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Christians Look at the News

Wrestling against the darkness of our age

Ephesians 6.12

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • December 5, In the year of our Lord, 2012

 

  1. We know the Bible says to put on the armor of God. 
    1. Do we know why?
    2. The same passage that reveals
      1. what we are to put on
      2. shows why we are to put it on.

        10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 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, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— (Eph 6.10–18).

        1. Why did Paul say put on the whole armor of God?
          1. We have to stand against the wiles of the devil.
          2. We are wrestling against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.
            1. To what did Paul refer?
            2. In 1.3, Paul referred to our spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.
              1. Likewise, in the spirit, there are evil forces,
              2. who have connections on the earth.
        2. Do you realize how much this happens?
          1. I want to make you aware by looking at the world.
          2. We shall have the news before us and
            1. see the good,
            2. see the bad, and
              1. refute it,
              2. support it, or
              3. do whatever needs to be done to equip us to deal with it.
                1. Some things I will show
                2. just to make you aware of it.
                3. It might simply be something that is interesting or uplifting.
  2. We concentrate on the flesh, but let’s fight the spiritual warfare.

    3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled (2Co 10.3–6).

    1. What do we do with our might weapons in God?
      1. We pull down strongholds.
      2. We cast down arguments.
      3. We cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
    2. We do not simply destroy.
    3. What do we want to accomplish?
      1. We bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
      2. We punish all disobedience.
  3. You will be amazed by the assaults when I start showing you things. 
    1. Not all of it assaults the knowledge of God.
    2. I will show you the good things also.
  4. The Perimeters 
    1. We shall not talk about everything in the news.
    2. We shall talk about
      1. the things that pertain to life and godliness,
      2. the things that pertain to God,
      3. the things that pertain to creation/evolution,
      4. the things that pertain to morality,
      5. the things that pertain to the Bible, et al.