“This Means War!”
SHOW DVD CLIP FROM THE MOVIE, PEARL HARBOR…OF INITIAL BOMBING
We Are In A War
In 1941 – the world was at war. And America had an enemy, though she tried her best not to believe or think about it. BUT – regardless of what they thought or believed - the empire of Japan had very specific plans, plans to inflict great harm on America.
YOU KNOW - I think the images in the clip from the movie Pearl Harbor are very powerful and very telling - people waking up on Sunday morning, kids playing ball, guys fishing on a pier, men sleeping in their bunks, little girls running with angels wings on…
These people, where living as if they had no enemy, as if they had nothing to fear – but despite what they thought, despite their chosen ignorance, there was a very real enemy planning their destruction. AND the devastation that was Pearl Harbor – has been a powerful symbol for over 60 years. A symbol of what can happen when we are unprepared and choose to ignore even the possibility of an attack.
IN LIKE MANNER - you and I have an enemy, this church has an enemy, your marriage has an enemy – your children have an enemy – you have an enemy… an enemy that is even now making plans for your destruction… LISTEN – just as Japan for months before Pearl harbor sat in their war room – satan & his fallen angels sits in his.
AND PLEASE – don’t blow me off or think I am making this stuff up – BECAUSE in the book we talked about last week (in the bible) – this truth is clearly stated… Right now I want to share with several passages of scripture that speak of this enemy.
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” Jn 10:10
CIRCLE; steal, kill & destroy…
LISTEN - that is what the thief, that is what your enemy, that is what satan wants to do to your life , and the lives of those you love (steal, kill & destroy) AND as we look around us – it obvious that he is doing a pretty good job accomplishing that purpose.
CHECKOUT – what Paul says in Ephesians 6 about this enemy;
“A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” Eph 6:10-12 (NLT)
In these verses, Paul makes it quite clear that we are in a fight, that we are in a struggle (as the NIV words it) a struggle NOT against flesh & blood, BUT against the devil; against an unseen enemy, against a wicked an enemy, against an enemy with mighty powers of darkness, against an enemy who has many strategies and tricks up his sleeve – all designed to trip you up and knock you down…and destroy you.
PETER – also talked about this enemy. Unfortunately it was an enemy that Peter knew from personal experience, it was an enemy that at times even got the best of Him. That is why Peter warns us in 1 Pe 5:8 to;
“Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” 1 Pe 5:8 (NLT)
LISTEN – the devil IS your great enemy (‘the devil is my great enemy’). AND he prowls around like a roaring what? A roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Do you see that picture? A lion in the bushes, watching his prey – looking for those who are weak or straggling behind. AND when he finds what he is looking for he pounces and devours them…
AND UNDERSTAND – satan is good at what he does… he has been doing for 1,000 of years to billions of people. And that lion - is watching you right now – in fact, he’s been watching you – waiting for that moment….
The final passage I want to look at that talks about our enemy is Revelation 12:17
“Then the dragon became angry at the woman, and declared war against the rest of her children – all who keep God’s commandments and confess they belong to Jesus.” Rev 12:17
Do you see what Jesus is revealing to us in his Revelation? LISTEN – satan (the dragon) is very angry - WHY? because the blood of the lamb – because Jesus Christ defeated him on the cross… And since there is nothing more that he can do to Jesus, satan NOW - turns his fierce anger against the church (the woman) – against all those who keep God’s commands and who confess that they belong to Jesus…
AND UNDERSTAND – satan, is perhaps the most powerful being there is, after Almighty God has (Jude says in his letter that even Michael one of the mightiest of the angels – didn’t dare mess with satan) AND – if you are a Christian, satan has declared war on you.
LISTEN- we have an enemy, we are in a war…NOW - we can choose to ignore it, live as though it’s no big deal, play baseball, go fishing on a pier, sleep in our beds – we can live our life’s like we have nothing to fear… BUT we do so to our own destruction….
The next point in your outline is that;
We Are Losing Territory
America lost a lot on December 7, 1941. They lost many things that before December 7 had belonged to them. They nearly lost the entire pacific flight, they lost thousands of lives, they lost their peace & tranquility, they lost their innocence, they lost the hope of a certain future… In one brief moment, their enemy took all of that and more away from them.
YOU KNOW - when I look at those scenes on the screen – I am blown away – and I can only imagine what it must have been like – to have your ears ringing with the sound of gun fire, to hear the screams of men & women dying, to smell the smoke, to feel the heat of the flames fire – AND - to see all the devastation, blood and death…
LISTEN - losing territory to the enemy is never a pretty sight.
AND – Just as America in 1941 lost territory to her enemy the Christian, the church – you are losing territory to your enemy (to the thief, to the dragon to that roaring lion).
LISTEN – our enemy is taking from us – he is taking from you – he is taking from the church, things that belong to us, things that should be and in fact are ours, because we are in Christ.
