such things as the sanctity of marriage and the

rights of the unborn or against such things as pornography and drug

abuse…We often think of the enemy as being

human.

We often think of the enemy as being

human.



We identify the enemy as the liberal left, the radical right, Hollywood, the press corps,

politicians, federal court judges, etc.

We identify the enemy as the liberal left, the radical right, Hollywood, the press corps,

politicians, federal court judges, etc.


We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil We do this in the

Church and in this congregation

We do this in the Church and in this

congregation

as though they’re the enemy!

as though they’re the enemy!

We get into a disagreement about financesWe get into a disagreement about finances

Things get hot and heavy at a Voters’ meetingThings get hot and heavy at a Voters’ meeting

Boards clash against boards; people clash against people; and pretty soon we treat each other…

Boards clash against boards; people clash against people; and pretty soon we treat each other…


We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil Why… we can even do

this in all of our human relationships

Why… we can even do this in all of our human relationships

In all human relations, when things get bad, we can

mistake each other for the enemy

In all human relations, when things get bad, we can

mistake each other for the enemy

At work with our co-workers and bossesAt work with our co-workers and bosses

At home with our spouses, children and parentsAt home with our spouses, children and parents

At school with teachers and with studentsAt school with teachers and with students

But we’re not the enemy…

Satan is!

But we’re not the enemy…

Satan is!Satan who tempts us to sin and disobey GodSatan who tempts us to sin and disobey God

Satan who seeks to snare people away from God

Satan who seeks to snare people away from GodSatan who entices entire

nations away from what God commands

Satan who entices entire nations away from what God commandsSatan who would like nothing

better than to divide Christians, thus making us ineffective for the work God has called us to do

Satan who would like nothing better than to divide Christians, thus making us ineffective for the work God has called us to do


We are engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil Look at it this way:Look at it this way:

Failing to recognize Satan as our

ultimate enemy is like the United

States fighting a war without really knowing who it’s real enemy is.

Failing to recognize Satan as our

ultimate enemy is like the United

States fighting a war without really knowing who it’s real enemy is.

Can you imagine?Can you imagine? That when the

Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States thought their only opponents were the pilots who actually dropped the

bombs - and not the Japanese themselves?

That when the Japanese

attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States thought their only opponents were the pilots who actually dropped the

bombs - and not the Japanese themselves?

Can you imagine?Can you imagine?

That after September 11th, we thought that our only enemy was

Osama bin Laden and not the rest of the terrorist network?

That after September 11th, we thought that our only enemy was

Osama bin Laden and not the rest of the terrorist network?

That’s ridiculous,

right?


right?But we do the very same thing. For example, when we take a stand concerning same-sex marriage: instead of dealing with the deeper issues and seeing that it is Satan who is promoting this lie, we make gay people the enemy.

But we do the very same thing. For example, when we take a stand concerning same-sex marriage: instead of dealing with the deeper issues and seeing that it is Satan who is promoting this lie, we make gay people the enemy.


right?


right?When some hot-button issue explodes within the congregation, we get mad at each other and we point fingers instead of actually recognizing how Satan is using people on both sides of the issue (ourselves included) to damage relationships among fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!

When some hot-button issue explodes within the congregation, we get mad at each other and we point fingers instead of actually recognizing how Satan is using people on both sides of the issue (ourselves included) to damage relationships among fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!


right?


right?And when there’s tension at home, disobedience of children, fighting between spouses - the constant temptation that we give into (sometimes consciously and sometimes subconsciously) is to view each other as the enemy.

And when there’s tension at home, disobedience of children, fighting between spouses - the constant temptation that we give into (sometimes consciously and sometimes subconsciously) is to view each other as the enemy.

But we are not the enemy.

They are not the enemy.

But we are not the enemy.

They are not the enemy.

Satan is!Satan is!Satan is the enemy who is

using whatever the situation is at hand to wreak havoc in our lives and draw us away from

God!

Satan is the enemy who is using whatever the

situation is at hand to wreak havoc in our lives and draw us away from

God!

Your enemy is Satan

Your enemy is Satan

He IS doing everything he can to take us away from God.

He IS doing everything he can to take us away from God.

He IS doing everything he can to continue the moral downward spiral of our nation.

He IS doing everything he can to continue the moral downward spiral of our nation.

He IS doing everything he can to divide Christians & Christian congregations.

He IS doing everything he can to divide Christians & Christian congregations.

He IS the one attacking us!He IS the one attacking us!

And, by the way,we are the ones attacking him!

And, by the way,we are the ones attacking him!

The apostle Peter put it this way:The apostle Peter put it this way:

“Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

“Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9)“Keep a cool head. Stay

alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up…” (The Message version)

“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up…” (The Message version)

Satan won’t catch us napping…

Satan won’t catch us napping…

As we continue to realize that we are at war with him

As we continue to realize that we are at war with himAs we continue to realize that, though it might appear otherwise, our enemy is NOT each other or other human beings

As we continue to realize that, though it might appear otherwise, our enemy is NOT each other or other human beings

As we take seriously the need to put on the full armor of God

As we take seriously the need to put on the full armor of God

As we remember one other thing…As we remember one other thing…

Satan has already been

defeated!

Satan has already been

defeated!

Paul puts it this way:Paul puts it this way:

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Romans 16:20)

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Romans 16:20)

“Before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!” (The Message version)

“Before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!” (The Message version)

The ultimate defeat of Satan

is assured!

The ultimate defeat of Satan

is assured!His defeat is a done deal because Jesus died on the cross to remove Satan’s number one weapon: sin!

His defeat is a done deal because Jesus died on the cross to remove Satan’s number one weapon: sin!

His defeat is a done deal because Jesus rose from the dead, thus taking away the ultimate desire Satan has for all: eternal death

His defeat is a done deal because Jesus rose from the dead, thus taking away the ultimate desire Satan has for all: eternal deathAnd the defeat of Satan is

something we share in through faith in Christ!

And the defeat of Satan is something we share in through faith in Christ!

The apostle John puts it this way:The apostle John puts it this way:

“Because God’s word remains in you… you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:14)

“Because God’s word remains in you… you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:14)

Or, as James puts it:Or, as James puts it:

“Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.” (James 4:7)

“Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.” (James 4:7)“So let God work his will in

you. Yell a loud ‘NO’ to the Devil and watch him scamper.” (The Message version)

“So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud ‘NO’ to the Devil and watch him scamper.” (The Message version)

Or… as Martin Luther wrote:Or… as Martin Luther wrote:

Though devils all the world should fill,All eager to devour us,We tremble not, we fear no ill,They shall not overpow’r us.This world’s prince may stillScowl fierce as he will,He can harm us none,He’s judged; the deed is done;One little word can fell him.

Though devils all the world should fill,All eager to devour us,We tremble not, we fear no ill,They shall not overpow’r us.This world’s prince may stillScowl fierce as he will,He can harm us none,He’s judged; the deed is done;One little word can fell him.

So… we ARE at War!So… we ARE at War!

A spiritual war against SatanA spiritual war against SatanA war that’s already WONA war that’s already WON But a

war in which the

fighting will

continue until Jesus comes again

But a war in which the

fighting will

continue until Jesus comes again

We have armor to put on for this

war

We have armor to put on for this

warArmor and

weaponry that we will talk about over the next

few weeks

Armor and weaponry that we will talk about over the next

few weeksBut for now, let us be perfectly clear

on this:

But for now, let us be perfectly clear

on this:

We ARE at war!We ARE at war!

we are at war!. at the outset of world war ii, when did the war with japan actually begin? a...

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