[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfreda, Georgia. This is the next message in our series in the book of 2 Corinthians, entitled, We Faint Not.
[0:15] I'd like to start with a story. She was 22 years old. She just recently had a young daughter.
[0:26] She just built their first house. She was married. She built their first house. They had a brand new car. She was a nurse. She was in the career field. But the past caught up to her.
[0:41] You know what I'm talking about? Like, incredibly depressed. A lot of guilt. A lot of terrible things happened to her. Mistreated as a young child. Her name actually means laughter. Actually because the reason why her mother named her laughter was because that her father would never get to see her.
[1:00] That's why she named her laughter. So she never knew a real dad. And one day when she was at work, she was, you know, taking care of patients. And the pharmacist came in.
[1:11] And she had bad nervous tremor, like she would shake. And she asked the physician, or the pharmacist better said, do you have anything for my nerves?
[1:24] Do you have anything for my nerves? I'm extremely depressed. And that pharmacist said, I don't have anything for your nerves. But my God says he could supply you a sound mind.
[1:38] It was from there that she followed that pharmacist to the church that she went to. And several weeks later, she got saved. And her husband got saved. And the reason why I know that story so well is because of my mother.
[1:52] And growing up, tons of bad things happened to her. And can I say today that we are in a spiritual warfare right now?
[2:04] I know today is Veterans Day. And the passage of Scripture is going to be talking about warfare. But that pharmacist, right when somebody was in need of help, didn't look to society, didn't look to the world's philosophy, didn't look to the world's reasoning.
[2:20] Yes, I can prescribe you some pills. Yes, I can give you what we need. But he gave her the one thing. He gave her truth. And that, in return, set her free. And that's the reason why I'm here today.
[2:32] And today we're going to be talking about that good soldier in spiritual warfare. I know you guys think, spiritual warfare? What's going on here? Are we going to watch some sci-fi movie? I mean, literally, strange things have been happening.
[2:43] I walked outside to start up the car. A black cat was out there. I don't even own a cat. They're like, what in the world's going on here? But that's not the spiritual warfare. Today we're going to talk about what is spiritual warfare.
[2:53] We're going to talk about what is a good spirit, what is a soldier in the spiritual warfare. So if you would take your Bibles, turn with me to 2 Corinthians chapter 10. We'll start in verse 1 and read on to verse 6. The Bible says in this, he says, Now I, Paul, myself, beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence and base among you.
[3:15] But being absent, I'm bold towards you. Just a little. But I beseech you, verse 2, I beseech you that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence. Wherewith I think to be bold against some.
[3:28] Which think of us as if we walk according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God.
[3:43] To pulling down the strongholds, casting down imaginations. And everything that exalted itself against the knowledge of God. And bring it into captivity, every thought of obedience unto Christ. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is filled.
[3:58] Let's pray real quick. And we're going to look about some characteristics of what a good soldier does in this spiritual warfare. But let's go to the Lord first. Heavenly Fathers, we come to you in prayer. Lord, I thank you for an opportunity to preach your word, Lord.
[4:11] But most of all, Lord, I thank you for the opportunity that I can obey and act on it. And Lord God, give us a clear mind. Lord God, there's people here that probably aren't saved. And that they are in these strongholds.
[4:22] Lord Jesus, I ask that you would just do a work. Open their eyes. Remove this God from this world. This God of this world. Remove those blinders that he's put on there. And Lord God, I ask you to just let them see the truth. And Lord God, we ask you to be praised and glorified in all we do.
[4:35] In Jesus' name, amen. The first thing in this message is I want you guys to notice the conduct of the soldier that is in this warfare. Notice the conduct of the soldier in this warfare.
[4:46] Just so you know, the false teachers were in this church. And they were mocking Paul. They say when he writes, he is bold and courageous. But when he is present, he's a wimp.
[4:59] In 2 Corinthians 10, verses 9, he says, this is what Paul says, That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, they say, these false teachers in this church, they say are weighty and powerful.
[5:14] But his bodily presence is weak and his speech is contemptible. Paul, like any good soldier, didn't want to use his force or his authority. And this was the meekness that Paul was displaying.
[5:28] This was the meekness of Christ that he says in verse 1. He says, He says, Now I, Paul, beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. This is the meekness that Paul was displaying. What is meekness?
