Intro.
A. We had a small camp for young people in New Jersey and two animals were of concern.
1. One causes a crippling disease if undetected, affected tens of thousands of people in New Jersey.
2. The other? Has never caused a serious injury in New Jersey
B. Which of the two animals provoked most nervousness and concern?
1. The one that has never caused a serious injury in New Jersey! Sleeplessness, is it going to get me? The black bear!
2. The other animal? the real danger? I had to be constantly reminding campers to be concerned about the second. The deer tick! produces Lyme's disease in New Jersey
C. We so often we overlook real dangers, and are very frightened about things that really are little cause for alarm.
1. This tendency to focus on imaginary dangers rather than real ones is used often in the military
D. When General Schwartzkoft planned the United Nations attack on Iraqi forces in Kuwait, he amassed a large number of amphibious forces and Marines just off the Kuwaiti coast. He hoped to make the Iraqis think that he was going to attack there. The real attack, however, came at the opposite end of the field of conflict.
E. That's a common military strategy (General Eisenhower, D.Day invasion, Calais vs. Normandy)
F. Satan does the same today. He wants us to be alarmed at perceived dangers and enemies that aren't the real keys to battle.
G. For that reason, God in several passages of scripture warns us not to be distracted.
H. Read text: Ephesians 6:12
I. Who is not the real enemy?
A. "Flesh and blood" (Those of flesh and blood are often agents of Satan, his underlings, but focusing on them is not the key to spiritual victory.)
1. Police often think it is a waste of time to go after small time drug sellers. To stop a drug operation it is necessary to arrest the "drug lord".
2. We are often distracted in focusing on small time underlings of Satan, while ignoring the bigger enemy.
B. What are some flesh and blood distractions Satan puts in our way? talk of two
1. Political battles
a. Politics have often been a distraction to Christians
i. Friends who are completely absorbed in politics (One, thinks evil Republicans want to take away benefits for "working man" so that fat cats can live a life of ease and luxury. He's constantly angry and upset.) Others, angry at Democrats, "trying to make homosexuality acceptable," "socialize medicine." They're angry and upset.)
ii. Email list of several preachers: "Clinton at it again," Clinton this, that, etc.
iii. All this political focus requires lot of time and energy,
b. While I sympathize a bit, simply not a concern of first century Christians.
i." If email lists among first century Christians, doubt they would have been filled with headings like: That nasty Nero at it again," "Can you believe Caligula's built a brick boat"
ii. Instead:
* A separation implied in scriptures between Christians and government.
* First century Christians simply apathetic about politics. Other worldly
iii. Romans 13: Exhorts: Be in subjection, but separation implied.
* Notice pronouns "he" "you" "they" in verses 4-6
c. Religious historians in last few years have talked about a distinct group of known brethren who Richard Hughes calls "apocaliptical" brethren and Ed Harrell calls them "separatists." I like Harrell's designation best.
i. names for those who like to study history: David Lipscomb, Barton Stone, John T. Lewis, My grand dad
ii. Very strict regarding personal holiness, separation from world: Seen in positions such as pacifism, opposition to voting, separation from worldly concerns, very conservative clothing, no worldly entertainment.
iii. Yet lots of emphasis on God's grace, clemency.
iiii. This emphasis on God's grace, mercy makes them much more gentlemanly and less sarcastic than their more belligerent brethren. Less inclinded to be sectarian, demanding compliance with lists of questions, or unofficial checklists. David Lipscomb, more I read about him, more I admire him.
d. this gentlemanliness, emphasis on mercy has sometimes made those who take a more sectarian approach accuse separatists of being liberal or loose, but nothing could be further from the truth.
e. On matters of personal holiness, almost always stricter than more aggressive brethren.
f. It's a matter of emphasis: personal introspective holiness, versus desire to control a wide number of brethren to conform to unofficial checklist.
g. Before I get too far afield, This separatist mind set involves disinterest in politics.
i. Lipscomb, sin to vote, My granddad never voted, pacifist, no killing in armed services.
h. I'm not so concerned with the concept of separation of the Christian from political concerns, worldliness, allegiance to unofficial checklists based on the history of the past centuries, as I am with the fact that such is implied in the scriptures.
i. The scriptures teach separation from the world: carefulness in dress and conduct.
ii. Also teach that such is not basis of salvation, but rather God's great mercy and grace.
