WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.419 I want you to turn to Ephesians chapter 6, Ephesians chapter 6. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:09.120 Do you ever get shocked and dismayed by what you see happening in the world? 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:16.559 If opening ceremonies didn't get your attention of the Olympics, it ought to. 00:00:17.219 --> 00:00:23.440 Do you mean to tell me that they were celebrating the made-up gods of Greek mythology that were 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:30.380 filled, if you do the research, with blood sacrifices and sodomy while at the same time 00:00:30.380 --> 00:00:31.940 blaspheming the name of Jesus? 00:00:33.260 --> 00:00:35.100 Yes, it's exactly what they were doing. 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:43.200 It was a front to Christianity and it is confronting Christianity. 00:00:43.820 --> 00:00:46.820 Jesus told us we would be hated. 00:00:48.180 --> 00:00:50.540 So don't be shocked when we are. 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:55.000 I really want you to understand what all of that comes from. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:01.840 Not just a French opening ceremony, but the celebration of all things that are against 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:09.079 the things of God, especially when the name of Christ is brought up. 00:01:09.299 --> 00:01:14.159 I'm just not speaking though of stuff out there that the world's doing. 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:18.200 I'm speaking of us as well. 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:23.500 We are fighting in a war. 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:32.760 It is a war that has already been won, but the battles continue to rage on in a very real 00:01:32.760 --> 00:01:33.299 sense. 00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:37.159 It rages on more real than you can see. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:39.600 It's not a national battle. 00:01:40.460 --> 00:01:42.120 It's not a world war. 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:48.079 Yet the effect of it highly influences our nation and our world. 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.240 I speak of a personal battle. 00:01:52.460 --> 00:01:57.580 A battle that is so common that we all face it. 00:01:57.980 --> 00:02:01.500 Yet so different that none of us are the same. 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:08.780 And it's not a battle that we can see like the conflicts of the Middle East, although they're 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:11.300 fueled by this same war. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:18.099 It's an unseen battle in the hearts and the souls of lives, yet the evidence is all around 00:02:18.099 --> 00:02:18.939 us and within us. 00:02:18.979 --> 00:02:22.920 And just because you can't see it does not mean it's not real. 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:28.719 I can't see the wind either, but I've seen it do devastating things. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:34.259 In fact, it's more real than the wars that you see. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:38.560 In reality, it is the seed of the wars that you see. 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:42.639 It's at the heart of every conflict that we face. 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:50.520 And it wars against our family, and it wars against our church, and it wars against our psyche, 00:02:51.020 --> 00:02:53.039 and it wars against our soul. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:57.519 When a church takes a hit, it's due to the influence of the enemy. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:03.239 When a family takes a hit, it's likely under the influence of the same enemy. 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:10.060 When we personally take a hit, we hit a bump in the road, get knocked off our feet, get 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:11.879 back slapped by life. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:22.459 So many times, so much of that comes back to a war that, listen to me, was won long ago. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:25.400 Yet still rages on. 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:30.919 The battle that I fight affects you. 00:03:32.019 --> 00:03:35.379 And the battle that you fight affects me. 00:03:35.519 --> 00:03:36.659 It affects us. 00:03:36.799 --> 00:03:38.560 It's our own battlefield. 00:03:39.399 --> 00:03:40.340 But I got news for you. 00:03:40.359 --> 00:03:42.479 It's a crowded battlefield. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.599 It is individualized. 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:51.979 But yet, it is so very similar. 00:03:52.459 --> 00:03:58.620 It can be utterly confusing when the truth of it is rather plain. 00:03:59.339 --> 00:04:05.280 It can appear justified at times when it's not justified at all. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:11.580 It's a war, and we can't avoid the battles therein. 00:04:12.659 --> 00:04:17.259 Thankfully, it is one that Scripture warns us of. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:20.920 It is one that Scripture guides us through. 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:25.040 That is what's going on in our world. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:33.140 And one of the best explanations of this spiritual war that's taking place is mentioned in Paul's 00:04:33.140 --> 00:04:34.740 letter to Ephesus. 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:44.620 And I will tell you that Ephesians chapter 6, 10 through 20 is the bedrock passage on this 00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:51.379 subject of spiritual warfare, the real spiritual war that we fight. 00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:55.399 And we'll spend several weeks talking about it. 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:58.139 And this Scripture is where we'll dock. 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:03.860 Now, we'll venture throughout Scripture over the next few weeks to understand more of where 00:05:03.860 --> 00:05:09.980 it came from, how it's manifested, how the Satan's worked in the past, and how he works 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:13.639 in the present, to understand what we face. 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:19.120 But I will tell you from the beginning, we'll come back here in Ephesians chapter 6. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:21.860 Ephesians, again and again. 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:26.079 Ephesians chapter 6, beginning in verse 10, says, 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:31.360 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 00:05:31.459 --> 00:05:36.620 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:42.220 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:45.139 against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, 00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:48.939 against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:55.399 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:59.579 and having done all to stand firm. