WEBVTT 00:00:11.179 --> 00:00:14.320 Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:18.280 His might. Put on the full armor of God so that 00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:21.620 you will be able to stand firm against the schemes 00:00:21.620 --> 00:00:25.640 of the devil. For our struggle is not against 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:29.079 flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:32.859 the powers, against the world forces of this 00:00:32.859 --> 00:00:37.399 darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:41.840 in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:45.159 full armor of God so that you will be able to 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:48.920 resist in the evil day and, having done everything, 00:00:49.259 --> 00:00:52.740 to stand firm. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:58.679 Father, we come to you this night. Father, we 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:02.840 thank you so much for the freedom and the opportunity 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:08.120 to gather together in fellowship as believers. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:12.540 Father, we thank you so much that each and every 00:01:12.540 --> 00:01:16.219 one of us can come here tonight and eagerly anticipate 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:21.680 hearing from you and singing praises to you, 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:28.299 Lord. Father, though many may be tired, worn 00:01:28.299 --> 00:01:33.459 out, Father, we ask that you would, by your Spirit, 00:01:33.700 --> 00:01:40.200 make this time profitable. And beneficial to 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:44.659 the souls of the saints. Father, use your word 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:50.900 to sanctify and edify and build up. To quicken. 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:53.920 But even tonight, Lord, we ask that you would 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.299 use your word to save sinners through the preaching 00:01:57.299 --> 00:02:01.219 of the gospel. Father, we ask these things not 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:05.379 in any merit or right that we innately possess. 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:10.300 But Father, we ask these things in the name of 00:02:10.300 --> 00:02:13.439 the Lord Jesus Christ. We ask that you would 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.280 be with us this evening. We ask these things 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:22.580 in his name. Amen. We have been working our way 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:27.000 through Ephesians chapter 6. If you recall, many 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:31.360 months ago we did an overview of spiritual warfare, 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.830 kind of throughout the book of Ephesians. And 00:02:35.830 --> 00:02:40.449 then we had a message on spiritual warfare and 00:02:40.449 --> 00:02:48.530 pastoral ministry and how the two interact. And 00:02:48.530 --> 00:02:51.509 then we also had a message on the importance 00:02:51.509 --> 00:02:55.449 of being strong in the Lord, where Paul says 00:02:55.449 --> 00:02:59.750 in verse 10, Finally, be strong in the Lord and 00:02:59.750 --> 00:03:03.229 in the strength of his might. And in that message 00:03:03.229 --> 00:03:06.930 we... came to the conclusion that the strength 00:03:06.930 --> 00:03:10.990 which we need for this fight and for this battle 00:03:10.990 --> 00:03:16.770 is wholly and completely outside of us, and the 00:03:16.770 --> 00:03:21.330 Lord has invested it in the armor that he has 00:03:21.330 --> 00:03:27.669 given to us to put on. He's invested it in truth, 00:03:27.870 --> 00:03:35.460 righteousness, the gospel of peace. Faith. He's 00:03:35.460 --> 00:03:40.139 invested it in salvation, the word of God, and 00:03:40.139 --> 00:03:45.319 in prayer. So the believer has been given resources 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:49.599 and we're constantly reminded in this text that 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:53.759 the believer is in a battle. He's in a fight. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:58.400 Paul presents the Christian life as warfare. 00:03:59.849 --> 00:04:02.930 And that's something we have to get our minds 00:04:02.930 --> 00:04:09.349 around. The Christian life is not intended to 00:04:09.349 --> 00:04:15.490 be an easy life. The Christian life is always 00:04:15.490 --> 00:04:20.769 going to be warfare, which means it's always 00:04:20.769 --> 00:04:26.490 going to be difficult and hard. But it also means, 00:04:26.629 --> 00:04:30.110 brothers and sisters, that we have... An enemy 00:04:30.110 --> 00:04:35.089 that opposes us as the church of Jesus Christ. 00:04:36.230 --> 00:04:40.069 Tonight, we have to consider this enemy. The 00:04:40.069 --> 00:04:43.410 text says this. Put on the full armor of God 00:04:43.410 --> 00:04:46.389 so that you will be able to stand firm against 00:04:46.389 --> 00:04:53.610 the schemes of the devil. So our enemy is the 00:04:53.610 --> 00:04:56.569 devil, and he's a little bit later in Ephesians 00:04:56.569 --> 00:05:00.829 6 referred to as... the evil one, and the method 00:05:00.829 --> 00:05:04.949 the devil attacks us, the method he opposes the 00:05:04.949 --> 00:05:09.149 church, is through schemes. And that's what we 00:05:09.149 --> 00:05:13.410 find here in this text. So the first thing we'll 00:05:13.410 --> 00:05:17.550 consider is the enemy of God's people, the devil, 00:05:17.670 --> 00:05:23.730 Satan. He's referred to as the evil one. He's 00:05:23.730 --> 00:05:28.579 referred to as the father of lies. in the Gospel 00:05:28.579 --> 00:05:32.579 of John, alluding to the fact that he's always 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:35.519 been a liar and that lies originated with him, 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:40.399 that he's a deceiver. We find that he's also 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:46.620 referred to as the accuser of the brethren, meaning 00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:52.439 that the devil works by