🎵Music🎵
You
Good morning and welcome with finer seats take our song books turn the song
259
Song number two five nine
We are singing Jesus saves 259 sing it out on the first
We have heard the joyful sound
Jesus saves
Jesus saves spread the tidings all around
Jesus saves Jesus saves bear the news to every land
climb the steeps and cross the waves
onward is our Lord's command
Jesus saves Jesus saves
259 on the second
wafted on the rolling tide
Jesus saves
Jesus saves tell to save
far and wide
Jesus saves
Jesus saves seeing the islands of the sea
echo back the ocean waves
so keeper jubilee
Jesus saves Jesus saves
Seeing above the battle strife Jesus
Jesus saves by his death
An endless life Jesus saves Jesus saves seeing it
When the heart for mercy craves sing and try
259 on the last give the winds a mighty voice Jesus
Jesus saves let the nation now rejoice Jesus saves Jesus saves
Highest hills and deepest caves
This
Amen and we want to welcome you to Verity Baptist Church this morning. We're glad you're with us
Looks like we saw some music playing. All right, let's begin the service with a word of prayer and let's bow our heads together
Heavenly Father Lord, we do love you and we thank you for allowing us together together today Lord
We pray that you'd bless the time that we have set aside for
Singing and preaching and fellowship Lord to pray that you'd meet with us this morning in Jesus name. We pray. Amen
Turn to song 179
One seven
Such love 179 on the first that God should love us in
Such as I should
yearn to change my sorrow into bliss or rest till he had
planned to bring me night how
Wonderful is love like this
such
Such wondrous love such love
such wondrous love that God should
sinner such as
Like this
That Christ should join so freely in a scheme
Although it meant his death on Calvary
did ever
human time find nobler theme
Ransom me such
Such wondrous love
Such
Such wondrous love that God should love sinner such as I
That for a willful
Outcast such as I the father
planned the Savior bled and died
redemption for the worthless slave to buy
Grace
Defied such
Such wondrous
Such wondrous love that God
Good on the last and now he takes me to his artist son
He asked me not to fill a servant's place
Country wanderings all are done wide open are his arms of grace such
Such wondrous
Good
Amen all right well
Let's take our bulletins will look at some announcements real quickly if you do not have a
Bulletin please raise your hand and one of our ushers can get one for you if you need a bulletin
Just put your hand up
We'll get one for you the verse this week is a 26 3 that will keep him in perfect peace
Whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee and that's a good verse that we like that if you open up your
Bullet and you'll see our service time Sunday morning service 10 30 a.m. We're glad you're with us
Of course on Sunday morning on the Lord's Day for church
We do invite you to be back tonight at 6 p.m. For the evening service
The evening service is different than the morning service different songs that are sung different sermon that's preached
Just one more opportunity to be in God's house with God's people
of course under the preaching of the Word of God and then of course we invite you to be with us on Wednesday night for
Our Wednesday evening Bible study and we're studying through the book of Psalms on Wednesday night
We'd love you to join us. If you look at our soul winning times
Our main sowing time is on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. Soul winning
Of course is when we got in the community we knock doors
We invite people to church and we preach the gospel to anyone who's interested
We have additional sewing times on Thursdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. So if you'd like to go soul winning this afternoon
There'll be an opportunity for you to do that. Of course, if you look at the announcements and upcoming events
Today we are concluding both our Sunday morning and Sunday evening
Sermon series and on Sundays mornings
we've been in a series entitled the spirit world and we've been learning about heaven hell angels demons and the devil and
today we're going to conclude with a sermon on the subject of spiritual warfare and
We're glad you're here. Of course for that and then for the last couple of weeks. We've been doing a little bit of a
election themed sermon series and
Tonight we're gonna conclude that tonight. I'm gonna be preaching a sermon
Entitled a biblical perspective on a woman president and what the Bible teaches about these things and I want to encourage of course if you're
Interested to learn about what the Bible teaches about these things to be here tonight as we finish up that series
And then we want you to be aware that on Sunday
November 17th is our worker appreciation Sunday and we invite you to join us for the special Sunday and we'll be
Recognizing of course all the workers and volunteers of our church and if you are a worker or a volunteer we want to
Acknowledge you and thank you on that day
and if you're not serving in any capacity, then we want to give you an opportunity to be able to serve and to
Participate in that and then if you notice there the wedding for Adam Ritchie and miss Emily
Gessler is on Saturday, June 18th at 2 30 p.m
And
We're giving you that information in advance so you can save the date and also so you can give them a heads up if you
Plan to attend you can let them know on your communication card so that they can have an idea of who's coming for that
and then of course we want you to just remember the tithe challenge and
Last month I preached a sermon on the subject of the tithe challenge
And I just challenged our church family to be faithful with their tides and offerings and we just want to remind you of that
If you notice there for the choir we've got choir practice starting for Christmas on
Sunday November 10th at 5 p.m. Here in the auditorium. That's for the adult choir
They'll start singing practicing for Christmas and then for the children's choir. They will start on Sunday, November 24th
