WEBVTT 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:17.519 So Paul says in verse 12 of Ephesians 6, he says, 00:00:17.579 --> 00:00:23.079 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:26.980 but against the rulers, against the powers, against 00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:30.199 the world forces of this darkness, against the 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:33.659 spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:39.549 places. For the last several months, We've been 00:00:39.549 --> 00:00:45.149 considering spiritual warfare, the reality of 00:00:45.149 --> 00:00:49.090 this warfare, this battle, what it is and what 00:00:49.090 --> 00:00:52.969 it means and how it has implications in the life 00:00:52.969 --> 00:00:59.850 of believers. Tonight, as we consider this again, 00:01:00.070 --> 00:01:05.349 we're going to consider it with relation to pastoral 00:01:05.349 --> 00:01:10.760 ministry. or with regards to ministers and pastors. 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:14.719 So we've just finished up a year -long pastoral 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:19.739 ministry cohort, and two brothers have preached 00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:23.540 throughout the day. And so it's especially relevant 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:26.739 at this time, not just because they're present, 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:31.219 but also because there's several present who 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:35.379 are ministers of the gospel. There are several 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:38.680 present who do proclaim the truth of the Scripture, 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:42.579 and it's good for the people of God, not just 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:49.060 ministers, to hear about the relationship between 00:01:49.060 --> 00:01:56.599 spiritual warfare and pastoral ministry, or the 00:01:56.599 --> 00:02:00.159 minister. So we think about Paul's words in verse 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:05.900 12, for our struggle. is not against flesh and 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:08.539 blood, but against rulers and against the powers. 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:13.539 He's obviously including the Ephesians in this, 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:17.219 and himself and his co -laborers and his fellow 00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:21.379 workers. He's including everybody he's writing 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:24.879 to in this. He's describing the Christian life 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:31.460 as warfare, as a battle. But he has to be including 00:02:31.460 --> 00:02:39.009 himself. As a minister. Also. He has to be including 00:02:39.009 --> 00:02:45.949 himself. And his ministry. As well. So tonight. 00:02:46.430 --> 00:02:51.629 I want to put forth. This thesis in a sense. 00:02:52.729 --> 00:03:02.270 That if. Christian life is warfare. If. It is 00:03:02.270 --> 00:03:06.949 warfare for all Christians everywhere to live 00:03:06.949 --> 00:03:09.250 the Christian life and to be faithful in this 00:03:09.250 --> 00:03:12.469 world that they have to stand firm and resist 00:03:12.469 --> 00:03:16.789 the devil. Then my thesis is this, and this is 00:03:16.789 --> 00:03:20.770 what I want to show and support tonight, that 00:03:20.770 --> 00:03:27.210 it is especially warfare for the minister, for 00:03:27.210 --> 00:03:31.090 the pastor, for those who preach the gospel, 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:37.259 to do so faithfully in this world. That there 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:41.620 is a unique and distinct relationship between 00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:49.060 the schemes of the devil and the faithfulness 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:57.099 of a ministry that a pastor carries out. There's 00:03:57.099 --> 00:04:01.689 an intimate connection between the two. And the 00:04:01.689 --> 00:04:05.669 two are related to each other intimately. So 00:04:05.669 --> 00:04:07.669 much so that when we think about the pastoral 00:04:07.669 --> 00:04:10.810 ministry and preaching and praying and ministering 00:04:10.810 --> 00:04:15.069 and shepherding, we have to think about this 00:04:15.069 --> 00:04:20.410 warfare as well. Now, I want to do this in three 00:04:20.410 --> 00:04:23.649 different ways. First, we're going to consider 00:04:23.649 --> 00:04:29.670 that ministers serve. In the days of spiritual 00:04:29.670 --> 00:04:35.990 warfare. We're also going to consider. That ministers 00:04:35.990 --> 00:04:41.689 serve as those distinctly qualified. Because 00:04:41.689 --> 00:04:46.410 of this warfare. And lastly we'll consider that 00:04:46.410 --> 00:04:50.689 ministers serve. Those who are subject to the 00:04:50.689 --> 00:04:53.350 wiles of the devil. Just as they themselves. 00:04:54.110 --> 00:04:58.879 Are subject to. The schemes and the wiles of 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:04.740 the devil. The warfare of the devil and his horrors. 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:09.839 These dark forces that are unseen. So turn with 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:16.079 me to the book of 1 Timothy. We'll consider first. 