WEBVTT

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 Do you guys smell that?

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 I smell spiritual street fight going on.

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 I need my biblical binoculars.

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 Not big enough.

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 Bring out the big boy.

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 My big biblical binoculars.

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 And the thing about this baby is

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 I can hear some stuff as well.

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 Okay, dial it in, check it out.

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 All right, what do we got here?

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 University, freshman philosophy class,

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 we got a prof saying something to the extent of

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 in the 21st century,

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 can a rational human being actually believe

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 in the God of the Bible?

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 Now, our war isn't against flesh and blood.

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 But that smells like a spiritual street fight to me.

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 We've got something else going on.

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 We've got some distortion going on.

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 There is a 38-year-old man

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 with three kids.

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 His wife's in bed

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 because she is duking it out every day.

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 He is sitting in front of a computer screen

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 clicking on porn site after porn site.

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 It's a distortion of God's good gift of sexuality.

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 Oh, Lord, he's going to get ensnared.

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 There's a spiritual street fight going on.

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 Three clicks out, got a church,

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 splitting up, taking parties, two parties.

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 What's the fight over?

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 Oh, look at that.

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 It's the color of the sanctuary carpet.

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 And yes, it is a foothold for the devil.

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 There's a spiritual street fight going on.

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 Dear brothers and sisters,

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 war is raging.

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 We're under attack.

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 In the early 1940s,

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 the U.S. transformed itself

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 from a peacetime production

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 to wartime production,

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 and we must transform our thinking

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 from peacetime to wartime in 2015.

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 We're not at peace.

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 God's people are not at peace.

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 Peace with God.

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 But we have a conflict at hand.

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 In order to stand firm against our enemy,

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 the devil,

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 we must know our enemy and his schemes.

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 We cannot ignore our enemy

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 or be intrigued by our enemy,

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 but we must stand against the schemes of the devil.

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 In order to stand firm against him,

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 we've got to know some things about him.

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 We've got to do some recon on him.

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 So let's do some biblical recon

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 on our enemy of our souls.

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 First, if you would open up to your Bibles

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 to Ephesians 6, verse 11,

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 this is going to be our starting point.

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 I'm going to be covering

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 some biblical ground this morning.

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 And so what we're going to be looking at

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 is different things the Bible says

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 about the devil, his demons,

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 his network, and how he tempts us.

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 Ephesians 6, 11.

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 Put on the whole armor of God

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 that you may be able to stand

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 against the schemes of the devil.

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 There is a devil,

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 and he is scheming,

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 and we've got to be wise to it.

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 There are four things this morning

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 that I want you to see

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 as we do biblical recon.

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 First, we're going to look at

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 the devil's background.

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 Then we're going to look at

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 the devil's network.

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 He's a terror network.

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 And then we're going to look at

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 the devil's tactics,

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 his methods.

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 And then we're going to look at

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 the devil's greatest weakness,

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 his greatest enemy.

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 The right man is on our side.

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 So in order for us to stand

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 against the devil,

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 let's get to know him.

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 Put on the sure footing

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 that nothing can separate

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 us from the love of God

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 in Christ Jesus.

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 His background,

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 his origin,

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 he was created by God.

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 In Genesis chapter 1,

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 God created the heavens

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 and the earth.

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 And we're not explicitly told

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 when he created the angelic host,

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 but it was in the Genesis 1

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 time frame.

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 He created a myriad of angels.

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 And they're glorious.

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 And they're created to serve

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 his purposes.

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 And so in Genesis 1.31,

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 God saw everything that he made

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 in heaven and on earth.

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 He was very good.

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 Including all of the angels.

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 But then he rebelled.

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 When did this angelic rebellion happen?

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 Well, there's not a specific time

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 we're given in the Bible.

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 But we are given a time frame.

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 And so if we were to look

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 at Genesis chapter 1 again,

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 chapter 1.31,

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 God saw that everything he made

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 and behold, it was very good.

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 So there had not been

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 an angelic rebellion

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 up until that point.

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 But if you turn to Genesis chapter 3,

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 verse 1,

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 there's a serpent

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 that enters the garden.

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 And so sometime between

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 Genesis 1.31

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 and Genesis 3.1,

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 there was an angelic rebellion

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 that took place.

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 Now what was the cause

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 of this rebellion?

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 What was the cause

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 of this fall?

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 Why did the devil

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 rebel against God?

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 Well, there's a couple places

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 we can turn,

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 but the place I want you

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 to go to right now

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 is maybe a little surprising.

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 It's 1 Timothy chapter 3.

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 Might ring a bell

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 because what we're going to look at

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 is 1 Timothy 3, verse 6,

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 and it's right in the middle

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 of qualifications for an elder.

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 And we read in 1 Timothy 3, 6,

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 speaking of a potential elder,

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 he must not be a recent convert,

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 for he may become puffed up

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 with conceit

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 and fall into the condemnation

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 of the devil.

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 Why did the devil rebel?

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 He lifted himself up against God.

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 It was pride.

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 He wanted something

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 that God alone would have.

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 Pride.

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 Pride was the reason he fell.

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 That's the condemnation of the devil.

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 And with him,

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 he brought a host of angels

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 that became demons.

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 The evil one has a variety of aliases.

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 He goes by a variety of different names

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 throughout the Bible.

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 Satan.

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 Job 1, 6.

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 It means adversary.

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 In the New Testament,

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 the most common name

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 for the evil one is the devil.

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 It also means adversary or accuser.

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 Jesus called him the tempter

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 in Matthew 4, 3.

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 Jesus spoke of him in Matthew 12

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 as Beezlebub,

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 which means master of the house.

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 Enemy.

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 Evil one.

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 Belial,

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 which means worthless.

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 The deceiver,

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 Revelation 12.

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 John 12,

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 2 Corinthians 4,

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 the God of this world,

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 the ruler of this world,

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 who blinds unbelievers

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 from seeing the light

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 of the gospel

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 of the glory of Christ,

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 who ensnares people

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 and holds them captive

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 to do his will,

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 2 Timothy 2, 26.

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 He's the prince of the power of the air,

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 the spirit that is now at work

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 in the sons of disobedience,

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 Ephesians 2, 2.

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 He's the serpent of Genesis 3, 1

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 and a great dragon of Revelation 12, 3.

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 He is a liar and the father of lies,

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 John 8, 44.

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 He is a murderer,

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 John 8, 44.

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 And then when we get back

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 into Revelation,

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 we read that he is Abaddon,

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 Apollyon,

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 the destroyer.

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 And so as we peruse

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 these names of our enemy,

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 we get a sense of his purpose.

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 The enemy of our soul

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 is seeking to destroy

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 God's plan for the fullness of time,

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 which is to unite all things

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 in our Lord and King Jesus.

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 God is seeking to reconcile

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 to himself all things,

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 whether on earth or in heaven

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 through Christ.

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 And so what the devil

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 is seeking to do

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 in his rebellion

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 is oppose God's saving work

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 through Christ.

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 There's some background

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 on our enemy.

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 Now let's talk about

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 the network he uses.