[5:38] What is that? Well, it's simply this. I mock, I joke with Trent on this because in basketball they would always chant this one saying, Meekness. It's power under control. Although Paul was an apostle.
[5:51] Although Paul was sent from God. Although Paul started this church and gave them the gospel. We realize that in Acts chapter 18 and verse 8. The Bible says, In Cyprus the chief ruler of the synagogue believed on the Lord and with all his house.
[6:04] And many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized. Then spake the Lord unto Paul in the night by a vision. Be not afraid, but speak. And hold not thy peace, for I am with thee.
[6:16] And no man shall sit on thee to hurt thee. For I have much people in this city. And he continued. And Paul continued there. One year and six months teaching the word of God.
[6:27] Paul started this church. And he stayed there for 18 months teaching them the word of God. He had every right to be bold. He had every right to tell these men, these false teachers, that they need to leave.
[6:38] He had every right to use whatever force was possible that came to his hands. He had every right. But he, as a good soldier, didn't take that liberty. But rather he was like Christ.
[6:50] And he used meekness and gentleness to persuade them. Paul was the unrewarded laborer that saw these people brought to Christ. Paul was the man that didn't, that reaped or sowed to them spiritual things, but never reaped any carnal things.
[7:04] Paul was that. We know that in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 11. He says, if we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing that we should reap unto you carnal things? Shouldn't we get something from all the spiritual stuff that we've given to you?
[7:16] If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather, are not rather we? Nevertheless, I have not used this power, but suffered all things, lest I should hinder the gospel. Paul said, not only do I sow these things, but I didn't get anything returned.
[7:30] Paul says, basically, I have every right right now to usurp my authority. He had every right, every, and the power to exercise his authority, his proper place.
[7:41] But he didn't. But instead he chose the meek way. The power under control. Isn't this the example that Christ showed us? In John chapter 8 and 3 through 11 tells us a story that the scribes brought a woman unto Jesus that was taken in adultery in the very act.
[8:00] She was taken in adultery. They pulled her out in that very act. And they said, Master, this woman was taken in adultery in the very act. Now Moses and his law commanded us that such should be stoned.
[8:12] But what does thou sayest? And Jesus realized that they were tempting him. And what did Jesus do? Jesus, who is God in the flesh, had every right to condemn that woman.
[8:22] Had every right to have her stoned. Had every right to say, you are a sinner. What does he do? He looks down and he says, whoever has the first sin. He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
[8:40] In verse 8, he stooped down. And again, he stooped down. And he wrote on the ground. And those people that heard it, they were convicted. And they walked away and they went out one by one. The eldest first and even to the last.
[8:52] And what did Jesus do? He looked up to that woman and he said, woman, where are thine accusers? And she said, no man, Lord. And what does Jesus say?
[9:03] The God of the creator, the one that established the law. I mean, he made the law. He was there when it was written. He had every power, every right to condemn her, to punish her.
[9:14] And what does he say? Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more. What was Christ's response on the cross when the world was mocking him, spitting on him, making fun of him?
[9:28] Luke 23, 34 says this. And Jesus said, forgive them. Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do. A good soldier doesn't always have to use force.
[9:41] But sometimes in love and meekness and conversation, Paul's saying, don't let me use force on you. But rather, by the meekness and the gentleness of God, please change.
[9:53] And although Paul demonstrated that this meekness, he would be forceful if he had to. In verse 2 he says, but I beseech you that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence.
[10:04] Wherewith, I think, to be bold against some. Which, think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. What Paul was saying here is, there's people that came in the church and they were distorting the truth.
[10:16] They were distorting the gospel. They were leading people astray. And Paul says, I need you guys to change. When I come, I don't want to have to use force. But he says, I'll just let you know, I will use force. And this was true and evident in Paul's life.
[10:29] He had no reservations about confronting others in a godly manner. In Acts chapter 13, you guys remember the first missionary story. Him and Barnabas set out and they meet the sorcerer.
[10:40] And the sorcerer is seeking to turn away other people from the faith. And what does Saul do? In verse 9, then Saul, who is called Paul. This is just to show his history. Filled with the Spirit, set his eyes on the sorcerer.
