1 00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:02,000 Hi there Mars Hill Church 2 00:00:02,083 --> 00:00:05,000 and the extended family of Mars Hill Global. 3 00:00:05,083 --> 00:00:08,333 I'm pastor Sutton Turner here in Dilla, Ethiopia 4 00:00:08,375 --> 00:00:10,500 and I wanted to take a moment and explain 5 00:00:10,583 --> 00:00:14,333 what the extended family of Mars Hill Global is. 6 00:00:14,375 --> 00:00:18,333 I was a podcaster when I was living in the Middle East 7 00:00:18,375 --> 00:00:22,125 and consuming those podcasts every week, 8 00:00:22,167 --> 00:00:26,125 participating, really one way, from Mars Hill Church. 9 00:00:26,167 --> 00:00:27,917 I was really a consumer. 10 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:29,667 So what we're doing is setting up 11 00:00:29,708 --> 00:00:33,167 the extended family of Mars Hill Global and saying, 12 00:00:33,250 --> 00:00:39,000 "Come, be a part of what Jesus Christ is doing in and through our church." 13 00:00:39,083 --> 00:00:40,917 So what does Mars Hill Global do? 14 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:46,125 Well, Mars Hill Global is doing and participating in church planting 15 00:00:46,167 --> 00:00:48,417 here in Ethiopia and also in India. 16 00:00:48,500 --> 00:00:51,375 Also, we're doing church planting in the United States as well. 17 00:00:51,458 --> 00:00:53,917 We're doing all of that because in Mars Hill Church 18 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,417 we believe that Jesus has called us to make disciples and plant churches. 19 00:00:58,500 --> 00:01:03,042 So I want to ask you to be a part. I want to as you to be a part 20 00:01:03,125 --> 00:01:05,042 of the extended family of Mars Hill Global. 21 00:01:05,125 --> 00:01:06,375 Sign up today. 22 00:01:06,458 --> 00:01:08,333 Become a member of the extended family, 23 00:01:08,375 --> 00:01:10,917 start participating online with us, 24 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,500 and let's see what Jesus Christ is going to do, 25 00:01:13,542 --> 00:01:16,708 not only in the United States, but to the ends of the Earth. 26 00:01:17,167 --> 00:01:30,083 [music] 27 00:01:37,667 --> 00:01:39,792 [Laughing] I'm Joshua. 28 00:01:39,833 --> 00:01:41,583 I'm Spencer. Hey, I'm Jonathan. 29 00:01:41,667 --> 00:01:43,417 I'm a lawyer, and I'm a mom. 30 00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:45,125 I'm a colorist in the fashion industry. 31 00:01:45,167 --> 00:01:46,833 I don't know how to not smile. 32 00:01:46,875 --> 00:01:48,208 I am a strategist. 33 00:01:48,292 --> 00:01:49,708 I work in commercial real estate. 34 00:01:49,792 --> 00:01:51,417 Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out 35 00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:52,917 how to phrase my work. 36 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,125 People are always coming up to me with, like, 37 00:01:55,167 --> 00:01:56,500 creative ideas. 38 00:01:56,583 --> 00:01:59,500 I carry around a baseball that reminds me of my dad. 39 00:01:59,583 --> 00:02:04,167 I lost my home, my car, my retirement. 40 00:02:04,208 --> 00:02:07,000 Most days look pretty, kind of crazy. 41 00:02:08,417 --> 00:02:11,083 Being a wholesaler, we have a big warehouse space. 42 00:02:11,167 --> 00:02:12,750 I like to think through things. 43 00:02:12,833 --> 00:02:14,458 I got a tattoo of a tree. 44 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:15,833 I love--I love that. 45 00:02:15,917 --> 00:02:18,667 Who do you think-- Who do you think you are? 46 00:02:22,750 --> 00:02:26,000 So, when's the last time you feel like you got shot-- 47 00:02:26,042 --> 00:02:27,958 emotionally, right? 48 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,042 You had that recently? 49 00:02:30,125 --> 00:02:32,333 Doctor says, "It's cancer"; 50 00:02:32,417 --> 00:02:35,083 friend says they don't want to be with you anymore; 51 00:02:35,167 --> 00:02:38,500 spouse says, "I think we're done." 52 00:02:38,583 --> 00:02:42,083 Shot financially--you lose your job, you're upside down, 53 00:02:42,167 --> 00:02:45,125 something busts, you don't have money for it. 54 00:02:45,167 --> 00:02:48,125 You find yourself in real trouble. 55 00:02:48,167 --> 00:02:50,792 You're shot spiritually-- you don't know why, 56 00:02:50,833 --> 00:02:53,125 but you're discouraged, you're depressed. 57 00:02:53,167 --> 00:02:56,417 It feels like there is a cloud that is encircling you. 58 00:02:56,500 --> 00:03:00,792 Your thoughts are foggy, and your hope is fading. 59 00:03:00,833 --> 00:03:04,000 What we tend to do in those moments is look up to God. 60 00:03:04,042 --> 00:03:06,167 "God, where are you? I thought you were good. 61 00:03:06,250 --> 00:03:08,167 "I thought you loved me. 62 00:03:08,250 --> 00:03:10,250 "I thought you would take care of me. 63 00:03:10,333 --> 00:03:12,083 "I thought you would provide for me. 64 00:03:12,167 --> 00:03:15,458 "Why do you hurt me? Why are you opposed to me? 65 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:20,167 Why are you--why are you fighting me?" 66 00:03:20,250 --> 00:03:22,750 You ever felt that? 67 00:03:22,833 --> 00:03:24,667 People go all kinds of directions when they 68 00:03:24,750 --> 00:03:27,833 find themselves in those moments of getting shot. 69 00:03:27,917 --> 00:03:32,667 "Maybe there is no God. Maybe God isn't good. 70 00:03:32,750 --> 00:03:36,625 "Maybe God loves other people, but God doesn't love me. 71 00:03:36,667 --> 00:03:42,333 Maybe God isn't that powerful." 72 00:03:42,375 --> 00:03:44,917 You need to know, I need to know, 73 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,917 we need to know that it's not just us and God. 74 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:50,500 There's a third variable 75 00:03:50,583 --> 00:03:54,583 that we absolutely have to factor into everything, 76 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:57,000 and that's Satan and demons. 77 00:03:57,042 --> 00:04:01,250 We live in a day when, through psychology, through explanation, 78 00:04:01,333 --> 00:04:04,375 through a resistance to the supernatural, 79 00:04:04,458 --> 00:04:07,167 people don't even believe in Satan and demons. 80 00:04:07,250 --> 00:04:10,042 We turn them into fictitious cartoon characters 81 00:04:10,125 --> 00:04:13,958 and mythical parts of our historical narrative, 82 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,667 and the stories we tell, and the fairy tales we enjoy, 83 00:04:16,750 --> 00:04:18,542 but we don't think they're real. 84 00:04:18,625 --> 00:04:20,500 We don't think that Satan is real; 85 00:04:20,542 --> 00:04:23,875 we don't think that demons are real. And so we tend to, 86 00:04:23,958 --> 00:04:28,083 every time we are shot, question or blame God, 87 00:04:28,167 --> 00:04:32,833 while he laughs and runs away. 88 00:04:32,917 --> 00:04:36,708 This is incredibly important. 89 00:04:36,792 --> 00:04:38,875 The world is not the way it should be. 90 00:04:38,958 --> 00:04:42,083 Not everything that happens is God's will. 91 00:04:42,167 --> 00:04:44,875 There is also God's enemy. 92 00:04:44,958 --> 00:04:47,417 And it's so important that it's the final word 93 00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:49,500 in the book of Ephesians. 94 00:04:49,583 --> 00:04:52,625 Turn there with me, Ephesians 6:10-24. 95 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:57,000 We've spent now--this will be the 17th week in Ephesians. 96 00:04:57,083 --> 00:05:01,333 This is the last word from God through Paul, 97 00:05:01,417 --> 00:05:03,667 and it's about Satan and demons. 98 00:05:03,750 --> 00:05:06,583 Yeah, the book does talk about your salvation. 99 00:05:06,667 --> 00:05:08,375 It does talk about your friendships. 100 00:05:08,458 --> 00:05:10,042 It does talk about your marriage. 101 00:05:10,125 --> 00:05:11,875 It does talk about your work life. 102 00:05:11,958 --> 00:05:13,667 It does talk about your children. 103 00:05:13,708 --> 00:05:15,667 But if you overlook, if you neglect, 104 00:05:15,708 --> 00:05:19,167 the existence and the war from Satan and demons, 105 00:05:19,250 --> 00:05:23,583 it will infect, affect, destroy everything God is trying to do 106 00:05:23,667 --> 00:05:26,792 in your life in our church. 107 00:05:26,833 --> 00:05:29,167 Let's just read it all. 108 00:05:29,208 --> 00:05:32,167 The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. 109 00:05:32,208 --> 00:05:33,875 Let's just hear it all at once. 110 00:05:33,958 --> 00:05:37,417 "Finally"--all right, after everything else, 111 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:39,833 everything you've learned-- 112 00:05:39,875 --> 00:05:42,083 "be strong in the Lord and in the strength 113 00:05:42,167 --> 00:05:43,500 "of his might. 114 00:05:43,583 --> 00:05:46,917 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand 115 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,417 "against the schemes of the devil. 116 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:50,625 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, 117 00:05:50,667 --> 00:05:53,000 "but against the rulers, the authorities, 118 00:05:53,083 --> 00:05:55,625 the cosmic powers over this present darkness" 119 00:05:55,667 --> 00:05:57,417 --that's demons-- 120 00:05:57,500 --> 00:05:59,208 "against the spiritual forces of evil 121 00:05:59,292 --> 00:06:00,750 "in the heavenly places. 122 00:06:00,833 --> 00:06:02,833 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, 123 00:06:02,917 --> 00:06:05,875 "that you may be able to withstand in the day of evil, 124 00:06:05,958 --> 00:06:09,250 "and having done all, to stand firm. 125 00:06:09,333 --> 00:06:13,375 "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, 126 00:06:13,458 --> 00:06:15,083 "and having put on 127 00:06:15,167 --> 00:06:17,167 "the breastplate of righteousness, 128 00:06:17,250 --> 00:06:18,833 "and, as shoes for your feet, 129 00:06:18,917 --> 00:06:22,667 "having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 130 00:06:22,708 --> 00:06:25,667 "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, 131 00:06:25,750 --> 00:06:28,667 "with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts 132 00:06:28,708 --> 00:06:31,750 "of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, 133 00:06:31,833 --> 00:06:34,667 "and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 134 00:06:34,750 --> 00:06:37,125 "praying at all times in the Spirit, 135 00:06:37,167 --> 00:06:39,625 "with all prayers and supplication. 136 00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:42,333 "To that end keep alert with all perseverance, 137 00:06:42,375 --> 00:06:46,125 "making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, 138 00:06:46,167 --> 00:06:49,917 "that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly 139 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,833 "to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am 140 00:06:52,875 --> 00:06:56,417 an ambassador in chains"-- Paul here is in prison-- 141 00:06:56,500 --> 00:06:59,500 "that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 142 00:06:59,583 --> 00:07:03,333 "So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, 143 00:07:03,417 --> 00:07:05,375 "Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister 144 00:07:05,458 --> 00:07:07,958 "in the Lord will tell you everything. 145 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,375 "I have sent him to you for this very purpose, 146 00:07:10,458 --> 00:07:12,375 "that you may know how we are, 147 00:07:12,458 --> 00:07:14,875 "and that he may encourage your hearts. 148 00:07:14,958 --> 00:07:18,500 "Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, 149 00:07:18,542 --> 00:07:20,958 "from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 150 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,583 "Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ 151 00:07:23,667 --> 00:07:26,250 with a love incorruptible." 