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 You've heard of a terror network.

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 I know you have.

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 Organized terrorist cells

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 that are strategically positioned

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 and poised to destroy

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 in order to terrorize.

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 We've all felt that.

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 The devil has his own terror network.

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 It's an evil network

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 bent on deception

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 and destruction.

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 And what we see

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 in Ephesians 2,

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 1 through 3

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 is his coordinated network.

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 So would you turn to Ephesians 2,

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 1 through 3,

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 and we're going to see

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 three enemies

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 that are coordinated

00:10:13.780 --> 00:10:15.600
 to do us harm.

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 So Ephesians 2,

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 and you were dead

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 in the trespasses and sins

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 in which you once walked,

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 following the course

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 of this world,

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 following the prince

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 of the power of the air,

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 the spirit that's now at work

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 in the sons of disobedience,

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 among whom we all once lived

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 in the passions

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 of our flesh,

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 carrying out the desires

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 of the body and the mind,

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 and we're by nature

00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:45.759
 children of wrath

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.700
 like the rest of mankind.

00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:49.100
 The devil uses

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 a coordinated network

00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:51.600
 of himself

00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:53.220
 and his demons,

00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:54.700
 the world,

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 and our flesh.

00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:58.519
 the first two enemies

00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:00.220
 are outside of us.

00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:01.800
 The last enemy

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 is inside of us.

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 So let's just take these

00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:06.720
 one by one.

00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:10.060
 Again, I want to help you

00:11:10.060 --> 00:11:10.740
 understand

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:13.080
 what the Bible says

00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:14.680
 how Satan coordinates

00:11:15.560 --> 00:11:16.560
 his resistance

00:11:16.560 --> 00:11:17.560
 to God's purposes.

00:11:19.300 --> 00:11:20.740
 So the first enemy

00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.379
 of this network

00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:22.060
 is the devil.

00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:22.700
 We've already been

00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:23.420
 talking about him,

00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:24.539
 but what I want you to see

00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:25.759
 in Ephesians 6.12

00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:27.719
 is that he has got

00:11:27.719 --> 00:11:28.219
 people,

00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.759
 things working for him.

00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:33.419
 The demonic host,

00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:35.319
 the rulers,

00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:36.019
 authorities,

00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:37.099
 spiritual forces

00:11:37.099 --> 00:11:38.379
 over this present darkness,

00:11:40.059 --> 00:11:41.419
 as Colossians 1.13

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.199
 calls it,

00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:43.519
 the domain of darkness.

00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:46.319
 We're not told

00:11:46.319 --> 00:11:48.279
 how the things work out.

00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:49.500
 We're not told

00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.579
 if there's a hierarchy.

00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:51.339
 We're not told

00:11:51.339 --> 00:11:52.620
 if there are, like,

00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:53.279
 locative,

00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.740
 angelic spirits

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.360
 or anything like that.

00:11:58.120 --> 00:11:59.659
 But there seems to be

00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:02.879
 a dispersion of evil.

00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:08.620
 As an aside,

00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.460
 one of the things

00:12:09.460 --> 00:12:10.500
 you cannot miss

00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.080
 when you're reading

00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:11.940
 through the Gospels

00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:14.000
 is Jesus'

00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:15.659
 regular confrontation

00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.580
 with demons.

00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.000
 And he kicks them around.

00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:23.980
 These things are real.

00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:25.419
 Here we are

00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:26.500
 in the 21st century,

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:29.980
 and we're talking

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:30.659
 about demons.

00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:34.539
 Because God's Word

00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:36.879
 talks about demons.

00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:40.820
 So the devil

00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:41.799
 and his demonic host

00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:42.500
 are actively

00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:44.240
 exercising control

00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.039
 over the domain

00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.679
 of darkness,

00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:47.700
 this present age,

00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:49.379
 by blinding the minds

00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:50.240
 of unbelievers

00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:50.920
 to keep them

00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:51.440
 from seeing

00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:52.100
 the light

00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:53.120
 of the glory

00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:54.080
 of the Gospel

00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:55.140
 of Jesus Christ.

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:56.400
 2 Corinthians 4.4

00:12:56.400 --> 00:12:59.100
 Their whole operation

00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:00.300
 is built

00:13:00.300 --> 00:13:02.340
 on deception

00:13:02.340 --> 00:13:04.020
 with the intent

00:13:04.020 --> 00:13:05.220
 to destroy.

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.940
 It is malicious.

00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:08.840
 It's opposed to God.

00:13:10.280 --> 00:13:11.140
 The domain of darkness

00:13:11.140 --> 00:13:11.800
 is real.

00:13:12.040 --> 00:13:12.900
 It's being manipulated

00:13:12.900 --> 00:13:13.620
 by the devil

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.280
 and his demons

00:13:14.280 --> 00:13:15.740
 in order to destroy.

00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:16.820
 So having looked

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:18.200
 at this first enemy,

00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.200
 let's now move

00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:19.879
 on to the next.

00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:22.960
 The spiritual domain

00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:23.720
 of darkness

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:25.840
 interfaces with

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:27.200
 our everyday life

00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.180
 with what the Bible

00:13:28.180 --> 00:13:28.779
 calls

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.379
 the world.

00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:34.000
 In Ephesians 2.2,

00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.560
 we read that

00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:36.340
 before we became

00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:36.820
 Christians,

00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.779
 we were following

00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.620
 the course

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.779
 of this world

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:41.120
 while following

00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:41.600
 the prince

00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.180
 of the power

00:13:42.180 --> 00:13:42.740
 of the air.

00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:44.200
 This is the same

00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:45.139
 use of the word

00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:46.199
 world that we find

00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:48.919
 in 1 John 2.15-17.

00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:49.639
 Listen to this.

00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:51.120
 Do not love

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.519
 the world

00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.019
 or the things

00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:52.519
 in the world.

00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:55.139
 For all that

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.659
 is in the world,

00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.240
 the desires

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:56.899
 of the flesh

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.539
 and the desires

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.220
 of the eyes

00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:58.799
 and the pride

00:13:58.799 --> 00:13:59.259
 and possessions

00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.379
 is not from the Father

00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:01.399
 but is from the world

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:01.960
 and the world

00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:02.740
 is passing away

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:03.799
 along with its desires.

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:05.299
 But whoever

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.279
 does the will

00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:06.759
 of God

00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:07.819
 abides forever.

00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:08.480
 He's talking

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.080
 about believers

00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:09.559
 right there.

00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:12.479
 So what we need

00:14:12.479 --> 00:14:13.059
 to understand

00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:14.759
 is how this word

00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:15.639
 world

00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:17.719
 is being used

00:14:17.719 --> 00:14:18.139
 here

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.439
 and in other passages

00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:20.719
 like John 3.16.

00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:22.239
 For God so loved

00:14:22.239 --> 00:14:22.979
 the world

00:14:22.979 --> 00:14:23.599
 that He gave

00:14:23.599 --> 00:14:24.579
 His one and only Son.