bringing accusations 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:58.470 and seeking to bring Shame on Christ and his 00:05:58.470 --> 00:06:03.129 church through condemning the saints. So he's 00:06:03.129 --> 00:06:08.149 called the accuser of the brethren. In 1 Thessalonians 00:06:08.149 --> 00:06:12.930 3 .5 he is referred to as the tempter. Paul talks 00:06:12.930 --> 00:06:16.470 about how he's afraid that the church at Thessalonica 00:06:16.470 --> 00:06:19.209 has been tempted. And that his work has been 00:06:19.209 --> 00:06:25.319 in vain. So he's known for. He has definitively 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:32.740 characterized our enemy as the one who tempts 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:38.459 the saints in the church of the living God. We 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:41.699 could think about two particular instances of 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:45.939 this, couldn't we? Think about the garden and 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:52.279 Eve. It was the tempter who came in and tempted 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:56.480 the woman. and deceived the woman. He tricked 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:01.459 her. And then her husband straight up sinned 00:07:01.459 --> 00:07:07.620 without deception. He knew what he was doing. 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:12.120 He was crafty then, and he is crafty now. But 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:17.220 we can also think of another instance that uniquely 00:07:17.220 --> 00:07:21.420 expresses his character as the tempter. Think 00:07:21.420 --> 00:07:25.800 about early on in the Gospels and right before 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:31.620 the ministry of our Lord begins. What takes place 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:36.399 in the wilderness when Christ is driven out into 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:41.680 the wilderness? He is tempted by the devil in 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:45.680 various ways in an onslaught that we cannot fathom 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:50.839 and we will never know. yet he was successful 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:55.240 and victorious. So he's known as the tempter. 00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:58.620 In 2 Corinthians 4, he's referred to as the god 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:04.699 of this age, lowercase g, or the god of this 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:09.959 world, or the ruler of this world. John 12, 31, 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:14.579 1430, and 1611 all refer to him as the ruler 00:08:14.579 --> 00:08:17.959 of this world, meaning Christ has real authority. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:24.120 Meaning the devil has real authority, real power 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:32.279 in this world among fallen sinful men. There's 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:39.279 real demonic activity that takes place in this 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:45.360 world. He is referred to as the sower of evil. 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:50.039 We could think about... The parable of the tares 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:54.159 and the wheat. It characterizes the entirety 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:57.899 of the gospel age. This parable. And it talks 00:08:57.899 --> 00:09:02.960 about how the good seed is the sons of God. But 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:08.159 then there's those. The tares. Or we could say 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:11.580 the weeds essentially. And those are the sons 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:17.009 of the devil. Or the evil. So we find that. During 00:09:17.009 --> 00:09:21.970 the gospel age, the devil will be present and 00:09:21.970 --> 00:09:28.690 working and actively sowing evil in this world. 00:09:31.570 --> 00:09:40.230 He is the arch enemy of God's people. He is the 00:09:40.230 --> 00:09:46.320 leader, seemingly, or the chief. enemy of God's 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:52.500 people that leads a force of hierarchical authorities 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:58.299 and spiritual forces. This is why we read in 00:09:58.299 --> 00:10:01.159 verse 12, For our struggle is not against flesh 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:05.139 and blood, but against the rulers, against the 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:08.940 powers, against the world forces of this darkness, 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.279 against the spiritual forces of wickedness in 00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:15.120 the heavenly places. Notice there's organization. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:21.399 There's structure. There's hierarchy in the forces 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:27.559 that oppose the church of Jesus Christ. The devil 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:32.139 is a real enemy, brothers and sisters. We have 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:36.740 to remember that. And we need to constantly remind 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:42.889 ourselves of that and we will see why. The enemy 00:10:42.889 --> 00:10:45.429 of the church throughout this entire age, brothers 00:10:45.429 --> 00:10:49.490 and sisters, is not preeminently men or a man. 00:10:51.690 --> 00:10:55.889 The enemy of the church throughout this age is 00:10:55.889 --> 00:11:02.809 Satan, the devil. He is the enemy of God's people. 00:11:03.330 --> 00:11:08.629 Believers must be those who look beyond men to 00:11:08.629 --> 00:11:13.769 see the enemy behind the world. To see what's 00:11:13.769 --> 00:11:17.230 taking place behind that which is visible and 00:11:17.230 --> 00:11:19.970 that which is obvious. That which is seen to 00:11:19.970 --> 00:11:24.529 the eye. It's important for us to grasp this, 00:11:24.629 --> 00:11:29.929 isn't it? Because we have a tendency to personify 00:11:29.929 --> 00:11:33.370 certain things and to make it personal with regards 00:11:33.370 --> 00:11:38.090 to men. And to think that our sole enemy in this 00:11:38.090 --> 00:11:42.269 world is a man or men or anything we could say. 