00:05:16.899 --> 00:05:24.079 We must consider. That we minister in. The days 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:30.459 of spiritual warfare. In 1 Timothy chapter 4 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:34.399 we read these words. But the Spirit explicitly 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:39.500 says. That in latter times. Some will fall away 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:42.959 from the faith. Paying attention to deceitful 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:48.279 spirits. And doctrines of demons. By means of 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:51.899 the hypocrisy of liars. Seared in their own conscience. 00:05:53.370 --> 00:05:56.649 a branding iron. Men who forbid marriage and 00:05:56.649 --> 00:06:01.149 advocate abstaining from foods which God has 00:06:01.149 --> 00:06:03.750 created to be gratefully shared in by those who 00:06:03.750 --> 00:06:08.430 believe and know the truth. Notice in this text 00:06:08.430 --> 00:06:10.769 that Paul is telling, he's teaching Timothy, 00:06:11.009 --> 00:06:16.970 that the context in which you minister, the context 00:06:16.970 --> 00:06:24.350 in which you pastor, is one of warfare. It is 00:06:24.350 --> 00:06:29.350 one of demonic opposition. What does he say? 00:06:30.509 --> 00:06:36.389 Paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines 00:06:36.389 --> 00:06:43.129 of demons. Now, Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 00:06:43.129 --> 00:06:49.069 4 .4, he calls the devil the god of this world 00:06:49.069 --> 00:06:56.199 or the god of this age. Meaning, the context 00:06:56.199 --> 00:07:00.660 in which ministers serve today between the work 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:05.399 of Christ and the return of Christ is unique. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:11.139 Because the devil is actively at work in this 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:15.560 day, in this age, affirming and reaffirming men 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:20.439 in their unbelief. Seeking to bring condemnation 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:25.759 upon the church of... The distinct characteristic 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:31.920 of this age, outside of the church and a part 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:37.759 of the church at times, is false teaching and 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:44.480 error. Now why is false teaching and error and 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:50.540 half -truths and bad theology so prevalent today, 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:54.850 brothers and sisters? Why do these things run 00:07:54.850 --> 00:08:00.389 rampant on evangelicalism? Why do these things 00:08:00.389 --> 00:08:03.949 run rampant in churches in southeast Illinois, 00:08:04.329 --> 00:08:11.410 in Indiana, in Missouri? Is it because men, in 00:08:11.410 --> 00:08:15.129 their carnality, in their flesh, want to be pleasing 00:08:15.129 --> 00:08:17.629 to their people and they don't want opposition? 00:08:17.709 --> 00:08:20.810 Yes. But there's something deeper than that. 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:26.360 These false doctrines, these false truths are 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:29.879 being produced and published. They're finding 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:34.980 their source in something unseen. Something that 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:41.879 the eye doesn't observe. Demons. Deceitful spirits. 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:49.539 As long as the minister serves before the return 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:53.950 of the Lord Jesus Christ. You will serve in the 00:08:53.950 --> 00:08:57.830 last days. And that means that the context of 00:08:57.830 --> 00:09:02.309 your ministry will be that of warfare, brothers 00:09:02.309 --> 00:09:06.129 and sisters. That means that the church will 00:09:06.129 --> 00:09:11.169 exist in a state of warfare, brothers and sisters. 00:09:11.809 --> 00:09:17.830 Now we think about how the devil worked preeminently 00:09:17.830 --> 00:09:22.559 before the coming of Christ. Think about how 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:27.639 he worked and where he expended the majority 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:33.720 of his energy, where he aimed his focus. Well, 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:38.580 the offspring of the serpent, ever since Genesis 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:45.360 3, was working to thwart and stop and bring cessation 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:51.559 to the seed or the offspring of the woman. We 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:56.399 think about all the slaughters that took place 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:01.360 throughout the Old Covenant. Why did Pharaoh 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:08.279 kill so many babies? Why do we find that some 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:11.919 of the wicked kings in the nation of Israel tore 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.240 open the wombs of women because they were offspring 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:20.889 of the serpent? Why do we find that Herod, Slaughtered 00:10:20.889 --> 00:10:25.669 children. It's because there were dark forces 00:10:25.669 --> 00:10:29.549 at work behind these wicked men to cease, to 00:10:29.549 --> 00:10:34.789 bring a stop or a halt to the seed of the woman. 