The Valley Of War – 15th February 2009 am
Zechariah 12:11
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of this valley? Megiddon / Megiddo means place of crowds – this valley will be the scene of the final war this world will see.
The true Christian life is one of constant battles. It is one of self-crucifixion and cross bearing. It is a life of reproach and persecution. The Christian life is a fight and not a game. Most professing Christians desire a life of no strife, but the Christian life is one of wars. We fight battles WITHOUT! We fight battles WITHIN! Our Lord said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)
I. The Overall Valley of War
1. It Is An Intense War - Jude 3
Like it or not, the war has started. The Lord Jesus Christ has already said, He that is not for me is against me. We need to fight for our faith, for the Word, for the Lord, for the Doctrines, for the truth, for the Biblical standards we are told to live by… But in order to contend for it, you need to know about it –
There are two reasons for us to be skilled and knowledgeable in our faith – first to defend against corruption within because of apathy and second to be able to give a logical answer for our faith when asked. Part of contending for the faith is knowing what we believe and why we believe it.
Jude tells us to earnestly contend for the faith = wrestle, gloves leather – metal – damaging, loser had eyes gouged out.
2. It Is An Intentional War - 2 Timothy 4:7
The word fought means literally “to engage in conflict”. Paul had often acknowledged the fact that the Christian is at war. Paul had practiced what he preached. He had waged war day and night against the enemy, and now he was a POW. It would do us good to remember who the enemy is – Satan.
The devil didn’t know what to do with Paul. If he turned him loose, then Paul would turn the world upside down for Christ. If kept in prison he would win his jailers to Christ, engage in prayer that would shake the devil’s strongholds to their foundations, and write letters that would arm believers yet unborn to fight as the apostle had fought. If Satan killed Paul, he would simply be promoted to glory, where he longed to be anyway.
We are in a war, just make sure you fight the good fight!
3. It Is An Important War - 1 Timothy 6:12
The word fight is agone and is where we get our word agonise from. It describes a person straining to give his best to win the battle. Our faith, family, and friends are at stake!
We need to be like Nehemiah, we need to have a trowel in one hand for building, and a sword in the other hand for battling. If we do not stand guard and oppose the enemy then what we have built could be taken from us.
II. The External Valley of War
1. There Is A War With Satanic Powers - Ephesians 6:11-13
The enemy has many different names, Satan (adversary), tempter, murderer, liar, serpent, lion, angel of light, god of this world and here he is called the devil. This is a word that means "accuser." We get our word diabolical from it. His name reveals his character. Since he made his first appearance upon the pages of the Bible, the devil has been in the business of lying, slandering and accusing the people of God, Gen. 3:1-6; Job 1, 2.
The word "wiles" in verse 11 is the same word from which we get our English word "method". It refers to craftiness and trickery. In Ephesians 4:14, it is translated "lie in wait." It gives the image of a hunter disguising himself in order to capture his prey. What a perfect picture of the devil! Remember what the Bible tells us about him, 1 Pet. 5:8 Satan will pull out all the stops to trip you up!
Identify your target – we do not want anyone killed by “friendly fire!” Satan is the enemy!
2. There Is A War With Scriptural Perversion – 2 Peter 2:1
One of the most successful businesses today is that of “knock-off’s” fake art, fake designer clothing, fake money etc… It’s hard to tell the difference (the only way to tell is to place it alongside the real thing)
Counterfeits are nothing new, Satan is the great imitator and he’s been hard at work ever since he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. He has false Christians, a false gospel, a false righteousness and will one day present to the world a false Christ.
Israel was constantly being led astray by false prophets. Elijah had to contend with the prophets of Baal. Jeremiah exposed the counterfeit ministries of those telling the nation of Israel that the captivity would only last for two years not the seventy spoken of by God’s man.
Why did Israel listen to these false prophets? Because their message was easy, comfortable, and popular, it was the message that they wanted to hear.
3. There Is A War With Slipping Positions - Ezekiel 22:23-31
(a) Problem with Prophets (Ez 22:25 & 28) = Law – Religious Hatred
(b) Problem with Priests (Ez 22:26) = Church - Doctrines
(c) Problem with Princes (Ez 22:27) = Government – Corrupt/Scandal
(d) Problem with people (Ez 22:29) = Lost
Look in the world and found the church. Looked in the church and found the world.
4. There Is A War With Sadistic Persecution – 2 Timothy 3:12
The world gave our Lord a cattle shed in which to be born and a cross on which to die, not surprisingly, the church has also suffered from the world. All of the apostles were persecuted and most were martyred.
Some preachers promise wealth and health for those who follow their teaching and subscribe to their cause. Some will assure us that it is not God’s will for us to be sick, poor or unhappy but Christ’s voice cuts through this sugar coated nonsense and says in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33)
1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
III. The Internal Valley of War
1. There Is A War With Our Flesh
Have you ever heard the expression, you are your own worst enemy? It’s true.
a. The Heart - Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The heart of every problem is the in the heart, and the human heart is deceitful. We often say, “I know my heart…” No we don’t. Do you know what got the Children of Israel into so much trouble – their hearts were turned away from the Lord and His truth and they made some unwise decisions and plunged the nation into ruin.