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:48.519 a nation, or a leader, or a party, or a group. 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:52.940 You could name any of it. And to think that is 00:11:52.940 --> 00:11:56.100 the enemy. But brothers and sisters, there's 00:11:56.100 --> 00:12:01.500 something behind that which is visible that's 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:06.340 taking place. There is the demonic. There is 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:11.919 the satanic work that is occurring behind. That 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:16.080 which is seen to the eye. And it is only understood 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.919 and it is only recognized and it is only grasped 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:24.940 by faith, brothers and sisters. One of the dangers 00:12:24.940 --> 00:12:31.580 of politicizing Christianity and we see this 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:35.039 in our day occurring and we have seen it taking 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:42.139 place is that men become our enemies and not 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:49.580 our mission field. That they are the issue, they 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:51.740 are the problem, they are the enemy, therefore 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:54.539 I must stand against them, I must oppose them, 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:57.360 and I must do whatever it takes to destroy them. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.720 But brothers and sisters, there's an enemy that's 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:08.100 working behind them with a much more malicious 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:14.149 intent. With much more ability. With much more 00:13:14.149 --> 00:13:17.269 intellect. With much more power. And much more 00:13:17.269 --> 00:13:21.490 authority. And much more knowledge. Believers 00:13:21.490 --> 00:13:26.169 must be those who look behind men and see the 00:13:26.169 --> 00:13:30.750 one pulling the strings in a sense. As God providentially 00:13:30.750 --> 00:13:37.210 allows. We must be those who look behind. what 00:13:37.210 --> 00:13:39.490 we might call the enemies of this life, to see 00:13:39.490 --> 00:13:42.909 the one true great and ultimate enemy of God's 00:13:42.909 --> 00:13:46.850 people throughout this age, which is the devil. 00:13:47.809 --> 00:13:53.710 Now, knowing that we have this enemy, it's important 00:13:53.710 --> 00:13:59.090 that we understand how he works. It's important 00:13:59.090 --> 00:14:03.450 that we understand how he operates or how he 00:14:03.450 --> 00:14:08.899 attacks us as the church. What are his methodologies 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:15.019 in opposing Christ's church? How does he come 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:21.620 against the people of God? The Bible clearly 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:25.240 teaches that we have such an enemy. He's not 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:28.700 a figure of speech. He's not symbolic, but he's 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:32.019 a real personal being that hates the church of 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:36.740 Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus. So how does 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:42.860 this unseen enemy operate in this world to oppose 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:47.179 the church of Jesus Christ? Well, we can think 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:51.980 about this in a general sense first. We learn 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:54.720 a little bit about how the devil operates from 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:59.600 this term, the schemes of the devil, in verse 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:05.080 11, but also how he's described elsewhere. Throughout 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:09.919 the scriptures. This word schemes. Has the idea 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:16.860 of. Craftiness. It has the idea. Of cleverness. 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:24.159 It has the idea. Of deceit. Intent. Strategy. 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:30.740 Well thought out. Methods. Now we also read. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:36.399 In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 13 through 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:44.200 15, this of the devil. For such men are false 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:48.059 apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:51.519 as apostles of Christ. So he starts with the 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:55.440 apostles who are disguising themselves as servants 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.360 of Christ. They're not real servants of Christ. 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:02.379 But he uses them as an example. And then he says 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:07.519 this, no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:12.360 as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:16.720 if his servants also disguise themselves as servants 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:19.279 of righteousness, whose end will be according 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:23.679 to their deeds. Sometimes I don't think we speak 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:27.220 quite clearly or quite frankly enough as the 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:35.559 Apostle Paul did. of Satan. And how did these 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:38.980 servants of Satan present themselves with regards 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:44.460 to Paul's apostolic ministry? They were seeking 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:47.840 to present themselves just like the Apostle. 