152 00:07:26,333 --> 00:07:28,542 It's very clear. 153 00:07:28,625 --> 00:07:30,958 There's the church, there is God, 154 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,833 and then there is a war against God and his people 155 00:07:33,917 --> 00:07:36,833 that is waged by Satan and demons. 156 00:07:36,875 --> 00:07:39,000 And I want you to know this, Mars Hill. 157 00:07:39,083 --> 00:07:41,500 When we read this verse, because we come from 158 00:07:41,583 --> 00:07:44,333 a hyper-individualistic cultural background, 159 00:07:44,375 --> 00:07:47,917 we tend to read this and think that this is to be applied 160 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,417 one by one for each of us. 161 00:07:50,500 --> 00:07:52,708 And so when we teach this section of Scripture 162 00:07:52,792 --> 00:07:54,500 to little boys in Sunday school, 163 00:07:54,583 --> 00:07:56,792 they all get dressed up like soldiers. 164 00:07:56,833 --> 00:07:58,500 The truth is, we're all soldiers, 165 00:07:58,583 --> 00:08:00,875 but it takes an army to win a war. 166 00:08:00,958 --> 00:08:03,333 This is a word to the whole church--not just individuals 167 00:08:03,417 --> 00:08:06,958 in the church but the whole church, laboring, warring, 168 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,792 working together. 169 00:08:08,833 --> 00:08:10,458 This is a word for us. 170 00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:15,000 It's a word for you, but it's word for you as part of us. 171 00:08:15,042 --> 00:08:17,583 Jesus loves us; Satan hates us. 172 00:08:17,667 --> 00:08:22,250 Jesus has plans for us; Satan has plans to oppose us. 173 00:08:22,333 --> 00:08:26,333 Jesus, in every way, will bless us; but Satan will, 174 00:08:26,417 --> 00:08:28,750 in every way, seek to undermine that blessing. 175 00:08:28,833 --> 00:08:30,542 It's a war. 176 00:08:30,625 --> 00:08:32,167 Do you know that? 177 00:08:32,208 --> 00:08:33,792 Most Christians don't. 178 00:08:33,833 --> 00:08:37,000 We live in a therapeutic culture where God is reduced to 179 00:08:37,042 --> 00:08:40,625 a damnable life coach that comes along to ask you what you want 180 00:08:40,667 --> 00:08:43,833 and to give you tips and tricks to do a better job, 181 00:08:43,875 --> 00:08:46,292 to live for your glory, to be what you want, 182 00:08:46,333 --> 00:08:49,708 to get what you want, to do what you want, and in that way, 183 00:08:49,792 --> 00:08:51,708 it's absolutely demonic. 184 00:08:51,792 --> 00:08:56,000 God does not exist to bless you; you exist to serve him. 185 00:08:56,083 --> 00:08:58,583 It's a war. 186 00:08:58,667 --> 00:09:01,792 It's a war! 187 00:09:01,833 --> 00:09:06,292 How many of you feel like this life is just a freaking war? 188 00:09:06,333 --> 00:09:07,833 You know why? 189 00:09:07,917 --> 00:09:10,750 It's a freaking war! 190 00:09:10,833 --> 00:09:15,292 The closer you get to Jesus, the more resistance you'll get. 191 00:09:15,333 --> 00:09:17,667 The more you advance to the kingdom of God, 192 00:09:17,750 --> 00:09:20,750 the more shots you'll take. 193 00:09:20,833 --> 00:09:23,750 Don't be a coward who says, "Oh, things are hard. 194 00:09:23,833 --> 00:09:26,500 It must not be God's will." 195 00:09:26,542 --> 00:09:30,292 The harder it gets, the closer you are to the will of God. 196 00:09:30,333 --> 00:09:32,792 And so Paul has a very strong word. 197 00:09:32,833 --> 00:09:35,708 This is a military word from a commander in chief 198 00:09:35,792 --> 00:09:41,083 to troops on the ground for what is to come. 199 00:09:41,167 --> 00:09:45,000 First, we need to know our enemy. 200 00:09:45,042 --> 00:09:47,792 Ephesians 6:12--do you know you have an enemy? 201 00:09:47,833 --> 00:09:50,917 Do you know you're not loved by everyone and everything? 202 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,208 Do you know you're hated, despised, and opposed? 203 00:09:53,292 --> 00:09:57,167 Do you know that we are? 204 00:09:57,250 --> 00:10:00,500 "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood"--Ephesians 6:12-- 205 00:10:00,542 --> 00:10:02,333 "but against the rulers, against the authorities, 206 00:10:02,375 --> 00:10:05,208 "against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, 207 00:10:05,292 --> 00:10:09,125 against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." 208 00:10:09,167 --> 00:10:14,917 People are not our enemy; Satan and demons are our enemy. 209 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:19,417 The Bible speaks of non-Christians as captives. 210 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:24,625 What happens in a war is an overtaking army then enslaves 211 00:10:24,667 --> 00:10:26,625 and takes captives the citizens 212 00:10:26,667 --> 00:10:28,000 that are conquered. 213 00:10:28,083 --> 00:10:30,208 That's called earth. 214 00:10:30,292 --> 00:10:34,125 The world has been conquered by Satan and demons. 215 00:10:34,167 --> 00:10:38,000 We've been taken captives in the war. 216 00:10:38,083 --> 00:10:41,042 So, our war is not against the captives; 217 00:10:41,125 --> 00:10:44,958 our war is against their captors, Satan and demons. 218 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:49,833 The people would be spiritually, in every way, 219 00:10:49,875 --> 00:10:53,333 set free to become the children of God. 220 00:10:53,375 --> 00:10:57,500 This is why Jesus says, very early in his earthly ministry, 221 00:10:57,583 --> 00:11:00,125 that he has come to set captives free. 222 00:11:00,167 --> 00:11:02,917 That's what he's talking about. 223 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,292 So, our war is not against the non-Christians. 224 00:11:05,333 --> 00:11:07,875 Our war is not against those who would disagree 225 00:11:07,958 --> 00:11:10,208 with biblical faith. 226 00:11:10,292 --> 00:11:14,125 Our war against Satan and demons who have taken people captive 227 00:11:14,167 --> 00:11:16,667 to do his will. 228 00:11:16,750 --> 00:11:19,000 So, we need to know our enemy. 229 00:11:19,083 --> 00:11:23,125 The first thing in any fight is, well, who are we fighting? 230 00:11:23,167 --> 00:11:25,333 Any of you ever been in a fight? 231 00:11:25,375 --> 00:11:27,000 I grew up in a poor neighborhood, 232 00:11:27,083 --> 00:11:28,625 fought quite a bit. 233 00:11:28,667 --> 00:11:30,917 So we'd say, "OK, so-and-so wants to fight you." 234 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,667 First thing, who is it? 235 00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:35,000 This will determine whether or not I show up 236 00:11:35,083 --> 00:11:36,792 and how I prepare, right? 237 00:11:36,833 --> 00:11:38,500 Who is it? 238 00:11:38,542 --> 00:11:41,000 I need to know who I'm fighting." 239 00:11:41,083 --> 00:11:44,500 Satan, he was created by God. 240 00:11:44,583 --> 00:11:46,875 So, he's not God; he's not equal to God. 241 00:11:46,958 --> 00:11:48,708 You need to know this. 242 00:11:48,792 --> 00:11:50,583 He doesn't share all of God's attributes. 243 00:11:50,667 --> 00:11:52,708 God can be everywhere; Satan can't. 244 00:11:52,792 --> 00:11:55,333 God knows everything; Satan doesn't. 245 00:11:55,375 --> 00:11:58,875 God reads your mind and thoughts; Satan can't. 246 00:11:58,958 --> 00:12:02,875 He's created; he's also fallen. 247 00:12:02,958 --> 00:12:05,167 He's rebelled against God. 248 00:12:05,250 --> 00:12:07,000 He's turned his back on God. 249 00:12:07,042 --> 00:12:09,333 He's declared war on God. 250 00:12:09,417 --> 00:12:13,292 He's also very powerful as a spirit-being, 251 00:12:13,333 --> 00:12:17,000 akin to an angel who has turned to the dark side. 252 00:12:17,042 --> 00:12:19,167 He's very powerful. 253 00:12:19,250 --> 00:12:21,875 He's also been observing human history for thousands of years, 254 00:12:21,958 --> 00:12:24,083 so he understands how to read people. 255 00:12:24,167 --> 00:12:26,875 He can't read your mind, but he can read your life 256 00:12:26,958 --> 00:12:29,250 and your body language. 257 00:12:29,333 --> 00:12:32,375 And we're not all dealing with Satan because he is limited, 258 00:12:32,458 --> 00:12:34,667 but he has demons at his disposal. 259 00:12:34,708 --> 00:12:37,208 These are fallen angels, rebellious angels, 260 00:12:37,292 --> 00:12:40,833 who joined him in his war against God. 261 00:12:40,875 --> 00:12:43,500 And friends, they are real and they are really at work 262 00:12:43,583 --> 00:12:46,417 in the world. 263 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:51,583 You need to understand this: under Satan's motivation 264 00:12:51,667 --> 00:12:56,000 is ultimately pride. 265 00:12:56,042 --> 00:13:02,500 Satan is the most proud being in the history of creation. 266 00:13:02,542 --> 00:13:06,500 Meanwhile, God is utterly humble. 267 00:13:06,542 --> 00:13:09,083 We see this in the Lord Jesus. 268 00:13:09,167 --> 00:13:13,000 Satan has done such a good job in our day that self-esteem-- 269 00:13:13,042 --> 00:13:15,750 it's not a vice; it's a virtue. 270 00:13:15,833 --> 00:13:20,583 Independence is not a vice; it's a virtue. 271 00:13:20,667 --> 00:13:24,333 Some of you don't even believe in Satan and demons, 272 00:13:24,417 --> 00:13:27,792 but let me say that the root of demonic work is always sourced 273 00:13:27,833 --> 00:13:30,542 ultimately in pride. 274 00:13:30,625 --> 00:13:34,667 "I don't need to listen to someone else; I'm smart enough. 275 00:13:34,750 --> 00:13:37,208 "I don't need to submit to someone else; 276 00:13:37,292 --> 00:13:39,917 "I can take care of myself. 277 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,500 "I don't need to follow someone else; 278 00:13:42,583 --> 00:13:45,875 I'm the authority in my own life." 279 00:13:45,958 --> 00:13:50,500 And Satan will, in every way, tempt and test your pride. 280 00:13:50,583 --> 00:13:54,500 He fell through pride. The angels who fell with him 281 00:13:54,583 --> 00:13:56,917 and became demons-- they fell through pride. 282 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:01,167 And he will tempt you ultimately through pride. 283 00:14:01,208 --> 00:14:03,500 You need to know that he is real, 284 00:14:03,542 --> 00:14:06,833 that he is really powerful, and that he is really at work. 285 00:14:06,917 --> 00:14:10,500 You also need to know that we need to be careful not to make 286 00:14:10,542 --> 00:14:13,375 too much of him or too little of him. 287 00:14:13,458 --> 00:14:15,542 Some of you come from what's called charismatic 288 00:14:15,625 --> 00:14:17,583 and Pentecostal backgrounds. 289 00:14:17,667 --> 00:14:20,583 Sometimes they make too much of Satan and demons to the degree 290 00:14:20,667 --> 00:14:23,375 where you're not responsible for your own sin. 291 00:14:23,458 --> 00:14:26,583 You could pull out the card that Eve did in Genesis 3. 292 00:14:26,667 --> 00:14:28,458 "Oh, the devil made me do it. 293 00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:30,500 Yes, that horrible devil." 294 00:14:30,542 --> 00:14:32,875 He may tempt you, but you're the one who sins. 295 00:14:32,958 --> 00:14:34,792 He may set an opportunity for you, 296 00:14:34,833 --> 00:14:37,208 but you're responsible for how you react to it. 297 00:14:37,292 --> 00:14:40,500 Some make too little of Satan and demons because you 298 00:14:40,583 --> 00:14:45,708 try to explain everything away with hormonal conditions 299 00:14:45,792 --> 00:14:48,875 and medical conditions and psychological conditions 300 00:14:48,958 --> 00:14:50,875 and biological conditions. 301 00:14:50,958 --> 00:14:53,208 You try to have an explanation for everything 302 00:14:53,292 --> 00:14:55,667 that omits the spiritual. 303 00:14:55,750 --> 00:14:59,417 Or some of you are worldly in the fact that you think in a way 304 00:14:59,500 --> 00:15:01,000 that is not biblical. 