So Paul says in verse 12 of Ephesians 6, he says,
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the powers, against
the world forces of this darkness, against the
spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly
places. For the last several months, We've been
considering spiritual warfare, the reality of
this warfare, this battle, what it is and what
it means and how it has implications in the life
of believers. Tonight, as we consider this again,
we're going to consider it with relation to pastoral
ministry. or with regards to ministers and pastors.
So we've just finished up a year -long pastoral
ministry cohort, and two brothers have preached
throughout the day. And so it's especially relevant
at this time, not just because they're present,
but also because there's several present who
are ministers of the gospel. There are several
present who do proclaim the truth of the Scripture,
and it's good for the people of God, not just
ministers, to hear about the relationship between
spiritual warfare and pastoral ministry, or the
minister. So we think about Paul's words in verse
12, for our struggle. is not against flesh and
blood, but against rulers and against the powers.
He's obviously including the Ephesians in this,
and himself and his co -laborers and his fellow
workers. He's including everybody he's writing
to in this. He's describing the Christian life
as warfare, as a battle. But he has to be including
himself. As a minister. Also. He has to be including
himself. And his ministry. As well. So tonight.
I want to put forth. This thesis in a sense.
That if. Christian life is warfare. If. It is
warfare for all Christians everywhere to live
the Christian life and to be faithful in this
world that they have to stand firm and resist
the devil. Then my thesis is this, and this is
what I want to show and support tonight, that
it is especially warfare for the minister, for
the pastor, for those who preach the gospel,
to do so faithfully in this world. That there
is a unique and distinct relationship between
the schemes of the devil and the faithfulness
of a ministry that a pastor carries out. There's
an intimate connection between the two. And the
two are related to each other intimately. So
much so that when we think about the pastoral
ministry and preaching and praying and ministering
and shepherding, we have to think about this
warfare as well. Now, I want to do this in three
different ways. First, we're going to consider
that ministers serve. In the days of spiritual
warfare. We're also going to consider. That ministers
serve as those distinctly qualified. Because
of this warfare. And lastly we'll consider that
ministers serve. Those who are subject to the
wiles of the devil. Just as they themselves.
Are subject to. The schemes and the wiles of
the devil. The warfare of the devil and his horrors.
These dark forces that are unseen. So turn with
me to the book of 1 Timothy. We'll consider first.
We must consider. That we minister in. The days
of spiritual warfare. In 1 Timothy chapter 4
we read these words. But the Spirit explicitly
says. That in latter times. Some will fall away
from the faith. Paying attention to deceitful
spirits. And doctrines of demons. By means of
the hypocrisy of liars. Seared in their own conscience.
a branding iron. Men who forbid marriage and
advocate abstaining from foods which God has
created to be gratefully shared in by those who
believe and know the truth. Notice in this text
that Paul is telling, he's teaching Timothy,
that the context in which you minister, the context
in which you pastor, is one of warfare. It is
one of demonic opposition. What does he say?
Paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines
of demons. Now, Paul also says in 2 Corinthians
4 .4, he calls the devil the god of this world
or the god of this age. Meaning, the context
in which ministers serve today between the work
of Christ and the return of Christ is unique.
Because the devil is actively at work in this
day, in this age, affirming and reaffirming men
in their unbelief. Seeking to bring condemnation
upon the church of... The distinct characteristic
of this age, outside of the church and a part
of the church at times, is false teaching and
error. Now why is false teaching and error and
half -truths and bad theology so prevalent today,
brothers and sisters? Why do these things run
rampant on evangelicalism? Why do these things
run rampant in churches in southeast Illinois,
in Indiana, in Missouri? Is it because men, in
their carnality, in their flesh, want to be pleasing
to their people and they don't want opposition?
Yes. But there's something deeper than that.
These false doctrines, these false truths are
being produced and published. They're finding
their source in something unseen. Something that
the eye doesn't observe. Demons. Deceitful spirits.
As long as the minister serves before the return
of the Lord Jesus Christ. You will serve in the
last days. And that means that the context of
your ministry will be that of warfare, brothers
and sisters. That means that the church will
exist in a state of warfare, brothers and sisters.
Now we think about how the devil worked preeminently
before the coming of Christ. Think about how
he worked and where he expended the majority
of his energy, where he aimed his focus. Well,
the offspring of the serpent, ever since Genesis
3, was working to thwart and stop and bring cessation
to the seed or the offspring of the woman. We
think about all the slaughters that took place
throughout the Old Covenant. Why did Pharaoh
kill so many babies? Why do we find that some
of the wicked kings in the nation of Israel tore
open the wombs of women because they were offspring
of the serpent? Why do we find that Herod, Slaughtered
children. It's because there were dark forces
at work behind these wicked men to cease, to
bring a stop or a halt to the seed of the woman.