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:52.379 They mean good for the church at Corinth. They're 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:55.299 there for their benefit. The truth they're proclaiming 00:16:55.299 --> 00:17:00.360 is for their good. It's a blessing to them. They 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:04.799 mean well. They want what is best for the church 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:09.519 at Corinth. No, we don't have any malicious intent. 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:12.920 We're just like Paul who planted the church, 00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:16.680 but we're going to subtly jab him and degrade 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:19.440 his ministry on the side and share malicious 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:23.759 slander regarding his ministry throughout ours. 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:30.289 They're presenting themselves as... False prophets 00:17:30.289 --> 00:17:35.509 in sheep's clothing. And Paul says the devil 00:17:35.509 --> 00:17:42.089 does the exact same thing. That his ministry 00:17:42.089 --> 00:17:49.769 is built upon disguises. His ministry is built 00:17:49.769 --> 00:17:55.910 on masquerading as an angel of light. Now we'll 00:17:55.910 --> 00:18:01.000 see. That's not always the case, but largely 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:05.099 it is true that the devil does, in fact, work 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:10.519 in subtle manners, not that which is clear and 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:15.299 obvious and that which is overt. Again, thinking 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:19.299 back to the garden, the devil didn't come to 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:23.900 Eve as a massive, terrifying, fearful bear, did 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:28.029 he? shaking her out of her booth, trying to run 00:18:28.029 --> 00:18:29.970 her out of the garden. No, that would have been 00:18:29.970 --> 00:18:31.670 too obvious and that would have been too clear. 00:18:31.970 --> 00:18:35.490 He did not come saying, God is evil, God is a 00:18:35.490 --> 00:18:42.910 liar. No, he came as her friend. He came as a 00:18:42.910 --> 00:18:47.829 subtle creature that would whisper into her ear, 00:18:47.990 --> 00:18:55.180 that would subtly pervert her thinking. This 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:59.180 is good for you, Eve. This is what is best for 00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:02.759 you, Eve. I don't mean anything harmful for you. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:05.440 I want what's best for you. And what's best for 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.980 you is eating this fruit. Listen, you're going 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:12.920 to be like God. Don't you want to be like God? 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:19.140 He came as an angel of light and craftiness, 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:23.160 brothers and sisters. He does the same today. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:28.940 That is unchanged in his mannerisms and in his 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:34.799 methodologies in this world. So generally, the 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:39.440 devil works in a deceitful, in a crafty manner. 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:43.839 But we also see some specific examples throughout 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:47.619 the book of Ephesians. And we'll try to constrain 00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:50.200 ourselves to the book of Ephesians for the most 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:54.539 part with these specific examples. reference 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:58.500 other places periodically. So what are some of 00:19:58.500 --> 00:20:04.319 the specific methods that the devil uses to attack 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:09.660 the church of Jesus Christ? Well, first, and 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:12.880 I think I put this one first because I think 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:16.700 it's probably the most overt and the most common 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:21.619 one. The enemy appeals to the lusts of the mind 00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:26.779 and the lusts of the flesh. In a sense, we could 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:33.220 say he dangles a carrot in front of the desires 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:39.819 and longings of men. We see this in Ephesians 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:45.839 chapter 2, where Paul says, And you are dead 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:49.769 in your trespasses and sins. in which you formerly 00:20:49.769 --> 00:20:52.089 walked according to the course of this world, 00:20:52.170 --> 00:20:54.930 according to the prince of the power of the air, 00:20:55.049 --> 00:20:57.809 the spirit that is now working in the sons of 00:20:57.809 --> 00:21:01.490 disobedience. Listen to this. Among them we too 00:21:01.490 --> 00:21:04.269 all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, 00:21:04.390 --> 00:21:08.589 indulging the desires of the flesh and of the 00:21:08.589 --> 00:21:12.849 mind, and were by nature children of wrath even 00:21:12.849 --> 00:21:17.289 as the rest. How does the devil work in the life 00:21:17.289 --> 00:21:20.500 of individuals? He appeals to their carnality, 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:24.700 brothers and sisters. And this is important. 