00:10:36.590 --> 00:10:40.830 Trying to stop the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:41.549 --> 00:10:47.629 But now that Christ has died, now that Christ 00:10:47.629 --> 00:10:50.559 has gone to the cross, And suffered on behalf 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:53.940 of sinners. And now that he has risen and conquered 00:10:53.940 --> 00:10:56.460 the grave. And he's been exalted above every 00:10:56.460 --> 00:10:59.240 authority and every power. Whether it be earthly 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:07.360 or angelic. Where is the focus of the devil's 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:15.159 energy? Where does he aim his work at? Distorting 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:23.070 the truth. Concerning those realities. Twisting 00:11:23.070 --> 00:11:28.289 and perverting the gospel. Producing erroneous 00:11:28.289 --> 00:11:34.129 and false teachings. To sway and blind the minds 00:11:34.129 --> 00:11:39.730 and the eyes of men. So this is the context in 00:11:39.730 --> 00:11:46.559 which ministers today will serve. That is regardless 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:53.200 of whether or not we want that to be the case 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:59.120 or not. Whether or not I like it, whether or 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:02.799 not I want it to be the case, there is warfare 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:08.419 with regards to the ministry that God has entrusted 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:14.600 to me and my fellow pastors. That means that 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:20.700 we have to gird our minds and not be ignorant 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:27.240 of the schemes of the devil, as does every single 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:32.220 minister that serves in this unique context prior 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:38.340 to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:41.500 is a struggle that every minister is involved 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:47.009 in. whether they want to be or not. Now we also 00:12:47.009 --> 00:12:51.289 see that we must consider that we minister as 00:12:51.289 --> 00:12:55.649 those who are distinctly qualified because of 00:12:55.649 --> 00:13:02.169 this warfare. If we look at 1 Timothy 3, specifically 00:13:02.169 --> 00:13:07.950 in verses 6 -7, when Paul is giving the qualifications 00:13:07.950 --> 00:13:12.529 for pastors and elders, In the life of the church. 00:13:12.850 --> 00:13:21.129 He has. The devil in mind. When he gives the 00:13:21.129 --> 00:13:24.350 qualifications. For ministers. Who are to be 00:13:24.350 --> 00:13:26.570 overseers of the church. Who are to teach and 00:13:26.570 --> 00:13:29.710 preach. Who are to serve the people of God. He 00:13:29.710 --> 00:13:34.450 has. The accuser of the brethren. In the forefront 00:13:34.450 --> 00:13:38.799 of his thinking. Brothers and sisters. In verses 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:43.740 6 and 7 we read these words. And not a new convert, 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:49.440 so that he will not become conceited and fall 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:52.820 into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:56.620 And he must have a good reputation with those 00:13:56.620 --> 00:14:01.019 outside the church, so that he will not fall 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:08.159 into reproach and the snare of the devil. There's 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:12.600 two dangers that Paul has in mind as he's putting 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:18.139 forth the qualifications for pastor elders. The 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:22.700 first danger and the first reason that he has 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:27.279 these qualifications is because the minister 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:32.100 may potentially partake and fall into the same 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:37.850 condemnation that the devil himself experienced. 00:14:38.490 --> 00:14:44.929 Now, the Bible is somewhat quiet with regards 00:14:44.929 --> 00:14:51.029 to the fall of the serpent. Now, there are different 00:14:51.029 --> 00:14:56.049 theories, and I would tend to agree with Johnson 00:14:56.049 --> 00:14:59.830 Edwards, who has the most elaborate, and I think 00:14:59.830 --> 00:15:05.450 clear, description of why and how the devil fell. 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:10.279 So we think about the fact that the covenant 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:14.559 of redemption takes place. There's this transaction 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:18.960 that takes place before creation comes into the 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:23.240 world. Before man is created, before angels are 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:26.279 created, before the spiritual realm is created, 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:32.139 God within himself as a triune being covenants. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:37.919 that Christ will take on flesh, that he will 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:40.779 dwell among men, that he will redeem sinners, 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:44.120 that he will rise from the dead, and that he 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:48.799 will be exalted above all creation. So this takes 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:53.179 place before creation of any sort, time, or history. 