The Messages I’d like to share with you today and next week were inspired by a short story shared by Allistair Begg (one of our favourite preachers) on one of his morning programs that led me to title this post “DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S A WAR ON?”
Here is what he had to say: “I was born in 1952 and there was still rationing in Britain at this time and indeed when I was old enough to be aware of what was going on there was still the evidences – the lingering evidences of warfare all around us. Why is the cooking so bad in Scotland and in Britain and why is the food the way it is people have asked. It’s not so bad today but it was traditionally pretty bad or I should say pretty basic not bad. For those of you who understand it and were around at the time will know there was a cliche that went round and round when people said – Oh I’d love to have a egg or I’d love to have some sugar in my tea or I’d love to have a pastry and the answer was “Don’t you know there’s a ar on?” Loved ones, whenever believers start to fight one another “Don’t you know there’s a war on?” Whenever we begin to assume that the whole object of our Christian experience is so that we might sit around and have pastries with each other and just rub one another’s backs for the kingdom – hey – Don’t we know there’s a war on? Whenever we’re tempted to settle down into superficiality and settle for lethargy in our Christian experience, we should be led to open up the Scriptures and hear the Spirit of God say to us – hey “Don’t you know there’s a war on?”
Today we will be considering the “Spiritual War” we, the church, are in – even now. Next week we’ll focus on the possible danger that lies ahead of us because of the rise of technology (especially Artificial Intelligence) and how it may relate to the return of the Lord and how warfare enters into that as well.
As we come to these precious moments in which we anticipate God speaking to us through His word we pause further to seek Him.
Let us Pray: “Be known to us Father in the study of your word and grant us freedom from any distraction – that our minds would be set on You. May we see you more clearly and hear you and follow you more closely as a result of our study this morning, for Jesus sake we ask you.” Amen
To begin with, I would like to give you a brief outline of what I want to cover in this post.
We will consider – what war are we talking about? Are we personally involved in this war? and who is the enemy and how do we protect ourselves? You may have heard much talk concerning what’s happening in the Ukraine and even what could come to pass between China and Taiwan. These are wars for sure.
But in Scripture passages that I’m referencing in 2 Timothy Chapters 3 and 4, I would like us to focus on the warning given us by Paul of just how we can recognize the signs of a Spiritual war that related specifically to believers. “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 3: 4-5
And then another timely passage written by Paul to the church at Corinth found in 2 Corinthians 4:4 of how the devil has and continues to lead so many of our friends and family members away from the truth of the gospel. Here’s what he says “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.”
I’d like to take you back into recent history to see just how this has been happening in the Church. How sound doctrine has been replaced with what Paul says is myths. How the truth of Scripture is actually being, not only ignored but replaced as one of the Mainline Denominations put it – “But some of what was experienced and written then (meaning back when it was written) doesn’t fit with today’s world.” Sound familiar? In a similar statement by another Canadian denomination – it is made clear that following the word of God is neither important or necessary to be either a leader in their church or even to be a preacher. I’d rather not go into specifics considering these heresies; however I hope you can see we as the body of Christ are in a war.
I’m sure you’ll agree when there is a way – there is an enemy. Our enemy is Satan ‘the devil’. Let’s take a bit of a journey in Scripture to confirm just who he is and how he works beginning in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent (who by the way was a divine adversary) was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman “Did God really say. ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” This is and has been the tactic he’s taken throughout history – placing in our minds doubt as to the validity of God’s Words. This first attack on mankind resulted in death as we hear in Verse 19 “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Now back in Job 1:7 we are introduced to Satan (the accuser) who along with other angels came to present themselves before the LORD and what he tells God he’s been up to when asked the question “Where have you come from?” Satan answered: “From roaming the earth and going back and forth in it.” You see Satan (the devil) is always on the prowl – looking for someone to devour”. Matter of fact that’s how he’s described in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in the faith.”
Peter is not talking to unbelievers here – he’s talking to the church. He’s talking to those in the early church as well as the church throughout the world today.
John describes him in his gospel this way in John 8:44 “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Be aware friends – who are we – you might call us part of the resistance movement. We are to resist the devil with our faith in Christ and with the powerful Word of God.