305 00:15:01,042 --> 00:15:02,875 You think, "Well, Satan and demons-- 306 00:15:02,958 --> 00:15:04,583 "that's very primitive; 307 00:15:04,667 --> 00:15:06,083 "that's from a bygone era. 308 00:15:06,167 --> 00:15:07,500 We've evolved beyond that." 309 00:15:07,542 --> 00:15:09,958 And Satan would say, "Nice job with the pride. 310 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,000 "I appreciate that. 311 00:15:12,042 --> 00:15:14,333 "I appreciate that you think that you've evolved beyond 312 00:15:14,417 --> 00:15:18,792 the primitive teaching of the Bible and Jesus." 313 00:15:18,833 --> 00:15:20,458 Satan is real. 314 00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:23,000 We have a real enemy. 315 00:15:23,042 --> 00:15:26,583 And he says that-- read it with me-- 316 00:15:26,667 --> 00:15:28,500 "We wrestle." 317 00:15:28,542 --> 00:15:30,875 Any of you ever wrestled? 318 00:15:30,958 --> 00:15:32,667 How many of you had a brother? 319 00:15:32,708 --> 00:15:34,667 How many of you guys had a brother? 320 00:15:34,708 --> 00:15:36,125 OK, you wrestled with your brother 321 00:15:36,167 --> 00:15:38,292 whether you wanted to or not, right? 322 00:15:38,333 --> 00:15:41,500 Any of you actually wrestled, high school, college? 323 00:15:41,583 --> 00:15:44,833 True or false, it's exhausting? 324 00:15:44,875 --> 00:15:47,708 You know why MMA fights only have 5-minute rounds? 325 00:15:47,792 --> 00:15:49,500 Because that's all you can do. 326 00:15:49,583 --> 00:15:51,833 Even the best conditioned athletes in the world, 327 00:15:51,875 --> 00:15:53,917 that's all you can do. 328 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,167 In Japan, the old pride fighting, 329 00:15:56,250 --> 00:15:58,167 the first round was always 10 minutes. 330 00:15:58,250 --> 00:16:01,958 Rarely did I see a second round. 331 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:07,167 Halfway through the first round, here's one guy... 332 00:16:07,208 --> 00:16:10,333 and then he's going to get pounded. 333 00:16:10,417 --> 00:16:12,250 The language here is like that. 334 00:16:12,333 --> 00:16:14,333 It's hand-to-hand combat. 335 00:16:14,417 --> 00:16:16,875 All right, it's where they've got their hands on you, 336 00:16:16,958 --> 00:16:20,500 you've got your hands on them, and it is, in every way, 337 00:16:20,542 --> 00:16:23,792 a close-quartered--we'd call it, "in the clench." 338 00:16:23,833 --> 00:16:25,458 You ever been there? 339 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:27,375 It's exhausting. 340 00:16:27,458 --> 00:16:29,375 It is absolutely exhausting. 341 00:16:29,458 --> 00:16:33,500 There's nothing like it. 342 00:16:33,542 --> 00:16:38,417 Ministry is like that. 343 00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:43,667 Serving Jesus is like that. 344 00:16:43,750 --> 00:16:47,208 Preaching the gospel is like that. 345 00:16:47,292 --> 00:16:50,292 Growing our church is like that. 346 00:16:50,333 --> 00:16:54,083 Planting a new church is like that. 347 00:16:54,167 --> 00:16:56,125 You say, "Man, this is hard. 348 00:16:56,167 --> 00:16:58,083 "This is exhausting. 349 00:16:58,167 --> 00:17:00,500 "I feel like we're gonna run out of money, 350 00:17:00,542 --> 00:17:02,167 "we're gonna run out of energy, 351 00:17:02,250 --> 00:17:04,292 we're gonna run out of opportunity." 352 00:17:04,333 --> 00:17:09,292 It's exhausting. 353 00:17:09,333 --> 00:17:12,250 It's absolutely exhausting. 354 00:17:12,333 --> 00:17:14,750 I think some of you don't give, you don't pray, 355 00:17:14,833 --> 00:17:19,500 you don't serve because you know it's going to be a fight. 356 00:17:19,542 --> 00:17:22,875 So, you'll just stand on the sidelines and cheer 357 00:17:22,958 --> 00:17:27,875 and criticize those who are at war. 358 00:17:27,958 --> 00:17:31,250 Know your enemy. 359 00:17:31,333 --> 00:17:33,500 Number two, know your king. 360 00:17:33,542 --> 00:17:34,875 Who do you fight for? 361 00:17:34,958 --> 00:17:36,292 You know what? 362 00:17:36,333 --> 00:17:38,292 If you don't know who you fight for, 363 00:17:38,333 --> 00:17:40,125 you're probably not going to fight well. 364 00:17:40,167 --> 00:17:42,125 He says it this way, Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, 365 00:17:42,167 --> 00:17:45,125 be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." 366 00:17:45,167 --> 00:17:48,125 Who's the Lord? Our Lord Jesus Christ. 367 00:17:48,167 --> 00:17:50,000 Mars Hill, you need to know this: 368 00:17:50,042 --> 00:17:52,417 it's his fight. 369 00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:56,083 This is his church, right? 370 00:17:56,167 --> 00:17:58,167 This is his book. 371 00:17:58,250 --> 00:18:01,458 The spiritual battle-- it's his war. 372 00:18:01,500 --> 00:18:03,875 It's not yours; it's not mine. 373 00:18:03,958 --> 00:18:06,833 We're not the king; it's not our kingdom. 374 00:18:06,917 --> 00:18:09,500 We're the servants; we're the soldiers, 375 00:18:09,542 --> 00:18:14,083 we labor for a great, glorious, and good king. 376 00:18:14,167 --> 00:18:18,375 The question is: how in the world am I going to live, 377 00:18:18,458 --> 00:18:20,667 how are you going to live, in the clench-- 378 00:18:20,750 --> 00:18:23,667 Satan and demon's hand on you, exhausting you, 379 00:18:23,750 --> 00:18:26,875 trying to destroy you, your business, your family, 380 00:18:26,958 --> 00:18:33,667 your relationships, your ministry, our church? 381 00:18:33,750 --> 00:18:37,833 Let me say this: you're not going to make it for a lifetime. 382 00:18:37,875 --> 00:18:39,917 You cannot make it for a lifetime. 383 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,625 You can't motivate yourself for a lifetime of war. 384 00:18:43,667 --> 00:18:48,708 There's no shortcut to a lifetime of war. 385 00:18:48,792 --> 00:18:51,667 You're going to need strength that is beyond you, 386 00:18:51,750 --> 00:18:54,625 strength that is apart from you. 387 00:18:54,667 --> 00:18:57,333 So, he says, "Be strong." 388 00:18:57,375 --> 00:18:59,708 How? 389 00:18:59,792 --> 00:19:02,292 "In the strength of his might." 390 00:19:02,333 --> 00:19:05,375 Jesus is going to need to give you his strength, 391 00:19:05,458 --> 00:19:08,000 because yours won't do. 392 00:19:08,042 --> 00:19:10,958 You get that? 393 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,083 You can't serve Jesus for a lifetime 394 00:19:14,167 --> 00:19:15,875 without Jesus' strength. 395 00:19:15,958 --> 00:19:18,167 You can't love your spouse for a lifetime 396 00:19:18,250 --> 00:19:19,750 without Jesus' strength. 397 00:19:19,833 --> 00:19:22,167 You can't raise your children for a lifetime 398 00:19:22,250 --> 00:19:24,042 without Jesus' strength. 399 00:19:24,125 --> 00:19:26,667 You can't be a faithful church member for a lifetime 400 00:19:26,708 --> 00:19:28,500 without Jesus' strength. 401 00:19:28,542 --> 00:19:31,375 You can't be a faithful Christian leader for a lifetime 402 00:19:31,458 --> 00:19:34,833 without Jesus' strength. 403 00:19:34,917 --> 00:19:40,208 It's his war fought by his strength, 404 00:19:40,292 --> 00:19:42,833 and this is ultimately the person, the presence, 405 00:19:42,875 --> 00:19:45,875 the power of the Holy Spirit-- 406 00:19:45,958 --> 00:19:48,625 that Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit, 407 00:19:48,667 --> 00:19:54,208 the Holy Spirit who empowered the war life of Jesus 408 00:19:54,292 --> 00:19:57,875 against temptation and exhaustion and sickness 409 00:19:57,958 --> 00:20:01,500 and opposition and criticism. 410 00:20:01,542 --> 00:20:06,375 How Jesus persevered, how he was strong, 411 00:20:06,458 --> 00:20:09,333 was by the power of the Holy Spirit, 412 00:20:09,375 --> 00:20:12,500 and he sends that same Holy Spirit to us 413 00:20:12,542 --> 00:20:14,500 to empower us. 414 00:20:14,542 --> 00:20:16,208 This isn't all about me, 415 00:20:16,292 --> 00:20:18,917 and I don't mean to be overly dramatic, 416 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:23,333 but I've been working hard for 17 years, Mars Hill. 417 00:20:23,375 --> 00:20:25,500 People come up and they say, "What's the secret?" 418 00:20:25,583 --> 00:20:28,417 That's the secret. 419 00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:32,417 Anytime I have tried to fight by my own power, 420 00:20:32,500 --> 00:20:39,208 I lose very quickly, and I run out of energy--guaranteed. 421 00:20:39,292 --> 00:20:42,958 Anytime I'm strengthened by the strength of his might, 422 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,750 I can do things I can't do; 423 00:20:45,833 --> 00:20:50,042 I can endure things I can't endure. 424 00:20:50,125 --> 00:20:54,833 And he gets the glory, and I get the joy. 425 00:20:56,417 --> 00:20:58,458 That's the Christian life. 426 00:20:58,500 --> 00:21:02,875 All God is asking you to do is what you cannot do. 427 00:21:02,958 --> 00:21:05,833 That's all he's asking you to do. 428 00:21:05,875 --> 00:21:08,583 Have you ever felt that way? 429 00:21:08,667 --> 00:21:12,333 You're like, "God, you're asking me to do something I cannot do." 430 00:21:12,375 --> 00:21:17,125 Good, now you're clear on your orders. 431 00:21:17,167 --> 00:21:19,000 So, you look to the Lord Jesus-- 432 00:21:19,042 --> 00:21:20,917 "How am I going to get this done?" 433 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,667 "By my power." 434 00:21:22,750 --> 00:21:24,833 "Oh." 435 00:21:24,875 --> 00:21:27,125 See, we need to factor all these variables in. 436 00:21:27,167 --> 00:21:28,625 It's not just us and God. 437 00:21:28,667 --> 00:21:30,417 Satan and demons are opposed to us, 438 00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:32,417 but then Jesus gives his strength to us. 439 00:21:32,500 --> 00:21:35,667 Once we know all of this, we know why it's hard, 440 00:21:35,750 --> 00:21:39,333 but we know why we'll win. 441 00:21:39,375 --> 00:21:42,500 Life starts to make a bit more sense. 442 00:21:42,542 --> 00:21:45,000 See, you guys thought you were coming to church today. 443 00:21:45,083 --> 00:21:47,083 You weren't; you were going to war. 444 00:21:47,167 --> 00:21:51,125 That's why it's hard to get here. 445 00:21:51,167 --> 00:21:54,083 Know your weapons, right? 446 00:21:54,167 --> 00:21:57,208 If you're going to go to war, know your enemy, know your king, 447 00:21:57,292 --> 00:21:59,875 who you're fighting for, and know what weapons 448 00:21:59,958 --> 00:22:02,167 you have at your disposal. 449 00:22:02,250 --> 00:22:05,292 Ephesians 6:13, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, 450 00:22:05,333 --> 00:22:09,250 that you may be able to withstand the evil day." 451 00:22:09,333 --> 00:22:13,083 And then he goes on to talk about this armor--this armor. 452 00:22:13,167 --> 00:22:16,000 And sometimes, Christians get way too intricate 453 00:22:16,042 --> 00:22:18,958 on the armor, right? 454 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,375 "Oh, what kind of breastplate? What kind of helmet? 455 00:22:21,458 --> 00:22:23,167 "Did the helmet--was it a big helmet? 456 00:22:23,208 --> 00:22:24,667 "A little helmet? 457 00:22:24,750 --> 00:22:26,500 "Was it like a linebacker helmet 458 00:22:26,542 --> 00:22:29,000 or like a little kid kicker helmet with one bar?" 459 00:22:29,042 --> 00:22:30,667 Like, I don't know, look here. 460 00:22:30,708 --> 00:22:33,583 Here's the deal: win, OK? 461 00:22:33,667 --> 00:22:37,000 Throw the spear, hit them with the helmet, 462 00:22:37,042 --> 00:22:39,000 kick them with the boots. 463 00:22:39,042 --> 00:22:42,167 I don't care, win, OK? 464 00:22:42,250 --> 00:22:46,500 It's not all about the armor; it's about winning the war. 465 00:22:46,583 --> 00:22:50,417 But since the armor is mentioned and you showed up, 466 00:22:50,500 --> 00:22:52,500 we'll look at it, OK? 467 00:22:52,583 --> 00:22:54,000 Here it is. 468 00:22:54,042 --> 00:22:55,375 So, here's the list. 469 00:22:55,458 --> 00:22:56,833 Here's the weapons of war. 470 00:22:56,875 --> 00:23:00,375 He says, first of all, "The belt of truth." 471 00:23:00,458 --> 00:23:03,542 And this--each one of these combats one of the enemy's 472 00:23:03,625 --> 00:23:05,750 tactics and tricks. 