The list of things that are stolen, killed or destroyed in the lives of many Christians and churches is staggering… The casualty list is high…the fall out is great, the after shock is terrifying. LISTEN – satan truly has declared war – he is devouring lives (he is devouring homes, marriages, families, the church) and he is taking many people captive…
AND if you think I am exaggerating – let me tell you about some territory that should belong to us…territory that should belong to you (BECAUSE you are a child of God – BECAUSE you are a new creation in Christ), but doesn’t… I want to talk about some territory that we have lost to the enemy…
We’ve Lost Hope
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for…” 1 Pe 1:3,4
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be opened in order that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…” Eph 3:18
“Always be prepared to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.” 1 Pe 3:15 (he was writing to Christians suffering persecution under Nero)
LISTEN – hope is supposed to be ours – and not just any kind of hope BUT a living hope, a hope that can never perish, spoil or fade away… AND THIS hope that should be yours is so powerful – that Paul prayed that the eyes of our heart would be open – so that we could know – understand – get a grasp on – the awesome hope that we have in Christ…
Paul wanted us to see, to get a glimpse of the incredible future that we have in Christ – BUT the enemy has closed the eyes of so many believers, maybe even some in this room…So that they can’t see this hope, like the storm weary disciples we read about this week in Mark 4 & 5 – many believers have forgotten – they have lost sight of the fact that Jesus WILL get them to the other side.
WHAT ELSE have we lost…
We’ve Lost Joy
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great JOY that will be for all people.” Lk 2:10
“I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my JOY knows no bounds” 2 Cor 7:4
“REJOICE in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE.” Phil 4:4
“Though you have not seen him, you love him: and event though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY.” 1 Pe 1:8
We’ve lost our joy… LISTEN – despite the look on the faces of so many believers – JOY… great joy – inexpressible & glorious joy, a joy that knows no bounds, a stubborn joy that digs it’s feet in and refuses to bend to the winds of hard times, difficulty and disappointment – a joy can rejoice in the Lord Always! Is supposed to be yours.
QUESTION – do you have it? IF not understand the enemy, has taken stolen and destroyed it…
We’ve Lost Peace
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and earth PEACE to men on whom his favor rests.”
Lk 2:13,14
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6,7
We’ve our lost peace… UNDERSTAND – it is God’s plan, it is His desire that those who are His – would replace worry & anxiety with His peace. With a peace that is beyond our understanding.. LISTEN – Almighty God is ready to guard your hearts and minds with His peace. The word guard is a military term – it basically means God will station His special forces around your heart and mind so that worry will never get in…
BUT many believers have given back that territory to the enemy. AND they are anxious & stressed out about everything. A day without overwhelming stress and a night of peace seems to be so far away… That’s not how God intends for you to live.
We’ve lost significance
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” 1 Peter 2:9
“How great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 Jn 3:1
We’ve lost our significance…
LISTEN – far too many Christians have bought the enemies lies about significance. AND BECAUSE they don’t have the right looks, or the right talents. Because they don’t drive the right car, live in the right house, work in the right field, because they don’t have enough of the world’s ‘stuff’ they feel worthless, insignificant, unimportant, like they don’t matter.
You see Satan, the dragon has blinded them to their true worth… He has gotten them to forget or belittle the truth that they are; chosen by almighty God (God looked at you and said I pick him, her – I want you on my team), they has forgotten that they are royalty (kids of the KING of kings), they have forgotten that they belong to God – they are his children…
QUESTION – do you feel significant? Important? Like you matter? If not you have given back that territory to your enemy – it’s supposed to be yours.
We’ve lost guiltlessness
“Therefore there is now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rm 8:1
“For it is by GRACE you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works so no one can boast.” Eph 2:8,9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and WILL forgive us our sins and purify us from ALL unrighteousness.” 1 Jn 1:9
We’ve lost our guiltlessness…
The cross – the blood of Jesus – His death – paid the penalty for our sin. We are saved by grace (we didn’t earn or deserve it) There is NOW (today, right at this moment) no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (and the bible – the sole authority on the subject says that a repentant believer is BAPTIZED INTO Christ Jesus, Rm 6:3; Gal 3:27)…
AND LISTEN - no condemnation in Greek literally means ‘no condemnation.’
YET many believers are still carrying around a load of guilt – they can’t forgive themselves, they can’t let it go, they feel they have gone too far… They feel condemned, guilty…beyond the reach of God’s grace.
CHECK OUT – Romans 5:8-10…
“But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were enemies still enemies Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood (made right with God) how much MORE shall we be saved from god’s wrath through him! FOR if when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of His Son, how much MORE, having been reconciled shall we be saved through his life!”
We’ve lost victory
“But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’’ stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” 1 Cor 10:13 (NLT)
“How we thank God who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Cor 15:57 (NLT)
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Tim 1:7
We’ve lost our victory over sin & temptation…
LISTEN – many Christians are living sin defeated lives – they constantly give into sin, they say they can’t help it, that they’ve always been this way, they say that the temptation is just too strong for them – you see, the enemy has convinced to raise up the white flag of surrender…
BUT this is not the life God has called them to live… UNDERSTAND in any and all temptation God has promised (and he is the ultimate promise keeper) God has promised that HE will provide a way out – that he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle… (that us so cool,,, God will not allow my enemy, he will not allow satan to tempted with stuff that I can’t stand up to)
LISTEN – through Christ God gives us the victory over sin and temptation… IF you are a Christian God is in you and greater is he that is in you than he that is in this world… That roaring lion takes off running when God is around, or rather when you are around God.
