Join the Resistance!

[0:00] Hebrews 12 verse 1 Hebrews 12 verse 1! Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about, with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sound sin which doth so easily be saved.

[0:30] And let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[0:48] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against him, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin.

[1:03] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin. My subject is resistance. Resistance! Resistance.

[1:16] It's an act of resisting, or the capacity to resist. In biology, resistance refers to the capacity of an organism to defend itself against a disease.

[1:27] For an organism or a tissue to withstand the effects of a harmful agent coming against it. And the resistance is also a term that speaks of an underground movement.

[1:41] A struggle for national liberation in a country under military or totalitarian occupation. The resistance movement. I'm talking today of the resistance movement.

[1:56] A resistance movement. Resistance movements occur in World War II. In every occupied country by a variety of means. In World War II when Japan invaded the Philippines, I guess there was a resistance movement there.

[2:11] In Europe when the Nazis invaded Europe. There was a resistance movement that developed in these occupied countries where there was a campaign of non-cooperation, of disinformation and propaganda to hide crashed pilots.

[2:31] And even to outright warfare and the recapturing of towns. Resistance movements. Sometimes they were referred to as the underground. And I was just hearing lately how there was a resistance movement that was preparing in Great Britain.

[2:47] In Great Britain there was a resistance force that never deployed. Because naturally Great Britain was not invaded. I don't know if they had one for Australia.

[2:58] But Australia was at risk of being invaded. I know as a young man, I've mentioned this before. As a young man I used to collect coins and notes and things from different countries. And one of the notes that I came across was what they call invasion money.

[3:14] Japan had printed its own currency for Australia in preparation for their invasion. In preparation for their occupation of this land. Japan had such faith that they had printed piles of these notes of invasion money.

[3:30] Just for use within Australia. So thank God we were invaded. But if we were invaded, maybe we would have, I hope that we would have had a resistance movement.

[3:41] Just as in Great Britain it was never deployed. But these auxiliary units were a secret resistance network of trained volunteers. Prepared to be Britain's last ditch line of defence during World War II.

[3:55] And they operated with a network of cells in hidden underground bases around the UK. They were ready to go into action. And friends, today in Australia we need a resistance movement.

[4:09] We need a resistance movement because we're living in a world that is essentially occupied territory. I want you to enlist. I want you to join up.

[4:20] To join the resistance. Join the resistance. Our enemy is not at risk from some other country, some human threat. But the enemy is real. The enemy is a spiritual one.

[4:32] The enemy who is opposing us is a spiritual enemy. A real enemy. And this resistance that is called for, is called for in three ways.

[4:49] There's three powers that we need in this resistance movement. And number one we see in verse four here. We need to resist with striving power against sin.

[5:02] Resist with striving power against sin. We've seen the testimony of lives that have been affected by sin. Even Christians, we know that's a reality. And our brother has been very honest tonight, giving a very personal story.

[5:16] And we need to resist in striving against sin. Verse four it says, you have not resisted unto blood striving against sin.

[5:27] Sin is against you. Christian here today. Sin is against you. It holds people captive. It binds and destroys. It blinds and confines.

[5:39] Sin is an enemy to you. Our sin is personified as an adversary here. It is our enemy. It is our enemy.

[5:50] Let's not trick lightly those things that will cause us to stumble. Let's not think that we're so high and mighty that we will not fall.

[6:02] Take heed lest you fall. The only way to beat sin is to know to save him. And to keep close with him. As a Christian, we're not immune to sin's attacks, to temptation.

[6:15] We need to build up resistance. Build up and join the resistance. Individually and corporately. To be that Christian people who will maintain our vigilance against sin.

[6:27] This is not talking about a kind of legalism that strains out the gnats and finds something in others to complain or pick on. But it's a self-examination. It's a self-surrender.

[6:38] To scrutinise the inner heart of the man. And to seek God's redeeming grace and Holy Spirit power. We need to consider the exceeding sinfulness of sin.

[6:50] Recognise it as an enemy that must be earnestly resisted. Or will we be weak and neglectful? The choice is ours tonight.

[7:00] Join the resistance. The resistance movement calls for a striving power. A striving in his power against sin. A striving, a struggle, a combat, a contest.

[7:14] Some of these days people misrepresent God's grace as a licence to sin. They'll excuse it and brush it under the carpet and not deal with it.

[7:25] In some, there's a partial obedience. They're a bit like Hosea 7 verse 8 where it tells of Ephraim. Ephraim is a cake not turned.