Trying to stop the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But now that Christ has died, now that Christ
has gone to the cross, And suffered on behalf
of sinners. And now that he has risen and conquered
the grave. And he's been exalted above every
authority and every power. Whether it be earthly
or angelic. Where is the focus of the devil's
energy? Where does he aim his work at? Distorting
the truth. Concerning those realities. Twisting
and perverting the gospel. Producing erroneous
and false teachings. To sway and blind the minds
and the eyes of men. So this is the context in
which ministers today will serve. That is regardless
of whether or not we want that to be the case
or not. Whether or not I like it, whether or
not I want it to be the case, there is warfare
with regards to the ministry that God has entrusted
to me and my fellow pastors. That means that
we have to gird our minds and not be ignorant
of the schemes of the devil, as does every single
minister that serves in this unique context prior
to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This
is a struggle that every minister is involved
in. whether they want to be or not. Now we also
see that we must consider that we minister as
those who are distinctly qualified because of
this warfare. If we look at 1 Timothy 3, specifically
in verses 6 -7, when Paul is giving the qualifications
for pastors and elders, In the life of the church.
He has. The devil in mind. When he gives the
qualifications. For ministers. Who are to be
overseers of the church. Who are to teach and
preach. Who are to serve the people of God. He
has. The accuser of the brethren. In the forefront
of his thinking. Brothers and sisters. In verses
6 and 7 we read these words. And not a new convert,
so that he will not become conceited and fall
into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
And he must have a good reputation with those
outside the church, so that he will not fall
into reproach and the snare of the devil. There's
two dangers that Paul has in mind as he's putting
forth the qualifications for pastor elders. The
first danger and the first reason that he has
these qualifications is because the minister
may potentially partake and fall into the same
condemnation that the devil himself experienced.
Now, the Bible is somewhat quiet with regards
to the fall of the serpent. Now, there are different
theories, and I would tend to agree with Johnson
Edwards, who has the most elaborate, and I think
clear, description of why and how the devil fell.
So we think about the fact that the covenant
of redemption takes place. There's this transaction
that takes place before creation comes into the
world. Before man is created, before angels are
created, before the spiritual realm is created,
God within himself as a triune being covenants.
that Christ will take on flesh, that he will
dwell among men, that he will redeem sinners,
that he will rise from the dead, and that he
will be exalted above all creation. So this takes
place before creation of any sort, time, or history.
But we know from the book of Job that angels
were rejoicing when God created the world. So
angels, pre -exist the creation of man and humanity.
So the theory goes like this. God covenants among
himself, or he has this agreement among the Godhead,
the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, regarding
the gospel, knowing that men would fall. They
create the spiritual realm, or the Lord creates
the spiritual realm, creates angels, and what
does the Lord do? He proclaims the gospel to
the angelic beings, to the angelic hosts. He
proclaims the reality that the Son is going to
take on flesh to redeem these lost sinners, these
people that would fall. But then the Son, who
would become a man, would be exalted above every
single creature. Now, among the angelic hosts
was one angel in particular, the Son of the Morning
Star, who is said to have more grandeur, more
excellence, more knowledge, and more glory than
any other creature. Lucifer. The devil. Now,
what's the devil's problem with the Lord's proclamation
of that pre -creation gospel? The devil's problem
is that he, this exalted being, would have to
submit to a man in the flesh, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Thus, we find the corruption of the devil,
and we find that he tempts Adam trying to thwart
the plan of God, and we see that he falls into
this grievous condemnation. Why? Because of the
pride and arrogance of his heart, he becomes
puffed up and conceited. So when Paul says in
1 Timothy 3, and not a new convert so that he
will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation
incurred by the devil, he means you have to be
a settled man of God. You have to have maturity
under your belt so that the pastorate doesn't
go to your head, and you get a big head, you
get puffed up, you get conceited and arrogant,
and you fall, and you take part in the same exact
condemnation of the devil. So he has the devil
and his fall in mind as he's giving these qualifications.
But there's another danger, and that is the danger
of the devil's snare. We see this in verse 7,
where he says, he will not fall into the reproach
and the snare of the devil. Paul knows that the
devil exploits the weaknesses and the holes in
the life and ministry of pastors. He knows their
life. He knows what's taking place in their ministry.
He knows their habits. He knows their routines.
Verse 7 presupposes that the devil has a working
knowledge of the life of the minister. He's not
omniscient. But listen, he's an old being. That
has accumulated a great deal of knowledge. And
he has a great deal of insight. Much more than
I will ever have. And much more than you will
ever possess. So the devil knows the life of
the minister. And Paul knows that he will exploit
every single hole in the minister's armor. There
is the distinct danger that the minister will
fall into disrepute and bring shame and disgrace
to Christ's church and to Christ's name. Why?