QUESTION – do you think that there are sins in your life – anger, drinking, drugs, sexual immorality, pornography that you will never be able to defeat? If so you have given that territory to the enemy..
We are losing territory that should be ours…
We’ve lost satisfaction and fulfillment
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied.”
Mt 5:6 (NASB)
“but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst again…” Jn 4:14
“…I have come that they nay have life, and have it to the full.” Jn 10:10
“…so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Ti 6:19
We’ve lost our satisfaction and fullness of life…
QUESTION – if you were look to – if you were to reflect on your life right now (be honest) would you say that you are satisfied, that you have fullness, that you are no longer thirsty, that you have taken a hold of life that is truly life…?
If not then the enemy has taken that from you…
We’ve lost freedom
“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you FREE.” Jn 8:32
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be FREE in deed.” Jn 8:36
“It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set you FREE. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…” Gal 5:1
We’ve lost our freedom…
QUESTION – are you free? LISTEN – far too to many believers perhaps you are one of them have allowed themselves to be enslaved again: to things like pleasure, popularity, possessions, prestige…
NOW – we could keep on reading scripture – we could keep on talking about all the stuff, all the territory, all the blessings that God intends to be yours, because you are His son and His daughter…but isn’t…
BUT – I think you get the idea… Our enemy has been very successful in his attack on us… and he will not let up on us until the day we die or the day the Lord returns…
We have an enemy…
We are losing territory…
And I for one am sick and tired of it… I’m tired of seeing believers;
live defeated lives,
live like paupers when they are kings kids
live without hope, peace or joy when those are to be theirs
have homes, families, marriages and lives that are far less than God intends
I am tired of the dragon winning, I am tired of that roaring lion devouring. I am tired of the thief stealing, killing and destroying what is rightfully ours…
QUESTION - what do we do? What action should we take in response to his attacks..?
(clip?)
We Need To Declare War
On Saturday December 8th at 7 am in the morning I was sitting with bible and my, Keeping The Reason In The Season, devotional guide. And the study that day started with reading an exert from the speech that Roosevelt gave to congress, the day after Pearl Harbor…
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date that will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan…”
“As commander-in-chief of the army and navy I have direct that all measures be taken for our defense…No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory…”
“Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces – with the unbounding determination of our people – we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God….”
AND as I reflected on those words – and on the scriptures that we were to read that day I wrote the following words in my journal…
“Everyday I am in a battle – some days I go unarmed and unprepared and I am defeated. Satan wins the day… He gains territory in my life, territory that is mine. He is master general – and I must every day, Declare War on him…”
It was on that day Saturday morning (over a month ago) that I decided that one of my goals for 2002 – was for us as a church to declare war on our enemy – to declare was on satan.
BUT QUESTION IS – how do we declare war on satan. How do we fight an enemy that is so much more powerful than we are… How can we possibly hold our ground let alone defeat, an enemy that is the most powerful being there is, next to God – How do we overcome - an enemy that knows us so well and has been engaged in this war against the Christian for 2,000 years…
The answers to those questions is found in 2 Corinthians 10;
“Though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary they have divine power to demolish strongholds…” (3,4)
LISTEN – we are not going to win this war fighting with worldly weapons. NO - we are not going to defeat a foe as powerful as satan using anything of this world… (after all he is the prince of this world)…
UNDERSTAND - The only way will defeat him is with divine weapons or as the NLT words it with “God’s mighty weapons”
AND THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR THEN IS - what are those weapons?
WELL, that’s what I plan on spending a lot of 2002 sharing with you…I plan on talking about the mighty weapons of God that can destroy the strongholds of the devil and get back what is ours…
Weapons like; prayer, grace, the gospel, the word of God, our mind, love, forgiveness, the church..etc
NOW some of this weapons will require a lot of time to talk about, others we might knock off in a week… SO YOU SEE – my title - This Means War! Is not really a title for sermon series but rather the theme for my preaching in 2002…
OKAY – this week I encourage you to think about what we have talked about…. Think about what territory that you have lost.
THEN NEXT WEEK – I intend to post a formal declaration of war for you to sign…if we so desire… AND - I will talk about our first divine weapon in a message called “Your Mind, Your First Line Of Defense”
As I close I like to paraphrase the final words that FDR gave to congress when he declared war on Japan.
“Hostilities exist. We have an enemy. We are losing territory. And there is no blinking at the fact that our lives, our families, our marriages, and our church lare in grave danger.
But with great confidence in the my brothers and sisters in Christ – with the divine weapons that God has made available to us - and with the unbounding determination of the people of God is this place – we will gain the inevitable triumph – as we allow God’s power to work through us….”