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:31.500 That doesn't just mean sensuality. That doesn't 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:35.240 just mean sexual immorality, though that is a 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:39.480 big one in our day, in our age. There are many 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:42.200 things that appeal to the carnal man and the 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:49.789 carnal woman, like prestige. Power. Influence. 00:21:50.150 --> 00:21:55.849 Riches and wealth. Influence in a society. A 00:21:55.849 --> 00:22:02.470 name. A legacy. There's any number of things 00:22:02.470 --> 00:22:06.329 that the devil can appeal. He can dangle in front 00:22:06.329 --> 00:22:12.869 of a person. Success, brothers and sisters. Oh, 00:22:12.890 --> 00:22:16.670 just keep focusing on success as he dangles the 00:22:16.670 --> 00:22:20.180 carrot. Don't worry about your spiritual well 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:22.160 -being. Don't worry about your spiritual life. 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.420 Don't worry about prayer. You've got to feed 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:29.279 your family and make the bucks. Don't worry about 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:34.759 growing in holiness and godliness. You are the 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:38.440 big guy on the block. Brothers and sisters, the 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:44.619 devil has many, many schemes to trick people 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:50.789 into reaching out. and grabbing the carrot. We've 00:22:50.789 --> 00:22:54.730 all fallen for it. But he still uses this strategy 00:22:54.730 --> 00:22:59.109 because he knows the corruption that remains 00:22:59.109 --> 00:23:06.609 in our hearts. He knows that we're sinners. And 00:23:06.609 --> 00:23:08.849 I believe that he knows that much better than 00:23:08.849 --> 00:23:13.559 we know that. He knows the desires of our heart. 00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:16.599 Maybe not the explicit details and the explicit 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:19.440 statements, but He knows our hearts are bent 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:23.079 towards evil and corruption because we were born 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:26.900 as children of wrath and we were once under His 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:31.240 rule and reign. He's well aware, brothers and 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:34.000 sisters. He is not ignorant of that fact and 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:38.579 ignorant of that reality. He knows what the heart 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:44.079 of man is like. and he knows how to appeal, how 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:50.680 to allure to that nature, that remnant of sin 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:56.900 and corruption that remains in us. I think of 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:59.240 Proverbs chapter 5, and I'd like to read that. 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:07.140 It seems a good illustration for what we're discussing. 00:24:10.569 --> 00:24:16.509 It's largely talking about the call and the voice 00:24:16.509 --> 00:24:26.990 of the harlot, the immoral, ungodly woman. And 00:24:26.990 --> 00:24:31.210 listen to the call, the alluring, the appeal 00:24:31.210 --> 00:24:35.930 that takes place in this text that draws in the 00:24:35.930 --> 00:24:41.279 naive or the unwise. My son, starting in verse 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:45.079 1, give attention to my wisdom. Incline your 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:47.900 ear to my understanding that you may observe 00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:50.160 discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge. 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:55.400 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. And 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:58.859 smoother than oil is her speech. Flattering. 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:06.579 Something sweet comes out of her mouth. Something 00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:10.799 that... That persuades a person. It's appealing 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:15.599 to an individual. But in the end, she is bitter 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:20.339 as wormwood. Sharp as a two -edged sword, her 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:24.059 feet go down to death. Her steps take hold of 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:27.579 shield. She does not ponder the path of life. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:30.559 Her ways are unstable. She does not know it. 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:34.400 Now then, my sons, listen to me and do not depart 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:40.490 from the words of my mouth. Wisdom. Keep your 00:25:40.490 --> 00:25:45.230 way far from her. And do not go near the door 00:25:45.230 --> 00:25:48.269 of her house. Or you will give your vigor to 00:25:48.269 --> 00:25:53.309 others. And your ears to the cruel one. We get 00:25:53.309 --> 00:25:58.109 the idea, don't we? There is an appeal. There 00:25:58.109 --> 00:26:01.869 is an allurement that the devil uses to draw 00:26:01.869 --> 00:26:06.109 out the carnality and the flesh. Of man's heart. 00:26:07.029 --> 00:26:12.089 We must understand. How our enemy works. Brothers 00:26:12.089 --> 00:26:17.589 and sisters. He knows. Where to pull the strings. 00:26:17.769 --> 00:26:21.910 And when to pull the strings. So what must we 00:26:21.910 --> 00:26:26.529 do? Put on the armor. Wear the armor. It's vitally 00:26:26.529 --> 00:26:29.930 important. Now I believe the devil operates. 00:26:30.109 --> 00:26:34.740 With this methodology. Uniquely. In the life 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:40.119 of young people. We see this throughout history. 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:44.480 And we see this in our day. And in our culture. 