[7:38] A cake not turned. In other words, it's like having that chop on the barbie that's all burnt underneath. It's not cooked on top. You know, it's a cake not turned.

[7:49] It's uncooked on one side. It's almost like you could picture it as a kind of partial obedience to God. People sometimes want to take their Christianity just so far.

[8:01] Not stepping outside the comfort zone. They want to take their faith just so far but not further. And Spurgeon commenting on this verse, Hosea 7 verse 8, of this partial obedience that it pictures, he says that it's a partial obedience where there's much rebellion left.

[8:21] Spurgeon says, Art thou thorough in the things of God? Hast grace gone through the very centre of thy being so as to be felt in its divine operations, in all thy powers, thy actions, thy words and thy thoughts?

[8:36] To be sanctified, spirit, soul and body, should be your aim and prayer. A cake not turned is soon burnt on the side nearest the fire.

[8:49] And although no man can have too much religion, there are some burnt black with bigoted zeal for their part of truth which they have received or are charred to a cinder with a vain glorious, far as saying, ostentation of religious performances and such things as that.

[9:07] Now we can get very zealous but not really giving God that full obedience. He goes on, the saint in public is a devil in private.

[9:20] If so be with me, O Lord, turn me. Turn me. Turn my unsanctified nature to the fire of thy love and let it feel the sacred glow and let my burnt side cool into what I learn my own weakness and want of hint when I'm removed from thy heavenly flame.

[9:43] Let me not be found a double-minded man but one entirely under the powerful influence of reigning grace. For well I know I am left like a cake unturned and I am not on both sides the subject of thy grace.

[9:59] I must be consumed forever amid everlasting burnings. Let's not be a cake unturned. Let God deal with the whole of our life. Let us be one that is not partially obedient but fully surrendered.

[10:14] I read a secular speech that says a lot as much as it is a secular speech.

[10:28] Now President Roosevelt said it. Some of you might have heard it. It's a famous speech and in part he says it is not the critic who counts not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

[10:44] The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. His face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. He strides valiantly. Who errs.

[10:55] Who comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming. But who does actually strive to do the deeds.

[11:06] Who knows great enthusiasms the great devotions who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while at the worst sorry if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

[11:35] It's the man in the arena. resist with striving power we've heard of the athlete running the race with patience there's a striving not a striving in our own fleshly vain carnal effort but a striving with his mighty power as he works within us.

[11:57] Let there be a resistance in you a resistance in you not a resistance unto him but a resistance unto that which is outside of him. to put yourself fully at God's disposal a fully all rounded striving not partial it takes a discipline a will a stealing result it takes maybe blood you have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin.

[12:25] Now have you ever done a job where it's caused you to have to shed blood? I know I've seen my dad working his guts out you know doing some very hard labour and as a young man I used to see him sometimes with his hands cut and bleeding with some misdirected effort and yet he continued labouring and you know there's a sense in that in striving against sin that to to not give up even though there's pain and discomfort even though there's a striving that stretches you to the nth degree a striving against sin is called for today for the believer to be in earnest to strive in this way so not only is sin to be resisted but Satan the devil join the resistance the resistance calls for three powers to resist with striving power against sin and secondly to resist with steadfast power in the faith the Bible tells of faith the word faith has the quality in the meaning of the word the Greek word as the sense of stickability stickability and I don't know how long that's going to stay stuck on there but we think of stuck things of post-it notes of things that stick now post-it notes aren't a very good example but faith is something that cleans it cleans it's got a stickability to it and you want

[13:51] Peter 5 when you read be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resist steadfast whom resist steadfast in the faith James 4 verse 7 it says submit yourselves therefore to God resist the devil and he will flee from you resist with steadfast power in the faith many today are lackadaisical unstable when we resist this committed adversary just as committedly steadfast in the faith when I think of steadfast I think of rock solid rock solid faith faith that will not falter faith that will hold the line a cleaving a holding fast that's the sense of faith of faithfulness a steadfast rock solid quality and this is sadly lacking and sorely needed today faith faith people with stickability with backbone and even though they might fall they'll get back up again by God's grace and God in grace will show his tender grace when we mess up his arms are still extended steadfastness is a quality that is commended a stable faith