[10:52] And he said, O full of subtlety and all mischief. Thou child of the devil. Thou enemy of all righteousness. Will thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? Paul had no reservations about saying, if you're preaching another gospel.
[11:05] If you're trying to lead people astray. I will try to set things right. But let me be meek about it. Don't let me be bold. It's the same thing he did in the church of Galatia. It's the same thing he did with Peter.
[11:17] When Peter caused a great dissimulation. But I think he was just following the example that was set before him. That Christ did. Did he not? Christ, who was filled with zeal for this house.
[11:29] When those false teachers took something. A house of prayer that was supposed to be a worship to God. And they were selling animals. They were making profits. Didn't he cast them out? Wasn't he courageous and bold in casting them out?
[11:43] A good soldier has to be willing to act. A good soldier can not only just be meek. But when times when they need to act. They need to act. In Matthew chapter 23. When Jesus is facing the Pharisees and the scribes.
[11:56] What does he call him? What does he call him? He calls him a hypocrite. In verse 13. He calls him fools in verse 17. In verse 26 he says you're blind and you're leading others. In verse 33 he calls them serpents.
[12:08] He calls them snakes. He calls them vipers. Jesus had no reservation either. When people were trying to distort the truth. Jesus was willing to fight and attack. And Paul says you know what? I'm begging you by the meekness and the gentleness of Christ.
[12:19] But if I have to I will be strong when I come here. And you won't like it. The question is in our life. What is it like? In my life it seems like I'm either on one extreme or the other.
[12:33] Does that make sense? I'm either so meek and gentle. To the point it is. As if I turn a blind eye. It seems like I turn a blind eye to those who oppose my Lord and the truth.
[12:44] You know what I'm saying? I'm so meek and gentle. I'll just scoop that underneath it. I'm not going to notice that. Or I'm such a fighting person. I want to shoot anything that moves.
[12:57] But Paul says I want to be in meekness. But if I have to I'm willing to be bold against you. I'm confident in this. I need to be like Christ.
[13:08] And let others when they revile me. And they mock me like they did with Paul. Let them to do that. Whatever without reacting. In 1 Peter 2 verse 21.
[13:18] The Bible says this is Jesus. For even here unto where ye called. Because Christ also suffered for us. Leaving us an example.
[13:29] That we should follow in his steps. We should follow in Christ's steps. Christ suffered. So we should follow his example. And we should follow in his steps. That we should suffer too. Sometimes we're going to have to suffer. Who did no sin.
[13:40] Neither was there guile found in his mouth. Who when he was reviled. He reviled not again. When he suffered. He threatened not. But he committed himself. To him that judges rightly.
[13:51] How about you in your life? Are you a soldier that is meek? Are you a soldier that is brave? And willing to confront. When people are against the truth. Are you a soldier that is meek and patient. And willing to let people to grow.
[14:03] And come along. Paul was. But this passage isn't just about. The soldier and his conduct. But it's also Paul explaining about our enemy. The question is. And in spiritual warfare.
[14:14] What is it? What is exactly we are fighting against? Where are our battles? I mean. How does our enemy work? What's happening here? Well Paul explains it. In verse 3 if you would.
[14:25] The Bible says. For though we walk in the flesh. We do not war after the flesh. The first thing we need to know. Is we don't war. Our battle isn't flesh and blood. Although we live in the flesh.
[14:36] Our battles aren't carnal. We're not like Hollywood. We don't fight demons. Our weapons aren't holy water. Or some cross. Or some silver bullet. Or garlic.
[14:47] Or whatever you want to call it. That's not our war. Satan's much too clever for that. But rather. As Ephesians 6.12 says. We fight. When we're in this world.
[14:58] When we go through this world. Everyone has the same battle. We fight against the principalities. And the powers. Ephesians 6.12 says this. He says. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood. But against principalities.
[15:09] Against powers. Against rulers of the darkness of this world. Against spiritual wickedness. In high places. You see. Our battles. Are internal. Rather than external. Paul.
[15:21] In this passage of scripture. He talks of our warfare. Taking place in high things. And strongholds. And imaginations. And our thoughts. When we go through this world. What are we fighting against? What is it?
[15:31] What is Satan trying to do? It's a battle for our mind. It's a war against truth. It's the world system. Versus God's system. Spiritual warfare is not a battle with demons.