Unbelief kept them out of the promised land, unbelief caused them to worship idols, unbelief caused them to turn to Assyria and Egypt instead of God – they trusted their hearts and not their God. Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
b. The Flesh - Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Paul tells us that there are two "Pauls". One wants to do right and the other wants to do wrong. These two men share one body and they fight over everything. He finds that he is hindered when it comes time to do the right thing and he is helped when it comes time to do the wrong thing.
How many of us can identify with this tonight? There is a part of us that wants to please God in everything we do, but there is another part of us that fights us at every turn. Friends, this can be a very frustrating way to live life!
c. The Mind - 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
We are called to cast down imaginations. That means we are to conquer them. We are to attack and conquer imaginations of this world. What are these imaginations? They are the deceptive and fleshly way of thinking common to this world system. Paul spoke of this in Colossians 2:8-10
We are to cast down every high thing. These are those things that seem too far above us to even hope to win against them. Goliath towered above everyone else in Israel. He was even taller than their king (Saul), the tallest man in all the kingdom. No matter how big Goliath was, Israel could bring him down if they let God fight their battle for them. There are many things that tower above us.
Intellectual Giants – People that seem to have all the knowledge. They are “experts” and we are not. How can we stand against their evidence?
Philosophical Giants – People who seem to understand life so much better than we do.
Material Giants – People who have so much more than we do. Who are we to question what they say or believe?
In the end, a giant is anything or anyone that refuses to give God His rightful place. It is what exalts itself against the knowledge of God. This includes people who are operating in the flesh rather than in the Spirit, circumstances that make it appear that God is not in control, and attitudes that puts man before God.
2. There Is A War With Our Febricity (Feverish – hot) - Revelation 3:15-16
The lukewarm Christian is comfortable, complacent and does not realize his need. As believers in Christ we have every right to be fervent in spirit. As the disciples headed back to Emmaus their hearts were warmed .
The second law of thermodynamics requires that a “closed system” eventually moderates so that no more energy is being produced. Unless something is added from the outside, the system decays and dies. Without added fuel, the hot water in the boiler becomes cold. Do not be a closed system; Christ said without me ye can do nothing (John 5:5)
Take your spiritual temperature! Lukewarmness is a creeping enemy that affects all of us at one time or another.
3. There Is A War With Our Failures - 1 John 1:8-10
True fellowship with God hinges on our ability to admit our sin. (Owning up!) God forgives sin, but it must be admitted before it can be forgiven.
The world’s attitude concerning sin is that it does not exist. (Ill. God says - Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22; Eccl. 7:20)
It is an accident in the life of an evolving man. This is totally opposite from what God says! Man did not evolve, he devolved from the image of God into sin! Gen. 1:26)
Until sin is recognized as a personal attack on God Himself, it can never be forgiven and there can be no real fellowship with God! (Self-help movements and guilt treatment techniques. These are attempts at dealing with sin’s guilt, and at the same time ignore its reality!) As long as sin can be treated as a mistake or a sickness, there is no need to turn to God, no need for Jesus, no need for salvation, no need for the Bible, and no need for man to admit that he is a sinner! (Ill. This was the Rich Young Ruler’s problem - Matt. 19:16-22)
Here is the world’s viewpoint concerning dealing with sin:
Evolution - Man is on his way up! Sin isn’t an issue.
Education - Man can be taught to live without sin.
Science - Solve the problems and mysteries of nature and man can be set free from sin.
Sociology - Sin is the by-product of an unhealthy environment.
Psychology - Talk about yourself long enough, focus on what you need, and eventually you can eliminate your own guilt.
Religion - Learn the doctrines, practice the rituals and do good things and you will feel better about yourself and God will accept you.
None of these work, because none of these deal with the problem of sin. After all is said and done, man is still a sinner. There is only one plan that works to remove the guilt of sin.
God’s Plan - Admit your sin, trust God totally through Jesus Christ His Son and He will remove both your sin and your guilt. He will deliver you and it won’t cost £75.00 per hour.
Like falling off a bicycle, you just get back on and keep trying. Eventually, you will fall less!
Conclusion
I am a soldier. Here I stand.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior, of the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, Prayer, & the Word are my weapons of warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, & tested by fire.
I am a volunteer in this army, & I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire @ the Rapture or die in this Army; but I will not get out, sell out, or be talked out.
I am faithful, capable, & dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. Here I stand. I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. Here I stand.
No one has to call me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. Here I stand. I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name & building His Kingdom.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. Here I stand.
No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed.
I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to make me quit.
When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even.
I will win. My God will supply all my needs.
I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. Here I stand.
Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot beat me. Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me & hell cannot handle me.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. Here I stand.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my Commander calls me from this battle field,
He will promote me to a captain & bring me back to rule this world with Him.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior, in the army of God, & I’m marching. Claiming victory.
I will not give up. I will not turn around.
I am a soldier, a prayer warrior, and marching heaven-bond.
Here I stand!!!
Will you stand with me???