00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:26.319
 In these contexts,

00:14:26.839 --> 00:14:27.559
 God is talking

00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.659
 about people.

00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:30.679
 People

00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.799
 who love

00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:32.639
 darkness

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:34.079
 more than light.

00:14:35.419 --> 00:14:36.099
 People

00:14:36.099 --> 00:14:37.119
 living in

00:14:37.119 --> 00:14:37.839
 rebellion

00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:38.680
 to God.

00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:39.519
 People

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.540
 blinded

00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:41.120
 by the ruler

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:41.759
 of this world

00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.220
 and living

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:42.740
 for things

00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:43.519
 that grieve God.

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.519
 That's the world.

00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:47.820
 So the world

00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:48.780
 in these contexts

00:14:48.780 --> 00:14:49.920
 is speaking

00:14:49.920 --> 00:14:51.120
 of people,

00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.100
 image bearers

00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:52.620
 of God

00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.519
 living in darkness

00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.420
 because they've

00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:55.180
 been blinded.

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.220
 And we live

00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:00.220
 among the majority

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:01.360
 of these people.

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.259
 They form

00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:02.900
 the majority

00:15:02.900 --> 00:15:03.440
 of people

00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:04.220
 around us.

00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:07.139
 But as Christians

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.480
 we are no longer

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.559
 of the world.

00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:11.399
 John 17.16.

00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:13.179
 We've been

00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:13.639
 transferred

00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.360
 from the domain

00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:14.819
 of darkness

00:15:14.819 --> 00:15:15.659
 into the kingdom

00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:16.500
 of the beloved Son

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.059
 in whom we have

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:17.379
 redemption.

00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:18.460
 We've been called

00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.620
 out of the world.

00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:20.600
 We're in the world

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:22.039
 but not of the world.

00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:23.259
 John 17.18.

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.039
 And what you need

00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:25.519
 to realize

00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.080
 is this.

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.799
 That all these people

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.500
 living in darkness

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.439
 blinded by the ruler

00:15:29.439 --> 00:15:30.319
 of this world

00:15:30.319 --> 00:15:31.860
 they create

00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:33.039
 currents.

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:36.899
 deceptively dark

00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:37.439
 and destructive

00:15:37.439 --> 00:15:38.000
 currents.

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:38.899
 You know

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.599
 summer's coming.

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.120
 You know what I'm

00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.679
 talking about?

00:15:40.839 --> 00:15:41.620
 Summer is around

00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.079
 the corner.

00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.319
 Do I have an amen?

00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:48.079
 And when I hear

00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:48.879
 the word summer

00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.219
 I quickly think

00:15:50.219 --> 00:15:50.980
 of the word

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.699
 swimming.

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.219
 We have some

00:15:54.219 --> 00:15:54.759
 friends that

00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.719
 regularly invite us

00:15:55.719 --> 00:15:56.419
 as a family

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:57.120
 to come over

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.939
 and swim and play

00:15:57.939 --> 00:15:58.699
 in their circular

00:15:58.699 --> 00:15:59.599
 above ground pool.

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.540
 And one of the

00:16:01.540 --> 00:16:02.000
 things that we

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.800
 get to do is

00:16:02.800 --> 00:16:04.340
 get everybody

00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:05.019
 in the pool

00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:05.740
 and we start

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.399
 all walking

00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.200
 in the same

00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:07.759
 direction

00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.540
 in this circular

00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:08.879
 pool.

00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:10.940
 And in a short

00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:11.700
 amount of time

00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:12.279
 with all these

00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:12.920
 people walking

00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:13.399
 in the same

00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:13.920
 direction

00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:15.080
 a current

00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:15.940
 is created.

00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.240
 A current

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.800
 strong enough

00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:19.460
 to sweep people

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:19.960
 off their feet

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.420
 if they're not

00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:21.200
 firmly planted.

00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:23.680
 And here's what

00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:24.320
 you must realize

00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:24.940
 about the world.

00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:26.040
 The world

00:16:26.040 --> 00:16:27.680
 creates cultural

00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:28.779
 currents that

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.439
 are contrary

00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:30.100
 to the cause

00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:30.759
 of Christ.

00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:33.579
 When non-Christians

00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:34.240
 are living

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.559
 in close proximity

00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:36.740
 who are opposed

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.120
 to God

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.819
 and blinded

00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:38.919
 walk through

00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:39.860
 life together

00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:40.519
 they create

00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.220
 currents.

00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:46.539
 It's not water.

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.720
 It's ways

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.299
 of thinking.

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.439
 Ways of living.

00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:52.919
 Now don't mistake

00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.480
 what I'm saying.

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:56.039
 We all have

00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:56.720
 loved ones

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.199
 that have yet

00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:57.939
 to be transferred

00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.620
 from the domain

00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.200
 of darkness

00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.500
 into the kingdom

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.259
 of Christ.

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.180
 What we want

00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.900
 most for them

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.460
 is for them

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:05.859
 to know

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:07.279
 Christ the King.

00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.579
 But we must

00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.019
 be aware

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.380
 that these

00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:10.019
 non-Christians

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:10.460
 we love

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.000
 can be caught

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.420
 up in these

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.180
 cultural currents

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:12.759
 that oppose

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.299
 Christ.

00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:15.839
 What I want

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.380
 to remind you

00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:16.980
 of this morning

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.619
 is that these

00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.460
 currents created

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.079
 by the world

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:21.140
 are part

00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:22.200
 of the devil's

00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.500
 destructive network.

00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.579
 He employs

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.160
 the world

00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:27.700
 for his

00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.240
 destructive

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:28.900
 purposes.

00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.180
 He's the

00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.660
 prince of

00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.120
 the power

00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:31.660
 of the air.

00:17:31.800 --> 00:17:32.000
 He's the

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.540
 god of this

00:17:32.540 --> 00:17:33.019
 world.

00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:33.519
 The ruler

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.340
 of the age.

00:17:36.540 --> 00:17:37.080
 So the

00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:37.580
 connection we

00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:37.800
 see in

00:17:37.800 --> 00:17:38.340
 Ephesians 2

00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:38.880
 is following

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.320
 the course

00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:39.600
 of this

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:39.980
 world,

00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.000
 following the

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.320
 prince of

00:17:41.320 --> 00:17:41.680
 the power

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.460
 of the air,

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:42.779
 the god

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.040
 of this

00:17:43.040 --> 00:17:43.320
 world.

00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:45.080
 He's behind

00:17:45.080 --> 00:17:45.320
 it.

00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:47.579
 And as

00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:47.939
 Christians,

00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:48.639
 we cannot

00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:49.879
 live for

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.399
 what the

00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:50.899
 world lives

00:17:50.899 --> 00:17:51.460
 for because

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:51.899
 the world

00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:52.240
 does not

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:52.599
 live for

00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:52.939
 Christ.

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.339
 It's that

00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:53.679
 simple.

