In Jesus Holy Name August 26, 2012
Text: Ephesians 6:10-17 Redeemer
“The Reality of Evil In Post Christian America”
The Need to Be Spiritually Armed
Today, we understand the physics of an expanding universe and the mysterious behavior of quarks. We know how to create vaccines and custom genes. We can replace body parts and build space robots that send photos back from Mars. Our knowledge of life and the universe continues to grow dramatically in every field imaginable. Except one.
We don’t understand evil…what it is how it works, and why it so routinely and effortlessly ruins our lives. Despite the human race’s extraordinary capacity for invention and progress, we clearly have a millennia old blind spot in the area of the reality of evil.
Consider: While living in an age of exponential growth in knowledge 20 to 30 million Americans currently take powerful, mood altering psychiatric drugs to deal with depression, bipolar disorder, and a slew of other “mental health” problems, despite the troubling link between drugs and extreme violent behavior. Our relationships are falling apart.
We can’t seem to stay married; divorce and family breakdown are still rampant. We are not even sure what we believe any more. Americans are forsaking their traditional faiths of Christianity and Judaism in favor of witchcraft and other pagan or New Age practices ….which makes Satan very happy.
During an interview with Larry King Neale Donald Walsch the bestselling author of “Conversations with God”, a New Age guru who has sold over 7 million books states: “There is no judgment in what you call the afterlife…there is no accounting…..only humans are judgmental….” When Walsch talks about sin he states: “This alleged state of imperfection in which you are said to come into this world is what your religionist have the gall to call original sin…. There are whole misconceptions and theologies built around this word.” Regarding sex…. Neale Donald Walsch sounds like Helen Gurley Brown…. “Of course sex is “okay”. Play with sex. Play with it. It’s wonderful fun… Sex is sacred, too. Both joy and sacredness do mix…..
By golly, I think I’m beginning to understand why millions of people love Neale Donald Walsch and his “God”. There is no sexual immorality, no sin to run afoul of, no devil, no judgment, no hell. Everyone goes to heaven.
Today’s young people have been immersed for years in Harry Potter books and movies, featuring beautiful, heroic young wizards and witches zooming about on broom sticks and waving their magic wans. When I think of witches I remember a witch that was frightfully ugly, work a black robe and hood, had a hooked nose with a big wart and was obsessed with killing Snow White. Most “witches” today at least in the Western world are followers of the Wiccan religion.
Listen to how the U.S. Army chaplain’s manual describes Wicca.
“Wiccans worship the sacred as immanent in Nature, often personified as Mother Earth and Father Sky. As polytheists, they use many other names for Deity. Individuals can choose Goddesses or Gods from any of the world’s pantheons… Wiccans do not in any way worship or believe in “Satan,” “the Devil” …they point out that “Satan” is a symbol of rebellion against Christian and Jewish traditions. The Bible is just one book of many in the world’s mythic systems… Wiccan covens worship in the nude as a sign of attunement with Nature. Some Wiccan groups practice magic…they dance, chant, and have creative visualizations to focus and direct psychic energy for the purpose of healing, protecting and aiding members in various endeavors.”
Goddess worshipers worship “creation”… Mother Earth, with her flowers, trees, mountains, clouds, rocks and rivers because they’re in rebellion against the Creator Father. They are totally identified with Mom because they have a problem with Heavenly Dad, the biblical, Judeo-Christian God of the Bible who seems too judgmental, to stern and out of touch.
The Apostle Paul already warned 1st century Christians as he warns us in chapter 4…”no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” And yet people are choosing to be tossed back and forth!
Here is the reality. (David Kupelian in his book “How Evil Works” writes:) “The Creator of the Universe has created every human being in “His Image” and for his purpose. Embedded in our DNA is the desire to “know” God and His will for our lives. His truth was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. If for any reason we are not ready or willing to submit to God, who annihilates our selfish pride, our desire to be our own “god”, then by default we find ourselves attracted to “false gods”.
Our human nature is addicted to the lie that we ourselves can be our own god. That is why weird religions fill our spiritual void while sustaining our secret rebellion against our Heavenly Father. This of course is the original lie in the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Remember the story?
God gave the first two people a test in obedience: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat for the day that you eat of its fruit you will die.” Shortly after that, Satan in the form of a serpent approached Eve and said, “you shall not surely die…. For God knows that when you eat of its fruit your eyes will be opened and you shall be like God, knowing good and evil.” Adam and Eve could not resist the promise that they would be “as gods” and people have been falling for the same lie ever since.
For many Americans today, that is why the God of the Bible is under assault and New Age or pagan religions are popular.
When it comes to spiritual conflict we may not realize the severity of the situation. However, today, God's Word states that there is such a battle and the fighting is fierce. It's called "spiritual warfare." The battle is against the devil and the untold number of demons at his command.
When we think of the devil, often an image comes to mind-of one with horns and pointed beard. He holds a pitchfork and is dressed in red. Don't believe it. That would not be very deceptive, would it? Satan is the master of disguise and he is not a costume and he's not a cartoon. And please, don't think for a second that he doesn't exist. That's one of the devil's most powerful tactics - convincing people that he and his demons are not real, that they are "make believe." If he can do that, then he can continue his evil work without interference or opposition.
Furthermore, don't imagine for a moment that you will be spared from fighting in the battle. There are no spectators in this war. It is a war that includes every man, woman, teenager, and child. The battle involves us all. There is no safe distance from which to watch.