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:49.660 The devil knows how to ruin young men and young 00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:52.460 women. And how does he do that? He appeals to 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:54.779 the lust of their flesh. And the lust of the 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:58.660 mind. Images and thoughts and desires of the 00:26:58.660 --> 00:27:01.950 heart. For things that are good. in the right 00:27:01.950 --> 00:27:05.309 context, in the right setting, but things that 00:27:05.309 --> 00:27:09.089 are bad in the wrong place, in the wrong time, 00:27:09.150 --> 00:27:11.650 in the wrong setting, and it will bring destruction 00:27:11.650 --> 00:27:17.769 into your life. The devil knows how to do this. 00:27:18.990 --> 00:27:25.309 He knows how to work this. We must be on guard. 00:27:26.690 --> 00:27:30.559 The second way... specifically that the enemy 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:34.779 seeks to oppose the church of God, is he seeks 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:41.140 to distort our thinking and to lead us away from 00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:46.160 Christ with false teaching and erroneous doctrine. 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:51.079 Now, we think about this, and this is a very 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:56.880 prevalent method or tactic. That the devil uses 00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:01.759 in our day. And in our age. Again we could go 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:11.140 to. Second Corinthians. Chapter 11. And we read 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:15.660 this in verse 3. But I'm afraid. That as the 00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:19.180 serpent deceived Eve. By his craftiness. Your 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:22.750 minds will be led astray. from the simplicity 00:28:22.750 --> 00:28:27.390 and purity of devotion to Christ. And then listen 00:28:27.390 --> 00:28:31.509 to what verse 4 says. For if one comes and preaches 00:28:31.509 --> 00:28:36.230 another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or 00:28:36.230 --> 00:28:38.569 you receive a different spirit, which you have 00:28:38.569 --> 00:28:41.309 not received, or a different gospel, which you 00:28:41.309 --> 00:28:44.009 have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 00:28:45.950 --> 00:28:50.150 What is Paul saying? He's saying the devil leads 00:28:50.150 --> 00:28:55.329 men's... minds astray through false doctrine 00:28:55.329 --> 00:29:00.109 and bad preaching, brothers and sisters. False 00:29:00.109 --> 00:29:03.730 understanding regarding who Christ is and the 00:29:03.730 --> 00:29:07.089 Holy Spirit and the work of God in their life. 00:29:07.130 --> 00:29:12.289 Different gospels, brothers and sisters. The 00:29:12.289 --> 00:29:15.869 devil works through false teachers and false 00:29:15.869 --> 00:29:20.980 doctrine. To lead the mind of God's people away 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:23.859 from Christ so that they think wrongly about 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:27.299 Christ and who he is and his work and what follows 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:33.259 our thinking, our living. If we can lead our 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:37.500 mind astray regarding how we see Christ, regarding 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:41.640 what is true of the gospel, he can lead our souls 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:46.980 right into hell. Isn't that what takes place 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:55.279 with Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses? That very 00:29:55.279 --> 00:30:02.759 thing. He deceives them into believing that this 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:09.019 is the true Jesus. That this is really how a 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:13.980 person is saved. Or any other false religion. 00:30:15.309 --> 00:30:20.950 The devil works to lead men astray and away from 00:30:20.950 --> 00:30:24.990 Christ by first leading their minds away from 00:30:24.990 --> 00:30:28.869 Christ with wrong thinking and then leading their 00:30:28.869 --> 00:30:33.710 lives and their souls away from Christ and their 00:30:33.710 --> 00:30:38.349 living because he first got their doctrine in 00:30:38.349 --> 00:30:43.849 their head. We also see that one of the... unique 00:30:43.849 --> 00:30:48.269 methodologies of the devil in opposing the church 00:30:48.269 --> 00:30:56.569 is that he seeks to gain a foothold through unresolved 00:30:56.569 --> 00:31:01.869 anger and sin. If we turn to Ephesians chapter 00:31:01.869 --> 00:31:19.240 4, this is explicitly addressed. In Ephesians 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:25.759 chapter 4, verses 26 -27, we read these words. 00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:33.019 And the language is very, very interesting. Be 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:38.799 angry and yet do not sin. Do not let the sun 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:42.559 go down on your anger and do not give the devil 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:50.960 an opportunity or a foothold. as some other languages 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:58.039 or some other versions of the Bible state. The 00:31:58.039 --> 00:32:01.900 devil works through unresolved anger that is 00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:05.559 not dealt with quickly because he has a way of 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:11.319 drawing it out to bring and to enter in the person 00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:16.240 into bitterness. That's why the book of Hebrews 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:19.230 explicitly states, Don't let bitterness take 00:32:19.230 --> 00:32:24.049 root. That's why James says the anger of man 00:32:24.049 --> 00:32:26.849 does not achieve the righteousness of God, brothers 00:32:26.849 --> 00:32:31.609 and sisters. Because the devil uses hardness 00:32:31.609 --> 00:32:35.369 of heart and anger and bitterness to draw men's 00:32:35.369 --> 00:32:39.130 hearts away from Christ and to sow seeds of discord 00:32:39.130 --> 00:32:45.210 and disunity in the life of God's people. This 00:32:45.210 --> 00:32:49.890 is why Paul says, In Colossians 3 .8, put away 00:32:49.890 --> 00:32:56.970 anger, wrath, malice, and slander. Put it away. 00:32:57.369 --> 00:33:00.589 And then he goes on and he says, put on Christ. 