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:56.579
 As

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:56.919
 Christians,

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.619
 we create

00:17:57.619 --> 00:17:58.159
 our own

00:17:58.159 --> 00:17:58.939
 currents that

00:17:58.939 --> 00:17:59.500
 are Christ

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.319
 pleasing and

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.500
 Christ like

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:01.939
 and that will

00:18:01.939 --> 00:18:03.099
 oftentimes come

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.759
 into conflict

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.419
 with the way

00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:04.779
 the world

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.139
 is living.

00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.299
 And what the

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.079
 devil and his

00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.859
 demonic host are

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.759
 very effective at

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.659
 doing is

00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:14.000
 tempting us.

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.720
 through the

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.059
 world,

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.440
 appealing to

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.160
 the desires

00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:19.500
 of our

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:19.900
 flesh.

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.039
 What I'm

00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:26.480
 wanting you to

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.420
 see here is

00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.079
 that once we

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.539
 follow the

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.019
 prince of the

00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:29.460
 power of the

00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.740
 air, once we

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.339
 walk, we

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:31.779
 follow the

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.559
 course, the

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.299
 currents of

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.900
 the world, but

00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:35.680
 we can't make

00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.400
 the mistake of

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.700
 thinking that

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.380
 the devil doesn't

00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:39.240
 use the world

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:40.039
 for his purposes.

00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.940
 He does.

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.880
 He employs

00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:45.020
 the world for

00:18:45.020 --> 00:18:45.840
 his deceptive

00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:46.300
 and destructive

00:18:46.300 --> 00:18:47.840
 purposes by

00:18:47.840 --> 00:18:48.880
 tempting our

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.440
 flesh.

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.040
 We looked at

00:18:51.040 --> 00:18:51.660
 two enemies,

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.420
 let's look at

00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.780
 the third, the

00:18:53.780 --> 00:18:54.300
 flesh.

00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.180
 The first two

00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:55.660
 enemies, the

00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.160
 devil and the

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:56.480
 world are

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.280
 outside of us.

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.240
 This last

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.380
 enemy coordinated

00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:01.320
 against us is

00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:03.080
 the flesh, a.k.a.

00:19:03.280 --> 00:19:03.980
 the sinful

00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.400
 nature.

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:10.040
 Your flesh, if

00:19:10.040 --> 00:19:10.380
 you're a

00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.200
 Christian, is

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.960
 that part of

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.480
 you that

00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.440
 continues to

00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.660
 desire things

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.240
 that God

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.019
 forbids.

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.779
 And before

00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:20.460
 you were saved,

00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.220
 you were ruled

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:21.940
 by your

00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:22.480
 flesh.

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.140
 And Satan

00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:25.160
 exploited it.

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.660
 But when you

00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.920
 were saved, you

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.819
 were united to

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.579
 Christ and His

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:28.980
 death and

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.539
 resurrection.

00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:30.980
 And the power

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.539
 of sin in you

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.200
 was broken,

00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.160
 defeated by the

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:33.759
 cross.

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:36.940
 So you,

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.519
 Christian, have

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.360
 been united with

00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:40.299
 Christ and

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:40.919
 you're no longer

00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:42.000
 enslaved to

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.259
 sin.

00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:42.619
 But that

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.459
 doesn't mean

00:19:43.459 --> 00:19:45.399
 sin is no

00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:46.159
 longer present

00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:47.039
 and influential

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:47.639
 in your life.

00:19:49.479 --> 00:19:50.479
 You still have a

00:19:50.479 --> 00:19:51.079
 sinful nature.

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.379
 It no longer

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:54.099
 has dominion

00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.740
 over you, but

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.059
 it's still

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.899
 present in you.

00:19:56.219 --> 00:19:56.639
 And by the

00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:57.240
 way, God has

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.579
 sent His

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.399
 Spirit to dwell

00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:59.500
 inside of you

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.319
 and so that

00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:00.959
 when you have

00:20:00.959 --> 00:20:01.679
 desires that

00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.319
 are not pleasing

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.179
 to God, the

00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:04.039
 Holy Spirit

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.279
 will confront

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:05.679
 them.

00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:06.559
 Galatians 5,

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.259
 15 and on.

00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:10.339
 But what

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:10.859
 we're talking

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.519
 about is how

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.119
 the devil's

00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:13.299
 destructive network

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:15.019
 uses the world

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.899
 to tempt

00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:17.539
 your flesh.

00:20:19.199 --> 00:20:19.979
 What He's

00:20:19.979 --> 00:20:20.479
 seeking to do

00:20:20.479 --> 00:20:21.379
 is exploit

00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:22.439
 your sinful

00:20:22.439 --> 00:20:23.699
 nature through

00:20:23.699 --> 00:20:24.279
 the world.

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.000
 Typically.

00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.099
 James 1,

00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:29.939
 14 is very

00:20:29.939 --> 00:20:30.919
 helpful because

00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:31.839
 I think it's

00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:32.519
 very important

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.179
 that we make

00:20:33.179 --> 00:20:34.119
 a distinction

00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.099
 right now.

00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:37.719
 James 1,

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.339
 14 says,

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.099
 this, but

00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:39.879
 each person

00:20:39.879 --> 00:20:40.599
 is tempted

00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:42.019
 when he's

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.959
 lured and

00:20:42.959 --> 00:20:44.419
 enticed by

00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:45.559
 his own

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.639
 desire.

00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.279
 We are

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.319
 responsible for

00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:51.899
 our sinful

00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:52.439
 choices.

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.859
 We cannot

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.740
 blame our

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.859
 sin on the

00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:57.119
 devil.

00:20:57.939 --> 00:20:58.299
 That's where

00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:58.619
 I'm trying to

00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.219
 make a distinction.

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:01.059
 He tempts us,

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.299
 but we're

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.139
 responsible for

00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:03.639
 our choices.

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:07.200
 Yes, He's

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.880
 actively seeking

00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.500
 to tempt us

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.320
 through deception

00:21:09.320 --> 00:21:10.220
 to destroy us.

00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:11.040
 Yes, it's not

00:21:11.040 --> 00:21:11.440
 fair.

00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:12.440
 He doesn't play

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:13.020
 by the rules.

00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:14.100
 He's forceful.

00:21:14.540 --> 00:21:15.080
 He makes it

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:15.759
 really difficult.

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.900
 He's seeking to

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:18.100
 exploit any and

00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:19.000
 every opportunity

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.740
 we give Him.

00:21:19.800 --> 00:21:20.240
 It's true.

00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:21.780
 But what a

00:21:21.780 --> 00:21:22.600
 Christian can never

00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:24.420
 say is that his

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:26.540
 or her sin can't

00:21:26.540 --> 00:21:27.100
 say, the devil

00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:27.880
 made me do it.

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:31.580
 Why not?

00:21:31.820 --> 00:21:32.480
 He may have

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.420
 tempted us.

00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:35.120
 He may have

00:21:35.120 --> 00:21:35.860
 used the world

00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:36.680
 to tempt us,

00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.940
 but He did not

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:39.200
 cause us to

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.520
 disobey our

00:21:40.520 --> 00:21:40.920
 God.