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:56.639 But we know from the book of Job that angels 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:02.039 were rejoicing when God created the world. So 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:07.580 angels, pre -exist the creation of man and humanity. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:14.740 So the theory goes like this. God covenants among 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:23.000 himself, or he has this agreement among the Godhead, 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:27.799 the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, regarding 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:32.389 the gospel, knowing that men would fall. They 00:16:32.389 --> 00:16:37.149 create the spiritual realm, or the Lord creates 00:16:37.149 --> 00:16:41.690 the spiritual realm, creates angels, and what 00:16:41.690 --> 00:16:45.710 does the Lord do? He proclaims the gospel to 00:16:45.710 --> 00:16:50.570 the angelic beings, to the angelic hosts. He 00:16:50.570 --> 00:16:53.809 proclaims the reality that the Son is going to 00:16:53.809 --> 00:16:57.990 take on flesh to redeem these lost sinners, these 00:16:57.990 --> 00:17:04.089 people that would fall. But then the Son, who 00:17:04.089 --> 00:17:10.049 would become a man, would be exalted above every 00:17:10.049 --> 00:17:15.210 single creature. Now, among the angelic hosts 00:17:15.210 --> 00:17:22.589 was one angel in particular, the Son of the Morning 00:17:22.589 --> 00:17:25.950 Star, who is said to have more grandeur, more 00:17:25.950 --> 00:17:29.849 excellence, more knowledge, and more glory than 00:17:29.849 --> 00:17:37.000 any other creature. Lucifer. The devil. Now, 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:41.900 what's the devil's problem with the Lord's proclamation 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:49.519 of that pre -creation gospel? The devil's problem 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:55.359 is that he, this exalted being, would have to 00:17:55.359 --> 00:18:01.599 submit to a man in the flesh, the Lord Jesus 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:07.910 Christ. Thus, we find the corruption of the devil, 00:18:08.049 --> 00:18:13.950 and we find that he tempts Adam trying to thwart 00:18:13.950 --> 00:18:19.750 the plan of God, and we see that he falls into 00:18:19.750 --> 00:18:25.769 this grievous condemnation. Why? Because of the 00:18:25.769 --> 00:18:29.529 pride and arrogance of his heart, he becomes 00:18:29.529 --> 00:18:35.289 puffed up and conceited. So when Paul says in 00:18:35.289 --> 00:18:40.710 1 Timothy 3, and not a new convert so that he 00:18:40.710 --> 00:18:46.130 will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation 00:18:46.130 --> 00:18:49.970 incurred by the devil, he means you have to be 00:18:49.970 --> 00:18:52.930 a settled man of God. You have to have maturity 00:18:52.930 --> 00:18:57.569 under your belt so that the pastorate doesn't 00:18:57.569 --> 00:19:00.109 go to your head, and you get a big head, you 00:19:00.109 --> 00:19:02.390 get puffed up, you get conceited and arrogant, 00:19:02.529 --> 00:19:07.390 and you fall, and you take part in the same exact 00:19:07.390 --> 00:19:13.430 condemnation of the devil. So he has the devil 00:19:13.430 --> 00:19:19.109 and his fall in mind as he's giving these qualifications. 00:19:20.609 --> 00:19:23.910 But there's another danger, and that is the danger 00:19:23.910 --> 00:19:28.319 of the devil's snare. We see this in verse 7, 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:32.779 where he says, he will not fall into the reproach 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:39.019 and the snare of the devil. Paul knows that the 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:47.140 devil exploits the weaknesses and the holes in 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:55.740 the life and ministry of pastors. He knows their 00:19:55.740 --> 00:20:01.059 life. He knows what's taking place in their ministry. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:04.980 He knows their habits. He knows their routines. 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:11.640 Verse 7 presupposes that the devil has a working 00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:15.279 knowledge of the life of the minister. He's not 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:22.359 omniscient. But listen, he's an old being. That 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:25.400 has accumulated a great deal of knowledge. And 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:27.839 he has a great deal of insight. Much more than 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:30.019 I will ever have. And much more than you will 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:37.480 ever possess. So the devil knows the life of 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:43.579 the minister. And Paul knows that he will exploit 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:53.059 every single hole in the minister's armor. There 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:58.599 is the distinct danger that the minister will 00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:04.460 fall into disrepute and bring shame and disgrace 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:12.240 to Christ's church and to Christ's name. Why? 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:17.700 Because of warfare. Because the devil will tempt 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:24.839 and the devil will lay a snare. To allure and 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:29.000 to play on the holes in the minister's life. 