I’d like to suggest that you take a Psalm 119, few minutes and read all of some of the 176 verses in Psalm 119 – that focuses entirely on the importance of the Word of God. Let’s consider other words of instruction relating to the importance of God’s Word. Before we venture on to see how Jesus himself used Scripture in His battle with Satan, let’s consider the importance of following God’s Word as well as a couple of warnings – relating to “Ignoring the Word” and “Changing the Word – in other words adding to it or taking away from it.
First let’s take the closing words of Solomon from his writing in the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 11:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Imagine following most of Chapters 1 through 11 where he focuses on the meaninglessness of everything, he ends with the call to fear God and keep his commandments. Why – because that is the whole duty of man – in other words – the answer to actual fulfillment. This from the Biblical writer known as the most wise man ever.
As well we hear Peter’s reminder in his letter Chapter 1: 19-21 of how the Bible came to be: “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” In other words – the writers of the Bible were writing words spoken by God the Holy Spirit.
Now looking back at Isaiah 40:8 we hear a wonderful promise “The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of God stands forever.” Not just for a little while or until some smarty pants in the 21st century decides to ignore or change it – but forever.
So now perhaps we should also hear a couple of warnings about changing or ignoring the Word. Proverbs 30:5-6 tells us “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words or he will rebuke you and prove you a list.” This sounds very much like Moses warning in Deut 4:2 “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”
Now as I promised, I’d like to close with the most perfect example of how we need to deal with temptation by the evil one and believe me – we are all tempted. That my friends is the war we are in – our enemy the devil is always working to bring down the Church and to lead believers astray and in my estimation – he’s changing and ignoring the Bible to do it. So just how did Jesus deal with temptation. In Matthew Chapter 4: 1-11 we hear what was happening “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” and note it wasn’t when Jesus was strong in body but as it says – after fasting 40 days and forty nights he was hungry.”
Enter the tempter – the devil focuses his attack by using these words twice “If you are the Son of God and lastly he says “If you will bow down and worship me.” Not only is he using this approach to entice Jesus to use his supernatural powers but he wants him to set aside his place as the Son of God and bow down to him. So what does Jesus do? As most of you probably already know – Jesus uses the Word of God as His sword – as His weapon in this battle. he says “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Next he says “It is written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” And lastly “Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
So what was the result “then the devil left him and angels came and attended him.”
We could have spent some time also looking at a passage that’s found in Ephesians chapter 6 titled “The Armor of God” that begins with these words “Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” In this passage we are told to prepare – to dress for battle – for war. The Armor includes having everything connected to the belt of truth. We are to be ready to go forward – with our breastplate of righteousness, our feet fitted with the gospel, a shield of faith, and our head protected by the helmet of salvation. But let us not forget our weapon in this spiritual battle – remembering that the devil’s first attack is on the truth of God’s Word and that we are to use that Word just like Jesus did – It is written,”
So my friends – I challenge you today to be ever watchful for the devil’s schemes. To stand your ground whenever you read or hear things that go against the truth of God’s Word. I recommend you use the following prayer as protection against heresies.
“Our gracious God and Father – we bow before you today remembering that YOUR WORD is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” and we thank you that your word is so clear – that you redeemed us in Christ and raised us to the heavenly places in Christ Jesus – raised us to the realm of victory but remembering you also raised us to the realm of warfare and we thank you for the reminder that the struggle that we face is not ultimately against flesh and blood and agendas that are earthly in their origins but it is ultimately against powerful evil. Knowing that we thank you today for the protection that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ against the evil one and we pray that you will continue to protect us, to provide for us as believers. I ask that we will be ever aware of false teachings and ever diligent in our study of the Bible. Thank you Father for providing us with a guide to follow and your blessed Holy Spirit to inspire us and for the truth that for this we have Jesus and that in His name we pray. Amen
In closing – I always remind people who might ask me about what church they should attend. My answer is always the same – it’s vital you ask to see their Doctrines and if the errancy of the Bible is not included – run as fast as you can for I believe the devil has already had his way with their leadership.
Hope you’ll check in next week to hear part 2 of this message where we will be looking at the topic of “End Times” and how what the Bible tells us should inspire us to remember that the enemy is still on the prowl and we should remember “Don’t you know there’s a war on?”