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.340
 So when it

00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:46.900
 comes to our

00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:47.400
 flesh, there's

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.020
 different commands

00:21:48.020 --> 00:21:48.660
 in our Bibles.

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:49.940
 One of them is

00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.880
 Romans 8.13,

00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:52.320
 which calls us

00:21:52.320 --> 00:21:53.020
 as Christians

00:21:53.020 --> 00:21:54.680
 to put to

00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:56.040
 death the

00:21:56.040 --> 00:21:56.640
 deeds of the

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:56.920
 body.

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.860
 We're to be

00:21:58.860 --> 00:21:59.780
 warring against

00:21:59.780 --> 00:22:00.360
 our flesh.

00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:03.200
 We're responsible.

00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:05.520
 Now this raises

00:22:05.520 --> 00:22:06.000
 an interesting

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.200
 question, and

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.780
 maybe some of

00:22:07.780 --> 00:22:08.300
 you have already

00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:09.020
 been asking it.

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.080
 It's this.

00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:12.900
 Can a Christian

00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:14.600
 be possessed

00:22:14.600 --> 00:22:15.740
 by a demon?

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.160
 Has anybody

00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:17.740
 thought that?

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.240
 Anybody wondered?

00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.000
 I have.

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.780
 Well, it depends

00:22:23.780 --> 00:22:24.300
 upon what you

00:22:24.300 --> 00:22:24.820
 mean by demon

00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:25.260
 possession.

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.519
 If what you

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.140
 mean by demon

00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.299
 possession is a

00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.579
 demon occupying a

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.339
 Christian's heart

00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.019
 and mind and

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:34.420
 taking over, the

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:35.000
 answer to that

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.980
 question is no.

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.819
 A Christian can't

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.759
 be demon

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.619
 possessed like

00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:39.980
 that.

00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:42.019
 A demon cannot

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:43.539
 occupy a Christian's

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.119
 heart and mind.

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.559
 Do you know

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:44.920
 why?

00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:47.900
 there is

00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:50.140
 someone, capital

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.840
 S someone,

00:22:52.560 --> 00:22:54.759
 already occupying

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.160
 it.

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.620
 1 John 4.4

00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:59.519
 Greater is

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.400
 He that is in

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.820
 you than

00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:03.840
 He that is in

00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.240
 the world.

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:04.860
 And the

00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:05.900
 greater is He

00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:06.700
 is specifically

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.519
 the Holy Spirit

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.019
 in you.

00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:10.560
 Greater is He

00:23:10.560 --> 00:23:11.100
 that is in you

00:23:11.100 --> 00:23:11.680
 than He that is

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.160
 in the world.

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.160
 But if what you

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:17.880
 mean by demon

00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:18.540
 possession is

00:23:18.540 --> 00:23:18.960
 more like

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.080
 demonized,

00:23:22.800 --> 00:23:23.600
 harassed,

00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.740
 attacked,

00:23:26.040 --> 00:23:26.660
 tempted with

00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.420
 great force and

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:27.980
 frequency,

00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:30.220
 yes, that

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:30.779
 happens.

00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.400
 And that is

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.660
 exactly why God

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.560
 is calling us to

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.980
 stand firm against

00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.779
 the schemes of

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.259
 the devil.

00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.800
 Against the

00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:40.800
 spiritual forces of

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.639
 evil that seek to

00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:42.359
 employ the world

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:43.119
 to tempt our

00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.680
 flesh.

00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.659
 So we've been

00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.619
 trying to look at

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.299
 the devil's

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:50.519
 destructive network.

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.539
 He uses it.

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.519
 We've seen three

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.519
 enemies, the devil,

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.139
 the world, and the

00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.500
 flesh.

00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.680
 And through this

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:59.000
 network he attacks

00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:01.099
 us with common

00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:02.159
 tactics.

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.059
 His schemes.

00:24:05.919 --> 00:24:07.119
 In Ephesians 6.11

00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:07.980
 we're told to

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:09.299
 stand firm against

00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:11.259
 the schemes of

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.659
 the devil.

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:13.559
 And so the devil

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.899
 uses network to

00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.960
 try to draw on

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.639
 us in some

00:24:16.639 --> 00:24:17.240
 common ways.

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.759
 And I want to

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.500
 show you four

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:20.059
 ways, four

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.559
 common tactics

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:23.440
 that the devil

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.519
 seeks to employ

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.740
 to do us

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.180
 harm.

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.960
 The first is

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.279
 doubt.

00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:34.559
 Doubt is

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:36.460
 destroying trust

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.399
 in God's

00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:37.740
 word.

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:37.920
 word.

00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:40.480
 We see it in

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.319
 Genesis 3

00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:42.960
 very early on.

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.920
 The serpent

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.559
 coming on the

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.620
 scene and one

00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:46.440
 of his first

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.500
 things he asks

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.460
 Eve is,

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.099
 did God

00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.960
 actually say

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.480
 you should not

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.019
 eat of any

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.480
 tree in the

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.759
 garden?

00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:55.099
 Doubt.

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.640
 You shall not

00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.400
 surely die.

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.339
 Doubt in God's

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:00.579
 word.

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.519
 For God knows

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:02.940
 that when you

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.460
 eat of it your

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:03.880
 eyes will be

00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.299
 opened and you

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.620
 will be like

00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.220
 God knowing good

00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.579
 needle.

00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:08.100
 God is trying to

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.640
 win all good

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.259
 from you.

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.720
 Doubting God.

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.019
 Doubting the

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.039
 goodness of God's

00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.319
 word.

00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.500
 The devil delights

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.100
 when he causes

00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:20.880
 people to doubt

00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.500
 God's word.

00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:23.660
 And so the way

00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.460
 that we fight and

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:24.920
 the way that we're

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.480
 going to learn to

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.720
 fight next week is

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.799
 by using God's

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:31.180
 word and trusting

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.299
 in God's word when

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:34.000
 faced with temptation.

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.899
 I mean our king

00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:37.859
 did the same thing

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.680
 in Matthew 4.

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.799
 So first tactic

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.359
 is doubt.

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.899
 The second tactic

00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:44.919
 is distraction.

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:45.879
 And what

00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.799
 distraction does

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.700
 it destroys

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.639
 wholehearted

00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.720
 devotion to

00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.220
 Christ.

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.079
 Now there are

00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.839
 full frontal

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.259
 distractions but

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.200
 more common

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:56.940
 are the

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.659
 subtle

00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.819
 frog

00:25:58.819 --> 00:26:01.059
 distractions.

00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.299
 distractions.

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.799
 As in the frog

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.359
 in the pot of

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:04.700
 water.

00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.019
 Apparently,

00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:08.139
 and I have not

00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:09.099
 personally verified

00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:10.179
 this with my own

00:26:10.179 --> 00:26:11.740
 experimentation at my

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.240
 house,

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.079
 but apparently if you

00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:15.220
 drop a frog into a

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:16.179
 pot of boiling water

00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:17.119
 it will immediately

00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:17.919
 jump out.

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.759
 Have you guys heard

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:18.960
 that?

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.899
 Would you personally

00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:21.659
 do the same thing?