[15:44] Like Hollywood tries to show. But it's a battle for our minds. It's a battle of minds. For people who are captive. To the lies. That are exalted against the truth of the gospel.
[15:57] In 2 Corinthians 4.4. Paul reminds us. That Satan. The God of this world. In whom the God of this world. Hath blinded the minds of them that believe not. But this warfare isn't only.
[16:09] Against lost souls. But it's also for the saved people. How does Satan attack us? How does Satan. How do we fight? What are we fighting? Well you know it's in our mind. Okay.
[16:20] You said it's in our mind. Well what does Satan do? What does he do necessarily? It's Satan that misrepresents truth. He's been doing it since the beginning. Satan in his force leads us astray.
[16:33] Or he keeps us blinded. By misrepresenting the truth. Example. Satan in the garden of Eden. How did that.
[16:45] First of all. What was that snake? You guys remember that? There was some type of description of that snake. What. How did he. How did he trick Eve? He was subtle. And what did he do?
[16:56] What did he say? Shall you not be gods like gods? You shall not surely die. When in essence God says you eat of the fruit.
[17:08] The day you eat of it you will die. And so what did Satan do? He misrepresented the truth. And what does he do in our lives? He misrepresents the truth. So we think. Think. The.
[17:18] The. The. The. The. The ideology. The. The ideas. And the. And the philosophy that the world gives us. We believe that more than we do the truth. He said. He tried this with Christ in the wilderness in Luke 4.
[17:28] However. The Lord warns us. Or the spirit warns us. That in latter times he will do this to the same. In 1st Timothy chapter 4 verses 1. 1st Timothy chapter 4.
[17:40] If you guys would go there real quick. Now the spirit speaketh expressly. That in latter times some shall depart from the faith. And why are they going to leave? Why are they going to become apostate? Giving heed to seducing spirits. And doctrines of devils.
[17:53] What Satan is going to do. Is going to lead people astray. Not by. Not by. Not by. Possessing someone. Like we see. On these. These. These make believe movies. But rather he's going to use lies.
[18:04] And he's going to. Entrap us. And get us into a point. Where we're in a stronghold. And that we become depressed. And that we become. Inactive. And we don't work for the Lord. Or if you're lost here.
[18:14] If you're here today. And you don't believe in Christ. You'll. You'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll.
[18:25] He'll. That's. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. He'll. Jesus.
[18:40] Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. your life what are the areas that you don't believe god's truth or better said do you listen to the world or the voice of reason instead of listening god's truth eve's question eve questioned god's promise peter would rather have jesus stay with him than go to the cross and jesus had to rebuke satan that warfare satan get thee behind me where does satan have a foothold in in your life like to give you an example this week we went to the uh kelly and i went to the clinic uh the the just to get a check up and see what else and the doctor you know told us we had to get some more tests but while i was sitting in there i i i started noticing i started looking at different people that were sitting in the in the in the the the the waiting room and the people that would be wheeled through the uh the hallways and while i was in that moment i would i'm just gonna be be honest i i i had spiritual warfare there was there was there was junk that was going on in my life and i didn't i didn't succeed in it all i could think of is in the next 10 years the next 20 years that's us the next 10 years next 20 years i'm gonna be the one that's gonna be pushing around the next 10 years the next 20 years i'm not gonna my kids aren't gonna have their mom like they like most people have their mom and it started to get me depressed and i started to think man why would god do this to me and it was like man god i'm trying to serve you here why would you what are you holding back on me it was a warfare going on in my mind don't you see you see i was more worried about the next 10 years than than the day that god says you're only promised today you're not promised tomorrow i might come back tomorrow you're not promised tomorrow but yet the world's reason don't you see this world reason says in 10 years this is going to happen this is going to happen this is going to happen and i was so focused on that thought process on that those those those those those those what is it called weapons that were satan was using against me that i wasn't focused on the truth i was so focused in on on on man god why would you do this to me aren't you good and i wasn't focusing on the truth that man he gave us jesus christ what is he gonna what's he gonna withhold from us and so in this in this world when we when we when we go through this warfare how is satan gonna how is he gonna attack you how's he gonna go after you what's he gonna fight i mean is he gonna walk up on your doorstep and chain you up and throw you in your basement no he's gonna go for your mind and what you're thinking about and what you're meditating on and he's gonna make you defective he's gonna make you not work and serve god he's gonna make you question god and as a good soldier we need to realize that we need to take account that he uses mind games he's after your mind because if he controls your mind he controls your actions so how do we defend ourselves how is it that i can defend myself from this how is it well the first thing is is is our hope is in god verse 4 he says but mighty through god to pulling down the strongholds it's god who can throw down these strongholds it's god and god's truth paul reminds him he says how can how can the lost be delivered from the strongholds of philosophy of reasonings of demonic thoughts of opinions and theories and viewpoints and religions and false religions colossians 1 verses 12 says this is what paul says giving thanks unto the father i i i'm thanking god which hath made me be a partaker and of the inheritance of the saints in light he has saved me and who hath delivered me this is what god did he delivered me from the power