[15:14] God wants us to likewise have that steadfastness in our faith so it will not be swallowed up by the devourer what makes a steadfast faith it must be built on the right foundation the word of God the Lord Jesus is that foundation that no man no other foundation will suffice it must be faith in Christ biblical faith friends if you're not a Christian today there is a rock that is going to hold you and will not give way under you there is a rock the Bible speaks of the psalmist he says I was in the miry clay I don't know if you've I've had some experiences like that walking in mud and just feeling like you're going down into quicksand that's the picture of the miry clay of the life outside of Christ and it says that he set my feet on the rock he set my feet on the rock there is a steadfast rock that will hold you and be secure for you in Hebrews 10 23 it says let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that promise in James 1 verse 6 it says but let him ask in faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed will you be steadfast or will you be a waverer

[16:51] I've seen many waverers in my time in ministry will our faith waver in other words be blown around just like a tree in the breeze and just go every which way or will we be steadfast steadfast in the faith be sure that you know true faith in Christ this war calls for an earnest resistance effort to keep pressing the fight join the resistance tonight join the resistance today the resistance calls for three powers to resist with the striving power against sin sin will always be there we must strive in God's power strive with resisting power against sin resist with steadfast faith in Christ and thirdly resist with standing power in the evil day resist with standing power in the evil day in Ephesians 6 13 we read wherefore take unto you the whole armour of

[18:00] God that you may be able to withstand and that word withstand is elsewhere translated in your King James as the word resist but you may be able to withstand or resist in the evil day and having done all to stand we need to resist withstanding power in the evil day we are in an evil day we heard referred to this morning of the escalating tide of evil that is sweeping our nation and every nation and I see it up close and personal affecting some of the people I hold most dear to me the escalating tide of evil the evil day calls for resistance fighters resistance fighters who will commit to taking a stand and standing fast there's a lot who are not standing solid sometimes all we can do is just maintain our stand just stand let us resist and take a stand many in the evil day are giving place to the devil we need to be an armed force that cannot be shaken an armed force that will hold the territory that we will not give ground we will hold our position we will hold our ground in the face of our enemy our position must be strong and clear no surrender no retreat the lord wants our resistance power to be resolute and unwavering christian soldier tonight resistance fighter i urge you to be fully equipped fitted with the armour paul says of this whole armour of god he says that we are to be clothed with it in the evil day and having done all to stand sometimes it's hard just to stand when the tide comes against you with all its might and when the winds contrary winds want to blow you off course and deviate you from god's direction having done all stand and friends i just want to leave you with that exhortation tonight the lord wants our resistance power to be resolute to have that full armour of god and having done all stand i'm preaching really to christians here tonight i'm not assuming that everybody here is a believer that you know what it is to be born again perhaps you're a christian who's gone in the wrong direction and yet you are a christian we've heard a wonderful testimony of god's grace in a person's life tonight i urge you today make today a day of decision by god's grace that you'll choose christ that you'll let him choose you you won't resist his power but you will resist with striving power against sin christian we've seen how sin can ensnare the most godly and the most the most aware christian can still stumble and make a mess of things but thank god for his grace thank god for his grace his grace so evident tonight in the transformation in the way god has used our brother to show what god can do even when we go in the wrong direction god can lift us up and set us on his path again resist with striving power against sin recognize sin in your life ask god to help you to walk in holiness

[22:00] to walk in his life to recognize sin and find his power to strive to strive like the man in the arena to strive and to keep on striving with his power energizing you and helping you overcome resist with steadfast power in faith have that resolute faith rock solid planted on the rock Christ Jesus and resist with standing power in the evil day don't let the evil currents and influences deter you don't let them overwhelm you when you see the tide of evil we see the worsening state of the nation of the world as it is increasingly godless and the media its channel of propaganda is ever more so that we need to be standing standing strong standing firm standing in Christ I urge you tonight if you need to make a commitment there's opportunity to seek prayer we've got an altar of sorts there's an opportunity to come forward if you want to make a public stand tonight if God's spoken to you through the testimony of brother

[23:14] Edmund through the messages of the scriptures tonight then make a stand make today a turning point if you'd like prayer for whatever reason then there's opportunity to seek that prayer whether in a public fashion or privately with someone you trust you might want to say to someone sat next to you I want you to pray for me I want to make today a turning point in my life I want to make today a day of decision where I'm going to stand I'm going to stand I've learnt something tonight I want to be a part of the resistance movement I want to be a part of that godly remnant that will stand no matter what happens no matter who invades as it were in the sense of we already are an occupied nation pretty much as much as we haven't seen nothing yet but friends tonight this is an occupied nation we're living in enemy territory we ought to be commandos behind enemy lines as it were and doing whatever we can in every fashion we can to try to be an out and out witness for Christ while we have opportunity to and let's not waste a moment