00:33:03.009 --> 00:33:09.430 The context of Ephesians 4 is in the context 00:33:09.430 --> 00:33:12.869 of the local church, brothers and sisters. And 00:33:12.869 --> 00:33:17.589 this is very similar. to 2 Corinthians 2, verses 00:33:17.589 --> 00:33:25.289 10 -12, which says this, But one whom you forgive 00:33:25.289 --> 00:33:29.769 anything, I forgive also. For indeed, what I 00:33:29.769 --> 00:33:34.109 have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I 00:33:34.109 --> 00:33:36.170 did it for your sakes and in the presence of 00:33:36.170 --> 00:33:39.950 Christ, so that no advantage would be taken of 00:33:39.950 --> 00:33:44.799 us by Satan. for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:52.240 The devil loves a hard, angry heart, brothers 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:57.579 and sisters, because he loves to work through 00:33:57.579 --> 00:34:02.200 unforgiveness, unbelief, and bitterness to bring 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:07.519 about separation and discord in the life of God's 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:13.590 people. The manner... In which the devil gets 00:34:13.590 --> 00:34:19.150 in. The church of the living God. Is through 00:34:19.150 --> 00:34:28.869 the heart. Of bitter men and women. Through unforgiving 00:34:28.869 --> 00:34:33.849 souls. Forgetting what Christ has done for them. 00:34:35.190 --> 00:34:40.130 Brothers and sisters. This is a great stumbling 00:34:40.130 --> 00:34:46.650 block for many of us. We must be quick to forgive. 00:34:47.809 --> 00:34:59.909 We must, as Paul says further in Ephesians, let 00:34:59.909 --> 00:35:02.250 all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor 00:35:02.250 --> 00:35:05.650 and slander be put away from you, along with 00:35:05.650 --> 00:35:10.159 all malice. Be kind to one another. Tenderhearted, 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:13.780 forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also 00:35:13.780 --> 00:35:19.360 has forgiven you. Brothers and sisters, this 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:22.159 is one of the unique and distinct methodologies 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:27.440 the devil uses in the life of God's church. We 00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:30.500 must be on guard, personally and corporately, 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:36.210 against such things. Another way that we see 00:35:36.210 --> 00:35:41.190 the devil works uniquely is the enemy seeks to 00:35:41.190 --> 00:35:48.289 keep Christians miserable in doubt and despair 00:35:48.289 --> 00:35:52.070 in their lives. We see this at the end of Ephesians 00:35:52.070 --> 00:35:56.750 chapter 6 verse 16. In addition to all, taking 00:35:56.750 --> 00:35:59.570 up the shield of faith with which you will be 00:35:59.570 --> 00:36:03.710 able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of 00:36:03.710 --> 00:36:09.280 the evil one. Doubt and lack of assurance, brothers 00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:13.699 and sisters, despair in the life of an individual. 00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:21.119 If the devil can't ruin your life, then the devil 00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:25.280 is going to make you miserable by causing you 00:36:25.280 --> 00:36:29.659 to forget and neglect the promises of God from 00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:33.590 the pages of Scripture. He can't take you out 00:36:33.590 --> 00:36:36.269 of Christ's hand, brothers and sisters, but he's 00:36:36.269 --> 00:36:41.769 going to do his darndest to make you a poor witness 00:36:41.769 --> 00:36:45.230 for Christ in this life and to demonstrate and 00:36:45.230 --> 00:36:48.250 show that there is no joy in Christ. Why would 00:36:48.250 --> 00:36:50.829 you go to Christ? They're just miserable and 00:36:50.829 --> 00:36:54.670 they're despairing. The devil will do everything 00:36:54.670 --> 00:37:00.670 he can to keep the Christian down in the pit. 00:37:01.869 --> 00:37:06.309 Where there is no hope. And faith stays small. 00:37:07.849 --> 00:37:12.750 Causing them to overshadow and forget. The gloriousness 00:37:12.750 --> 00:37:15.789 of their Lord and their Savior. And the fact 00:37:15.789 --> 00:37:20.489 that it is Christ who saves. Not the strength 00:37:20.489 --> 00:37:24.989 of their faith. But the object of their faith. 00:37:26.010 --> 00:37:32.300 The devil works in a variety of ways. To oppose 00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:36.380 the people of God. If we were to summarize all 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:39.280 of these, then I think that we could do that 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:43.400 in the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:47.380 says that there's three primary modes or ways 00:37:47.380 --> 00:37:51.820 that the devil opposes the church. It's the harlot, 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:57.760 the beast, and the false prophet. Those are the 00:37:57.760 --> 00:38:02.820 three things the devil uses. To attack and oppose 00:38:02.820 --> 00:38:08.760 God's church. Persecution and suffering. Immorality 00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:11.800 and the world to allure them and to cause them 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:15.679 to fall and apostatize and backslide and bring 00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:19.820 disrepute on Christ and the false prophet to 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:23.440 take hold of their minds and to lead them away 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:27.360 from Christ because of false doctrine, false 00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:35.769 religion, and false teachings. You know the methods 00:38:35.769 --> 00:38:43.809 of our enemy. Don't be deceived, brothers and 00:38:43.809 --> 00:38:50.829 sisters. Study how he works in the pages of Scripture 00:38:50.829 --> 00:38:54.469 and ask God for help in putting on the armor. 