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:32.279 This is why Paul says that the minister must 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:38.759 be above reproach. Later on, Paul says this in 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:44.299 1 Timothy 4. And we know why. Based on what he 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:47.640 has been saying. We read this in verses 6 -8. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:52.940 And pointing out these things. To the brethren, 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:56.039 you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly 00:21:56.039 --> 00:22:00.339 nourished on the words of the faith. And of sound 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:04.079 doctrine, which you have been following. But 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:06.259 I have nothing to do with worldly fables fit 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:09.299 for old women. On the other hand, discipline 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:13.200 yourself for the purpose of godliness. For bodily 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:16.539 discipline is only of little profit, but godliness 00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:19.799 is profitable for all things, since it holds 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:22.420 promise. for the present life, and also for the 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:25.420 life to come. He says a little bit later in verses 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:32.019 15 -16, Take pains with these things. Be absorbed 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:34.980 in them, so that your progress will be evident 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:38.799 to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:42.339 your teaching. Persevere in these things, for 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:47.980 as you do this, you will ensure salvation both 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:52.609 for yourself and for those who hear you. We hear 00:22:52.609 --> 00:22:55.029 that, and we have to think of that in light of 00:22:55.029 --> 00:23:00.190 what he's been saying about the devil. There's 00:23:00.190 --> 00:23:03.930 good reason that Paul says, be absorbed in these 00:23:03.930 --> 00:23:08.109 things. Give yourselves to these things. Discipline 00:23:08.109 --> 00:23:11.309 yourself in these ways, because there is an enemy 00:23:11.309 --> 00:23:17.799 that hates you. There is a very real spiritual 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:21.500 enemy that is out to get every single faithful 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:26.019 minister of the word of God. Because the devil 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:29.960 knows that if you can bring down the pastor, 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:33.980 bring down the minister, you can bring great 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:37.960 disrepute and great disgrace on the name of Christ. 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:40.819 And you take that and you multiply it because 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:46.400 of social media. Have we seen this take place 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:48.180 in our day and our age, brothers and sisters? 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:55.680 We have examples, modern day examples of men 00:23:55.680 --> 00:24:03.019 who have been caught in the trap of Satan. And 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:06.759 it's been plastered all over the world to see. 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:12.460 This is why Paul exhorts Timothy in this way. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:16.380 Because he doesn't want this to be true of Timothy. 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:19.920 He wants Timothy to have a faithful ministry 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:23.460 that honors the Lord, one that is above reproach. 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:26.880 One that the Lord blesses and one that the Lord 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:30.299 uses, not just for a few years, but for the long 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:34.099 haul, brothers and sisters. With a long view. 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:39.980 We have to consider that we minister as those 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:44.750 who are distinctly and there's a reason for that. 00:24:45.490 --> 00:24:50.950 But we have to also consider that the pastor 00:24:50.950 --> 00:24:56.670 ministers to those who are also subject to the 00:24:56.670 --> 00:25:02.190 attacks of Satan. Now, this is important, I believe, 00:25:02.349 --> 00:25:07.799 because it informs The pastor ought to inform 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:10.900 the pastor and the minister with regards to their 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:14.160 character, their conduct, and the manner in which 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:21.380 they conduct their ministries. We know the struggles 00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:26.640 that come because of spiritual attack. The minister 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:35.869 knows temptation and the trials of heart. the 00:25:35.869 --> 00:25:39.970 great struggle