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:06.060 This passage begins with him saying, finally, what does he mean by finally? 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:10.780 Well, it's in the latter part of the book of Ephesians. 00:06:10.779 --> 00:06:18.179 And all of the matters that he's dealt with in this letter has led up to this final instruction. 00:06:18.799 --> 00:06:22.679 He has spoken of the spiritual need that we have. 00:06:23.099 --> 00:06:25.399 Ephesians 1 is beautiful in that way. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:35.639 And then it gets to a key, maybe the two best words in all of Scripture. 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:36.639 But God. 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.360 But God. 00:06:37.659 --> 00:06:42.240 And then he describes the difference that God has made in our life. 00:06:42.599 --> 00:06:46.620 He goes on to show us how that makes a difference in our daily life 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:52.979 and how we apply that truth to when we go to work, when we live at home, and wherever we go. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:58.420 And now after all of that, he finally says, he finishes up by saying, finally. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:04.280 In a world that you're living in and the people that you're around, 00:07:05.080 --> 00:07:10.759 we need to understand and commit to these necessities. 00:07:11.300 --> 00:07:14.460 Now listen, we'll work through them in the days ahead. 00:07:15.020 --> 00:07:18.600 We'll understand them better in the days ahead. 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:29.600 But I'm asking you to join me in committing completely to these necessities in our walk with God. 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:31.620 The first one is this. 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:34.420 Understand the enemy. 00:07:35.840 --> 00:07:37.000 Understand the enemy. 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:43.939 No matter what you may go through, you need to understand a basic premise about our enemy. 00:07:43.939 --> 00:07:49.279 And that is, I am not, and you are not, and we are not. 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:52.120 We are not his prime targets. 00:07:53.540 --> 00:07:54.339 Christ is. 00:07:55.959 --> 00:08:01.120 He's always been aiming at Christ, and he's always aiming at Christ. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:02.720 It's been that way from the beginning. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:05.240 Hebrews chapter 2, verse 14 and 15 says this. 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:11.180 That through death, he, speaking of Christ, might destroy the one who has the power of death, 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:18.259 that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:20.100 That is the war. 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:23.980 And what we're experiencing in our lives are the battles. 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:28.840 Satan has always sought to destroy Christ. 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:33.620 At his birth, King Herod issued a decree to have him killed, 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:36.779 and a lot of male babies died in that effort. 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:38.259 In the desert. 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:41.779 Satan tried to knock him out of ministry before he ever got started. 00:08:42.439 --> 00:08:45.179 And then at the cross, he thought he had him. 00:08:46.439 --> 00:08:47.480 Thank God he didn't. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:55.039 At his death, 1 Peter tells us that Christ even proclaimed his victory over hellish forces. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:59.700 Now, I want you to notice the opposition at every hand. 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:00.319 Notice this. 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:02.899 Christ is the truth. 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:06.179 Satan hides the truth. 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:09.599 Christ gives life. 00:09:10.659 --> 00:09:12.539 Satan takes life. 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:17.519 Christ empowers us to produce spiritual fruit. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:22.259 Satan leads us into the works of the flesh. 00:09:23.439 --> 00:09:26.620 Christ allows trials to come to build up our faith. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:31.859 Satan tempts us in an attempt to destroy us. 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:34.879 And by the way, those two coincide at the same time. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:38.320 The trials of God, the temptations of Satan. 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:40.320 They coincide in our lives at the same time. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:42.560 Christ set us free. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:45.919 Satan enslaves people to sin. 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:48.580 Christ advocates for us. 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:51.940 Christ, I mean, excuse me, Satan accuses us. 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:53.620 But I want you to understand. 00:09:54.300 --> 00:09:56.760 Satan is not opposing you. 00:09:58.020 --> 00:09:59.600 He's not opposing me. 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:01.000 He's not opposing us. 00:10:01.180 --> 00:10:03.960 He is opposing the work of Christ. 00:10:04.280 --> 00:10:07.940 And he wants to weaken it by weakening us. 00:10:09.060 --> 00:10:15.400 Satan wants to limit the power of God in the world by compromising the lives of Christians. 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:27.459 And Satan wants to take as many to hell as he possibly can by leading them astray and getting Christians to not let them go, let them know that they're astray. 00:10:27.699 --> 00:10:29.720 To not give them warning. 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:31.959 But I want you to understand something. 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:33.519 It's just not about us. 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:35.679 It's bigger than that. 00:10:36.299 --> 00:10:37.759 But it affects us. 00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:39.600 It affects our families. 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:41.220 It affects our church. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:46.580 It affects the world around us daily, minute by minute, even second by second. 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:51.480 We have to commit, I believe, to understand the enemy. 