iii. The Bible also teaches that politics are not the field of battle for the Christian!
iiii The growing political corruption in our country has caused growing political indifference in my own outlook. The more I think of it, the more I think it is healthy. The Less concentration on political battles, more on spiritual ones, better off I'll be.
iiiii What our country needs is not so much repeal of Rowe vs. Wade or "Don't ask don't tell" policy, but a spiritual revival!
iiiiii. I think Satan would like us to abandon preaching in the streets, home studies, distribution of tracts, to spend more time emailing others about those nasty folks in Washington. Afraid some preachers have done that. Few home studies, lots of computer time about political movements.
i. It is not good to make laws about this: "can't vote," "can't run for office"
j. Can say...Primary focus on real enemy: Satan and his legions, sin. Less on his underlings in the political field.
2. Our brethren aren't the enemy.
* My wife was recently diagnosed with lupus, went through a very difficult time, though now better. What happens is that the body's autoimmune system, designed to fight dangerous germs and other enemies, goes crazy and instead of just attacking outside enemies, begins to attack healthy tissue. Causes swelling, inflammation, sometimes even attacks vital organs and can cause death if not controlled.
- Something good, designed to attack dangerous germs, starts attacking thebody itself. Immune system begins to lose sight of real enemy and attacks what is needed to keep life itself.
- Fear something similar is happening among many brethren. Desire to keep out dangerous errors has begun to run amok, out of control. So we see exaggeration, fights over matters of opinion and judgment have little practical appliciation at all. Inflammation and nervousness among people of God.
- Not focusing on real enemy. Turning on ourselves, biting and devouring each other.
a. Our brethren, members of the body of Christ aren't the enemy!
i. Some may be deceived by the enemy, even serve as his agents
ii. But they as people aren't the enemy.
b. texts
i. 2 Thess. 3:15 of rebellious brother it is said, "do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother".
ii. 2 Tim. 2:24-26 says we should correct with humility so that the deceived "may come to their senses and escape the snare of thev devil..."
* Our motive is to love and to save the deceived, not destroy as enemies.
c. Sad scenes
i. brethren glaring at one another at debates or at lectures.
* Is he with us? or with "them?"
ii. coolness in a building, refusal to speak. Talk about stifling the gospel!
iii. Anticipating the worst motives, putting worst possible "spin" on quotes.
We think of spin masters in political field, put worst possible spin on actions and words. Frankly some brethren are spin masters do. Find quote, statement, put worst possible spin on it. People ready to believe in it.
* Godly brother from Texas. I was told "believes in abortion." That concerned me. I wrote him, he was flabbergasted. Sent me a tape in which he preached against it.
- Why would someone spread ungodly, false rumors on such a godly man? If they think he's wrong, put their arms around him in love, say brother is it true that you believe in abortion? Instead, ungodly false, gossip. He's not the enemy, they've been deceived. The real enemy has gotten them!
* Those who teach others how to preach and write often say, "it is better to explain well one verse than to quote many without explaining them well."
* Yet when such a suggestion on writing articles was made, the editors of a gospel paper were castigated for wanting to deemphasize scriptures.
* Overlooked fact: their paper was always chock full of scriptures.
* Desire to be fair?
a. Did anyone call and ask," my brother are you trying to deemphasize scriptures?"
b. "Do you have an explanation?"
NO - Put worst possible spin, hope it hurts those good brethren.
* What about 1 Corinthians 13:7, "Love believes all things, hopes all things" Barnes, "puts best possible construction on motives on others".
* What about James 5:17, wisdom from above "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrasy."
* last words would be the last I would used to describe approach of some brethren who think they are fighting apostasy.
* instead words of vs. 14, "bitter envy, and self seeking"
iiii. Satan is greatly pleased at such tactics and distractions. He wants us to bite and devour each other, and leave the real battle.
* I wonder how much some brethren actually battle Satan. Reams and reams of email, attacking brethren, twisting words, spinning ideas.