and battle within yourself. The 00:25:39.970 --> 00:25:45.109 minister of all people ought to know the fickleness 00:25:45.109 --> 00:25:49.630 of the human heart and its ability to be allured 00:25:49.630 --> 00:25:53.230 and to be drawn outside of itself to a place 00:25:53.230 --> 00:25:57.630 where it's nearly disgusted because of the things 00:25:57.630 --> 00:26:03.059 that have taken place inside of it. We know the 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:06.279 trial. We know the temptation. We know the onslaught 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:09.599 of the devil. So that ought to inform us with 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:15.160 regards to patience and kindness and the treatment 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:22.960 of those to whom we minister when they are experiencing 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:29.519 the same. The devil actively tempts those who 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:35.980 are in. The church. Not just the pastors. But 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:38.339 everybody in here. Who is a professing believer. 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:45.220 The devil is out to get you. If you are in a 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:48.079 saving union. With the Lord Jesus Christ. You 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:54.720 in the pew. Have an enemy. That hates you. That 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:57.740 despises you. That wants to bring disrepute. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:01.099 And condemnation. Into your life. And shame on 00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:06.759 the name of Jesus Christ. And he knows your life. 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:12.460 He knows your habits. He knows your routines. 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:19.259 He knows your habits on the computer. He knows 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:23.039 your habits with your relationships. He knows 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:25.700 your friendships. He knows your speech. He knows 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:32.970 who's watching and who's not. called the schemes 00:27:32.970 --> 00:27:37.529 of the devil for a reason. There's method. There's 00:27:37.529 --> 00:27:44.269 strategy. He knows when and how to lay the trap. 00:27:45.910 --> 00:27:50.650 So he's not just out to get the pastor or the 00:27:50.650 --> 00:27:55.130 pastors, but he's out to get those who are faithful 00:27:55.130 --> 00:27:59.660 in the pew to bring condemnation. on the glorious 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:03.279 name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we were to 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:06.799 look at 1 Timothy 5, verses 11 through 16, we 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:09.279 would see this very thing takes place in the 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:13.400 life of widows. In 1 Timothy 5, we won't read 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:23.619 all of it. We read these words. In verse 14, 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:27.279 Therefore I want younger widows to get married. 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:31.980 Bear children, keep house, and give the enemy 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:36.559 no occasion for reproach. For some have already 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:42.640 turned aside to follow Satan. Who's tempting 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:48.059 the widows? Who's out to get the women who have 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:52.039 lost their husbands? Who's working in the life 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:55.240 of the women of the church who have just gone 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:59.400 through a traumatic loss in their life? The devil. 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:05.279 He wants to bring disreproach on Christ through 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:09.799 the pew. Not just through the pulpit, brothers 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:15.180 and sisters. The devil actively tempts and allures 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:22.859 the members of a Christian church. Not just head 00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:28.880 down, but the whole thing. Because he hates all 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:32.119 of God's children who love the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:41.539 The devil acts in opposition to Christ through 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:46.279 unbelievers who are in the church. We read this 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:50.559 in 2 Timothy chapter 2. We read this in verses 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:55.480 25 and 26. With gentleness correcting those who 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:58.490 are in opposition. This is Paul speaking to Timothy. 00:29:59.690 --> 00:30:02.630 With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition. 