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.700
 Yes.

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:26.500
 But if you put a

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.220
 frog in a pot of

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.059
 warm water and

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.180
 incrementally turn

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.259
 the heat up until

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.120
 it comes to a

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:32.039
 gradual boil,

00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:34.420
 that frog in the

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:36.600
 water acclimates

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:38.759
 and eventually

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.620
 gets slowly

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.160
 cooked.

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.460
 The devil is

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.860
 patient in his

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:45.680
 distracting us

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.920
 unto destruction.

00:26:48.580 --> 00:26:49.960
 The devil uses the

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.960
 world to distract us

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.819
 from giving ourselves

00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:53.299
 fully to what

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:54.339
 matters most.

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.139
 Wholehearted

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:56.039
 devotion to Christ.

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:56.619
 And here's some of

00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.399
 the things he uses.

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:58.980
 Busyness.

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:01.579
 Money.

00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:02.879
 Entertainment.

00:27:03.679 --> 00:27:04.059
 Comfort.

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.619
 Exercise.

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.879
 Praise of your

00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:06.539
 own name.

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.099
 He uses these

00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.899
 things to distract

00:27:09.899 --> 00:27:10.159
 us.

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.159
 Some of these

00:27:11.159 --> 00:27:11.720
 things are in and

00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.240
 of themselves

00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.879
 not bad.

00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.899
 But what the

00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:15.480
 devil is seeking

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.200
 to do is move it

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.480
 from good to a

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.419
 small g God.

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:18.460
 word.

00:27:20.060 --> 00:27:21.120
 So we got to be

00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:23.519
 careful because the

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.620
 devil will exploit

00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:26.600
 sinful cravings in

00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:28.160
 us to distract us

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:28.940
 from Christ.

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.420
 The devil delights

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.300
 when he gradually

00:27:32.300 --> 00:27:34.779
 deceptively distracts

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.700
 us from wholehearted

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.880
 devotion to Jesus.

00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:41.080
 We need his word to

00:27:41.080 --> 00:27:41.600
 sniff it out.

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:47.259
 We look at doubt,

00:27:47.699 --> 00:27:48.240
 distraction,

00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.179
 distortion.

00:27:50.139 --> 00:27:51.079
 Another tactic of

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:51.439
 the devil.

00:27:52.459 --> 00:27:53.099
 Destroying the

00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:54.019
 goodness of God's

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.339
 design.

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.419
 What is

00:27:55.419 --> 00:27:56.299
 prostitution?

00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.959
 What is sex

00:27:58.959 --> 00:27:59.539
 trafficking?

00:28:00.219 --> 00:28:01.339
 What is pornography?

00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:02.779
 Do you know what

00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.139
 they are?

00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:05.139
 They are distortions

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.639
 of God's good

00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:09.480
 design of sexuality

00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:11.220
 that end up

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.640
 destroying people.

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:17.319
 We see distortions

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.620
 of marriage.

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.319
 We see distortions

00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.779
 of when life

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:23.000
 begins in the

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.319
 womb.

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:26.500
 We see distortions

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.620
 of male leadership.

00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:34.960
 The devil delights

00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.759
 in distorting

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:37.259
 God's good

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.920
 design.

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:40.640
 And what we see

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.440
 going on in the

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.440
 world is a

00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:44.320
 normalizing of

00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:45.380
 the distortions.

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.160
 We need God's

00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:48.460
 word.

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.000
 We'll be equipped

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.620
 next week

00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.300
 how to fight

00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:53.700
 this.

00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.360
 The fourth

00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:59.120
 tactic is

00:28:59.120 --> 00:28:59.500
 division.

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.320
 The Satan

00:29:02.320 --> 00:29:04.340
 destroying

00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.920
 God-pleasing

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.200
 unity.

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.279
 unity.

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.620
 Satan

00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:09.460
 destroying

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.920
 the blood-bought

00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.720
 unity of

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.420
 his people.

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:15.720
 One of the

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.299
 themes throughout

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:16.740
 the book of

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.660
 Ephesians is

00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:18.220
 unity.

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:18.940
 We see it in

00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.640
 Ephesians 4,

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.500
 1-6.

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.819
 Paul exhorts us,

00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:22.340
 walk in a manner

00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:22.880
 worthy of the

00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.400
 calling to which

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.019
 you've called

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:25.960
 as one

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.420
 people.

00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:28.279
 One body.

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.559
 One Lord.

00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:30.880
 One baptism.

00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:31.580
 One faith.

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:31.900
 One,

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.120
 one,

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.380
 one,

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:32.600
 one,

00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:32.920
 one.

00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.559
 Unity.

00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:35.720
 In Jesus'

00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.379
 high priestly

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:36.960
 prayer in

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.619
 John 17,

00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.779
 Jesus prays

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:40.339
 for us and

00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:40.940
 he prays that

00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.579
 we would be

00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.960
 united and

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.519
 united in

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:43.879
 him.

00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.079
 I mean,

00:29:45.139 --> 00:29:45.700
 think about it

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.119
 this way.

00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:47.720
 God's plan for

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.339
 the fullness of

00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:49.099
 time is to

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:50.099
 unite all

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.079
 things in

00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:51.700
 Christ.

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.819
 So it makes

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.539
 sense that one

00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:57.339
 of the devil's

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.980
 chief tactics

00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.960
 is to divide

00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:00.700
 the unity of

00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.460
 God's people.

00:30:02.600 --> 00:30:03.519
 Brothers and

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.180
 sisters of

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:04.700
 Christ the

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.420
 King Church,

00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:08.400
 it is safe

00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:10.000
 to say that

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.559
 the devil and

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.779
 his host are

00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.559
 looking for an

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:14.000
 opportunity to

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.920
 divide us.

00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:16.360
 It's safe to

00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:16.700
 say it.

00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.880
 It's not if,

00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.500
 but it's when.

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.480
 The devil is

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:23.880
 seeking to

00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.940
 undermine God's

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.920
 unifying work

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:27.039
 in us and

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.640
 he's been doing

00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:28.660
 a wonderful work

00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.299
 in this body.

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.779
 So we have

00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.420
 warnings like

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.100
 Ephesians 4,

00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:34.460
 26 and 27.

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.940
 Be angry and

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.759
 do not sin.

00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:37.340
 Do not let the

00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:38.000
 sun go down on

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.980
 your anger and

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.059
 give no opportunity

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:42.100
 to the devil.

00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:44.680
 The devil is

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.059
 looking to

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.660
 divide us.

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.220
 He's looking to

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.180
 undermine and

00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:48.380
 divide us as a

00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:48.720
 church.

00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.279
 Let me give you

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:49.960
 some possible

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.500
 ways he would

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:50.860
 do that.

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.000
 He'll seek to

00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.539
 divide us over

00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:53.980
 doctrine.

00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.039
 He'll seek to

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.620
 divide us over

00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:56.440
 worship preferences.

00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.000
 He'll seek to

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.580
 divide us over

00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:58.140
 joining the

00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:59.140
 Crossway Association.