[22:44] of his of the darkness power of darkness what does god do god's the one that delivers us and paul realized that paul realized that because in first corinthians chapter 2 verses 1 he says and i brother when i came to you i came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom or declaring unto you the testimony of god for i determined not to know any anything among you save jesus christ and him crucified and i was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling i didn't have anything i could i could i could hold to i wasn't smart enough it wasn't wise enough i didn't have enough i didn't have the right education enough to help you out but i had one thing that could help you out and that was the mighty god of heaven jesus christ that's the only help for you and that's what i preached and i preached it not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of god paul knew it also well we are in a battle we're in a struggle and where's where's hope where's deliverance where's rescuing it's in god it's in god but paul doesn't just leave it there he also tells us stuff that we need to do he tells us to cast down these lies that exalt against itself that exalt themselves against the knowledge of god verse five he says it cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalt exalt itself against the knowledge of god what's that mean it means take down destroy them cast them down it's like one time i was out there me and my friend we he had a shed at his mom's house he says let's tear this down and we didn't get permission i thought he already asked but anyways i had a truck at that time so we wrapped a train around it we i mean we were hammering sledgehammering i mean there was no remodeling that's what i'm trying to get at there was no just okay i'm gonna pick this piece apart pick this piece apart because i might use it again no i'm gonna destroy this thing that's what i thought and so we hooked it up to the truck and we pulled it back and his mom came home she goes where's the shed at we're like oh i'm sorry about that but that's what it means it's cast down i mean we we destroy it there's no ounce of we're not going to reuse this again there's no i'm not going to believe think these thoughts do this again i'm not going to that's the attitude you have and that after you cast down those thoughts you bring them under captivity you bring them into subjection under what subjection of the the obedience of christ what is that that's the truth so the thought was in my head man does god love me why would he do this to me what should i have done i should took that that lie that satan placed in my mind and gone back to this word and gone to romans 8 32 and see what the bible says see what god says and i would trust the word over these lies you see what i'm saying how are we going to have how how is a good soldier how did they how do they have victory you go back to this truth that's how we live this is this is the only source that we can live by you might be here today and and and and and you're confronted with man i really am a good person i mean i i come to church i don't i don't beat anybody up i don't this is all world's philosophy by the way this is all the spiritual battle that's going on in your head right now man i don't need jesus i don't need this no no you need to go back to the truth you need to take that and cast that down and bring it to the truth and come to god's word and say what does god say about this what does god say about this and you realize that we are sinners and we are in need for jesus to help us and save us there's only one help and that's jesus christ we need to cast down and we need to bring it into the truth the only way we can we can tear down these lies the only way we can defeat a lie is with the truth see how they stand up to scripture notice what christ does in luke chapter 4 verses 1 through 13 if you would turn there real quick we're going to luke 4 and we'll start in verse 1 you all know this you all know what how it goes it's so
[26:46] simple the bible says and jesus being filled with the holy ghost returned from jordan and he was led by the spirit under the wilderness being 40 days tempted of the devil and in those days he did he did eat nothing and when they were ended afterwards he hungered and the devil said unto them if thou be the son of god command these stones that it may be bread that he be made bread and jesus answered and what does jesus answer with scripture scripture why is our bible reading so important why do we try to have our kids memorize bible verses so they can get the awana stickers or the master club stickers or the the vest that's that's flowing with all the all the awards why is it that we try to pump people why is it day in and day out every service we come up here okay second corinthians chapter 10 verses one through six okay next thursday second corinthians chapter 10 verses one through six probably brother gunner's gonna fix this one up