00:30:03.589 --> 00:30:08.910 If perhaps God may grant them repentance leading 00:30:08.910 --> 00:30:12.190 to the knowledge of the truth. And they may come 00:30:12.190 --> 00:30:15.089 to their senses and escape from the snare of 00:30:15.089 --> 00:30:19.109 the devil. Having been held captive by him to 00:30:19.109 --> 00:30:23.890 do his will. Now this is kind of a confusing 00:30:23.890 --> 00:30:27.109 text because it seems. Like he's talking about 00:30:27.109 --> 00:30:29.789 believers because he's talking about the context 00:30:29.789 --> 00:30:33.829 of the church. But it's clear that these individuals 00:30:33.829 --> 00:30:38.990 are in bondage and captivity to Satan. So he's 00:30:38.990 --> 00:30:43.710 talking about unbelievers who are around, in, 00:30:44.109 --> 00:30:52.509 and near the community of Christ's people. The 00:30:52.509 --> 00:30:56.849 devil works through. unbelievers in the midst 00:30:56.849 --> 00:31:00.289 of God's people. We could think about 2 Corinthians 00:31:00.289 --> 00:31:05.369 2, we won't turn there, where Paul exhorts the 00:31:05.369 --> 00:31:09.789 Corinthians to reaffirm their love for the brother 00:31:09.789 --> 00:31:13.190 that was disciplined and removed, to reaffirm 00:31:13.190 --> 00:31:16.289 their love and to bring him back into the flock 00:31:16.289 --> 00:31:20.410 and to forgive him. And Paul says, for we are 00:31:20.410 --> 00:31:22.430 not ignorant of the devil's schemes. And what's 00:31:22.430 --> 00:31:25.400 he talking about? He's talking about the fact 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:28.099 that the devil works in the life of the church 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:31.380 through unforgiveness and hardness of heart. 00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:38.500 That's one of the schemes of the devil. That's 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:40.480 one of the ways, that's one of the doors that 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:43.259 he gets inside Christ's church. It's through 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:48.160 unforgiveness and hardness of heart. The devil 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:51.920 doesn't just work on the pulpit. He works on 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:57.440 the pew, brothers and sisters. So the devil and 00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:02.759 these unseen, spiritual, wicked, dark forces 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:09.319 are characteristic of the day and age in which 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:15.380 we minister. But that is also one of the reasons 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:18.740 that we must be distinctly qualified as ministers 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:26.720 of the gospel. And we must never forget that 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:32.400 ministers serve those who suffer the onslaught 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:37.440 of the devil just as we, as ministers of the 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:41.900 gospel, do. All of this, brothers and sisters, 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:46.720 should encourage the minister to vigilance and 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:51.940 watchfulness in their lives. This should be over 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:54.480 their life, their heart, and their doctrine. 00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:58.740 Ministers ought to be those who look beyond the 00:32:58.740 --> 00:33:03.740 surface. Who look beyond merely the situation. 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:06.420 Do you watch what's taking place behind the situation? 00:33:07.099 --> 00:33:12.279 Underneath it? Beneath it? The ultimate cause, 00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:17.640 in a sense, that's producing and working these 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:23.980 realities? But it also ought to cause us to have 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:26.680 a vigilance and a watchfulness in the life of 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:31.660 our ministries. In the life of God's people that 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:37.220 we've been entrusted to watch over. This should 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:42.220 encourage the church and the members of the Christian 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:48.059 church to support prayerfully their ministers. 00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:56.359 knowing the great threat and danger that they 00:33:56.359 --> 00:34:02.019 face as the leaders of God's people. Spurgeon, 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:05.440 it wasn't in the context of spiritual warfare, 00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:08.659 but Spurgeon said something along the lines of, 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:12.059 he was saying this to his people, the day you 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:15.099 cease to pray for me, tell me, because that's 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:20.610 the day my ministry will come to an end. Why 00:34:20.610 --> 00:34:24.889 did he say that? Because he knew that he couldn't 00:34:24.889 --> 00:34:28.409 survive. He couldn't thrive. He couldn't preach. 00:34:28.530 --> 00:34:30.789 He would have no success. He would have no blessing. 