Because of warfare. Because the devil will tempt
and the devil will lay a snare. To allure and
to play on the holes in the minister's life.
This is why Paul says that the minister must
be above reproach. Later on, Paul says this in
1 Timothy 4. And we know why. Based on what he
has been saying. We read this in verses 6 -8.
And pointing out these things. To the brethren,
you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly
nourished on the words of the faith. And of sound
doctrine, which you have been following. But
I have nothing to do with worldly fables fit
for old women. On the other hand, discipline
yourself for the purpose of godliness. For bodily
discipline is only of little profit, but godliness
is profitable for all things, since it holds
promise. for the present life, and also for the
life to come. He says a little bit later in verses
15 -16, Take pains with these things. Be absorbed
in them, so that your progress will be evident
to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to
your teaching. Persevere in these things, for
as you do this, you will ensure salvation both
for yourself and for those who hear you. We hear
that, and we have to think of that in light of
what he's been saying about the devil. There's
good reason that Paul says, be absorbed in these
things. Give yourselves to these things. Discipline
yourself in these ways, because there is an enemy
that hates you. There is a very real spiritual
enemy that is out to get every single faithful
minister of the word of God. Because the devil
knows that if you can bring down the pastor,
bring down the minister, you can bring great
disrepute and great disgrace on the name of Christ.
And you take that and you multiply it because
of social media. Have we seen this take place
in our day and our age, brothers and sisters?
We have examples, modern day examples of men
who have been caught in the trap of Satan. And
it's been plastered all over the world to see.
This is why Paul exhorts Timothy in this way.
Because he doesn't want this to be true of Timothy.
He wants Timothy to have a faithful ministry
that honors the Lord, one that is above reproach.
One that the Lord blesses and one that the Lord
uses, not just for a few years, but for the long
haul, brothers and sisters. With a long view.
We have to consider that we minister as those
who are distinctly and there's a reason for that.
But we have to also consider that the pastor
ministers to those who are also subject to the
attacks of Satan. Now, this is important, I believe,
because it informs The pastor ought to inform
the pastor and the minister with regards to their
character, their conduct, and the manner in which
they conduct their ministries. We know the struggles
that come because of spiritual attack. The minister
knows temptation and the trials of heart. the
great struggle and battle within yourself. The
minister of all people ought to know the fickleness
of the human heart and its ability to be allured
and to be drawn outside of itself to a place
where it's nearly disgusted because of the things
that have taken place inside of it. We know the
trial. We know the temptation. We know the onslaught
of the devil. So that ought to inform us with
regards to patience and kindness and the treatment
of those to whom we minister when they are experiencing
the same. The devil actively tempts those who
are in. The church. Not just the pastors. But
everybody in here. Who is a professing believer.
The devil is out to get you. If you are in a
saving union. With the Lord Jesus Christ. You
in the pew. Have an enemy. That hates you. That
despises you. That wants to bring disrepute.
And condemnation. Into your life. And shame on
the name of Jesus Christ. And he knows your life.
He knows your habits. He knows your routines.
He knows your habits on the computer. He knows
your habits with your relationships. He knows
your friendships. He knows your speech. He knows
who's watching and who's not. called the schemes
of the devil for a reason. There's method. There's
strategy. He knows when and how to lay the trap.
So he's not just out to get the pastor or the
pastors, but he's out to get those who are faithful
in the pew to bring condemnation. on the glorious
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we were to
look at 1 Timothy 5, verses 11 through 16, we
would see this very thing takes place in the
life of widows. In 1 Timothy 5, we won't read
all of it. We read these words. In verse 14,
Therefore I want younger widows to get married.
Bear children, keep house, and give the enemy
no occasion for reproach. For some have already
turned aside to follow Satan. Who's tempting
the widows? Who's out to get the women who have
lost their husbands? Who's working in the life
of the women of the church who have just gone
through a traumatic loss in their life? The devil.
He wants to bring disreproach on Christ through
the pew. Not just through the pulpit, brothers
and sisters. The devil actively tempts and allures
the members of a Christian church. Not just head
down, but the whole thing. Because he hates all
of God's children who love the Lord Jesus Christ.
The devil acts in opposition to Christ through
unbelievers who are in the church. We read this
in 2 Timothy chapter 2. We read this in verses
25 and 26. With gentleness correcting those who
are in opposition. This is Paul speaking to Timothy.
With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition.