but anyways second tenth after that it's gonna be seven through whatever you know why is it that we come up here and we just preach the word preach the word get bible and people get bible and people because it's their only source it's the sword of the spirit which is the word of god that we're going to be able to fight back so you're struggling today with different things what do you need you just need a good dose of the scriptures and not just memorizing it but you need to meditate on it you get the difference so many of us can sit up here and we can we can quote chapters verses and even books of the bible but if we don't meditate on it you see i'm saying meditate on it god's not going to do a change it's got to get inside of our heart how does what does david say thy word have i hid in my heart not my mind it's got to be inside your heart so when those those lies come up what pops up bam bam time and time and time again it's truth it's truth and you'll be able to have victory it is the sword of the spirit which is the word of god that's our only means of defense or attacking but not only that i want you to look in verse six a good soldier not only no i don't only is not only meek he not only knows his his enemy and knows how to defeat it but he also is always prepared for an attack what does paul say in in the second corinthians chapter 10 verses six he says and having in readiness to revenge all disobedience there was a readiness in paul he wasn't he wasn't on a rampage attacking anything and everything but he was alert he was being vigilant like peter tells looking for the adversary who's going to devour you ways that he's going to come out and paul says i'm ready to attack whenever whenever it comes up i'm ready to revenge all disobedience when he saw peter and and antioch according to galatians 2 11 but when peter was come to antioch i was stood him to the face why was he ready because when he was because he was to be blamed and this is the story because for before there was there before that certain came of j certain came from james and he didn't he did he did eat with the gentiles but when they were come he withdrew himself so what happens was they're at this party this potluck at some baptist dinner and what happens was peter was sitting with everybody he was sitting with the gentiles and then some people from jerusalem came down and peter noticed that they weren't the gentile people they were the jewish people so he withdrew himself from the gentiles and he started sitting with the jewish people and then a great dissimulation came so even barnabas was was was was was confused and he started sitting with the with the jewish people false lies came in and so what did paul do paul
[30:48] being ready to revenge all disobedience withstood peter to the face and said peter why are you doing this and can i can i say something right there he did it in a meek manner he asked a question he didn't he didn't make statements he's asked a question a good soldier must be alert all the time but just because you're alert doesn't mean that there is no discernment because paul finished this verse and we're going to close here pretty soon when your obedience is fulfilled what does that mean paul was not only willing and an alert to to when that when those lies came in to put down those lies to to get the truth out but he was willing to be patient and meek to take those people at corinth and he said i'll be patient with you and we'll we'll get this right and we'll get this right he's not some big bully that's going to pound down everybody but he says i'm willing to to to be long-suffering like christ is long-suffering and i'll wait till you get this right i'll wait till you get this right brothers and sisters we are in a warfare we are in a warfare there's a battle going on it's not like it's your sci-fi movies question is is how do you how do you defend yourself how do you defend others you're a soldier of christ how do you defend others something that's remarkable to me when you think about it the book of galatians wasn't written to a preacher or a pastor but it was written to a church and it was written to a church about people coming in and they were changing the gospel so who's the who's the truth watchers out there who's supposed to be making sure that the gospel is preached right who's supposed to know what the gospel is who's supposed to be making sure that they're preaching it right it's not the pastors it's not the deacons it's you guys it's you guys you are to be making sure that that they're preaching right right doctrine maybe you're out there today and you realize that there's a battle going on maybe you realize yeah this is all this is all old hat i know this i've heard this before and you realize that it's your responsibility to watch and make sure that there's there's or be ready i don't say watch because it makes sense sound like a watchdog but make sure that satan doesn't get a foothold in the church and he does it through ideology and different doctrines but my question is how do you conduct yourself is there meekness and gentleness that you treat others or is it all smash i want to destroy you when you see false and you see errors in someone's life how do you how do you go about doing it is there meekness is there gentleness are you daily reading your bibles are you studying it more importantly are you meditating on god's word it's our only source of defending ourselves this message was recorded at vision baptist church in alfred georgia for more information log on to www.visionbaptist.com where you can find our service times location contact information more audio and video recordings you