00:30:59.559 --> 00:30:59.980
 He'll seek to

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.599
 divide us over

00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:01.339
 approving budgets.

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.799
 He'll seek to

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.299
 divide us over

00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.180
 decisions regarding

00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:04.720
 carpet texture and

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.299
 wall color.

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.680
 He'll seek to

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.279
 divide us over

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:08.960
 hurt feelings.

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.200
 Listen to James.

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.720
 Listen to this.

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.819
 This is so good.

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.960
 But if you have

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.880
 bitter jealousy and

00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:20.799
 selfish ambition in

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:22.660
 your hearts, this

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:24.180
 is not the wisdom

00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:24.980
 that comes down

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.420
 from above, but

00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.019
 is earthly,

00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:27.940
 worldly,

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:29.480
 unspiritual,

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:30.740
 demonic.

00:31:31.580 --> 00:31:32.140
 That's James.

00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:33.880
 He goes on to

00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:34.900
 say, for where

00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.799
 jealousy and

00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:36.759
 selfish ambition

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:38.140
 exist, also

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:39.420
 known as pride,

00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:40.860
 for where

00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:41.580
 jealousy and

00:31:41.580 --> 00:31:42.220
 selfish ambition

00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:43.200
 exist, there will

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.100
 be disorder in

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:45.360
 every vile practice,

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.660
 also known as

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.140
 division.

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.779
 But the wisdom

00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.440
 from above is

00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.320
 first of all pure,

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:51.980
 then peaceable,

00:31:52.120 --> 00:31:52.920
 gentle, open to

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.580
 reason, full of

00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.140
 mercy and good

00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:55.080
 fruits, impartial,

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.900
 insincere.

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:57.380
 That's Christ-like

00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:58.080
 stuff right there.

00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:59.120
 That's humility in

00:31:59.120 --> 00:31:59.440
 action.

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.420
 And he goes on to

00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.160
 say, in a harvest

00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:03.120
 of righteousness is

00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:03.960
 sown in peace by

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.800
 those who make

00:32:04.800 --> 00:32:05.320
 peace.

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:07.980
 Unity.

00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:11.740
 God is calling

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:14.220
 us to guard

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.300
 against the

00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.500
 divisive efforts

00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.460
 of the devil.

00:32:20.320 --> 00:32:21.120
 One of the things

00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:21.800
 I hear somewhat

00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:22.820
 frequently is this.

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.860
 Christians saying,

00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:25.479
 I don't need a

00:32:25.479 --> 00:32:25.699
 church.

00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:27.339
 I don't need to

00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:27.679
 go to church.

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.379
 The church is full

00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:29.819
 of people who are

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.139
 jerks.

00:32:30.219 --> 00:32:30.599
 I don't need to

00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.059
 go to church.

00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.240
 I'm not making a

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.979
 case the church is

00:32:35.979 --> 00:32:36.319
 perfect.

00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:38.219
 God knows I'm not.

00:32:41.219 --> 00:32:42.459
 But isolation is

00:32:42.459 --> 00:32:43.959
 exactly what the

00:32:43.959 --> 00:32:45.000
 devil wants.

00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.539
 Anybody watch

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.799
 Mutual of Omaha's

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:51.699
 Wild Kingdom?

00:32:52.399 --> 00:32:53.279
 What happens on the

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.419
 African Serengeti?

00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:56.839
 Pride of Lions?

00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.779
 Remember what they

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.039
 do?

00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.579
 They identify

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.659
 weak link.

00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:04.219
 Separate weak link.

00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:05.779
 Isolate weak link.

00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.719
 Devour weak link.

00:33:09.199 --> 00:33:10.259
 1 Peter 5.8

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.759
 Our enemy, the devil,

00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:12.939
 is like a lion

00:33:12.939 --> 00:33:13.619
 prowling around

00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.139
 looking for someone

00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:14.679
 to devour.

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:16.079
 So for us, what this

00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.179
 means is instead of

00:33:17.179 --> 00:33:18.339
 separating and

00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:19.399
 isolating, we

00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:20.819
 congregate and

00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.319
 unite.

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:21.460
 fight.

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:25.319
 And we take up arms

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.119
 against the devil.

00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.980
 Doubt, distraction,

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:29.139
 distortion, division are

00:33:29.139 --> 00:33:30.339
 all deceptive methods

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:32.279
 the devil uses to

00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.419
 destroy God's glorious

00:33:33.419 --> 00:33:34.619
 purpose in Christ.

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:36.659
 But our God's

00:33:36.659 --> 00:33:36.879
 bigger.

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:39.619
 Speaking of Christ,

00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:42.259
 let's turn to the

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.980
 devil's greatest

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.439
 weakness.

00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:46.240
 His name is Jesus.

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:51.460
 The devil's weakness,

00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.620
 his greatest enemy,

00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:54.579
 is our Lord and

00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:56.059
 King, Jesus Christ,

00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:57.200
 who gave himself up

00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:57.980
 for us.

00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:58.079
 Jesus.

00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:06.900
 Did you know that

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.759
 Jesus is the

00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.579
 destroyer of the

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.119
 destroyer?

00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:12.659
 He will destroy

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:14.559
 the works of the

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:14.760
 devil.

00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:20.060
 Christ's death and

00:34:20.060 --> 00:34:21.360
 resurrection won the

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.620
 decisive victory in

00:34:22.620 --> 00:34:23.400
 the battle against the

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:23.600
 devil.

00:34:25.100 --> 00:34:25.700
 According to

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.940
 Colossians 2.13, the

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:28.320
 cross of Christ disarmed

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.080
 the rulers and

00:34:29.080 --> 00:34:30.360
 authorities, speaking of

00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.680
 spiritual powers, and

00:34:31.680 --> 00:34:32.700
 put them to open shame

00:34:32.700 --> 00:34:34.120
 by triumphing over

00:34:34.120 --> 00:34:34.480
 them.

00:34:35.660 --> 00:34:36.980
 What happened at the

00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:39.880
 cross overpowered the

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:41.600
 spiritual forces of

00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:42.140
 darkness.

00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:43.660
 All things were put

00:34:43.660 --> 00:34:44.680
 under his feet.

00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:48.040
 Let's back up.

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.520
 What was Satan

00:34:51.520 --> 00:34:52.340
 thinking when he

00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:53.220
 entered Judas in

00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:53.840
 order to betray

00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.220
 Jesus?

00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:56.840
 Speculation.

00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:57.620
 I think he was

00:34:57.620 --> 00:34:58.060
 thinking he was

00:34:58.060 --> 00:34:58.600
 going to destroy

00:34:58.600 --> 00:34:58.960
 Jesus.

00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.780
 Apparently, Satan

00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:03.240
 did not realize that

00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:04.540
 what he was doing was

00:35:04.540 --> 00:35:06.460
 according to God's

00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:07.780
 sovereign, glorious

00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:08.380
 plan.

00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:11.240
 Jesus not only knew

00:35:11.240 --> 00:35:12.099
 Judas would betray

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:13.320
 him, he allowed

00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:14.820
 Jesus to betray

00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.140
 him.