00:38:55.949 --> 00:39:01.190 Persevere and be diligent in your life. God has 00:39:01.190 --> 00:39:05.329 provided for us in this battle. He's provided 00:39:05.329 --> 00:39:10.469 for us in this fight. Now, as we think about 00:39:10.469 --> 00:39:14.730 the enemy and his methods, there's one last thing 00:39:14.730 --> 00:39:19.070 I want to emphasize, and this is important. As 00:39:19.070 --> 00:39:21.750 we think about these things, it's vitally important 00:39:21.750 --> 00:39:26.329 that we keep on the forefront of our mind both 00:39:26.329 --> 00:39:30.099 the doom of the devil and the victory of Christ. 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:34.860 We have to keep these things in the forefront 00:39:34.860 --> 00:39:39.800 of our thinking. We have to remember and keep 00:39:39.800 --> 00:39:42.679 at the forefront of our mind the fact that Christ 00:39:42.679 --> 00:39:47.360 has been exalted over and above every malicious 00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:51.800 and every benevolent authority and power in the 00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:54.940 spiritual realm. We read that in Ephesians 1. 00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:59.000 We have to remember and recall that the devil 00:39:59.000 --> 00:40:03.159 and all his hostile powers have been defeated 00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:08.619 at the cross in his death and in the propitiation 00:40:08.619 --> 00:40:12.179 of God and the removal of sin guilt in the life 00:40:12.179 --> 00:40:16.260 of God's people. Colossians chapter 2 verses 00:40:16.260 --> 00:40:20.260 13 through 15. We have to remember brothers and 00:40:20.260 --> 00:40:25.639 sisters that we are no longer Blinded by the 00:40:25.639 --> 00:40:30.760 devil. Unbelievers are. But the believer has 00:40:30.760 --> 00:40:34.940 had the veil taken away. The veil removed in 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:39.260 2 Corinthians chapter 3. And the power of God 00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:42.519 has illuminated our minds to see Christ and the 00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:46.039 glory of the gospel. We are no longer blinded. 00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:49.420 We are able to see Christ and all his glory and 00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:52.679 be transformed from one degree of glory to the 00:40:52.679 --> 00:40:57.099 next. By the spirit that dwells within us. That 00:40:57.099 --> 00:40:59.760 can't be taken away. And that can't be ripped 00:40:59.760 --> 00:41:02.719 away from us. By any enemy brothers and sisters. 00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:07.340 We have to remember. That we have been transferred 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:12.699 from. The domain of darkness. And into the kingdom 00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:16.059 of the beloved son. According to Colossians chapter 00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:21.349 1. We must remember. That the activity and the 00:41:21.349 --> 00:41:25.489 work of the devil is restricted and restrained 00:41:25.489 --> 00:41:28.869 so that the gospel can go out to the Gentile 00:41:28.869 --> 00:41:32.429 nations and God's elect can be called in. And 00:41:32.429 --> 00:41:35.010 we must remember, brothers and sisters, that 00:41:35.010 --> 00:41:40.849 the day of judgment is coming for our enemy as 00:41:40.849 --> 00:41:48.449 the church. Doom is sure. It is fixed. It is 00:41:48.449 --> 00:41:54.989 guaranteed. It will come when Christ Jesus returns. 00:41:57.389 --> 00:42:03.710 He will be judged alongside of unbelieving men. 00:42:03.849 --> 00:42:06.449 And unbelieving men will be judged alongside 00:42:06.449 --> 00:42:12.909 of our enemy, the devil. Now, I don't say any 00:42:12.909 --> 00:42:18.530 of these things. to minimize, or to make irrelevant, 00:42:18.730 --> 00:42:23.489 or to make insignificant the realities of spiritual 00:42:23.489 --> 00:42:30.210 warfare. Because we can't ever look at the cross 00:42:30.210 --> 00:42:33.989 and allow that to take us to a place where the 00:42:33.989 --> 00:42:38.449 devil is insignificant and irrelevant. We can't 00:42:38.449 --> 00:42:41.219 do that, brothers and sisters. Because we have 00:42:41.219 --> 00:42:44.900 Ephesians 6 and the rest of the Bible which says 00:42:44.900 --> 00:42:49.760 it's very, very important. I think oftentimes 00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:52.940 when we talk about these things, especially spiritual 00:42:52.940 --> 00:42:58.420 warfare, we come to this idea, well, what's the 00:42:58.420 --> 00:43:03.820 big deal then? Christ has died. He's defeated. 00:43:04.860 --> 00:43:08.940 Why? Why do I need to worry about this? Why do 00:43:08.940 --> 00:43:11.920 I need to... Think about this. Because brothers 00:43:11.920 --> 00:43:19.239 and sisters. Real suffering. Real pain. Comes 00:43:19.239 --> 00:43:25.539 about as a result of the devil. Real loss. Because 00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:29.559 we have a real enemy. Real discord. Real division. 00:43:29.960 --> 00:43:36.519 Real brokenness. Real heartache. Real backsliding. 00:43:37.420 --> 00:43:41.789 Real apostasy. takes place because we have a 00:43:41.789 --> 00:43:49.510 real enemy. You can really fall into sin because 00:43:49.510 --> 00:43:56.110 of the temptation of this enemy. But we can also 00:43:56.110 --> 00:44:02.690 really put on the armor of God and look to the 00:44:02.690 --> 00:44:06.690 Lord Jesus Christ who has in fact won the battle 00:44:06.690 --> 00:44:10.659 and gives us strength to fight. As we near our 00:44:10.659 --> 00:44:14.820 heavenly home. There is a balance to be struck. 00:44:15.860 --> 00:44:18.139 But brothers and sisters. We must not forget. 00:44:18.539 --> 00:44:26.260 We are in a fight. For our lives. We have a real 00:44:26.260 --> 00:44:29.880 enemy. But we have real armor to put on. And 00:44:29.880 --> 00:44:34.840 Christ has really. Died. For the sins of his 00:44:34.840 --> 00:44:40.110 people. And really guaranteed. Our eternal salvation. 00:44:40.110 --> 00:44:44.849 And that's really guaranteed and made sure the 00:44:44.849 --> 00:44:47.510 devil will be judged.