473 00:23:05,833 --> 00:23:08,000 He's going to attack you in a certain way, 474 00:23:08,042 --> 00:23:10,667 so God gives you weapons-- to you individually, 475 00:23:10,750 --> 00:23:13,875 to us collectively-- to defend ourselves. 476 00:23:13,958 --> 00:23:16,042 What's the opposite of the truth? 477 00:23:16,125 --> 00:23:19,167 Lies. 478 00:23:19,208 --> 00:23:21,542 Any lies in the world? 479 00:23:21,625 --> 00:23:26,375 Have you run across one in the last decade? 480 00:23:26,458 --> 00:23:30,667 In John 8:44, Jesus says that Satan is the father of what? 481 00:23:30,750 --> 00:23:33,667 Lies--that lying is his native language, 482 00:23:33,708 --> 00:23:36,792 that all he's ever done is lie. 483 00:23:36,833 --> 00:23:41,083 When you and I lie, we're doing something demonic. 484 00:23:41,167 --> 00:23:44,667 And a lie is where we don't tell the truth or we only tell 485 00:23:44,750 --> 00:23:49,167 part of the truth, but we don't tell the whole truth. 486 00:23:51,792 --> 00:23:54,125 Satan is going to lie to you. 487 00:23:54,167 --> 00:23:56,292 Satan is going to lie to us. 488 00:23:56,333 --> 00:23:58,292 Satan lies all the time. 489 00:23:58,333 --> 00:24:00,542 And something need not be true to be powerful. 490 00:24:00,625 --> 00:24:02,458 Have you noticed that? 491 00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:04,958 If I told you right now--let's say you're absolutely healthy, 492 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,333 but I told you, "You have cancer. 493 00:24:07,417 --> 00:24:08,875 "You have 2 weeks to live. 494 00:24:08,958 --> 00:24:10,667 You're going to die." 495 00:24:10,750 --> 00:24:14,292 True or false, that would affect the next two weeks of your life? 496 00:24:14,333 --> 00:24:16,667 You say, "It's not true." 497 00:24:16,750 --> 00:24:18,583 It doesn't need to be true. 498 00:24:18,667 --> 00:24:21,250 I need to get you to believe that it's true. 499 00:24:21,333 --> 00:24:23,500 If I walk up to a woman and say, 500 00:24:23,542 --> 00:24:26,333 "You know, your husband has a girlfriend. 501 00:24:26,417 --> 00:24:29,000 He's been unfaithful to you the entirety of your marriage." 502 00:24:29,042 --> 00:24:31,375 And it's not true, but she believes it true. 503 00:24:31,458 --> 00:24:33,875 Does it affect their relationship? 504 00:24:33,958 --> 00:24:35,625 Yes. 505 00:24:35,667 --> 00:24:38,167 See, Satan knows that something doesn't need to be true; 506 00:24:38,250 --> 00:24:42,667 it just needs to be believed. So he's going to lie. 507 00:24:42,750 --> 00:24:44,625 He's going to tell you lies, 508 00:24:44,667 --> 00:24:46,500 he's going to send false teachers, 509 00:24:46,583 --> 00:24:48,208 he's going to send bad counselors, 510 00:24:48,292 --> 00:24:51,333 he's going to try to stack and pack your life with things 511 00:24:51,375 --> 00:24:53,833 that aren't true. And if you believe them-- 512 00:24:53,875 --> 00:24:55,792 now, he's responsible for lying, 513 00:24:55,833 --> 00:24:58,417 but you're responsible for believing. 514 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:00,750 This could be lies about God, 515 00:25:00,833 --> 00:25:02,167 this could be lies about yourself, 516 00:25:02,250 --> 00:25:04,500 this could be lies about people in our church, 517 00:25:04,542 --> 00:25:07,000 this could be lies about leaders in our church, 518 00:25:07,042 --> 00:25:09,292 this could be lies about the Word of God. 519 00:25:09,333 --> 00:25:11,792 It doesn't really matter. 520 00:25:11,833 --> 00:25:14,667 Some of you are really governed by lies. 521 00:25:14,708 --> 00:25:18,667 Satan has got a deep, deep, deep foothold in your life. 522 00:25:18,708 --> 00:25:21,750 Let me give you an assignment that I've been giving people now 523 00:25:21,833 --> 00:25:24,000 for 17 years at Mars Hill. 524 00:25:24,042 --> 00:25:27,000 And people who believe lies, and they struggle with lies-- 525 00:25:27,042 --> 00:25:32,250 those lies lead them into dark places and bondage. 526 00:25:32,333 --> 00:25:33,667 And Jesus says, 527 00:25:33,750 --> 00:25:35,667 "You'll know the truth, and the truth will"--what? 528 00:25:35,750 --> 00:25:37,083 "Set you free." 529 00:25:37,167 --> 00:25:39,417 So, the truth gets you out of your captivity. 530 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:42,500 So, here's what I tell people all the time: 531 00:25:42,583 --> 00:25:47,167 Take a notebook and just write a line right down the middle. 532 00:25:47,250 --> 00:25:52,208 On the left, just write lies-- one category; 533 00:25:52,292 --> 00:25:55,125 on the other, truth. 534 00:25:55,167 --> 00:25:57,792 When you hear a lie, when you believe a lie, 535 00:25:57,833 --> 00:26:01,375 even as you look back on your life and you understand lies 536 00:26:01,458 --> 00:26:05,875 that you believed about God or about yourself or about others, 537 00:26:05,958 --> 00:26:08,167 write those down. 538 00:26:08,250 --> 00:26:12,250 And then, go to the Word of God and find out what is the truth-- 539 00:26:12,333 --> 00:26:14,583 what is the truth. 540 00:26:14,667 --> 00:26:18,375 And then, your life is really collecting Satan's lies, 541 00:26:18,458 --> 00:26:21,167 God's truth. 542 00:26:21,250 --> 00:26:23,375 Now, you've got a decision to make. 543 00:26:23,458 --> 00:26:25,458 Will I live in light of the lie, 544 00:26:25,500 --> 00:26:27,792 or will I live in light of the truth? 545 00:26:27,833 --> 00:26:30,000 I've seen this absolutely deliver people 546 00:26:30,042 --> 00:26:32,458 and change their life. 547 00:26:32,500 --> 00:26:34,875 "Well, I thought that God didn't love me, 548 00:26:34,958 --> 00:26:37,833 "and I thought that what I had done was not forgivable, 549 00:26:37,875 --> 00:26:41,000 "and I thought that I shouldn't be in church because 550 00:26:41,083 --> 00:26:44,000 once people got to know me, they would be ashamed of me." 551 00:26:44,083 --> 00:26:47,417 Lie, lie, lie. 552 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:49,208 What's the truth? 553 00:26:49,292 --> 00:26:52,667 Live in light of that because the truth sets you free. 554 00:26:52,750 --> 00:26:54,625 I want you to use this as well 555 00:26:54,667 --> 00:26:56,708 as we counsel and comfort one another. 556 00:26:56,792 --> 00:26:59,500 You're talking—-some of you are like, "No, that's not true." 557 00:26:59,542 --> 00:27:01,667 And people sometimes will--that have been lied to-- 558 00:27:01,708 --> 00:27:04,500 they say things like, "I feel." 559 00:27:04,542 --> 00:27:06,792 OK, well, there's your problem. 560 00:27:06,833 --> 00:27:09,250 There's your problem. 561 00:27:09,333 --> 00:27:12,000 You need to think. 562 00:27:12,042 --> 00:27:15,500 You need to think, "Is this true or false? 563 00:27:15,542 --> 00:27:17,250 "Is this right or wrong? 564 00:27:17,333 --> 00:27:19,333 "Is this from God or Satan? 565 00:27:19,417 --> 00:27:24,333 Does this lead to captivity or does this lead to freedom?" 566 00:27:24,417 --> 00:27:26,667 And encourage those who are struggling with lies, 567 00:27:26,708 --> 00:27:28,583 that are believing lies. 568 00:27:28,667 --> 00:27:31,292 You need to recall them, you need to recount them, 569 00:27:31,333 --> 00:27:33,583 you need to record them. 570 00:27:33,667 --> 00:27:36,583 And then over time, they will start to lose their power 571 00:27:36,667 --> 00:27:39,000 because once you'll hear it and you'll be like, 572 00:27:39,083 --> 00:27:41,833 "No, actually, that's not true," 573 00:27:41,875 --> 00:27:46,083 and your response time will be far shorter. 574 00:27:46,167 --> 00:27:50,333 Number two, "The breastplate of righteousness." 575 00:27:50,375 --> 00:27:53,375 What he's talking about here is, one of Satan's tactics 576 00:27:53,458 --> 00:27:55,833 and tricks is to tempt us. 577 00:27:55,875 --> 00:27:57,917 You ever been tempted? 578 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,292 Was Jesus tempted? 579 00:28:00,333 --> 00:28:02,250 Yeah. 580 00:28:02,333 --> 00:28:05,667 Luke 4, Matthew 4, Satan comes and he tempts Jesus. 581 00:28:05,750 --> 00:28:08,667 Hebrews 4 says, we do not have a high priest 582 00:28:08,750 --> 00:28:10,500 who is unable to sympathize with us. 583 00:28:10,542 --> 00:28:13,458 He's been tempted in every way as we are yet without sin. 584 00:28:13,500 --> 00:28:16,167 So, one of the lies Satan's going to tell you is, 585 00:28:16,250 --> 00:28:17,833 "If you're tempted, you're already guilty, 586 00:28:17,917 --> 00:28:19,542 so go through with it." 587 00:28:19,625 --> 00:28:22,292 One of the lies Satan is going to tell you is, 588 00:28:22,333 --> 00:28:25,792 "Well, if you're tempted, you're already sinning." 589 00:28:25,833 --> 00:28:28,667 There's a difference between temptation and sin. 590 00:28:28,750 --> 00:28:31,167 Jesus was tempted, but he never sinned. 591 00:28:31,250 --> 00:28:33,750 You will be tempted, but you don't have to sin 592 00:28:33,833 --> 00:28:36,167 if you wear the breastplate of righteousness, 593 00:28:36,250 --> 00:28:39,125 and that is saying, "You know what? 594 00:28:39,167 --> 00:28:42,917 "This temptation has now provided me an opportunity. 595 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:48,333 "I can either resist it, fight it, defend myself from it"-- 596 00:28:48,375 --> 00:28:51,500 to use the language of armor. 597 00:28:51,583 --> 00:28:54,708 "It doesn't have to penetrate and harm me. 598 00:28:54,792 --> 00:28:57,417 "Or, I could take the righteousness of Christ 599 00:28:57,500 --> 00:28:59,625 "imputed to me off. 600 00:28:59,667 --> 00:29:05,417 I can welcome Satan and demons and temptations into my life." 601 00:29:07,333 --> 00:29:12,458 Some of you have got excuses for your sin. 602 00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:17,458 You don't need to excuse your sin; you need to fight it. 603 00:29:17,500 --> 00:29:22,333 You don't have to give in to temptation. 604 00:29:22,417 --> 00:29:24,583 You can instead, by the grace of God, 605 00:29:24,667 --> 00:29:26,375 through the power of the Holy Spirit, 606 00:29:26,458 --> 00:29:28,792 choose to walk in righteousness. 607 00:29:28,833 --> 00:29:30,333 And this is very important. 608 00:29:30,417 --> 00:29:32,000 Jesus died for your sin. 609 00:29:32,042 --> 00:29:34,000 He gave you his righteousness. 610 00:29:34,042 --> 00:29:35,792 You are righteous in Christ. 611 00:29:35,833 --> 00:29:37,708 That's your identity. 612 00:29:37,792 --> 00:29:40,875 So when you're tempted, you don't have to give in to sin. 613 00:29:40,958 --> 00:29:43,125 You can live out of the righteousness that Christ 614 00:29:43,167 --> 00:29:46,167 has given you, and you can live in holiness. 615 00:29:46,250 --> 00:29:49,292 And if and when you fail, you can repent and come back 616 00:29:49,333 --> 00:29:52,625 and again clothe yourself in the righteousness of Christ, 617 00:29:52,667 --> 00:29:57,000 wear the covering of the armor of his victory, 618 00:29:57,042 --> 00:29:59,625 and walk in victory. 619 00:29:59,667 --> 00:30:02,625 See, some of you, one of the lies you've believed is, 620 00:30:02,667 --> 00:30:05,000 "I can't change. I will never change. 621 00:30:05,042 --> 00:30:08,917 This is the way I am. I need to accept myself." 622 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,792 God loves you enough to meet you in your sin, 623 00:30:11,833 --> 00:30:16,167 but he loves you enough to compel you away from your sin. 624 00:30:16,250 --> 00:30:18,917 And that's the breastplate of righteousness. 625 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:21,667 And I would say this, too: sometimes when we think about 626 00:30:21,750 --> 00:30:23,083 Satan and demons, we're like, 627 00:30:23,167 --> 00:30:25,500 "Oh, were chairs flying around the room? 628 00:30:25,542 --> 00:30:28,167 "Did a baby come out of a woman and talk? 629 00:30:28,250 --> 00:30:30,208 Like, you know, did crazy stuff happen?" 