** If you question tactics, you're immediately under suspicion. I may be under suspicion now for making this point.
** How much time do they spend in the homes of the lost, teaching them the truth, in homes of weak Christians?
iiiii. The fear and distrust that makes brethren automatically wary of each other for fear of being "written up" comes not from Christ but from a "police state" type of mentality that is foreign to the scriptures.
d. No one is saying that we should not lovingly approach each other to help fellow soldier as 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Gal. 6:1, etc., indicate
i. We need to be careful not to overreact to those contaminated with spiritual "lupus"
ii. Some want no correction at all
iii.The fact that some are paranoid, confuse real enemy, doesn't mean that loving vigiliance isn't necessary.
e. I am saying that our brethren aren't the real enemy! Sooner we realize it, sooner we can get down to the real battle against the real enemy.
f. God wants loving vigilance. Redemptive correction. Yes. Satan wants panicky paranoia. He wants biting and devouring. A key to keeping those two concepts apart is remembering who the real enemy is: Satan!
II. Who is the real enemy?
A. Satan! That's who we need to focus our anger against
1. Name means: Hebrew- adversary, Greek. accuser, slanderer
2. Other terms used to identify him, tell much about him
a. Abaddon, Apollyon (Rev. 9:11) - the destroyer
b. Beelzebul (Matt. 12:24) c. Belial (2 Cor. 6:15)
d. deceiver of the whole world ((Reve. 12:9)
e. great dragon (Rev. 12:9) f. an enemy (Matt. 13: 28,39)
g. the evil one (Matt. 13:19,38) h. the father of lies (John 8:44)
i. the god of this world ( 2 Cor. 4:4) j. a murderer (John 8:44)
k. prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2)
l. the ruler of this world (Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11)
m. the ancient serpent (Rev. 12:9) n. the tempter (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5)
3. There is an idea among modernists that he is a personification of evil, not real person.
a. Anger of Jesus, Jn. 8:44 Such anger indicates he is responsible being
b. Quote from F.A. Tatford in his book "The Prince of Darkness" : "An objective evaluation of the reality of sin reveals that it is too masterfully marshalled, too subtly planned, too skilfully directed, too logically remorseless for any such facile explanation. There is design, there are strategems and campaigns. Theremust be a master mind behind these activities."
4. Much about Satan we will never grasp. Try to explain to your kids! (Rebecca's prayer)
a. Let not the difficulty in grasping every truth about him, cause us tounderestimate him in any way. That's as good as he would have.
b. He is an evil, responsible, rebellious being who wants misery for you and eternal separation from God in hell for you.
B. His helpers: principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.
1. Who are they? Kings, leaders? No, we're not talking about flesh and blood here.
a. Satan's angels, demons, other allies
b. dwelled physically in people during the time of Jesus, and yet taken away by Christ and his apostles.
c. Still allies of Satan
2. Though much we don't understand, we do know that we are dealing with forces thatare powerful beyond strength of mere morals. Why necessary to take on whole armor.
III. And yet we can win the battle! Keys to Victory
A. Hate the real enemy (Psalms 97:10) "Ye that love the Lord hate evil"
1. Propaganda during Gulf war: Iraquis killed animals at zoos, babies in hospitals
a. designed to stir hatred, indignation
2. Consider what Satan has done:
a. broken homes, children raised without loving parents
b. Gal. 5:19-21 He is the author of this litany of misery!
c. Hell, eternity separated from God
d. If you can be indifferent to this evil, you have a heart of stone.
e. Good to concentrate on it.
2. If hate, won't be deceived by propaganda.
a. Cuban suffered in Castro's prison, lost loved ones to torture.
b. Will never be attracted by propaganda
c. Need to think of our loved ones who have been imprisoned by Satan. Hate Him!
B. Be confident of victory:
1. Went to a little school called Athens Bible School. Everybody got to play on basketball team whether good or not. Later there were good teams, but while I was there, teams were not so good.
a. When played Athens High, knew we would lose. Not too disappointed when that happened.
2. Some that way with Satan: Expect defeat "Flesh is weak, Satan so strong."
a. 2 Timothy 1:7
b. 1 Corinthians 10:13
C. Put on the whole armor! makes us invincible
1. How to put on whole armor? That's what we're going to be studying this week.
2. How wise of the Holy Spirit to start with the exhortation to focus on the real enemy!
3. If our focus in battle is not on real enemy, doesn't matter how well everything else is prepared.
4. We can't afford to become distracted: focus on political enemies, or bite and devour each other
Conclusion: So, as we prepare, let's zero in on Satan and his legions of angels prepare to make battle: Hate him, focus coldly on Him, victory will be ours! How sweet will be that victory! We'll have eternity to celebrate