00:35:15.140 --> 00:35:16.539
 He willfully went to

00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.539
 his own death because

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.260
 it would be through

00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:19.440
 his death and

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:21.260
 resurrection that he

00:35:21.260 --> 00:35:22.500
 would destroy death

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:25.140
 and the destroyer.

00:35:25.139 --> 00:35:29.079
 Christ is risen.

00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:30.299
 He is on his throne.

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:31.239
 The devil is on the

00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:31.579
 run.

00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:32.920
 And when Jesus comes

00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:33.679
 back, he will

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:35.299
 completely, finally

00:35:35.299 --> 00:35:37.679
 dismantle, destroy the

00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.659
 devil's network and

00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:40.299
 then throw him by the

00:35:40.299 --> 00:35:41.659
 scaly scruff of his

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:43.500
 neck into the lake of

00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:43.839
 fire.

00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:47.100
 That's Revelation 20

00:35:47.100 --> 00:35:47.600
 verse 10.

00:35:50.700 --> 00:35:52.180
 The devil goes by the

00:35:52.180 --> 00:35:52.840
 destroyer.

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.000
 Apollyon.

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:58.539
 Way back in Genesis

00:35:58.539 --> 00:36:01.720
 chapter 315, the

00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:04.660
 proto-evangelium, the

00:36:04.660 --> 00:36:07.900
 first gospel, there

00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.860
 would be a descendant

00:36:08.860 --> 00:36:10.579
 of Eve who would

00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:12.920
 break the serpent's

00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:13.420
 neck.

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:18.260
 There are three

00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:19.120
 passages I'd really

00:36:19.120 --> 00:36:20.160
 like to show you, but

00:36:20.160 --> 00:36:20.539
 I'm just going to

00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:21.180
 point you to one.

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:22.820
 If you would turn to

00:36:22.820 --> 00:36:26.140
 Hebrews chapter 2, I

00:36:26.140 --> 00:36:27.280
 want to gird up your

00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:28.100
 loins with this,

00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:29.920
 strengthen you.

00:36:40.240 --> 00:36:41.960
 Hebrews chapter 2

00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:43.019
 verse 14, since

00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:43.900
 therefore the children

00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.900
 share in flesh and

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:46.840
 blood, Jesus himself

00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:48.380
 likewise partook of the

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:48.900
 same things.

00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:50.759
 He became a man.

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:54.019
 That through death he

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:56.099
 might destroy the one

00:36:56.099 --> 00:36:57.679
 who has the power of

00:36:57.679 --> 00:36:57.960
 death.

00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:59.420
 That is the devil.

00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.219
 Did you get it right

00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:00.460
 there?

00:37:01.340 --> 00:37:03.300
 He came to destroy the

00:37:03.300 --> 00:37:04.739
 works of the devil and

00:37:04.739 --> 00:37:05.179
 the devil.

00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:08.280
 And deliver all those

00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:09.119
 who through fear of

00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:10.159
 death were subject to

00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:11.159
 lifelong savory.

00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:16.980
 The devil's greatest

00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:19.739
 weakness is our Lord

00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:22.379
 Jesus, who's already

00:37:22.379 --> 00:37:24.239
 triumphed and who is

00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:26.339
 going to work all things

00:37:26.339 --> 00:37:26.899
 out.

00:37:27.319 --> 00:37:28.399
 His kingdom is

00:37:28.399 --> 00:37:29.219
 advancing.

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:30.920
 The kingdom, the domain

00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:31.819
 of darkness is

00:37:31.819 --> 00:37:32.739
 shrinking.

00:37:32.739 --> 00:37:38.299
 So let me conclude by

00:37:38.299 --> 00:37:38.959
 saying this.

00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:40.519
 This morning we've done

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:42.000
 some biblical recon on

00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.639
 the adversary of our

00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.519
 souls, the devil.

00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:47.780
 And what I want you to

00:37:47.780 --> 00:37:48.920
 walk away with is this.

00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:51.320
 Christian, you don't

00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:52.300
 need to fear the devil.

00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:55.000
 He's been defeated.

00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:56.800
 His doom is set.

00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.900
 Yes, he's dangerous.

00:37:58.199 --> 00:37:59.239
 He prowls around like a

00:37:59.239 --> 00:37:59.500
 lion.

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:04.300
 But God is for us.

00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:08.380
 He hasn't even, he's

00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:09.420
 given us his own son.

00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:10.340
 How much along with him

00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:11.099
 will he give us everything

00:38:11.099 --> 00:38:11.659
 we need?

00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.619
 Nothing can separate us

00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:14.420
 from the love of God in

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:14.900
 Christ Jesus.

00:38:16.799 --> 00:38:18.039
 God is for us.

00:38:20.779 --> 00:38:24.719
 Next week, we're to go

00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.900
 to the Christian armory to

00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:27.319
 see what weapons God has

00:38:27.319 --> 00:38:28.619
 provided for us to stand

00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:29.699
 firm against the schemes

00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:30.179
 of the devil.

00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:32.339
 We know he's been

00:38:32.339 --> 00:38:32.699
 defeated.

00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:35.920
 He will be destroyed.

00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:37.559
 He remains dangerous.

00:38:38.359 --> 00:38:39.960
 So next week we learn how

00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:43.119
 to put on the armor and

00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:43.460
 fight.

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.339
 Let me pray.

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:54.619
 God, thank you so much

00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.239
 for your word.

00:38:55.819 --> 00:38:57.079
 Thank you for making us

00:38:57.079 --> 00:38:58.519
 aware of things that we

00:38:58.519 --> 00:39:01.059
 will generally not think

00:39:01.059 --> 00:39:01.319
 about.

00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:05.500
 God, we are sobered by the

00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:07.299
 reality of a spiritual

00:39:07.299 --> 00:39:09.099
 conflict going all around us

00:39:09.099 --> 00:39:11.219
 and even aimed at us.

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:13.940
 But we take courage in

00:39:13.940 --> 00:39:15.380
 knowing that Jesus, our

00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:17.539
 King, reigns over it all

00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:20.119
 and is working his will for

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.699
 our good.

00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:24.360
 God, I pray that you would

00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:26.799
 strengthen us, that you

00:39:26.799 --> 00:39:28.460
 would protect us, that you

00:39:28.460 --> 00:39:30.400
 would unite us, that you

00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:31.960
 would make us wise.

00:39:32.099 --> 00:39:34.000
 We are not ignorant to his

00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:34.099
 designs.

00:39:34.099 --> 00:39:34.619
 designs.

00:39:35.239 --> 00:39:36.860
 And so, God, we pray for the

00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:38.579
 power and the wisdom to walk

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:39.880
 in a manner worthy of the

00:39:39.880 --> 00:39:40.880
 calling of which you called

00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:42.639
 us as a church armed for the

00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:43.219
 glory of Christ.

00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:43.679
 Amen.

00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:43.860
 Amen.

00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:44.920
 Amen.

00:39:44.920 --> 00:40:14.900
 Thank you.