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:55.800 The second thing is to recognize his schemes. 00:10:57.580 --> 00:10:58.680 Recognize his schemes. 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:09.840 Ephesians chapter 4 tells us that God gave us apostles and prophets and evangelists and shepherds and teachers 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:22.879 to equip us so that we will not be tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every word of doctrine, 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:29.379 by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:43.039 There is a spiritual storm of hurricane strength trying to twist and to turn us to the waves, the waves of the evil one. 00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:45.340 And it is led by false doctrine. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:48.419 How do you know what's false? 00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.240 How do you know what's true? 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:51.779 And how do you know what's false? 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:53.279 Let me tell you how you don't do it. 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:56.019 You don't do it by watching society. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:59.019 Because society is going to change. 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:01.699 You don't do that. 00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:06.199 But instead, you do it by turning to a timeless book. 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:10.299 A book that, although written a long time ago, is still true. 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:12.519 It still applies. 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:15.379 God's not surprised by the world we live in. 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:18.000 God's not caught off guard by that. 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:22.500 He knew much of America would turn into a bunch of nutty fruitcakes. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:23.740 He knew that. 00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:28.100 And he knew that we'd try to marginalize morality. 00:12:29.180 --> 00:12:30.960 But I want you to be clear about something. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:34.539 The book doesn't lie. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.039 It doesn't lie. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:38.379 It's not outdated. 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:45.180 And when the Bible says Christ is the only way and that his way is perfect, it's true. 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:45.279 It's true. 00:12:45.979 --> 00:12:46.819 It's true. 00:12:47.099 --> 00:12:54.819 When we watch that sacrilege on the opening ceremonies and we saw a guy beat up a girl in a boxing ring and all that kind of stuff. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:55.759 We see those things. 00:12:55.819 --> 00:12:56.739 I looked over at my daughter. 00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:58.919 I paused the TV and looked over at my daughter and I said something. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:59.459 I said, listen. 00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:04.799 In your life, this stuff is going to become normal. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.559 It's going to look routine. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.939 It's the world you live in. 00:13:10.979 --> 00:13:12.120 But I want you to understand something. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:15.120 It'll never be right. 00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:17.599 I don't care if everybody says it is. 00:13:17.839 --> 00:13:21.059 It'll never be right. 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.620 The word of God's not outdated. 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:24.899 He spoke the truth. 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:34.019 In the world in which he lived, and I'll be honest with you, in the world that Jesus lived in on this earth, it may surprise you what all was going on then. 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:38.460 At that time, God's not surprised by what we face. 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:42.980 No one can change the truth of the word of God. 00:13:43.060 --> 00:13:49.220 Don't be fooled by human cunning, trickery, craftiness. 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:55.860 That word, if you took it, literally speaks of cheating as in playing dice and cheating at dice. 00:13:57.060 --> 00:14:05.080 The devil will use humans to try his best to cheat you out of your life like a watch salesman at Chinatown. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.160 He'll try his best to get you. 00:14:08.680 --> 00:14:12.860 By crafty schemes, Satan will rip you off. 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:16.840 He'll wine you, he'll dine you, and he'll poison you. 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:19.639 He don't want to ruin your night. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.980 He wants to ruin your eternity. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.040 And if you're a child of God, he can't do that. 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:23.960 So you know what he's going to do? 00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:27.500 He's going to try his best to ruin your life and ruin your testimony. 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:32.879 I think we have to commit to understand the enemy, and we'll do that together. 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:35.759 We've got to commit to recognize his schemes, and we'll do that again. 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:42.420 Like a football team studies another team's schemes before a game, we're going to study God's word together to understand that. 00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:45.919 I think we need to commit to that. 00:14:46.199 --> 00:14:52.179 But through all of that, we also need to commit to stand with the Lord. 00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.120 Stand with the Lord. 00:14:55.599 --> 00:15:00.819 Paul is telling us at the end of this letter, be strong. 00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:03.819 Understand what you're dealing with. 00:15:04.959 --> 00:15:06.899 Understand the need to stand strong. 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:12.879 And by the way, that word there, be strong, is in the present tense. 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:17.819 And in the Korne Greek, when you deal with the present tense, it means continual. 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:22.100 That means that you don't just stand strong with the Lord one time. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.559 You continually stand strong with the Lord. 