630 00:30:30,292 --> 00:30:32,125 You know what it is? 631 00:30:32,167 --> 00:30:35,458 It's oftentimes very simple: temptation. 632 00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:37,833 Next time you're tempted, remind yourself, 633 00:30:37,917 --> 00:30:42,333 "This is a demonic battle I now find myself in. 634 00:30:42,417 --> 00:30:45,458 "Satan is trying to destroy me. 635 00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:48,708 "I'm a soldier in the war, and my enemy has come, 636 00:30:48,792 --> 00:30:52,208 "and he's trying to take me out so that I can no longer battle 637 00:30:52,292 --> 00:30:54,833 for my King Jesus." 638 00:30:54,917 --> 00:30:58,542 Number three, he talks about having your feet always ready, 639 00:30:58,625 --> 00:31:01,208 wearing the shoes. 640 00:31:01,292 --> 00:31:06,083 I'll use "boots" because I like boots and I always wear boots. 641 00:31:06,167 --> 00:31:08,417 My grandpa George was a diesel mechanic, 642 00:31:08,500 --> 00:31:10,208 my dad was a construction worker. 643 00:31:10,292 --> 00:31:12,375 I wear boots. 644 00:31:12,458 --> 00:31:14,208 Soldiers wear what? 645 00:31:14,292 --> 00:31:17,375 Not flip-flops. 646 00:31:17,458 --> 00:31:19,667 Never seen a soldier in flip-flops. 647 00:31:19,750 --> 00:31:23,292 If so, that would be great if he was on the other side, right? 648 00:31:23,333 --> 00:31:25,500 "Oh, here comes the flip-flop brigade. 649 00:31:25,542 --> 00:31:27,708 "Good, good. This will be done by lunch. 650 00:31:27,792 --> 00:31:30,500 This won't take long." 651 00:31:30,542 --> 00:31:34,708 Nobody was ever terrified by the flip-flop brigade. 652 00:31:34,792 --> 00:31:37,875 So, what happens in battle: you put your boots on. 653 00:31:37,958 --> 00:31:40,208 How many of you have been in the military? 654 00:31:40,292 --> 00:31:41,625 OK, raise your hand. 655 00:31:41,667 --> 00:31:43,833 How many of you have been in the military? 656 00:31:43,875 --> 00:31:46,667 True or false, winning combat, you sleep with your boots on. 657 00:31:46,750 --> 00:31:48,833 Do you sleep with your boots on? 658 00:31:48,875 --> 00:31:50,875 You do, why? 659 00:31:50,958 --> 00:31:54,500 Because the enemy does not work Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. 660 00:31:54,583 --> 00:31:56,208 You say, "Hey, it's 3 a.m. 661 00:31:56,292 --> 00:32:01,542 You cannot shoot now. We're a union army." 662 00:32:03,333 --> 00:32:08,167 Right, right? 663 00:32:10,917 --> 00:32:13,667 You sleep with your boots on because you never know 664 00:32:13,708 --> 00:32:15,792 when the enemy's attacks are going to come. 665 00:32:15,833 --> 00:32:17,833 True or false, Christian, you never know when 666 00:32:17,917 --> 00:32:20,167 the enemy's attacks are going to come, 667 00:32:20,208 --> 00:32:22,833 so you have to always be ready. 668 00:32:22,917 --> 00:32:25,000 People who make the transition into ministry, 669 00:32:25,042 --> 00:32:26,667 they struggle with this. 670 00:32:26,750 --> 00:32:28,833 They're like, "Oh, well, what's my schedule?" 671 00:32:28,917 --> 00:32:33,083 You work until Jesus comes back or you die. 672 00:32:33,167 --> 00:32:36,208 So, you got two options. 673 00:32:36,292 --> 00:32:38,083 "Well, when do I get time off?" 674 00:32:38,167 --> 00:32:39,625 Well, here's the deal. 675 00:32:39,667 --> 00:32:42,875 Theoretically, you'll get this time off, but we don't know. 676 00:32:42,958 --> 00:32:45,167 Maybe somebody we love gets hit by a car. 677 00:32:45,250 --> 00:32:47,208 Maybe somebody we love gets cancer. 678 00:32:47,292 --> 00:32:50,500 I've never seen people decide to declare war, call the cops, 679 00:32:50,542 --> 00:32:54,125 and file for divorce Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. 680 00:32:54,167 --> 00:32:55,792 I've never seen that. 681 00:32:55,833 --> 00:32:57,917 And if they call the office, you're like, 682 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:01,583 "Sorry, it's Saturday. Sorry, it's 5:15. 683 00:33:01,667 --> 00:33:03,667 "All right, we're just like DMV--we're closed. 684 00:33:03,708 --> 00:33:05,667 Get a number, see you later." 685 00:33:05,750 --> 00:33:07,500 This is ministry. 686 00:33:07,542 --> 00:33:10,333 Satan is always attacking people, 687 00:33:10,417 --> 00:33:13,167 and that means that those who are part of the battle, 688 00:33:13,250 --> 00:33:14,833 particularly the leadership, 689 00:33:14,917 --> 00:33:16,833 you've got to sleep with your boots on. 690 00:33:16,917 --> 00:33:18,333 You just don't know. 691 00:33:18,417 --> 00:33:20,792 You just don't know when some sort of firefight 692 00:33:20,833 --> 00:33:23,167 is going to erupt or a bomb gets dropped. 693 00:33:23,208 --> 00:33:27,542 You and I, if we actually believed that we lived in war, 694 00:33:27,625 --> 00:33:32,167 we would not be so disappointed, we would not be so frustrated, 695 00:33:32,250 --> 00:33:36,375 we would understand, "Well, this is war, and during war, yes, 696 00:33:36,458 --> 00:33:39,333 "there's no schedule. 697 00:33:39,375 --> 00:33:41,708 "This isn't a job. 698 00:33:41,792 --> 00:33:43,708 This is a war." 699 00:33:43,792 --> 00:33:47,208 Right, Community Group leader? 700 00:33:47,292 --> 00:33:50,708 Our volunteer leaders, they'll tell you this is the case. 701 00:33:50,792 --> 00:33:52,875 They never know when somebody in their group 702 00:33:52,958 --> 00:33:54,292 is going to need them, 703 00:33:54,333 --> 00:33:56,000 or something is going to blow up, 704 00:33:56,042 --> 00:33:59,167 or some bomb is going to drop and they have to sleep with 705 00:33:59,250 --> 00:34:02,250 their boots on, always ready, if the Lord Jesus should call them, 706 00:34:02,333 --> 00:34:06,042 to jump out of bed and to go do whatever needs to be done. 707 00:34:06,125 --> 00:34:08,875 And he says, "These boots are the gospel." 708 00:34:08,958 --> 00:34:12,583 This is the good news about our king. 709 00:34:12,667 --> 00:34:16,042 The reason you sleep with your boots on is so that he can bring 710 00:34:16,125 --> 00:34:18,167 the gospel whenever there's an opportunity. 711 00:34:18,250 --> 00:34:20,333 That's what he's saying. 712 00:34:20,417 --> 00:34:22,500 I want you to see the Lord Jesus 713 00:34:22,542 --> 00:34:24,000 as a king with a kingdom. 714 00:34:24,042 --> 00:34:27,000 I want you to see that there was a war in heaven, 715 00:34:27,042 --> 00:34:30,000 where Satan and demons declared war on Jesus and the angels. 716 00:34:30,042 --> 00:34:33,000 I want you to see that there was a great battle in 717 00:34:33,042 --> 00:34:36,208 the heavenlies and that Satan and demons were defeated, 718 00:34:36,292 --> 00:34:40,000 but they have not yet been utterly destroyed by Jesus-- 719 00:34:40,083 --> 00:34:43,000 that they took their battle to the earth, 720 00:34:43,042 --> 00:34:45,333 that they waged war on our first parents, 721 00:34:45,375 --> 00:34:47,833 they've gotten a foothold in the human race 722 00:34:47,875 --> 00:34:50,208 through the sin nature, that they've been at war, 723 00:34:50,292 --> 00:34:52,333 one generation after the other, 724 00:34:52,375 --> 00:34:54,500 that Satan and demons particularly hate Christians 725 00:34:54,583 --> 00:34:58,792 and Christian families. 726 00:34:58,833 --> 00:35:01,167 I want you to see that the Lord Jesus 727 00:35:01,250 --> 00:35:03,167 came into this battlefield. 728 00:35:03,250 --> 00:35:06,167 He left his kingdom and came into the other kingdom, 729 00:35:06,250 --> 00:35:08,500 the kingdom of rebellion. 730 00:35:08,542 --> 00:35:11,500 I want you see that he left a place of peace 731 00:35:11,542 --> 00:35:13,792 and he came to a place of war. 732 00:35:13,833 --> 00:35:16,167 I want you to see that he humbled himself, 733 00:35:16,250 --> 00:35:19,375 that God took upon human flesh and that he, in every way, 734 00:35:19,458 --> 00:35:22,833 faced all that we face, that Satan tempted him, 735 00:35:22,917 --> 00:35:26,250 that Satan empowered others to oppose him, 736 00:35:26,333 --> 00:35:29,792 that demons were brought against him in the bodies of those 737 00:35:29,833 --> 00:35:32,167 who were possessed. 738 00:35:32,250 --> 00:35:35,625 And I want you to see that the Lord Jesus' life on the earth-- 739 00:35:35,667 --> 00:35:38,708 it's like a soldier in war. 740 00:35:38,792 --> 00:35:41,875 Next time you read the Gospels, all right, 741 00:35:41,958 --> 00:35:46,500 don't think of therapist, hippie, long hair Jesus 742 00:35:46,542 --> 00:35:50,000 out just having counseling sessions. 743 00:35:50,083 --> 00:35:55,167 Think of warrior king out trying to take enemy territory-- 744 00:35:55,250 --> 00:36:00,083 religious people, opposition, demons against him. 745 00:36:00,167 --> 00:36:01,792 It's a battle. 746 00:36:01,833 --> 00:36:06,583 He's exhausted, he falls asleep, his day off gets interrupted, 747 00:36:06,667 --> 00:36:12,083 his life is crashed in upon, and that's our king. 748 00:36:12,167 --> 00:36:15,958 And then he goes to the cross and he substitutes himself. 749 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:19,875 And our king is--he's betrayed by one of his own, 750 00:36:19,958 --> 00:36:23,375 because the greatest threat to the church 751 00:36:23,458 --> 00:36:27,250 is always sitting in the church. 752 00:36:27,333 --> 00:36:31,542 It's not those people out there; 753 00:36:31,625 --> 00:36:34,583 it's us people in here. 754 00:36:34,667 --> 00:36:37,833 Jesus had 12 and 1 was a betrayer. 755 00:36:37,875 --> 00:36:44,208 Opened his heart to Satan, betrayed Jesus. 756 00:36:44,292 --> 00:36:46,875 Judas was a betrayer. 757 00:36:46,958 --> 00:36:49,833 He didn't love Christ; he used Christ. 758 00:36:49,875 --> 00:36:53,333 He wasn't going to serve Christ; he wanted Christ to serve him. 759 00:36:53,375 --> 00:36:55,333 He wasn't going to die for Christ; 760 00:36:55,375 --> 00:36:58,167 he was going to kill Christ. 761 00:36:58,250 --> 00:37:01,667 And Jesus goes to the cross, and as a great soldier, 762 00:37:01,708 --> 00:37:05,667 he dies in the place of his entire kingdom. 763 00:37:05,750 --> 00:37:08,583 He dies to win a great victory. 764 00:37:08,667 --> 00:37:11,375 See, Satan and demons-- they had ownership of us. 765 00:37:11,458 --> 00:37:13,250 Through sin, we were their possession, 766 00:37:13,333 --> 00:37:14,667 part of their kingdom. 767 00:37:14,750 --> 00:37:17,792 Our sinless king dies in our place. 768 00:37:17,833 --> 00:37:21,375 He forgives sin, he conquers Satan and demons, 769 00:37:21,458 --> 00:37:25,792 he sets captives free, and his seeming defeat 770 00:37:25,833 --> 00:37:29,583 was ultimately our victory. 771 00:37:29,667 --> 00:37:32,583 Jesus then took us as his possession, 772 00:37:32,667 --> 00:37:35,208 made us citizens of his kingdom. 773 00:37:35,292 --> 00:37:38,625 Three days later, he rose, showing he defeated sin, 774 00:37:38,667 --> 00:37:42,583 he defeated death, he defeated Satan, he defeated demons. 775 00:37:42,667 --> 00:37:44,000 He ascended. 776 00:37:44,083 --> 00:37:46,417 Today, he rules and reigns as a king. 777 00:37:46,500 --> 00:37:49,208 He's not in humility; he's in glory. 778 00:37:49,292 --> 00:37:51,625 He has a kingdom that'll never end, 779 00:37:51,667 --> 00:37:54,500 and he's coming again to put down this insurrection 780 00:37:54,583 --> 00:37:57,583 once and for all. 781 00:37:57,667 --> 00:38:00,042 You and I need to know the whole story 782 00:38:00,125 --> 00:38:04,167 to understand our place in it. 783 00:38:04,208 --> 00:38:07,000 This is not yet the kingdom of God. 784 00:38:07,042 --> 00:38:09,542 We're marching toward it. 785 00:38:09,625 --> 00:38:12,333 Our enemy has been defeated, but he's not yet been destroyed 786 00:38:12,417 --> 00:38:14,583 and fully disarmed. 787 00:38:14,667 --> 00:38:18,750 There's still firefights, and the battle still rages. 788 00:38:18,833 --> 00:38:21,375 This is what it means to always be ready: 789 00:38:21,458 --> 00:38:25,167 sleeping with your boots on, ready to tell the gospel 790 00:38:25,250 --> 00:38:28,875 so the captives may be set free and come to know the Lord Jesus 791 00:38:28,958 --> 00:38:30,875 and be citizens of his kingdom. 