If perhaps God may grant them repentance leading
to the knowledge of the truth. And they may come
to their senses and escape from the snare of
the devil. Having been held captive by him to
do his will. Now this is kind of a confusing
text because it seems. Like he's talking about
believers because he's talking about the context
of the church. But it's clear that these individuals
are in bondage and captivity to Satan. So he's
talking about unbelievers who are around, in,
and near the community of Christ's people. The
devil works through. unbelievers in the midst
of God's people. We could think about 2 Corinthians
2, we won't turn there, where Paul exhorts the
Corinthians to reaffirm their love for the brother
that was disciplined and removed, to reaffirm
their love and to bring him back into the flock
and to forgive him. And Paul says, for we are
not ignorant of the devil's schemes. And what's
he talking about? He's talking about the fact
that the devil works in the life of the church
through unforgiveness and hardness of heart.
That's one of the schemes of the devil. That's
one of the ways, that's one of the doors that
he gets inside Christ's church. It's through
unforgiveness and hardness of heart. The devil
doesn't just work on the pulpit. He works on
the pew, brothers and sisters. So the devil and
these unseen, spiritual, wicked, dark forces
are characteristic of the day and age in which
we minister. But that is also one of the reasons
that we must be distinctly qualified as ministers
of the gospel. And we must never forget that
ministers serve those who suffer the onslaught
of the devil just as we, as ministers of the
gospel, do. All of this, brothers and sisters,
should encourage the minister to vigilance and
watchfulness in their lives. This should be over
their life, their heart, and their doctrine.
Ministers ought to be those who look beyond the
surface. Who look beyond merely the situation.
Do you watch what's taking place behind the situation?
Underneath it? Beneath it? The ultimate cause,
in a sense, that's producing and working these
realities? But it also ought to cause us to have
a vigilance and a watchfulness in the life of
our ministries. In the life of God's people that
we've been entrusted to watch over. This should
encourage the church and the members of the Christian
church to support prayerfully their ministers.
knowing the great threat and danger that they
face as the leaders of God's people. Spurgeon,
it wasn't in the context of spiritual warfare,
but Spurgeon said something along the lines of,
he was saying this to his people, the day you
cease to pray for me, tell me, because that's
the day my ministry will come to an end. Why
did he say that? Because he knew that he couldn't
survive. He couldn't thrive. He couldn't preach.
He would have no success. He would have no blessing.
He would have no power. He would have no ability
to do anything if his people weren't praying
for him. So the people of God, you here today,
are exhorted to pray for your ministers. To pray
for your pastors. Whoever they might be. to lift
them up and to intercede for them at the throne
of God, knowing the great threat and the great
danger and the great enemy that is out to get
them. When was the last time you prayed for your
pastors? When was the last time you lifted up
your ministers? And brought them to the throne
of God. But we ought to turn that around as well,
oughtn't we? Shouldn't we? Ministers and pastors,
when is the last time you interceded and you
pled for the people of God? When is the last
time you came to God's throne with the burden
of God's people on your heart? We must give ourselves
to prayer for one another. Pilgrim didn't make
it to the celestial city alone. He had many friends
along the way. One of the ways that he made it
was by his friends, their encouragement, their
strength, and their prayer. I am not ashamed
as a minister of the gospel. To stand here and
say, I want you to pray for me. I covet and long
for the prayers of Grace Fellowship Church. I
know the other ministers of GFC do the same.
Why? Because we desperately need those prayers.
And we know. That you need those prayers. Let's
pray for one another. That we would be watchful
and vigilant in our lives. And even watchful
and vigilant in our prayers. Now this ought to
also encourage the people and the minister alike.
To rejoice. And to be encouraged. Because as
we think about spiritual warfare and we think
about difficulties and trials and temptations
and the onslaught and this warfare that we're
in, it's a reminder of what is to come. There
would be no warfare if glory was not ahead of
us, brothers and sisters. There would be no difficulty
if the day was not coming when Christ is going
to return. So it ought to remind us, it's a sign
of the glory that is to come. But we also ought
to remember that all of these things are limited
and restrained by the hand of God. We think about
the book of Job. No matter the hardship, no matter
the failures or the lack of success in your life
with regards to the armor of God, No matter the
struggles or the difficulties, the great promise
of the gospel in providence is that yes, we have
struggle in this life. Yes, we will fail. Yes,
we will have weakness. Yes, we will have good
days. And yes, we will have bad days. But the
promise of providence that comes forth from the
cross is that even those weaknesses, even those
failures, the Lord will... superintend for your
good and for his glory. Every single one of them.
The book of Job teaches us that there are limits
to the devil's warfare in the life of God's ministers
and in the life of God's people and that he redeems
those things for the good of his people and the
glory of his name. So don't be discouraged. Be
hopeful. Be emboldened. Be strengthened. Be bolstered
to put on the full armor of God as Paul exhorts
the Ephesians. Ministers, especially, let us
lead with that armor. Let us lead in putting
on the armor and keeping on the armor. That we
might be an example to the flock.