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:27.959 It's a source that you can constantly tap into. 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:39.379 I believe there has to come a point in your life when you admit to God that you're a sinner, that you've done wrong, and that you need his salvation, and you commit your life to follow him from that day forward. 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:40.900 You're not in charge anymore. 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.259 He's in charge. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:46.259 God, forgive me coming into my life and change me, dear God. 00:15:46.400 --> 00:15:48.560 And from this day forward, I'll live for your honor and glory. 00:15:48.780 --> 00:15:52.420 I believe that happens one time in someone's life if it happens at all. 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.660 One time. 00:15:53.659 --> 00:16:03.279 And when you're saved, you receive the capability to have all the resources that God has given you in your life. 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:13.459 However, you must focus on the Lord, get this, constantly to tap into the strength that he's enabled you to have. 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:29.660 If somebody were to come to me today and give me a gift card to a restaurant or a store, a generous gift card, and I would have put that in my pocket and tell my wife, hey, let's go to the store. 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.580 We got a gift card. 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:32.379 And boy, I tell you, she could spend it. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:37.820 And we go to the store, and we pick out what we want, and we get up there to pay. 00:16:37.900 --> 00:16:38.720 And she said, we got a gift card. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.340 Yeah, but I don't want to use a gift card now. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.879 I mean, that thing's valuable. 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.300 I'm going to hold on to that. 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:45.580 We pay for whatever we're doing. 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:49.519 The next time we come back, fill up the buggy again, go up there. 00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:50.300 How about that gift card? 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.860 Yeah, I want to save that gift card now. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.560 That thing's valuable. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.480 How much good is that gift card going to do in my pocket? 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:01.200 It might even expire if I'm not careful. 00:17:02.680 --> 00:17:03.840 You got to use it. 00:17:05.120 --> 00:17:05.960 I got it. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.160 It's mine. 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.120 But you got to use it. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:15.619 When you give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ, you get all of Jesus that you're ever going to get. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:18.579 You get all of the Holy Spirit that you're ever going to get. 00:17:19.219 --> 00:17:23.419 It'll take the rest of your life to tap in and understand what you've got. 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:30.039 And I'll just go ahead and tell you, when you get to the end of your life, you'll still not understand completely what all you have when you have Christ Jesus. 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:34.399 I believe it becomes adamantly clear when we see him face to face. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.799 But I don't know that yet. 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.960 But I trust it. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.180 Let me tell you something. 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.879 Salvation is not a gift card you put in your pocket and not use. 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:46.680 You better pull it out every second of the day. 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.680 Every minute of the day. 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:53.480 Use the resources that God has placed before you. 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:56.000 Continually is what the word means. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:59.460 Not only that, but it's also a verb that's a passive. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:05.559 And a passive word means that you can't make yourself strong. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:11.259 This is not something that is within you that you have to just reach down and get. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:13.880 Your salvation is not in you. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.700 It's in God. 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:17.619 Your strength is not in you. 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.660 It's in God. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:22.480 You reach to him for strength. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:26.960 You rely upon him for strength. 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:32.759 I chaperoned a youth rafting trip a few years ago. 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:39.660 And before we got in the raft, they taught us what to do when disaster hits. 00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:44.079 And they said the guide in the back of the boat has a rope. 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.960 It's a handy little thing in a bag. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:48.019 And he'll throw you that rope. 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:51.519 And you just, when you go underwater, you just look up and look for the rope. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:51.920 Okay? 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:55.500 I'm a simple-minded man, so I just thought, look for the rope. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.859 Don't fall out the boat, but look for the rope. 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:04.519 We went into a place called the washing machine. 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.980 They put me at the front of the raft. 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.980 Another big old boy was at the back of the raft. 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:13.779 And we went through what I call the washing machine because when we got through it, I looked back. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:18.139 And a girl was in there, and she was doing a 360 in the water. 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.420 And she'd come up and go, ah! 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:21.620 And then she'd come back and go back in, ah! 