We are at War!

Intro

Good morning. My name is Lamar Ball. If you don’t know, I have been dealing with the call to ministry for some time. I would say it started some time in 2019. Then when covid hit I kind of strayed away from it. I struggled and fought. I really didn’t know what I was doing or what I was supposed to do with my life. I had a lot of uncertainty in my life. Everyone I knew had a plan for the future. all my friends made their own paths. And to be honest, out of fear of making the wrong choice I procrastinated for the longest time. Then at the youth camp I went to my junior year, I was listening to my youth minister at the time tell his story. I don’t even remember what he was saying. All I remember is that I felt God tell me that I was going to be in the ministry. So finally I came forward and put my yes on the table. I’ve had the opportunity to preach a few times before, but never a Sunday morning. So I’m gonna try to step out of the way and let God take everything.

*We are at war! As Christians in any day in age we are at war. Now there have been a lot of wars from the time the world began until now, but this is the greatest war ever fought.

*In WW II alone, there was an estimated 70-85 million deaths. There have been people dying in the spiritual battle ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. The death count is at its highest now, and it is still rising. There are still people dying without Christ.

*So how do we fight? A lot of times theres not always a lot we can do to fight physically.

**We are spiritual beings in physical bodies on a physical earth waiting for the spiritual reign. But while we are in the physical bodies, we are tied to the flesh and subsequently want what what the flesh wants. While we are still flesh, we often think with the flesh and want to help and fight with the flesh. However; Ephesians 6:12 says

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

So how do we fight?

PRAY!

*When we as Christians are living in the world, the way we fight is being active in our faith.

*In the armor of God, we have Five defensive weapons and only two offensive weapons. We are playing on defence. It is not our job to attack, but rather to defend what we have. We are supposed to stand. We are to stand strong and defend that which has been entrusted to us as children of God.

*Soldiers have certain formations depending on the situation and the battle. Both ancient and modern soldiers have different tactics. We are all soldiers for Christ and the Kingdom of God.

*When christians are living in the world, maybe not living like the world, but in the world, and they are not living out their faith; they become bitter.

* Sin wether in you or around you can and will effect you if you let it. When we let sin run rampant and don’t do anything about it, and we become bitter, we start fighting amongst ourselves. Churches, families, and people will fade if we don’t defend ourselves.

*So how do we Fight? We fight with pray and spending time in the word.

*As Humans, we want to see our enemies suffer. We want worse done to them than they did to us, but thats not going to benefit them or us. The human nature wants to fight back wants to hurt back, but the bible teaches to turn the other cheek.

*As warriors and as brothers and sisters, we need to change out tactics. We need to fight with the spirit and not the flesh.

*When someone wrongs us, we need to pray for them. Not in a condescending way, but in a positive uplifting way. We need to pray that our enemies’ hearts would be softened so that we can witness to them, or in some cases that our own hearts would be softened so we can teach and sometimes be taught.

*We fight through prayer. We can also fight by carrying our cross and following Christ’s example. Matthew 16:24 says

Matthew 16:24 CSB

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

*When Jesus is referencing the cross and denying ones self in the same context, He is saying we need to die to ourself and follow Him.

*The crucifixion was the worst death anyone could die in that day in time. So He’s saying that if someone isn’t willing too die for Christ then he is not worthy to follow Christ.

*But the death here is more than physical. The death here is to self. If we can’t die to the flesh then we cannot follow the spirit.

*Likewise with the cross. God is using the cross in this passage as a figure of speech. The cross represents our witness as Christians.

* Going back to the death thing. Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Death means you stop being.” That hit home for me. To stop being. I don’t thing that many people if any can fathom that. That means its gone. When you die to self, the flesh stops being, and we let God have control over our lives. That will have the biggest impact on your life.

Conclusion

*So this morning, maybe God is calling someone else to surrender to the ministry and fight as a minister.

* Maybe He’s calling someone to start fighting as a church member, as a part of a larger body of believers.

*Or he could be calling someone to join in the fight and be saved.

*Whatever He’s calling you to do, put your yes on the table, surrender to God. All you have to do to enter the battle as a christian is believe that Jesus died for your sins. Romans 10:9-10 says

Romans 10:9–10 CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Its the simplest thing. All you have to do is believe. The bible says that today is the day of salvation. We aren’t promised tomorrow, Won’t you come today?

PRAY!