That's ages 4 to 12 years old and they'll be meeting in the playroom. They'll also be practicing for Christmas homeschool group
They've got PE class this Thursday, November 7th at 10 a.m
So don't forget about that and then there's other things there of course for you to look at if you look at the back of
the bulletin
birthdays and anniversaries for the month of
November today is November 3rd, and it is miss Ariel Sheboyan's
Birthday and also Gideon Gibbs birthday. So happy birthday to both of them and then later this week
We have miss angel Vincent's birthday on November 5th Jonathan de Diosa's birthday on November 6 and Jocelyn Zuniga's birthday on
November 8th praise report money matters all of those things are there for you to look at and
Just real quickly if you are a first-time guest if it's your first time here at Verity Baptist Church
We're so glad you're with us
We have a gift we'd like to give you as you walk out of the church building this
Morning as you go on our main foyer there, you'll see a little table set up and on that table
You'll see these little gift bags. Please grab one on your way out as a gift from us
You for being our guests this morning
There are several resources in this bag that we'd like you to have the one I like to highlight is this documentary that our church
Made it's called being Baptist. It's very well-made very interesting
We think you'll like it and we wanted to give this to you as a gift
So, please make sure you don't leave here this morning without grabbing one of these gift bags on your way out
And if you are a guest we'd ask that you please take a moment to fill out the communication card
Which is inserted in your bulletin if you need a pen
You can just raise your hand and one of our ushers can bring you by a Verity Baptist Church pen
And we'd love to have a record of your attendance
We would actually like to send you something in the mail a little gift in the mail
But we need your information to do that
So, please take a moment to fill the card out and here in a moment when we're done with the announcements
We're gonna sing a song when we're done singing
We're gonna receive the offering as the offering plate goes by you can drop that card in the offering plate
And I think that's it for all of the announcements
So we're gonna go ahead and sing the chorus of the week, which is the insert in your bulletin
And we're going to sing God will take care of you
Be not dismayed. Whatever be tight to sing it out on the first be not dismayed
Whatever be tight. God will take care of you
Beneath his wings of love abide God will take care of you
God will take care of you through every day
Take care of you
God will take care of you good sing it out on the second through
Days of toil when heart that fail God will take care of you
When dangers fierce your paths assail God will take care of you
God will take care of you through every day
We'll take care of you
God will take care of you
All you may need he will provide God will take care of you
You ask will be denied God will take care
God will take care of you
Every
All the way
We'll take care of you
Take care of you good sing it up on the last no matter what
We'll take care of you
Lean weary one upon his breast God will take care of you
God will take care of you through every day
All the way
We'll take care of you
God will take care of you
Amen good singing before the guys come up just a quick reminder that we of course are a family integrated church
What that means is that children and infants always walk them in the service
We do not separate children from their parents for any reason
However, we do have mother-baby rooms and daddy rooms available for your convenience all of the rooms that's comfortable seating
They've got windows or monitors set up so you can watch the service and listen to it
So if you have a child that's being distracting during the service
So if you need some privacy
We would encourage you to please use those rooms if you're not sure where they're at
You can look at the back of the bulletin and you'll see a layout of the church building
It'll show you where the mother-baby rooms are where the daddy room is. It'll show you where the restrooms are
also, don't forget that if you
What need to be baptized would like to be baptized need information about baptism
You can let us know on your communication card on the back
You can check off that you'd like information about baptism and we'll follow up with you in regards to that
And then of course if you wouldn't mind
Making sure your cell phones are turned off or on silent or vibrate so that they don't go off in the middle of the preaching
We'd appreciate your help with that right now
It'd be a good time to just check your phone and make sure it's not gonna go off in the middle of the sermon
We'd appreciate that
We'll have the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time and let's bow our heads and have a word
of prayer
Heavenly Father Lord, we do love you and we thank you for allowing us to gather together today Lord
We pray that you would bless the offering the gift and the giver. We pray Lord that you would
continue to meet our financial needs here and Lord we pray that you would meet with us as we
Open up your word and as we study the Bible together help us Lord to have hearts ready to receive your word
Ears ready to hear help us to minimize distractions in Jesus name we pray. Amen
You
Turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 2
Ephesians chapter 2 if you do not have a Bible, please raise your hand and an usher will bring you one
Ephesians chapter 2 we will read the entire chapter as our custom
Ephesians chapter 2 just keep your hands up and an usher will bring you a Bible
Ephesians chapter 2 the Bible reads and
You hath he quickened who were dead and trespasses and sins
Wherein in time past he walked according to the course of this world
According to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience
Among whom also we all had conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath even as others but God
Who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us?
Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by grace
He are saved and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding richness of his grace and his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus
For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves?
It is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast
For we are his workmanship
Created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
Wherefore remember that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh who are called uncircumcision by that
Which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands that at the time you were without Christ
being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and
Strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ
For he is our peace who hath
Made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contained in ordinances
For to make in himself of twain one new man
So making peace and he that might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross
Having slain the enmity thereof and came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh
For through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners
But fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets
Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord in
Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the spirit. Let's pray
Lord God Almighty
Thank you for this church. Thank you for pastor. Please strengthen him
Please let this sermon edify us and honor you in the name of Jesus Christ. I pray amen
Amen
All right, we're there in the book of Ephesians Ephesians chapter number two
And of course as we've been announcing it today we are
Going to finish up our sermon series on the subject of the spirit world and we've been studying the spirit world
It's been a doctrinal series. We've learned about heaven and hell angels demons last week. We learned about the devil and
This week we are going to study spiritual warfare
And really there's too much to say about spiritual warfare. We'll just kind of cover
Some basic things and what we're gonna do is we're gonna look at three different aspects in regards to spiritual warfare, and I'll give you
these different
Points or headings up front if you'd like to have them up front
We're gonna look at the ranks the rivals and the realms of spiritual warfare
And we're gonna look at what the Bible teaches about these things and
We'll begin here of course in Ephesians chapter 2 with the ranks of spiritual warfare
And if you're taking notes, and I always encourage you to take notes on the back of your course the week
There's a place for you to write
Some of these things down now the reason that I say the ranks of spiritual warfare is because of the fact that
We've been we've talked about this we talked about it last week when we learned about the devil. We are in a
In a fight, that's what spiritual warfare is all about it's war
But not a physical war a spiritual war and within that spiritual war
There are armies. There is a military both
For God and against God that are working towards that now you're there in Ephesians chapter 2
just flip over real quickly to Ephesians chapter number 6 and
Look at verse number 11 Ephesians chapter number 6 and verse number 11 just to show you these are famous verses
of course about the subject of spiritual warfare Ephesians chapter 6 and
Verse number in fact look at verse 10 just for sake of context Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10 the Bible says finally my brethren
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and then we get into the subject of
This spiritual fight you and I find ourselves in put on the whole armor of God
We're told that we as individuals have been enlisted
Into this fight if you're a Christian if you're a believer you are a soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ
And we are commanded here to put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand the wiles of the devil
That's our enemy for we wrestle not against flesh and blood
I want you to notice there the Bible is teaching us here that our warfare that we engage in is not a physical warfare
We're not fighting with flesh and blood human beings we wrestle not against flesh and blood
But the Bible says against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world
against spiritual wickedness in high places
This is what we are engaged in the spiritual fight that we
must
Participate in and for that reason the Bible says in verse 13 wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God
That you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand and of course the passage goes into
The description of the armor of God and I've preached on that many times and and I won't go into that
This morning, but I want you to notice that
we are engaged in a fight there is a
military that is against us and you yourself if you're saved this morning are in the military of the Lord Jesus Christ and
This military has a ranking system. It has a chain of command. I'd like you to notice first of all this morning
The ranks the chain of commands of the bad guys now if you go back to Ephesians chapter 2 and look at verse number 1
Ephesians chapter 2 in verse 1 the Bible says this and you have the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins
Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world
According to and I want you to notice this phrase the prince of the power of the air
The prince of the power of the air now if you're saved this morning
You're in the army of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ is your captain. He is our commander-in-chief
He's the great king of kings and Lord of Lords
But on the other side there is the prince of the power of the air and of course
