The Enemy Within (Part 2)
Speaker: Brian Sturm
Scripture: Galatians 6
In our battle for change we have an enemy within, our flesh. Flesh expresses itself in legalism and lawlessness. In Part 1 we saw to battle the enemy within the Lord leads us to live by His Holy Spirit. Today’s Part 2 answers the question, ‘how do we live by the Spirit together in community?’
Elements Included:
Announcements from Joe Catterson (0:00)
Update on Building announcement with Tony Classen and Bob Anderson (3:42)
Message and Benediction from Dick Jaques (8:33)
Powerpoint included.
The Battle for Change: Know Your Enemy. (Bold copy connects with slides on the Powerpoint)
Intro: Series Corona Virus... Unseen yet there is all kinds of attempts to protect people... The battle is unseen, yet do we see it... do we respond to it? Why... Common struggle... What are people going to think of me? Why can’t I get it right? Why am I so stupid? When am I ever going to stop that habit? Anxiety/ depression / Loneliness... Pride... We have things in our lives or we crave things in our live
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved Ephesians 2:1-6
The world... A worldview that has adopted values that are contrary to the kingdom of God. Ex. My title, my appearance, my smarts, my talents, my wealth
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work it’s the description of the devil
passions of our flesh that part of us that is controlled by selfish and many times sensual desires. Eyes see it ... desires it and takes it
We are going to talk about all three of these. This morning I am going to start off with the devil.
We live in a university town are you kidding me.
Barna research found that people who considered themselves believers in Christ, 40% said that the devil was a symbol of evil and not a real being.
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve about their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight.” C.S. Lewis
PICS (Devils) if this is whom you think of when we talk about the devil I don’t believe that either.
PIC (Far side) or we make jokes about the devil
All through the scriptures the devil or satan is talked about as a very real being from a different realm... the spiritual realm. God and the Angels, Satan and his demons.
Some us fall into the camp that there really isn’t a spiritual battle going on. Others can blame arguments over Timmy’s lost shoe before church on the devil; someone giving the excuse for their rudeness on the devil had his pitchfork in me. Every illness is from the devil, flat tires, and appliances breaking down.
According to scripture who is satan or the devil?
In the OT we are introduced to satan as hacsatan “the adversary” or the satan. Adversary to God. Hates Him and those He loves.
That name carries over to the NT.
Ø Devil (Diabolos Slanderer) 33x
Ø Tempter (Matthew 4:3)
Ø Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24)
Ø Evil One (Matthew 13:13)
Ø Enemy (Matthew 13:39)
Ø Father of lies (John 8:44)
Ø Murderer (John 8:44)
Ø Thief (John 10:10)
Ø Adversary (1 Peter 5:8)
Ø Great dragon (Revelation 12:3)
Ø Deceiver (Revelation 12:9)
Ø Accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10)
He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
The beginning... Genesis
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:1-8
Lord God / Yahweh Covenant name, personally involved, cares for
God /Elohiym powerful one, divine one
Why? Satan does not have a covenant/personal relationship with God and wants Eve to see God as just the powerful one.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
Begins to question what God said...(the accusation that His word is not reliable.. is scripture reliable?) and what He actually meant. Notice Eve added to what God had said, neither shall you touch it. She is being drawn in and even adds to it with an emphasis on God’s strictness (she has a long line of successors).
Next, the serpent questions God’s intentions...
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
I want you to notice the accusations raised against the character of God... He is not good... He is not trustworthy... He is withholding something good and does not want you to be his equal... after all you would know what to do with the ability to know good from evil...He is withholding the good life from you. Then you would not be accountable to God.
Adam and Eve were given the responsibility to serve as the ruler over earth. They were to help the planet and all people to flourish under Yahweh. But they chose a different way that resulted in:
7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
1. Shame... Did they not know they were naked? No... something beautiful turned into something shameful.
2. Fear... they lived in peace before and now in fear... feared God, feared each other
3. Rest of the chapter describes the curse
It’s the result of believing the lies of the satan.
Satan’s motives are:
1. Deceive
2. Divide/isolate
3. Destroy
Not your friend...
Strategy:
1. Who is God? Theology question Is He good/loving? Is He sovereign?
2. Who are we/I? Identity question Are you enough? Smart enough, looks, talented, personality, wealth
3. What is the good life? Moral question Don’t let anyone tell you what’s right and wrong for you. Be true to yourself. This sounds good, but is it?
“This above all: to thine own self be true.” Polonius, Hamlet by William Shakespeare He was the fool, full of self-indulgence and vanity.
Need to be careful that we are not walking in the flesh that has a bent towards self-indulgence. When we walk in the Spirit we walk we the goal to honor God... we are ok with accepting the gifts, personality, and calling in life and we are ok with who we are not.
Satan did not come after Eve with a pitchfork, a sword or a club to destroy her; no he came after her with an idea... a lie. That is why Jesus came as a teacher.
It is our responsibility to guard our minds/hearts. Refer to Dave’s message on the word...Bob’s message on prayer... why we are encouraging reading the NT.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
We do what we do because we believe what we believe...
“truth and lies have no power until we believe them” John Mark Comer
Evidence of belief is if we act on them. The challenge before us is understanding what we believe.
Action Steps:
As you go through your week:
Stop Take time out during your day.
Notice. Pay attention to what you are thinking/daydreaming about... Feeling
Ask (See the above questions) Why? What do I hope to gain? What am I afraid to lose?
Pivot (Repent)
2 Core values 1) Make much of God. 2) Earn Trust Through Vulnerability. We choose
to be vulnerable to one another in our struggles, because we want to make much of God. Story of my failure to be vulnerable... ended with anxiety and depression... marriage hit a bumpy spot... relationship with God was distant and not that strengthening.
Don’t buy the lie... it will put you in a bad place... those you love as well.
I got help... encourage the same.