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.120 Like that. 00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:24.560 It was funny for a minute, and I thought, she may not make it out. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:24.940 But anyway. 00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:31.039 But we went through there, and big boy in the back fell off, fell out. 00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:36.620 And when he fell out, that caused the front end to seesaw up, 00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:41.420 which caused me to push over toward the little girl that was beside me. 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:45.980 I looked right past her, and I saw a rock on the other side of her. 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:49.800 And I thought, if I crash into her, she'll crash into the rock. 00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:53.220 Not only will the little girl be hurt, but her daddy's going to kill me. 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:58.900 And so in my cat-like, athletic way, I rolled out of the boat. 00:19:59.320 --> 00:20:00.060 What are you laughing at? 00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:05.960 I rolled out of the boat because you just roll out and look for the rope. 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:09.920 What I didn't know was when I rolled out, it plunged me under the water. 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:13.799 And it would throw me down under the water for a long way. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.920 I'd say about 75 yards. 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:18.420 First time I told this story, I think it was about 50 feet. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:20.240 But it's grown over time. 00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:25.480 But either way, 100 feet or so, give or take, it took me a long way down. 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:28.480 And I don't know what the capacity of that life jacket was, 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:32.559 but I know it was about three pounds less than what I weighed. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:37.819 Because it got me close to the surface, enough to know what I was doing, 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.759 but not enough to get up. 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:41.899 I saw the light, but it wasn't warm and fuzzy, and it wasn't drawing me. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.799 I couldn't get to it. 00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:45.179 It was the sunlight coming through the water. 00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:49.299 Finally, when I did come up, I couldn't find my boat. 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.220 There was no rope. 00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:52.200 I don't know where they went. 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:54.619 Come to find out, rope boy fell out too. 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.740 He couldn't help me at all. 00:20:57.740 --> 00:21:03.160 Three scrawny little high school boys in a raft came up beside me. 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:05.599 They're all strapping young men today. 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:10.079 But they come up beside me, and I was just sitting there thinking in that water, 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:13.079 their best intentions is going to drown me. 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:15.799 They'll never get me out of here. 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:19.299 And if I throw my leg up on the side of that raft, I'll get a cramp, 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:21.039 and I just might as well drown. 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:23.000 I thought I was dead. 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:27.160 Those boys had listened to their instructor, though. 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.380 They said, Preacher, come here. 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.559 They got me up beside that boat. 00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.619 They grabbed the straps on my raft. 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:36.940 They put their feet on the side of that raft, just like he told them to do, 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.619 and they all three pulled. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:42.680 And when they did, they pulled me up over the side of that raft like a beach whale. 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:42.980 Woo! 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:45.339 I came up, son. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.920 I didn't get out of that water. 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:50.940 I didn't get out of that water. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:57.900 Until I was dependent upon them. 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.339 I was stuck. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.720 I was scared. 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:06.119 And I became dependent. 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:08.380 I had to be passive. 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.759 I couldn't do it myself. 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:14.599 Neither can you end this fight. 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:19.220 This word is also an imperative. 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:22.880 It's an imperative meaning it's a command. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.680 And it is aimed at the Christian. 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:30.680 So the combination of that, and it's a second person plural, which means you. 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:33.000 It means all of us as Christians. 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:37.799 So when you put that together, it's a present passive imperative. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:43.660 Second person plural meaning we are to allow ourselves to be strengthened. 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:48.519 See, a lot of people think it's in their own strength. 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:51.040 And it's not. 00:22:53.320 --> 00:22:56.960 So I want you to be clear about the third part of our strategy. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:59.120 I'll detail it in the days ahead. 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:02.080 But if we don't commit to it, knowledge does us no good. 00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:04.860 Understand it. 00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.539 Understand it. 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:08.500 You can't win this on your own. 00:23:08.679 --> 00:23:14.399 You will not stand with the Lord. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:17.000 Understand the enemy. 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:19.619 Recognize his schemes. 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:22.559 And stand with the Lord. 00:23:22.699 --> 00:23:24.619 Set your heart on the Lord. 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.819 Strive for victory. 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:29.740 Work to win with the Lord. 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:32.079 But you'll never win alone. 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.339 He is for you. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.460 And he'll stand with us. 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:43.500 The strength of the Lord is an overwhelmingly powerful opportunity for us through Christ. 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.720 Paul tries to describe it. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:52.819 And I want you to listen to how he piles up powerful words on top of each other when he gives this description in Ephesians 1 verse 19. 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:56.319 He says, I don't cease thanking the Lord for what? 00:23:56.939 --> 00:24:06.359 For what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:15.919 If you were to ask some boy to describe that kind of strength, he were to tell you he's a super duper big time strong. 00:24:16.139 --> 00:24:16.960 That's what that means. 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.619 God's strong. 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.980 That's what we have in him. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.039 God's strong. 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:24.319 And so let's commit today. 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:28.419 I want to understand what's going on. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.519 I want to understand the enemy. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:35.740 I want to recognize his schemes. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.960 And I want to stand with the Lord. 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:44.759 And when we do, my friend, victory will come in our lives. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:49.879 And lives will be changed because of our strength. 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:53.900 With every head bowing, every eye closed, I want to know this morning. 00:24:54.420 --> 00:25:03.740 If there's ever become a time in your life when you've admitted to the Lord that you've done wrong, that you're a sinner, and that you need him to forgive you for that sin. 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:11.220 Because, see, when God forgives you of that sin, he reunites you in a relationship with the Lord. 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:15.120 He empowers your life with the power of the Spirit of God. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:19.680 Gives you guidance and direction in your life. 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:24.880 Gives you strength to fight in the midst of the battles that we face. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:35.520 If you've never committed your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, I want you to know there's a well chest of opportunity waiting on you when you surrender your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.480 You've never done that. 00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:38.440 We're going to stand in a moment and we're going to sing. 00:25:38.520 --> 00:25:41.880 You come and say, Pastor, I want to give my life to Christ. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:44.220 I'd love to guide you in what that means. 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:48.940 Maybe you've done that privately, but you've never acknowledged that publicly. 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:55.140 Jesus, by his example and by his commission, told us that we do that publicly through baptism. 00:25:56.039 --> 00:26:04.940 If you've never been baptized as a believer, and you want to stand boldly for the Lord and tell others what Christ has done in your life, you come. 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.400 I'll guide you in that process. 00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:10.660 Maybe you're here and God's drawing you to Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:12.819 What an exciting day in the life of our church. 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.620 God's doing wonderful things. 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:18.420 And if you feel like God's leading you to be a part of that, you come. 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:20.180 Love to guide you in that. 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:23.519 But the majority of you just got stuff. 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.740 You got battles going on. 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.779 Stuff you need to lay before the Lord. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:35.940 And I'm telling you today, you need to commit to understand the enemy. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.180 You need to commit to recognize the schemes. 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:43.360 You need to commit to stand with the Lord. 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:47.079 And you can do that where you stand in just a moment. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.839 You can do it at this altar. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.700 Pastor can pray for you. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.559 Makes no difference to me. 00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.460 I don't know where you are. 00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.839 I don't know what God's telling you to do. 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:58.620 But I know you'll never be satisfied unless you follow exactly what he'd have you to do. 00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:00.440 Just let him lead you. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:04.559 Lord Jesus, I love you and thank you for the opportunity today that you've given us. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:07.460 To worship you, Father. 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:09.799 And I pray that we'll end it the correct way. 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:12.799 By simply being obedient to follow as you lead, Lord. 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.200 We love you dearly. 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:15.419 Lead us now, we pray. 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.679 In Jesus' precious name. 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.339 Amen. 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:35.519 And I pray that we're in Jesus'áticas.