792 00:38:30,958 --> 00:38:33,083 Is that you? 793 00:38:33,167 --> 00:38:35,583 If you're spiritual, you're part of Satan's kingdom. 794 00:38:35,667 --> 00:38:37,792 If you're moral, you're part of Satan's kingdom. 795 00:38:37,833 --> 00:38:41,167 If you're an unrepentant sinner, you're part of Satan's kingdom. 796 00:38:41,250 --> 00:38:46,583 And Jesus comes to set you free. 797 00:38:46,667 --> 00:38:49,833 Even saying this is a declaration of war 798 00:38:49,875 --> 00:38:52,000 in our age, isn't it? 799 00:38:52,083 --> 00:38:54,375 That's not loving, tolerant, and diverse. 800 00:38:54,458 --> 00:38:57,000 Back to my first point, it's true, 801 00:38:57,083 --> 00:39:01,375 and the most loving thing we can do is tell the truth. 802 00:39:01,458 --> 00:39:04,667 And Satan wants us to lie, and if we lie, 803 00:39:04,750 --> 00:39:06,750 people might love us, 804 00:39:06,833 --> 00:39:13,292 but the devil is the one who loves us the most. 805 00:39:13,333 --> 00:39:15,833 It says to wear "the shield of faith." 806 00:39:15,917 --> 00:39:18,333 This is to "extinguish flaming darts." 807 00:39:18,417 --> 00:39:22,083 Any of you like "Narnia," "Lord of the Rings"--that stuff? 808 00:39:22,167 --> 00:39:24,375 You like that stuff? You nerds with me? 809 00:39:24,458 --> 00:39:26,083 You here? 810 00:39:26,167 --> 00:39:28,167 You're like, "Oh yeah, I do. 811 00:39:28,250 --> 00:39:30,667 "'Middle Earth'. Now I'm paying attention, all right." 812 00:39:30,750 --> 00:39:34,000 All right, what happens in those epic battles, right? 813 00:39:34,042 --> 00:39:35,375 They shoot the arrows, 814 00:39:35,458 --> 00:39:37,375 and what's at the end of the arrows? 815 00:39:37,458 --> 00:39:38,792 Fire. 816 00:39:38,833 --> 00:39:41,375 What happens if you don't have something to catch that 817 00:39:41,458 --> 00:39:43,208 and extinguish it? 818 00:39:43,292 --> 00:39:49,000 A fire is around you, not ideal, right? 819 00:39:49,083 --> 00:39:51,500 So, what they would do is they would take shields 820 00:39:51,583 --> 00:39:54,917 and they'd be soaked in, oftentimes, water. 821 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:00,458 You'd catch the arrows and extinguish the fire. 822 00:40:03,375 --> 00:40:07,208 For you, friend, this is vain regrets. 823 00:40:07,292 --> 00:40:12,292 Satan will haunt you for things that Jesus has forgiven you for. 824 00:40:12,333 --> 00:40:14,333 And it's gonna come out of nowhere. 825 00:40:14,375 --> 00:40:16,417 You'll just be walking along, it'll be like--right, 826 00:40:16,500 --> 00:40:18,125 like a shot. 827 00:40:18,167 --> 00:40:20,708 "Where did that come from?" 828 00:40:20,792 --> 00:40:22,875 You'll be haunted. 829 00:40:22,958 --> 00:40:26,333 Accusations--you're not loved, you're not forgiven, 830 00:40:26,375 --> 00:40:30,500 you'll never change, you're a fraud. 831 00:40:30,583 --> 00:40:35,000 Any time you hear "you," it's your enemy. 832 00:40:35,083 --> 00:40:37,458 People think they have negative self-talk; 833 00:40:37,500 --> 00:40:40,625 they often have demonic accusation. 834 00:40:40,667 --> 00:40:42,833 Revelation 12:10 says that Satan is the accuser 835 00:40:42,917 --> 00:40:44,500 of the children of God, 836 00:40:44,583 --> 00:40:46,333 that he accuses them day and night. 837 00:40:46,417 --> 00:40:49,333 How many of you--there are days it literally feels like 838 00:40:49,375 --> 00:40:51,958 it is raining flaming arrows? 839 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,500 Everything you've ever done, every way you've ever failed, 840 00:40:54,583 --> 00:40:57,500 every sin you've ever committed, every mistake you've ever made-- 841 00:40:57,583 --> 00:41:01,000 it's just raining down on you. 842 00:41:01,083 --> 00:41:03,625 I can't even see the sun. 843 00:41:03,667 --> 00:41:07,625 It's just--the sky is filled with flaming arrows. 844 00:41:07,667 --> 00:41:09,500 It's a demonic attack. 845 00:41:09,583 --> 00:41:11,792 It's not God condemning you and accusing you 846 00:41:11,833 --> 00:41:14,292 and shaming you and opposing you. 847 00:41:14,333 --> 00:41:16,000 It's the enemy shooting you. 848 00:41:16,083 --> 00:41:18,667 That's what's happening. 849 00:41:18,750 --> 00:41:20,500 So, what do you got to do? 850 00:41:20,583 --> 00:41:23,625 He says you've got to hold up the shield of faith. 851 00:41:23,667 --> 00:41:25,625 "No, I trust the Bible. I trust Jesus. 852 00:41:25,667 --> 00:41:27,875 "I trust the gospel. I trust the truth. 853 00:41:27,958 --> 00:41:29,625 I trust it." 854 00:41:29,667 --> 00:41:32,208 And you've got to hold it in your own hand, 855 00:41:32,292 --> 00:41:35,083 and you've got to hold it over your own head. 856 00:41:35,167 --> 00:41:37,917 "And the helmet of salvation"-- 857 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:41,875 every good soldier wears a helmet, right? 858 00:41:41,958 --> 00:41:45,000 It protects your mind and your thinking 859 00:41:45,083 --> 00:41:47,208 and your decision-making. 860 00:41:47,292 --> 00:41:49,833 You've got to keep your head on straight. 861 00:41:49,875 --> 00:41:51,792 Any of you ever sustained a head injury? 862 00:41:51,833 --> 00:41:54,333 Any football players ever got knocked out? 863 00:41:54,375 --> 00:41:55,833 I did once. 864 00:41:55,875 --> 00:41:58,000 I was playing high school football as a quarterback, 865 00:41:58,083 --> 00:41:59,417 dropped back. 866 00:41:59,500 --> 00:42:02,000 I got hit in the front, hit in the back. 867 00:42:02,042 --> 00:42:04,000 Helmet to the front, helmet to the back. 868 00:42:04,042 --> 00:42:07,000 I got up, I went over, I sat down on the bench. 869 00:42:07,042 --> 00:42:09,000 I thought, "I'm doing fine. This is fine." 870 00:42:09,042 --> 00:42:10,500 Coach comes over, "You all right?" 871 00:42:10,542 --> 00:42:11,875 "I'm good." 872 00:42:11,958 --> 00:42:14,375 He's like, "Then why are you on the wrong bench?" 873 00:42:14,458 --> 00:42:16,000 "Oh." 874 00:42:16,042 --> 00:42:21,375 I was on the other team's bench. 875 00:42:21,458 --> 00:42:24,875 It's amazing what one little blow to the head can do. 876 00:42:24,958 --> 00:42:29,083 "Oh, I guess I'm not fine, not as good as I thought." 877 00:42:29,167 --> 00:42:31,167 Friends, you're going to get rattled, 878 00:42:31,208 --> 00:42:34,333 you're going to get hit, you're going to get attacked. 879 00:42:35,500 --> 00:42:38,500 What he's talking about is the helmet of salvation. 880 00:42:38,542 --> 00:42:40,333 False teaching is going to come. 881 00:42:40,375 --> 00:42:44,125 False teachers are everywhere. 882 00:42:44,167 --> 00:42:48,917 The media today loves a former evangelical who starts denying 883 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:51,833 parts of the Bible, smiles and says the word 884 00:42:51,875 --> 00:42:53,833 "love," OK? 885 00:42:53,875 --> 00:42:57,000 You say, "Man, why do they get such a big book deal? 886 00:42:57,042 --> 00:42:58,917 Why do they get to go on tour?" 887 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:01,667 Well, because Satan is glad to bless them. 888 00:43:01,750 --> 00:43:03,667 He's always glad to bless false teachers. 889 00:43:03,750 --> 00:43:07,833 False teachers--it just goes a lot easier for them. 890 00:43:07,917 --> 00:43:11,167 You're going to be surrounded with false teaching 891 00:43:11,250 --> 00:43:14,583 and all kinds of lies and half-truths 892 00:43:14,667 --> 00:43:18,500 and temptations and confusions. 893 00:43:18,542 --> 00:43:22,375 You've got to keep your head on straight. Helmet of salvation. 894 00:43:22,458 --> 00:43:27,458 "No, I--" And it's this: "Jesus is my King. 895 00:43:27,500 --> 00:43:30,833 "Satan is my enemy. I'm a soldier in a war. 896 00:43:30,917 --> 00:43:32,833 What does the king want me to do?" 897 00:43:32,917 --> 00:43:34,667 Not, "What do I want to do?" 898 00:43:34,750 --> 00:43:36,625 Not, "What do I feel like doing? 899 00:43:36,667 --> 00:43:38,583 "What does the king need me to do?" 900 00:43:38,667 --> 00:43:41,625 Keep my head on straight, protect my thinking, 901 00:43:41,667 --> 00:43:44,500 surround it with this concept, this truth, 902 00:43:44,583 --> 00:43:47,500 this spiritual protection of salvation. 903 00:43:47,542 --> 00:43:49,625 I belong to the Lord. 904 00:43:49,667 --> 00:43:51,417 I'm a soldier in a war. 905 00:43:51,500 --> 00:43:54,167 I need to shut up and take orders. 906 00:43:54,250 --> 00:43:56,417 Some of you go, "I don't like hearing that." 907 00:43:56,500 --> 00:44:00,333 Back to the point of pride. 908 00:44:00,417 --> 00:44:03,583 Every king has a right to look at a soldier and say, 909 00:44:03,667 --> 00:44:07,792 "I need you to go there, and I need you to do this." 910 00:44:07,833 --> 00:44:11,083 And any soldier who says, "Well, I think differently," 911 00:44:11,167 --> 00:44:15,500 you need to keep your head on straight. 912 00:44:15,542 --> 00:44:21,500 "Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." 913 00:44:21,542 --> 00:44:24,167 This is a weapon. 914 00:44:24,250 --> 00:44:26,667 Genesis 3, the first spiritual battle in the history 915 00:44:26,708 --> 00:44:28,667 of the world on the earth. 916 00:44:28,750 --> 00:44:32,375 God said, "Don't do this, but you can do that." 917 00:44:32,458 --> 00:44:35,417 Satan comes along, and his first question is 918 00:44:35,500 --> 00:44:38,125 about what God had said. 919 00:44:38,167 --> 00:44:40,292 "Did God really say?" 920 00:44:40,333 --> 00:44:45,583 So, the first war is--it's over the Word of God. 921 00:44:45,667 --> 00:44:48,167 See, as long as Adam and Eve-- 922 00:44:48,250 --> 00:44:51,125 they hold the truth of the Word of God in their hand, 923 00:44:51,167 --> 00:44:53,375 they've got a weapon to fight against Satan 924 00:44:53,458 --> 00:44:55,000 and demons and lies. 925 00:44:55,083 --> 00:44:57,292 But Satan comes and tries to take the sword 926 00:44:57,333 --> 00:44:58,708 out of their hand. 927 00:44:58,792 --> 00:45:00,167 You know what that is? 928 00:45:00,250 --> 00:45:01,958 An act of surrender. 929 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:03,833 Christian, let me tell you this. 930 00:45:03,917 --> 00:45:06,583 You stop reading your Bible--surrender. 931 00:45:06,667 --> 00:45:09,375 You stop studying your Bible--surrender. 932 00:45:09,458 --> 00:45:12,583 Stop memorizing your Bible--surrender. 933 00:45:12,667 --> 00:45:15,875 Stop submitting to the truth of the Bible--surrender. 934 00:45:15,958 --> 00:45:18,542 Stop going to church and being under the preaching 935 00:45:18,625 --> 00:45:21,042 of the Bible--surrender. 936 00:45:21,125 --> 00:45:24,250 Surrender. 937 00:45:24,333 --> 00:45:26,292 Some of you've seen that, haven't you? 938 00:45:26,333 --> 00:45:28,792 Life is hard, so you put your Bible down 939 00:45:28,833 --> 00:45:30,667 and stop going to church. 940 00:45:30,750 --> 00:45:33,792 And then all of a sudden, some of those complications go away. 941 00:45:33,833 --> 00:45:35,708 It's because you've joined the enemy's team; 942 00:45:35,792 --> 00:45:38,292 you're an enemy combatant. 943 00:45:38,333 --> 00:45:41,333 He's not going to attack you because now you're no threat 944 00:45:41,375 --> 00:45:45,417 because you have dropped your weapon. 945 00:45:45,500 --> 00:45:49,375 You know what this means, Mars Hill? 946 00:45:49,458 --> 00:45:51,583 Every time you pick up the Bible and say, 947 00:45:51,667 --> 00:45:54,375 "I've got to read it today, got to study it today. 948 00:45:54,458 --> 00:45:56,417 "It's the night to go to Community Group. 949 00:45:56,500 --> 00:45:58,167 "I'm going to go to Mars Hill, 950 00:45:58,250 --> 00:46:00,250 "and Mark's going to yell at me again. 951 00:46:00,333 --> 00:46:03,750 "Going to download a podcast and listen to it on the way to work 952 00:46:03,833 --> 00:46:05,750 so I can learn the Word of God." 953 00:46:05,833 --> 00:46:08,250 You know what that means? It's an act of war. 954 00:46:08,333 --> 00:46:09,667 It's an act of war. 955 00:46:09,708 --> 00:46:11,167 If somebody walked up to you, 956 00:46:11,208 --> 00:46:13,500 and they pulled a gun out of a holster-- 957 00:46:13,542 --> 00:46:16,000 every time a Christian picks up the Word of God, 958 00:46:16,042 --> 00:46:17,667 that's exactly what we're doing. 