The Apostle Paul speaks to us today from Ephesians chapter 6 saying: "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Satan has wicked plans and he delights in them and you don't have to look too hard to see that his evil schemes are working.
Consider Satan's attack on what God values: Life, marriage, family, His Church. Satan seeks to destroy them all. He is hard at work in every big city and every small town-from Paris, France, to Wahoo, Nebraska-he's got it covered. His handiwork is easily found on TV and comes at us through the computer. His dealings result in the tragedies that make up our violent headlines, as well as those secret, private, and personal sins found within the human heart.
Even though the victory has been won and death has been swallowed up, the enemy still prowls around like an enemy sniper, setting his sights on the unaware. And the devil never takes a holiday. He never rests. If he's beaten, he tries again. If you send him away, he comes back. Satan still battles even though the war IS over. Jesus finished it on Good Friday and victory was declared Easter morn.
Before we move on it’s worth remembering where Paul is…
He’s in prison, chained to a Roman guard 24 hours a day!
And as the Holy Spirit moves upon him to write these letters, the picture of the Roman Solider is right before him.
• He looked at the helmet, the breastplate, the sandals…
• This is EPHESIANS 6:10-12 [NIV]
There are five protective pieces that make up the armor. When attacked, these pieces work as sure defense. But Paul also mentions a weapon of offense that the Christian soldier can use - the Sword of the Spirit - which is the Word of God! What did Jesus use when he was tempted in the wilderness? The Word of God. That’s why we constantly are encouraging you to read more in the bible this year than last…. Use Portals of Prayer, Our Daily Bread, A Closer Walk, and soon this fall…. 40 Days in the Word. Armed with the Word, you can take your stand at whatever the devil may throw your way.
The Word of God is the exact weapon needed to take on the schemes of the Tempter. Recall when "the father of lies" launched into his full scale attack against Jesus. The deceiver tried to tempt Jesus to turn stones into bread, and to jump off the temple's highest point-to bow down and worship him. Jesus responded with the Word of God. Every time Satan tempted, Jesus countered by quoting from the book of Deuteronomy. Using the sword, He answered: "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone'...It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only'...It is written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Martin Luther spoke of the mighty power of God's Word by saying: "If you take hold of the Word of God and cling to it in faith, the devil cannot win, but must run. If you can say: 'My God says this; on this I take my stand,' you will see that he slinks away. But the devil is tricky; he will not have you put your trust in the Word and he tries to wrestle it out of your hand. If he can make you lazy, the sword will soon be his. So how are we to fight? Cling to the word by faith. When Satan comes, take hold of the Word of God which promises forgiveness of sins and take that to heart and then soon he must leave.”
‘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.’
‘Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground ….’
A helmet protects the head. And like the shield of faith, it must be taken up. Along with the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God, these three pieces of armor must be held on to.
• The Helmet of salvation is protection from deception.
The head is where your brain is. Your brain is what you use to make decisions concerning how the rest of your body is going to operate. Your brain is what you use to think with. Your mind controls your brain. Your mind is what you use to determine your future; its what you use to love people, enjoy things.
Your mind is you. And you make the decisions in your life concerning your drive, determination, direction, and destiny. Without the helmet of salvation taken up and buckled on every day ….you have only the world’s system to fall back on to make important decisions.
Think about this: Every decision you will ever make in your entire life is made upon one of two foundational principles:
God is the most important thing in my world.
Or “I am the captain of my soul and I am the most important thing in my world.”
There is no in between. Without the helmet of salvation, without the consistent mindset that God is the most important part in your life, you will choose the second principle. Without a conscious decision to make God the most important part of your life, without the Helmet of Salvation, you allow the devil to attack your unprotected mind, and you WILL be deceived.
Deceived concerning false teaching.
2nd Satan will send his Flaming Arrows against us!
They will be LIES
ACCUSATIONS “Oh, you really aren’t good enough to take communion…” “You need to get better first, then God will accept you.” Lies! Accusation! Not true.
Satan will offer ……REMINDERS OF OUR PAST SINS
Without the breastplate of righteousness, these attacks from the devil could seriously wound us. And the flaming arrows left unattended will spread and grow into our own funeral pyre.
The past is gone! You have been forgiven!
The blood of Jesus has washed us clean at the cross.
† 3rd The Breastplate of Righteousness
Not our righteousness but God’s righteousness in Christ.
If it were not for the Word of God, many of us would be living in condemnation and guilt not knowing that when we accept Christ, we put on God’s righteousness. The Word brings us to that righteousness through reading the scriptures.
† 4th The Shoes of Readiness to Share the Gospel
How can you share the Gospel of peace or of Christ if you don’t know Christ’s story?
The Word of God gives us accounts of Christ and the centuries of preparation it took for Him to come and fulfill the Father’s will. We wouldn’t know of the trials and glorious works of God from our history without the word of God.
† 5th The Shield of Faith
The scriptures tell us that Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. You cannot hear the word of God and increase your faith without the word of God. As your faith increases, your shield becomes stronger and you can extinguish the flaming darts of the devil!
† 6th The Helmet of Salvation
You take the helmet and wear it by filling your mind with the word of God.
Without the Holy Scriptures, it would be nearly impossible to fill your mind the word of God daily!
It would be easy to remember a handful of scriptures if asked, but how many could remember the book of Psalms, or Revelation? We rely on the Word of God in print to read, study and meditate on so as to fill our minds with God’s Holy Word in turn, placing the Helmet of salvation and hope of things to come on our heads.
Take the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. ‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.’
