Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of February 27, 2011 (Ephesians 6:10-11)
1. “If one accepts the Scriptures as revelation from God, rather than merely a record of man’s thoughts about God, then the reality of Satan cannot be denied. Satan did not evolve as a personal being; he existed and acted from the earliest to the last books of God’s revelation. Seven books of the Old Testament teach his reality (Gen., 1 Chron., Job, Ps., Isa., Ezek, Zech.). Every writer of the New Testament affirms his reality and activity. Christ’s teaching also assumes and affirms Satan’s existence and activity. In twenty-five of the twenty-nine passages in the Gospels which speak of Satan, our Lord is speaking.” (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology)
2. Satan works to counterfeit the work of God with the goal of thwarting Christ’s purposes. He deceives nations (Revelation 16), blinds unbelievers to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4), and attacks believers to neutralize their testimony through lying, immorality, anger, an unforgiving spirit, and persecution.
3. Satan’s minions (fallen angels) promote a false gospel of works salvation, and denying the deity and/ or humanity of Christ (1Timothy 4:1-3). They seek to destroy the bodies and minds of human beings, and they work among the nations promoting deception and delusion (Daniel 10; Revelation 16).
4. Paul warns believers especially to be aware of Satan’s “methodeias,” his strategies, schemes, craftiness, and cunning trickery as demonstrated in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4. Satan comes as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:3, 13-15); as such believers, to be victorious must fight with spiritual weapons especially that of a Biblically conditioned mind (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A Call To Arms
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Recap of February 20, 2011 (Ephesians 6:10-11)
1. Paul closes out his section on the worthy Christian walk which covered Ephesians 4:1-6:9. In 6:10 he begins the final topic of the book, that of spiritual warfare. Rather than walk, he now tells them (and us) to stand in the victory over sin and Satan which God has provided (vv. 11, 13, 14).
2. Concerning the existence of Satan and demons, C.S. Lewis famously wrote in The Screwtape Letters, the following: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in 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…” Developing the theme further, John White in the book, The Fight, writes: “C. S. Lewis’s remark, that humanity falls into two equal and opposite errors concerning the devil, is now more famous than the book (The Screwtape Letters) in which it is found. The errors, according to Lewis, consist either in taking the devil altogether too seriously or in not taking him seriously enough. The devil welcomes a Hume or a Faust with equal zest. He is equally delighted by an atheist, a liberal theologian or a witch. And, it may be added, he feels as happy with a Christian whose mind is preoccupied with demons all day long as he is with one who never gives them a thought. But he is living and virulent. His supreme objective is to hurt Christ and Christ’s cause.”
3. Satan is a created being (Ezekiel 28:11-19); as such he is not the evil equivalent or opposite of God. Satan is neither omniscient, omnipresent, nor omnipotent. Ezekiel also tells us that Satan is of the class of angels called cherubim. He is a fallen angel (whose fall is described in Isaiah 14:12-14) who through pride sinned against God by coveting His position. Many believe that a third of the angels followed him in his rebellion based upon Revelation 12:4.
Recap of February 20, 2011 (Ephesians 6:10-11)
1. Paul closes out his section on the worthy Christian walk which covered Ephesians 4:1-6:9. In 6:10 he begins the final topic of the book, that of spiritual warfare. Rather than walk, he now tells them (and us) to stand in the victory over sin and Satan which God has provided (vv. 11, 13, 14).
2. Concerning the existence of Satan and demons, C.S. Lewis famously wrote in The Screwtape Letters, the following: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in 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…” Developing the theme further, John White in the book, The Fight, writes: “C. S. Lewis’s remark, that humanity falls into two equal and opposite errors concerning the devil, is now more famous than the book (The Screwtape Letters) in which it is found. The errors, according to Lewis, consist either in taking the devil altogether too seriously or in not taking him seriously enough. The devil welcomes a Hume or a Faust with equal zest. He is equally delighted by an atheist, a liberal theologian or a witch. And, it may be added, he feels as happy with a Christian whose mind is preoccupied with demons all day long as he is with one who never gives them a thought. But he is living and virulent. His supreme objective is to hurt Christ and Christ’s cause.”
3. Satan is a created being (Ezekiel 28:11-19); as such he is not the evil equivalent or opposite of God. Satan is neither omniscient, omnipresent, nor omnipotent. Ezekiel also tells us that Satan is of the class of angels called cherubim. He is a fallen angel (whose fall is described in Isaiah 14:12-14) who through pride sinned against God by coveting His position. Many believe that a third of the angels followed him in his rebellion based upon Revelation 12:4.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Christian on the Job, Part 3
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A recap of the sermon from February 13, 2011 (Ephesians 6:9)
1. “The danger on the job is the employee who is a clock-watcher and does not obey from the heart, and the ‘boss’ who forgets that he is second in command and must one day give an account to the Lord.” (Warren Wiersbe)
2. Those in authority over others were to:
-do their best on behalf of their workers
-treat them as they wished to be treated (Matthew 7:12)
-please the Lord by their actions
-be concerned with the welfare of those who served them
-not use threats or intimidation/fear tactics over those under their authority
-must provide, not just the minimum required, but must provide them with what is right and what is fair
-not show favoritism since God doesn’t play favorites.