959 00:46:17,708 --> 00:46:20,167 We are declaring war on Satan and demons 960 00:46:20,250 --> 00:46:23,250 and the kingdom of darkness and lies. 961 00:46:23,333 --> 00:46:28,583 Make no mistake, Mars Hill-- this is the Word of God. 962 00:46:28,667 --> 00:46:31,583 This is an offensive weapon for the forward progress 963 00:46:31,667 --> 00:46:35,167 of the kingdom of God through the church of Jesus Christ. 964 00:46:35,250 --> 00:46:37,417 And we live in a day when people are, 965 00:46:37,500 --> 00:46:39,500 "Well, we don't need--hey, we've got psychology, 966 00:46:39,583 --> 00:46:41,500 "we've got therapy, we've got politics, 967 00:46:41,542 --> 00:46:43,708 "we've got--you know, we don't need to talk about 968 00:46:43,792 --> 00:46:46,292 "what God says; let's just love people. 969 00:46:46,333 --> 00:46:49,000 "We don't need good news; let's just do good deeds. 970 00:46:49,083 --> 00:46:51,833 "Let's just turn ourselves into a social service organization 971 00:46:51,875 --> 00:46:55,708 because they never shoot the food bank." 972 00:46:55,792 --> 00:46:58,083 Most of what I'm saying shouldn't be said, 973 00:46:58,167 --> 00:47:01,583 but it has to be said. 974 00:47:01,667 --> 00:47:03,833 "Let's just get away from Jesus. 975 00:47:03,917 --> 00:47:05,667 "Let's use the word 'God.' 976 00:47:05,750 --> 00:47:07,458 "Let's get away from the word 'repentance', 977 00:47:07,500 --> 00:47:10,583 "and let's get away from calling people from sin 978 00:47:10,667 --> 00:47:12,333 "to their Savior. 979 00:47:12,417 --> 00:47:16,292 "Let's just ignore the Book. 980 00:47:16,333 --> 00:47:20,000 "Let's use the Book in a way that was never intended. 981 00:47:20,042 --> 00:47:25,000 "Whatever we do, let's just not handle the sword well. 982 00:47:25,042 --> 00:47:28,167 "Let's not pick it up, because as soon as we pick it up, 983 00:47:28,250 --> 00:47:30,500 "man, a lot of--well, then the media gets upset, 984 00:47:30,542 --> 00:47:32,000 "and the critics get upset, 985 00:47:32,042 --> 00:47:33,750 "and the people who disagree get upset. 986 00:47:33,833 --> 00:47:35,417 "And now there's a lot of hostility 987 00:47:35,500 --> 00:47:36,833 "and it's a big conflict. 988 00:47:36,875 --> 00:47:38,500 "And now it costs me a lot. 989 00:47:38,583 --> 00:47:39,917 "Now my family's upset. 990 00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:41,917 "And as soon as I tell the truth, 991 00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:43,500 then there's some resistance to that." 992 00:47:43,542 --> 00:47:46,625 Hey, welcome to war! 993 00:47:46,667 --> 00:47:51,125 Pick a team. Pick a team. 994 00:47:51,167 --> 00:47:53,500 You say, "I don't want to pick a team." 995 00:47:53,542 --> 00:47:56,375 Team's already been picked. 996 00:47:56,458 --> 00:47:59,333 You're born on Satan's team; 997 00:47:59,375 --> 00:48:01,583 you're born again on Jesus' team. 998 00:48:01,667 --> 00:48:03,583 There's really only two kingdoms. 999 00:48:03,667 --> 00:48:05,667 There's really only two teams. 1000 00:48:05,750 --> 00:48:07,458 And if you're on Jesus' team, 1001 00:48:07,500 --> 00:48:12,292 you better keep the sword in your hand. 1002 00:48:12,333 --> 00:48:14,250 "Praying in the Spirit." 1003 00:48:14,333 --> 00:48:17,083 One of the most important things in the battle is communication. 1004 00:48:17,167 --> 00:48:18,833 You need to talk to headquarters; 1005 00:48:18,917 --> 00:48:20,292 you need to listen to headquarters. 1006 00:48:20,333 --> 00:48:21,875 We call that prayer. 1007 00:48:21,958 --> 00:48:23,667 And he says it's in the Spirit, 1008 00:48:23,708 --> 00:48:26,000 so this is different than how other religions pray. 1009 00:48:26,042 --> 00:48:28,792 See, other religions pray not by the Spirit. 1010 00:48:28,833 --> 00:48:33,292 The Holy Spirit only indwells the people of God. 1011 00:48:33,333 --> 00:48:35,208 Other religions may pray, 1012 00:48:35,292 --> 00:48:38,208 but they don't pray by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1013 00:48:38,292 --> 00:48:41,167 They may pray by their own wishful thinking or Satan 1014 00:48:41,250 --> 00:48:44,125 and demons, but it ain't by the power of the Holy Spirit, 1015 00:48:44,167 --> 00:48:46,625 the third member of the Trinity. 1016 00:48:46,667 --> 00:48:53,125 He says to pray in the Spirit at all times for anything. 1017 00:48:53,167 --> 00:48:55,125 How's your prayer life? 1018 00:48:55,167 --> 00:48:56,625 You know what? 1019 00:48:56,667 --> 00:48:58,333 If you don't know you're in war, 1020 00:48:58,375 --> 00:49:00,375 you don't feel like you need to listen 1021 00:49:00,458 --> 00:49:03,167 to the commander in chief, and you don't feel like you 1022 00:49:03,208 --> 00:49:04,542 need to talk to him. 1023 00:49:04,625 --> 00:49:06,542 Peacetime--you're like, "What, I'm on vacation. 1024 00:49:06,625 --> 00:49:10,167 What do I need to get orders for?" 1025 00:49:10,250 --> 00:49:11,583 This ain't vacation, friends. 1026 00:49:11,667 --> 00:49:13,250 This is war. 1027 00:49:13,333 --> 00:49:16,000 If you know, you get up in the morning you're like, 1028 00:49:16,042 --> 00:49:18,500 "OK, I'm not going to work; I'm going to war. 1029 00:49:18,542 --> 00:49:20,792 "I'm not going to church; I'm going to war. 1030 00:49:20,833 --> 00:49:23,000 I'm not going to school; I'm going to war." 1031 00:49:23,042 --> 00:49:25,292 First thing you're going to do: call headquarters. 1032 00:49:25,333 --> 00:49:28,375 "OK, what do I need to know today, 1033 00:49:28,458 --> 00:49:31,167 "and let me talk to you about what I'm heading into, 1034 00:49:31,250 --> 00:49:33,667 and I need you to give me some directives here." 1035 00:49:33,750 --> 00:49:36,417 And then you listen to the Holy Spirit. 1036 00:49:36,500 --> 00:49:39,000 Primarily, he will bring to mind the Word of God 1037 00:49:39,042 --> 00:49:40,375 which he has written. 1038 00:49:40,458 --> 00:49:43,083 "OK, now I'm ready to go. I know what to do. 1039 00:49:43,167 --> 00:49:44,917 "I'm connected to headquarters, 1040 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:46,708 "and throughout the day, I'm checking in. 1041 00:49:46,792 --> 00:49:49,000 "OK, headquarters, here's what's going on in the field. 1042 00:49:49,083 --> 00:49:51,625 "What do you need me to do now? 1043 00:49:51,667 --> 00:49:54,167 "Got a little report. Need a little help. 1044 00:49:54,250 --> 00:49:56,667 Send in for backup." 1045 00:49:59,375 --> 00:50:03,833 Imagine an army going to war without a communication plan. 1046 00:50:03,875 --> 00:50:08,917 Imagine soldiers just being deployed in an enemy territory 1047 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:12,833 with no communication plan. 1048 00:50:12,875 --> 00:50:15,500 Prayer is our communication plan. 1049 00:50:15,583 --> 00:50:18,917 It's how we talk to God; it's how God talks to us. 1050 00:50:19,000 --> 00:50:20,917 It's how we tell him what's going on, 1051 00:50:21,000 --> 00:50:23,125 though he already knows, 1052 00:50:23,167 --> 00:50:27,083 and it is the way that he gives directives to us. 1053 00:50:27,167 --> 00:50:28,833 How's your prayer life? 1054 00:50:28,875 --> 00:50:30,500 Do you pray for our church? 1055 00:50:30,542 --> 00:50:32,292 Do you pray for our leaders? 1056 00:50:32,333 --> 00:50:34,167 Do you pray for our other locations? 1057 00:50:34,250 --> 00:50:37,000 Do you pray for our new opportunities? 1058 00:50:37,083 --> 00:50:40,042 And he says, "Perseverance." 1059 00:50:40,125 --> 00:50:43,208 Perseverance. Four times in this section 1060 00:50:43,292 --> 00:50:45,042 he uses the language of "stand." 1061 00:50:45,125 --> 00:50:48,417 So it's, "Stand, stand, stand, stand." 1062 00:50:48,500 --> 00:50:51,958 A soldier needs to hold his post--right, soldiers? 1063 00:50:52,000 --> 00:50:53,542 You plant your feet. 1064 00:50:53,625 --> 00:50:55,042 You stand. 1065 00:50:55,125 --> 00:50:58,208 You don't say, "Oh, I feel like I should go to another post. 1066 00:50:58,292 --> 00:51:00,292 I feel like I should have a--" 1067 00:51:00,333 --> 00:51:02,167 No, no, no. Hold that line, right? 1068 00:51:02,250 --> 00:51:05,833 Your king has sent you there to hold that line. 1069 00:51:05,875 --> 00:51:09,000 Your job, stand there. 1070 00:51:09,083 --> 00:51:10,833 Your Community Group in your neighborhood, 1071 00:51:10,875 --> 00:51:12,500 stand there. 1072 00:51:12,583 --> 00:51:14,833 Whichever local church you're in, stand there. 1073 00:51:14,875 --> 00:51:17,292 Whichever ministry role you're in, stand there, 1074 00:51:17,333 --> 00:51:19,708 plant your feet. 1075 00:51:19,792 --> 00:51:24,500 What we don't need, Mars Hill, is 12,000 generals. 1076 00:51:24,542 --> 00:51:29,208 We need 1 general and 12,000 faithful soldiers. 1077 00:51:29,292 --> 00:51:32,917 My job is to stand with Grace and our five kids. 1078 00:51:33,000 --> 00:51:35,292 I've got to stand there. 1079 00:51:35,333 --> 00:51:39,000 It's not a temporary deployment; it's a lifetime assignment. 1080 00:51:39,083 --> 00:51:41,125 I can't abandon my post. 1081 00:51:41,167 --> 00:51:43,500 My family'll get shot. 1082 00:51:43,583 --> 00:51:45,625 My job is to stand in the pulpit 1083 00:51:45,667 --> 00:51:48,500 and to preach the Word of God and to take the shots 1084 00:51:48,583 --> 00:51:51,125 that come from being the one who calls the shots. 1085 00:51:51,167 --> 00:51:53,833 My job: stand, plant my feet. 1086 00:51:53,875 --> 00:51:57,792 Criticize, picket, protest, quit, hate me, resist me. 1087 00:51:57,833 --> 00:52:00,667 I'll be here next week; I was here last week, 1088 00:52:00,708 --> 00:52:02,583 and I'll see you in 30 years. 1089 00:52:02,667 --> 00:52:04,542 This is where I'm at. 1090 00:52:04,625 --> 00:52:08,000 Stand. 1091 00:52:08,042 --> 00:52:10,042 I'm telling you, Mars Hill, 1092 00:52:10,125 --> 00:52:13,458 many of you get very excited about being deployed. 1093 00:52:13,500 --> 00:52:17,792 It's 6 months in, 12 months in, 18 months in, 6 years in, 1094 00:52:17,833 --> 00:52:24,167 12 years in, 18 years in. Still on post. 1095 00:52:24,250 --> 00:52:27,375 That's amazing. 1096 00:52:27,458 --> 00:52:30,000 That is so rare. 1097 00:52:30,042 --> 00:52:33,333 You can only do that if you're strengthened by Jesus' strength 1098 00:52:33,417 --> 00:52:37,500 to stand where Jesus has sent you. 1099 00:52:37,542 --> 00:52:39,333 I love weddings. 1100 00:52:39,375 --> 00:52:42,208 I'm impressed at 50-year anniversaries. 1101 00:52:42,292 --> 00:52:44,583 I love deployments. 1102 00:52:44,667 --> 00:52:46,333 I love soldiers who, 50 years later, 1103 00:52:46,375 --> 00:52:48,500 still have their boots on. 1104 00:52:48,583 --> 00:52:50,167 So, what are you doing here? 1105 00:52:50,250 --> 00:52:51,708 Jesus said, "Stand here." 1106 00:52:51,792 --> 00:52:54,500 I've been here, and I will be here until I die 1107 00:52:54,542 --> 00:52:56,792 or he comes back and I hear, 1108 00:52:56,833 --> 00:53:01,000 "Well done, good and faithful soldier." 1109 00:53:01,042 --> 00:53:03,583 It's not about your gifts. 1110 00:53:03,667 --> 00:53:06,583 Mars Hill does not exist as an opportunity for you 1111 00:53:06,667 --> 00:53:10,042 to showcase your giftedness. 1112 00:53:10,125 --> 00:53:13,250 Every soldier in battle knows, "I maybe could do something 1113 00:53:13,333 --> 00:53:14,958 "a little different. 1114 00:53:15,000 --> 00:53:18,000 "I may be able to do something a little more exciting. 1115 00:53:18,042 --> 00:53:20,792 I may be able to do something a little more impressive." 1116 00:53:20,833 --> 00:53:22,500 Who cares? 1117 00:53:22,542 --> 00:53:24,167 Your king gave you a job, 1118 00:53:24,250 --> 00:53:29,458 and it's about the victory for his kingdom. 