Standing Strong While Under Attack
Notes
Transcript
If you halfway keep up with the news, you know that this has been a rough week. Congress confirmed the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (God help us). Protests turned into a riot and people were killed. Since that time, there has been a relentless attack on conservatives across our country. Social media accounts have been restricted, censored, and banned. People have been fired. The social media platform Parler, which is the only platform I use, will be taken down tonight by Amazon. Amazon does not own Parler but does host it. There has been a call for the resignation, removal, and impeachment of President Trump despite his only having 11 days left in office.
Democrats continue to fan the flames of fear that he is deranged. They continue to spread the lie that he incited the riot. They have no evidence of this other than the fact that he says the election was stolen. With plenty of credible evidence for this, they refute those claims often with simply “That didn’t happen”. Because half of our nation does not trust the government or the media, there is a full scale war on the First Amendment.
Many of us are aware that in 11 days, the Vice President of the United States will be a woman who has openly attacked people for being Christians. She has boldly stated that Christian beliefs have no place in the public square. She has stated that it is ok to be a Christian in your home but when you go out, you should leave it there. For those who may think I am sensationalizing, let me be clear that I am not quoting her, but you can find all of this in the Brett Kavanaugh hearings. She, along with Corey Booker, were clear that they are not friends to Christians. She and Joe Biden have both made it clear that they intend for her to be the president.
We also saw this week that Georgia was willing to vote a socialist with known ties to the Chinese government into office. A man who spread countless lies unapologeticly. We also voted in a racist mockery of a preacher who has called for the cursing of America, rather than her blessing. What is our great sin that he condemns? The alleged “worship of whiteness”.
We recently learned of one of our members of congress being intimately involved with a Chinese spy. Yet, there has been no effort to do anything about it. This member sits on the house intelligence committee and has access to extremely sensitive information.
Add to this the Coronavirus and all the propaganda around it. Let me be clear, COVID is real. However, it has been weaponized as a tool of terror by power hungry people. Spreading fake news, blatant lies, and fake science for the sake of control has been admitted to. Dr. Faucci has admitted to lying on several occasions.
Due to the terrorization of our nation by the pandemic, some cities have reported an increase in suicide by as much as 60%. Deaths by suicide and drug overdose were reported to exceed deaths by Corona-virus during the month of July.
All year long we have watched as the terrorist organizations BLM and Antifa have burned cities, murdered, and looted. They have stirred the pot with false narratives of police brutality that, when the truth comes out, are found to be completely fake. Yet, the quick video editing and being first to control the narrative has created outrage that has lead to death and destruction.
Because of this, gun sales have gone through the roof. By November, gun sales were already 1.5 million dollars higher than the previous record year of 2016. Since Christmas, there is no telling how much more profits increased. 40-50 percent of the background checks ran were for first time gun owners.
To put it mildly, people are scared. People feel hopeless. Sadly, many Christians feel the same way that others in the world feel. They are scared and hopeless. I tell you, there is no reason to be. Not only do we not have be live in fear and hopelessness, but we should not live in fear or hopelessness. To do so in ungodly.
Turn in your Bibles to Ephesians 6:10-13. As I have done much thinking and praying about what is going on, God has reminded me of who we are in Him.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 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.
I. Be strong in the Lord
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
As Americans, we value being self-reliant. We want to be self-made men. Notice the root of both of those is self. As Christians, we are to stop living for self, and live for God. As we read last week, self was to be crucified with Christ so that we can be resurrected into a new life with Him.
II. Put on the whole armor of God
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Before we read the list of the armor of God, note that it says “put on the whole armor of God”. All of it. Not part of it. Not only those peaces you want to wear, or feel most comfortable with. Put it all on.
a. belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14)
b. breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)
c. boots of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15)
d. shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)
e. helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17)
f. sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17)
g. praying always (Ephesians 6:18)
III. Stand against the devil
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
IV. People are not our enemies
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.
There is a temptation to be angry at and even hate those who are working evil in our nation. To be fair, those on the political aisle are tempted to hate Trump just as we are tempted to hate those who openly attack religious liberty and morality.
We do not hate sinners
- We do not hate sinners because we were sinners and the enemies of God.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
We do not hate our enemies
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
We do not revel in their fall
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth,
And let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him,
And he turn away his wrath from him.
Conclusion: Take, withstand, stand
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.
Paul reminds us one more of our rules of how we are to fight.
Take: Take unto you the whole armor of God
Withstand: Withstand in the evil day, the attacks of Satan and his forces
Stand: Do not fall before your enemy. Do not give in. Do not surrender