3. Principles for those who supervise others: 1) take the eternal view (your authority is only temporal, you have a Master in Heaven to whom you must answer for your exercise of authority); 2) treat those under you in the same way you would like to be treated; 3) remember that Jesus said that the exercise of authority is an opportunity to serve others (Matthew 20:28; John 13); 4) be concerned for the welfare of those who are under your care; 5) don’t use intimidation or fear as motivators; 6) don’t play favorites on the job.
A recap of the sermon from February 13, 2011 (Ephesians 6:9)
1. “The danger on the job is the employee who is a clock-watcher and does not obey from the heart, and the ‘boss’ who forgets that he is second in command and must one day give an account to the Lord.” (Warren Wiersbe)
2. Those in authority over others were to:
-do their best on behalf of their workers
-treat them as they wished to be treated (Matthew 7:12)
-please the Lord by their actions
-be concerned with the welfare of those who served them
-not use threats or intimidation/fear tactics over those under their authority
-must provide, not just the minimum required, but must provide them with what is right and what is fair
-not show favoritism since God doesn’t play favorites.
3. Principles for those who supervise others: 1) take the eternal view (your authority is only temporal, you have a Master in Heaven to whom you must answer for your exercise of authority); 2) treat those under you in the same way you would like to be treated; 3) remember that Jesus said that the exercise of authority is an opportunity to serve others (Matthew 20:28; John 13); 4) be concerned for the welfare of those who are under your care; 5) don’t use intimidation or fear as motivators; 6) don’t play favorites on the job.
Monday, February 07, 2011
The Christian on the Job, Pt 2
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of February 6, 2011 (Ephesians 6:6-8)
1. Paul instructs those who are under the authority of others (slaves in the Biblical context – applied to employees today) that there are seven aspects to the kind of work that pleases God, we are to: respect those in authority over us (vs. 5); fear dishonoring Christ (vs. 5); be loyal not hypocritical (vs. 5); remember our ultimate master is Jesus Christ, we serve him by submitting to the authority over us on the job (vs. 5); be consistent, work when the boss is watching and when they are not (vs. 6); serve with our whole being, not just going through the motions (vs. 6); and serve with enthusiasm, not under compulsion (vs. 7).
2. The motivation for our faithfulness on the job is that Jesus will reward us in eternity. All believers will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema). This judgment is not for salvation, all there are already secure in their salvation, it is to evaluate the way we used the opportunities God gave us; and the attitude and motivation with which we served Him. (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-16; 4:5)
3. Eight principles of work from Ephesians 6:5-8: Keep an eternal perspective, ultimately we work for God and will be rewarded by Him; follow the example of Jesus, His servanthood, the way He endured mistreatment and injustice; show initiative; do more than those around you; be Christian where you are; serve Christian employers even more faithfully (1 Timothy 6:1,2); witness on the job by the quality of your work and your work habits; and have a good attitude and lead others in a good attitude.
Recap of February 6, 2011 (Ephesians 6:6-8)
1. Paul instructs those who are under the authority of others (slaves in the Biblical context – applied to employees today) that there are seven aspects to the kind of work that pleases God, we are to: respect those in authority over us (vs. 5); fear dishonoring Christ (vs. 5); be loyal not hypocritical (vs. 5); remember our ultimate master is Jesus Christ, we serve him by submitting to the authority over us on the job (vs. 5); be consistent, work when the boss is watching and when they are not (vs. 6); serve with our whole being, not just going through the motions (vs. 6); and serve with enthusiasm, not under compulsion (vs. 7).
2. The motivation for our faithfulness on the job is that Jesus will reward us in eternity. All believers will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema). This judgment is not for salvation, all there are already secure in their salvation, it is to evaluate the way we used the opportunities God gave us; and the attitude and motivation with which we served Him. (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-16; 4:5)
3. Eight principles of work from Ephesians 6:5-8: Keep an eternal perspective, ultimately we work for God and will be rewarded by Him; follow the example of Jesus, His servanthood, the way He endured mistreatment and injustice; show initiative; do more than those around you; be Christian where you are; serve Christian employers even more faithfully (1 Timothy 6:1,2); witness on the job by the quality of your work and your work habits; and have a good attitude and lead others in a good attitude.
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