“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” –the Apostle Paul
In the Old Testament we read a lot about physical battles, but in the New Testament the Bible teaches that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood” and that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.” There is still a war going on and many battles to be fought, but it’s a spiritual warfare, not a physical one.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12
Now, a lot of people get it when we say that in the Old Testament they fought all these physical battles, but in the New Testament we don’t. Everybody’s got that down it seems—they realize we aren’t still in a physical fight. But what they fail to understand is that we are still at war. We are in a spiritual warfare against our own flesh, against sin, and against wicked people who teach false doctrine and try to silence us.
"For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." Romans 7:22-23
“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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;” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
“They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.” Proverbs 28:4
There’s a Christianity today that has forsaken the law by not doing any fighting at all. They don’t understand that from Old Testament to New Testament we are just going from a physical fight to a spiritual fight. The average church today teaches that we went from a physical fight to NO fight, and that our job is to just get along with everybody. But there are in fact spiritual battles going on today, and that’s why the Old Testament battles are so applicable.
Here is a sermon to go with this article
Well said Pastor.
ReplyDeleteTime to reprise Ephesians 6:11-20 (KJV):
"11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
I do not recall anything other than a perfunctory sermon on this subject. We need more hair-legged, leather-lunged, spittle-spattered, independent, fundamental, King James Bible-only, Baptist, King David man-o-war, blow-by-blow teaching on the whole armor of God if men (especially) and women are to become true warrior saints. Given we're no longer in an Old Testament battle, many men's physiques today reflect this; and because we've forgotten that the battle continues spiritually in the New Testament, men's spirits today reflect this.
Pastor Donnie Romero preached an excellent sermon recently about Jesus' temptation by Satan in the wilderness, noting that Satan tempted Jesus spiritually when he was physically weak. By this insight, we ought to keep ourselves both physically and spiritually strong and armored alway in order to fight the New Testament battle.
I have yet, in my 59 yard, to hear a memorable sermon in regard to putting on the armor for God. Your sermons are such a blessing to me, and I listen to them daily. As a result, I have begun to actively seek a new church to attend. I live in a very openly liberal city in a "blue" state. So far I have found nothing such as you describe in looking for a church, absolutely no preacher like you, but I have begun visiting one I like a lot and leave on Sunday morning with a feeling of delight in the Lord, and having learned a valuable biblical lesson to use in my life. A traditional denomination, and not one of the popular "fun" churches.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work you are doing.
Blessings, M