1119 00:53:29,500 --> 00:53:33,375 It's not about you; it's about his kingdom. 1120 00:53:33,458 --> 00:53:36,000 It's not about you; it's about our church. 1121 00:53:36,042 --> 00:53:39,875 It's not about you; it's about setting captives free. 1122 00:53:43,875 --> 00:53:48,375 Mars Hill, if we get this, anything's possible. 1123 00:53:48,458 --> 00:53:51,667 If we don't get this, nothing is possible. 1124 00:53:51,750 --> 00:53:54,292 We just become another generation of weak-willed, 1125 00:53:54,333 --> 00:53:58,708 spineless, consumer Christians who think that we're on vacation 1126 00:53:58,792 --> 00:54:02,292 and turning our church into an all-inclusive resort, 1127 00:54:02,333 --> 00:54:05,500 where I just get to take whatever I want 1128 00:54:05,542 --> 00:54:07,500 and somebody else is supposed to serve me 1129 00:54:07,542 --> 00:54:09,375 because this is vacation. 1130 00:54:09,458 --> 00:54:10,958 This ain't vacation, friends. 1131 00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:12,333 It's--what? 1132 00:54:12,417 --> 00:54:14,167 It's war! 1133 00:54:14,250 --> 00:54:18,250 It's war! 1134 00:54:21,125 --> 00:54:25,458 Paul's final words. 1135 00:54:25,500 --> 00:54:27,292 He says to pray for the leadership. 1136 00:54:27,333 --> 00:54:29,000 "Praying at all times in the Spirit, 1137 00:54:29,042 --> 00:54:30,500 "with all prayer and supplication. 1138 00:54:30,542 --> 00:54:32,500 "To that end keep alert with all perseverance, 1139 00:54:32,542 --> 00:54:34,667 "making supplication for the saints, also for me, 1140 00:54:34,750 --> 00:54:37,625 "that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly 1141 00:54:37,667 --> 00:54:39,500 "to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 1142 00:54:39,583 --> 00:54:41,625 for which I am an ambassador in chains." 1143 00:54:41,667 --> 00:54:43,333 He's in prison. 1144 00:54:43,375 --> 00:54:46,167 I'd be shocked if I'm not eventually. 1145 00:54:46,250 --> 00:54:49,292 The way culture is trending, to preach sin and repentance 1146 00:54:49,333 --> 00:54:51,000 will soon be hate speech. 1147 00:54:51,042 --> 00:54:54,083 I don't know if it'll happen in 5 years or 50 years. 1148 00:54:54,167 --> 00:54:56,417 I would doubt preaching the gospel won't get you 1149 00:54:56,500 --> 00:54:59,708 in prison eventually if things continue the direction they are. 1150 00:54:59,792 --> 00:55:04,792 "That I may declare it boldly"--boldly, boldly-- 1151 00:55:04,833 --> 00:55:07,292 "as I ought to speak." 1152 00:55:07,333 --> 00:55:11,000 Pray for me that I would not give up, 1153 00:55:11,042 --> 00:55:17,833 that I would not back down, that I would not calm down, OK? 1154 00:55:19,833 --> 00:55:21,292 Pray for our church. 1155 00:55:21,333 --> 00:55:23,167 He has two things: grace and peace. 1156 00:55:23,250 --> 00:55:25,583 Pray for grace on our church from Jesus. 1157 00:55:25,667 --> 00:55:28,833 True or false, we've gotten a lot of grace on our church? 1158 00:55:28,917 --> 00:55:31,875 Oh yes, a lot of grace. 1159 00:55:31,958 --> 00:55:34,750 A lot of grace on our church. 1160 00:55:34,833 --> 00:55:37,708 Pray that the grace from Jesus continues on our church. 1161 00:55:37,792 --> 00:55:40,125 And then pray, he says, "for peace." 1162 00:55:40,167 --> 00:55:41,500 You know what peace is? 1163 00:55:41,583 --> 00:55:43,625 Peace is peace in our church. 1164 00:55:43,667 --> 00:55:45,708 There's nothing worse than one soldier 1165 00:55:45,792 --> 00:55:48,167 shooting another soldier. 1166 00:55:48,250 --> 00:55:54,417 Nothing worse than one solider shooting another soldier. 1167 00:55:54,500 --> 00:55:57,708 Don't turn your guns on each other. 1168 00:55:57,792 --> 00:55:59,917 Don't gossip about one another. 1169 00:56:00,042 --> 00:56:02,000 Don't become embittered against one another. 1170 00:56:02,042 --> 00:56:03,833 Don't despise one another. 1171 00:56:03,917 --> 00:56:05,667 Don't attack one another. 1172 00:56:05,708 --> 00:56:07,583 Don't criticize one another. 1173 00:56:07,667 --> 00:56:11,000 Satan and demons have already got that covered, right? 1174 00:56:11,042 --> 00:56:13,000 The enemy role is filled. 1175 00:56:13,042 --> 00:56:17,333 We don't need you to join them. 1176 00:56:17,417 --> 00:56:20,167 So pray for peace in our church. 1177 00:56:20,250 --> 00:56:22,542 Pray for peace between our leaders, 1178 00:56:22,625 --> 00:56:27,250 peace between our departments, peace between our locations. 1179 00:56:29,042 --> 00:56:32,375 And this week, as you're praying, 1180 00:56:32,458 --> 00:56:36,333 pray for our future and pray for our opportunity. 1181 00:56:36,375 --> 00:56:38,500 This is Jesus' mission, not ours. 1182 00:56:38,583 --> 00:56:40,292 We don't have a mission, Jesus does. 1183 00:56:40,333 --> 00:56:43,333 We're just part of it. 1184 00:56:43,375 --> 00:56:45,125 In a moment, we're going to collect 1185 00:56:45,167 --> 00:56:46,792 our tithes and offerings. 1186 00:56:46,833 --> 00:56:48,500 It's an act of war. 1187 00:56:48,583 --> 00:56:50,292 I want you to see that today. 1188 00:56:50,333 --> 00:56:52,292 You know what used to happen during wars? 1189 00:56:52,333 --> 00:56:55,333 People would make sacrifices to fund the war effort. 1190 00:56:55,375 --> 00:56:58,708 You know how we won a few world wars and put down Nazism? 1191 00:56:58,792 --> 00:57:00,667 People would give to the war effort. 1192 00:57:00,708 --> 00:57:03,083 They'd make sacrifices for the war effort. 1193 00:57:03,167 --> 00:57:04,667 It's different than people 1194 00:57:04,750 --> 00:57:07,167 on vacation at an all-inclusive resort. 1195 00:57:07,250 --> 00:57:11,000 As we take an offering--and I'll ask the stewards to do it now-- 1196 00:57:11,042 --> 00:57:14,167 I want you to see, really, it's funding a war effort to set 1197 00:57:14,250 --> 00:57:17,000 captives free because Satan and demons have absolutely 1198 00:57:17,042 --> 00:57:20,042 taken people captive to do their bidding. 1199 00:57:20,125 --> 00:57:23,250 And our goal is to forward the progress of the gospel 1200 00:57:23,333 --> 00:57:26,500 through Mars Hill Church to set captives free. 1201 00:57:26,542 --> 00:57:28,875 In a moment as well, we'll partake of Communion, 1202 00:57:28,958 --> 00:57:32,458 which is where we remember our king, all right, 1203 00:57:32,500 --> 00:57:34,542 that our king is a victorious king, 1204 00:57:34,625 --> 00:57:37,417 our king is a triumphant king, and our king is so good, 1205 00:57:37,500 --> 00:57:39,792 he tells us what'll happen in the end. 1206 00:57:39,833 --> 00:57:42,708 Who wins in the end, Satan or Jesus? 1207 00:57:42,792 --> 00:57:44,500 Jesus. 1208 00:57:44,583 --> 00:57:46,500 So, we know that our king wins, 1209 00:57:46,542 --> 00:57:48,500 and we know that his kingdom reigns, 1210 00:57:48,542 --> 00:57:51,000 so we are able to persevere and endure--why? 1211 00:57:51,042 --> 00:57:52,625 Because we know the end. 1212 00:57:52,667 --> 00:57:55,000 Soldiers never get this benefit. 1213 00:57:55,042 --> 00:57:58,208 The end of the war is always up to the possibility 1214 00:57:58,292 --> 00:58:00,833 of not a victory but a loss. 1215 00:58:00,917 --> 00:58:03,958 Our great king has defeated Satan and demons at the cross, 1216 00:58:04,000 --> 00:58:06,875 and he will disarm and destroy them at his second coming, 1217 00:58:06,958 --> 00:58:09,500 and we're living in the time between the times. 1218 00:58:09,542 --> 00:58:13,458 We're part of the mop-up crew, the conclusion of the war. 1219 00:58:13,500 --> 00:58:16,083 As we take Communion, that's what we remember. 1220 00:58:16,167 --> 00:58:19,792 Our king is not one who is unwilling to come down here 1221 00:58:19,833 --> 00:58:22,292 and to get shot and to suffer and to bleed. 1222 00:58:22,333 --> 00:58:24,292 Our king is a good soldier. 1223 00:58:24,333 --> 00:58:27,083 Remember his broken body and shed blood. 1224 00:58:27,167 --> 00:58:29,667 And then, lastly, we're going to sing. 1225 00:58:29,708 --> 00:58:33,042 You know what people do when their nation wins a great war? 1226 00:58:33,125 --> 00:58:35,708 They gather in the streets and they sing and they celebrate 1227 00:58:35,792 --> 00:58:38,708 because their king and kingdom are triumphant and victorious, 1228 00:58:38,792 --> 00:58:40,667 and though they were facing captivity, 1229 00:58:40,750 --> 00:58:42,792 they've been set free. 1230 00:58:42,833 --> 00:58:45,167 Before that, I want you to see what's coming. 1231 00:58:45,250 --> 00:58:47,625 We're going to jump into the book of Acts 1232 00:58:47,667 --> 00:58:49,333 starting in just a few weeks, 1233 00:58:49,375 --> 00:58:51,792 and I want you to see what's coming next. 1234 00:58:52,875 --> 00:58:58,500 Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit 1235 00:58:58,583 --> 00:59:00,875 "has come upon you, 1236 00:59:00,958 --> 00:59:05,083 "and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem 1237 00:59:05,167 --> 00:59:07,792 "and in all Judea and Samaria, 1238 00:59:07,833 --> 00:59:12,583 and to the ends of the earth." 1239 00:59:12,667 --> 00:59:18,583 What does Jesus' mission look like here? 1240 00:59:18,667 --> 00:59:22,292 What's his mission here? 1241 00:59:22,333 --> 00:59:26,250 What does Jesus' mission look like here? 1242 00:59:26,333 --> 00:59:30,500 What does Jesus' mission look like here? 1243 00:59:30,542 --> 00:59:34,333 What is Jesus' mission here? 1244 00:59:34,417 --> 00:59:37,375 How do I know what Jesus' mission is? 1245 00:59:51,917 --> 00:59:53,333 Let's pray. 1246 00:59:53,375 --> 00:59:57,208 Father God, we ask that we would stand in Albuquerque, 1247 00:59:57,292 --> 01:00:00,250 we'd stand in Orange County, we'd stand in Portland, 1248 01:00:00,333 --> 01:00:03,542 we'd stand in Olympia, we'd stand in Federal Way, 1249 01:00:03,625 --> 01:00:07,333 we'd stand in Rainier Valley, we'd stand in West Seattle, 1250 01:00:07,417 --> 01:00:10,042 we'd stand in Downtown Seattle, 1251 01:00:10,125 --> 01:00:12,333 we'd stand at the University of Washington, 1252 01:00:12,417 --> 01:00:14,250 that we'd stand in Ballard, 1253 01:00:14,333 --> 01:00:17,208 that we'd stand in Shoreline, that'd we'd stand in Everett, 1254 01:00:17,292 --> 01:00:19,042 that we would stand in Bellevue, 1255 01:00:19,125 --> 01:00:21,417 and that we would stand in Sammamish. 1256 01:00:21,500 --> 01:00:27,167 That we would stand together, and that we would stand in love 1257 01:00:27,208 --> 01:00:30,833 and in truth and in joy and in grace. 1258 01:00:30,917 --> 01:00:33,542 And I pray, Lord God, that you'd open up other opportunities 1259 01:00:33,625 --> 01:00:37,500 in other cities, that we might stand there as well. 1260 01:00:37,583 --> 01:00:39,542 I pray that the elders would stand. 1261 01:00:39,625 --> 01:00:41,583 I pray that the deacons would stand. 1262 01:00:41,667 --> 01:00:43,500 I pray that the leaders would stand. 1263 01:00:43,542 --> 01:00:45,167 I pray that the Community Group leaders 1264 01:00:45,250 --> 01:00:46,583 would stand. 1265 01:00:46,667 --> 01:00:48,458 I pray that the Redemption Group leaders 1266 01:00:48,500 --> 01:00:49,833 would stand. 1267 01:00:49,917 --> 01:00:52,042 I pray that the service team leaders would stand. 1268 01:00:52,125 --> 01:00:53,875 I pray that the servants would stand. 1269 01:00:53,958 --> 01:00:55,667 I pray that the members would stand. 1270 01:00:55,750 --> 01:00:57,667 I pray that the givers would stand. 1271 01:00:57,750 --> 01:01:01,333 And I pray that we would stand in prayer. In Jesus' name, amen. 1272 01:01:04,167 --> 01:01:07,083 Each year, over 10 million Mars Hill church sermons 1273 01:01:07,167 --> 01:01:10,167 are downloaded worldwide for free. 1274 01:01:10,250 --> 01:01:12,792 This ministry is generously supported 1275 01:01:12,833 --> 01:01:15,417 by Mars Hill church members and listeners like you. 1276 01:01:15,500 --> 01:01:19,000 If you'd like to support our efforts to preach Jesus to the world, 1277 01:01:19,042 --> 01:01:22,000 Please consider making a tax-deductible donation 1278 01:01:22,042 --> 01:01:24,875 by visiting marshill.com/give.