War Not Peace

WAR NOT PEACE!

Scripture Reading: Eph. 5:1-11

INTRODUCTION

Amidst all the prophesies that have been told regarding the end of the world. There is one prophesy which stands head and shoulders above all others.

One prophecy, which pinpoints the end of the world with greater accuracy, than all others;

One prophecy, which drives the fear of God into the enemy’s heart;

One prophecy, which the enemy will do his utmost best to ensure that it is never fulfilled; This prophecy is given in Matt. 24:14.

(Matt. 24:14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.

What must happen before the end comes? The gospel must be preached to the entire world. Not to half of the world, or part of the world but to all the world.

The enemy well knows that the nearer we come to spreading the gospel to the whole world the nearer he is to his destruction. Brothers and sisters the spreading of the gospel throughout the world will not be accomplished with out a fight. We are not a game, we are a war. And there are only two sides, Jesus or Satan. The bible tells us in Ephs.6:10-12

[Ephs. 6:10-12] 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against

Our battle does not lie in the human realm but in the spiritual; it is not with man but with fallen angels. It is a war of cosmic proportions. We are not here to fight with men but to give them an opportunity to be free from the captivity of Satan through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[2 Corinth. 10:3-5] 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting 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;

The Gospel must be preached to all the world- that’s the goal of the Christians.

It can be accomplished with each of doing our part. The goal of every Christian must be to be a witness for Jesus Christ wherever we are.

The battle is on, the battle lines are drawn.

It must be fought in every work place

It must be fought In Every school yard

It must be fought In Every home

It must be fought in the church.

The battle to be a witness for Christ must be utmost in our minds.

The bible tells us in 1 Pet. 5:8

[1 Pet.5:8] 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The devil is not playing around, he is keen about his mission. The bible tells that is constantly seeking whom he may devour. This tells us that he is purposeful in his pursuit,

We dear brethren must match his enthusiasm for destruction with an enthusiasm for

witnessing. We must stop allowing ourselves to be discouraged so easily. It is the enemy’s ploy to discourage you.

He will place words into the mouths of men and women;

He will encourage them to shut the door in your face when you go witnessing. All in the hope, that he could discourage you from carrying out your mission. But we must never raise the white flag. We must never surrender to the enemy.

We must never vouch for peace with Satan. It must always be war. This news of the Gospel must be taken to every household, everyman woman and child. We must not relent, we must not compromise.

[ Heb. 10: 35,36] Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. ; For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 1

NIV. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ; You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. "For in just a very little while,

"He who is coming will come and will not delay. 1

The ploys of the enemy are portrayed graphically in 1 kings 20. Here too we can glean wisdom as to the type of person we ought to be if we are to be successful against the enemy.