00:34:30.889 --> 00:34:33.050 He would have no power. He would have no ability 00:34:33.050 --> 00:34:35.570 to do anything if his people weren't praying 00:34:35.570 --> 00:34:40.630 for him. So the people of God, you here today, 00:34:40.730 --> 00:34:45.710 are exhorted to pray for your ministers. To pray 00:34:45.710 --> 00:34:51.079 for your pastors. Whoever they might be. to lift 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:54.900 them up and to intercede for them at the throne 00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:59.619 of God, knowing the great threat and the great 00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:05.000 danger and the great enemy that is out to get 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:11.320 them. When was the last time you prayed for your 00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:17.900 pastors? When was the last time you lifted up 00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:22.429 your ministers? And brought them to the throne 00:35:22.429 --> 00:35:27.949 of God. But we ought to turn that around as well, 00:35:27.949 --> 00:35:33.650 oughtn't we? Shouldn't we? Ministers and pastors, 00:35:33.809 --> 00:35:36.849 when is the last time you interceded and you 00:35:36.849 --> 00:35:42.690 pled for the people of God? When is the last 00:35:42.690 --> 00:35:46.889 time you came to God's throne with the burden 00:35:46.889 --> 00:35:52.900 of God's people on your heart? We must give ourselves 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:59.599 to prayer for one another. Pilgrim didn't make 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:05.880 it to the celestial city alone. He had many friends 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:09.940 along the way. One of the ways that he made it 00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:14.059 was by his friends, their encouragement, their 00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:18.599 strength, and their prayer. I am not ashamed 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:22.969 as a minister of the gospel. To stand here and 00:36:22.969 --> 00:36:31.969 say, I want you to pray for me. I covet and long 00:36:31.969 --> 00:36:37.070 for the prayers of Grace Fellowship Church. I 00:36:37.070 --> 00:36:40.190 know the other ministers of GFC do the same. 00:36:41.309 --> 00:36:45.570 Why? Because we desperately need those prayers. 00:36:47.150 --> 00:36:53.360 And we know. That you need those prayers. Let's 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:57.599 pray for one another. That we would be watchful 00:36:57.599 --> 00:37:01.320 and vigilant in our lives. And even watchful 00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:06.780 and vigilant in our prayers. Now this ought to 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:11.059 also encourage the people and the minister alike. 00:37:12.119 --> 00:37:17.300 To rejoice. And to be encouraged. Because as 00:37:17.300 --> 00:37:19.800 we think about spiritual warfare and we think 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:22.639 about difficulties and trials and temptations 00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:25.920 and the onslaught and this warfare that we're 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:31.760 in, it's a reminder of what is to come. There 00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:35.920 would be no warfare if glory was not ahead of 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:39.219 us, brothers and sisters. There would be no difficulty 00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:43.400 if the day was not coming when Christ is going 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:47.489 to return. So it ought to remind us, it's a sign 00:37:47.489 --> 00:37:52.289 of the glory that is to come. But we also ought 00:37:52.289 --> 00:37:57.010 to remember that all of these things are limited 00:37:57.010 --> 00:38:01.869 and restrained by the hand of God. We think about 00:38:01.869 --> 00:38:07.849 the book of Job. No matter the hardship, no matter 00:38:07.849 --> 00:38:11.550 the failures or the lack of success in your life 00:38:11.550 --> 00:38:15.199 with regards to the armor of God, No matter the 00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:18.559 struggles or the difficulties, the great promise 00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:24.480 of the gospel in providence is that yes, we have 00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:29.480 struggle in this life. Yes, we will fail. Yes, 00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:32.139 we will have weakness. Yes, we will have good 00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:34.739 days. And yes, we will have bad days. But the 00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:37.739 promise of providence that comes forth from the 00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:41.420 cross is that even those weaknesses, even those 00:38:41.420 --> 00:38:46.510 failures, the Lord will... superintend for your 00:38:46.510 --> 00:38:52.829 good and for his glory. Every single one of them. 00:38:53.329 --> 00:38:56.989 The book of Job teaches us that there are limits 00:38:56.989 --> 00:39:02.409 to the devil's warfare in the life of God's ministers 00:39:02.409 --> 00:39:05.889 and in the life of God's people and that he redeems 00:39:05.889 --> 00:39:08.849 those things for the good of his people and the 00:39:08.849 --> 00:39:15.539 glory of his name. So don't be discouraged. Be 00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:22.840 hopeful. Be emboldened. Be strengthened. Be bolstered 00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:29.500 to put on the full armor of God as Paul exhorts 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:35.760 the Ephesians. Ministers, especially, let us 00:39:35.760 --> 00:39:44.719 lead with that armor. Let us lead in putting 00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:50.219 on the armor and keeping on the armor. That we 00:39:50.219 --> 00:39:54.119 might be an example to the flock.