Shofar-Call To Arms(NIV)
There is a battle that is going on today whether you know it or not. It used to be in the headlines and many people have died fighting it. The battle is not against another country or power state. We are not talking about the battle in Iraq, but the battle between good and evil. The battle between those who want to walk in the light light and those who want to walk in the darkness. We are talking about God vs. Satan.
Ephesians 6:12
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Whether you know it or not, the day you decide to become a Christian is the day you gain a new enemy-Satan.
ILLUS- Who’s Radar Are You On?
This enemy is not a new one to those chosen and loved by God. Satan has tried to impact lives of Gods people since the beginning. Genesis 3 tells us the story of Satan in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and how he tricked them. God cursed Satan because of this.
Genesis 3:15
GE 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
ENMITY-quality of being an enemy, hostility, ill-will or opposition.
For a very long time Satan has been against us and we have been against him. This fight is not a new one.
The battle with the Enemy is not to be taken lightly.
1 Peter 5:8
1PE 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Does that sound like somebody we should want to take on by ourselves or single handed?
Revelation 12:9
9 The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
In Genesis, Satan was depicted as a serpent. By the time we get to Revelation he is now as big and powerful as a dragon. Why? Because we let him become that powerful and grow into that big of a threat.
How are we to combat against him?
1 Peter 5:9
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
When Peter talks about our brothers, he is talking about the Church of believers.
You may think to yourself “I’m not up for this battle. I’ll just be on the sidelines cheering”. In war there are always casualties. The good guys, the bad guys, and the innocent bystanders. The sad part is it’s the innocent bystanders that never see it coming. Don’t be and innocent bystander!
We said before that the day you become a Christian is the day that you get a new enemy-Satan. It is also the day that you join Gods army!
Has anybody here ever been in the military?
Let’s look at how military life compares to our topic today.
Joining the military or “being inducted” to the military generally has 4 phases.
1 Enlistment
2 Basic Training
3 Advanced Individual Training or A.I.T
4 Assignment or Duty Station
Lets look at all these phases.
Enlistment
ENLIST-to enter on a list, to engage in public service, to engage the services of, to enter heartily into a cause.
When you enlist in the military, you raise your hand and you basically say “I’m gonna do what you tell me to do. I’m gonna follow the orders of those appointed above me. No matter how much it doesn’t make sense, I’m gonna do what you tell me to do”.
It’s the same way with God when you get saved, you tell him you’re gonna do what he tells you to do no matter how much it doesn’t make sense. You are telling him you are going to follow him.
Lets look at some of those definitions of ENLIST
Enter on a list-you’re name gets added to the lambs book of life. You’re on the guest list for Heaven!
Engage in Public Service-You start wanting to do things to help make the world a better place. You get involved in your community or local church to help make things better or change things around you that you see are wrong and need fixing.
Engage the services of-You now have God, Jesus Christ, and all his Angels on your side.
Enter heartily into a cause-Once God touches and gets a hold of your heart, there is no stopping a dedicated Christian form what he sets his mind too. You enter into Gods work with all your heart and soul. Nothing can stop or hold you back from what God tasks you to do.
Basic Training
Basic training is just that, where you learn the basics and the bread and butter of what you need to know. The weapons, the tactics, the language you would need in battle to survive.
Where does a new Christian get there Basic Training?-Church.
You learn how to pray, how to read and study the Bible, you learn how to worship and experience God. You also learn you can depend on your brothers and sisters.
ILLUS-WW2 “Band of Brothers”-trained together, stayed together, depended on each other.
A.I.T Advanced Individual Training
This is where you receive special individualized training in a specific skill or field.
Medics train with Medics. Pilots train with Pilots, etc...
For Christians, this is where you receive training in a specific ministry role-Pastors, Worship Leaders, Youth Leaders, etc..all need special training.
If a person is thrown into battle without training, they probably wouldn’t last long. Anybody who wants to be involved in ministry or a leadership position likewise wont last long without the proper training.
Assignment or Duty
After you receive all your training in the military is when you get your assignment.
As a Christian, sometimes you might get your assignment or “calling” such as Ministry before you get your training. Make sure you get your training for that calling before you try to do your duty. That first assignment or a new assignment can come at any time
ILLUS-Toni/Abortion/Joel
Why do I need to enlist? I can fight on my own!
ILLUS-”Strength In Numbers” Get volunteers/with Jesus& without Jesus
Church Members w/Toni
So now we see why we need to be “enlisted”, and how once we are “enlisted” we will be trained for this battle.
Part of training is that you get equipment.
What is the Christians equipment for battle? The Armor of God
The Whole Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-17
EPH 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Lets look at the individual pieces and their meanings to us in our battle.
Belt of Truth
The devils fights with lies, and sometimes his lies sound like the truth; but only believers have God’s truth, which can defeat the devil’s lies.
Body Armor/Breastplate of Righteousness
The devil often attacks our heart-the seat of our emotions, our self-worth, and our trust. God’s righteousness is the body armor that protects our heart and ensures his approval. He approves of us because he loves us and sent his son to die for us.
Shoes/Peace that comes from the Good News
The devil want us to think that telling others the Good News us worthless and hopeless. He wants us to think the task is too big and the negative responses are too much to handle. But the shoes God gives us are the motivation to continue to proclaim the true peace that is available in Good-news that everyone needs to hear.
Shield of Faith
What we see are the devil’s attacks in the form of insults, setbacks, and temptations. But the shield of faith protects us from the devil;s fiery arrows. With god’s perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours.
Helmet of Salvation
the devil wants to make us doubt God, Jesus, and our salvation. The helmet protects our mind from doubting God’s saving work for us.
Sword/Word of God
The sword is the only weapon of offense in the list of armor. There are times when we need to take the offensive against the devil. When we are tempted, we need to trust in the truth of God’s Word. This sword is not meant to be used as a weapon against our fellow Christians but against the devil.
Hebrews 4:12
HEB 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Could you imagine a soldier going into battle not properly equipped or able to defend himself? They probably wouldn’t last long.
3 most important parts of our armor
1 The Helmet of Salvation
Don’t be a “spiritual streaker”
2 The Shield of Faith
without it you cant defend yourself
3 The Sword
without it you cant go on the offensive.
ILLUS-Going on The offensive against Satan Hebrews 4:12
(Use the Word as a Weapon/ “It is Written”-salvation, healing,obedience
In this battle, how can we win?
Revelation 12:11
REV 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
The harder we fight, the harder the Devil will fight against us. But, he has already been defeated and he knows it! He was defeated when Jesus rose again on the 3rd day. Because of this he will fight even harder until the day God has set forth to bring him and all his followers to final judgment.
Revelation 12:12
REV 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short."
In Biblical times, when the Israelites would call people to battle they would blow the Shofar. Today, I am sounding the Shofar for this Church to call you to battle. If you turn to the back of the book, WE WIN.