We know that that is referring to the devil himself
But he is the one who's in charge of the other side. He's the commander-in-chief of
The rulers of the darkness of this world
He is the person in charge of what we would refer to as the bad guys the prince of the power of the air
the spirit that now worketh in the children of
Disobedience and of course the children of disobedience is a reference to unsaved people and the idea is this that he is
In charge of this world. He is the prince of the power of the air the word
We just saw in Ephesians 6 we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against
Principalities and the word prince has to do with someone who is first or in charge
In a school the person in charge is referred to as a principal and here we see that
He is the prince of the power of the air now
Do me a favor keep your place there in Ephesians put a ribbon or a bookmark or something there because we're gonna leave it
And we're gonna come back to it throughout the sermon and I'd like for you to be able to get to it quickly
And I'd like for you to go with me if you would to the book of Matthew Matthew chapter 9
It's a first book in the New Testament. So it should be fairly easy to find Matthew chapter number 9 and
This morning is gonna be a Bible study where I'm gonna give you the doctrine
In regards to spiritual warfare and then we'll end with some applications
Matthew chapter 9 if you would Matthew chapter 9 in verse 34 the Bible says this but the Pharisees said
Matthew 9 34, but the Pharisees said he and this is the Pharisees referring to Jesus
Jesus has been casting out devils casting out demons the Bible says this is what they said
He cast without Devils through I want you to notice what they said here the prince of the Devils now
What they are doing is they're accusing
Jesus of having the ability to cast out Devils and he's doing it through the power of the prince of the Devils
They're literally saying that Jesus himself is demon-possessed or devil-possessed and that he's possessed by none other than the devil himself that he's possessed by
Satan and of course
Jesus rebukes them for this but I want you to notice here when the Bible tells us
And when they refer to the devil as the prince of the Devils we saw in Ephesians 2
He is the prince of the power of the air. So we see that there is this chain of command
within the system of
The devil and his angels the fallen angels and we and I'm not gonna cover a lot of that
We we studied the devil last week and the the fallen angels the demons the week before that
But we see this chain of command
Let me give you another verse go to Luke chapter number 11
If you would you're there in Matthew you go past Mark into Luke Luke chapter number 11 and verse number 15 now in Luke
11 15 we have the exact same story that we just saw in Matthew 9
It's a parallel passage
But I just want you to see a different word that's used
Synonymously with Prince because we saw in Ephesians 2 to that
He is the prince of the power of the air
We saw in Matthew 9 34 that they referred to him as the prince of the Devils in Luke chapter 11 verse 15
The Bible says but some of them said
He casted out Devils again. This is them accusing Jesus of how he's doing this. He casted out Devils through Beelzebub
Beelzebub and Beelzebub is the name of a false god
and there's many false gods that are mentioned in the Bible that people believed in but Beelzebub is Satan himself and
I don't have time to
Go into all of that. You can study that out on your own but it's a reference to the Old Testament God of Baal
and here he's being referred to as Beelzebub or Beelzebub and
Here we're told that he casted out Devils through Beelzebub
Which is Satan and then notice how they refer to him the chief of the Devils the chief of the Devils
So we saw that he's the prince of the Devils here. We see that he's the chief of the Devils
We saw that he's the prince of the power of the air the word chief means a leader or a ruler
and
the of course in
Tribe of Indians the chief was the leader the ruler in the Air Force. We had a chief master sergeant. He's the top of
all enlisted
Individuals the word chief means to be in charge. You're the ruler you're the leader and here we're told that Beelzebub
Is the chief of the Devils Satan is the chief of the devil
So we see that there's a ranking system for the bad guys
But let me show you real quickly that there is also a ranking system for the good guys now
You have your place on Ephesians continue to keep your place there, but go with me if you would to the book of Jude
It's one chapter right before the book of Revelation the book of Jude is just a one
Chapter book very small book and it's right before the book of Revelation book of Revelation is the last book of course in the old in
the New Testament
Jude
Chapter 1 and I'd like you to look down at verse number 9 Jude 1 9 so we saw the bad guys
They've got the prince of the power of the air
They've got the prince of the Devils or the chief of the Devils and then the good guys Jude 1 9 notice what the Bible
says here yet Michael
Now when it comes to angels there, there's there's not many angels that are named to us that are given to us by name
Lucifer of course is one he's a fallen angel then we have Michael and Gabriel those are good angels
And then we have a bad in
In the book of Revelation that is also a good angel though some people think he's a bad angel because he's in charge of hell
But he's actually a good guy in Jude 1 9 the Bible says and Michael
But I want you to notice how Michael is referred to he's referred to as the archangel
Michael the archangel and I'll we'll talk a little bit about that term archangel in a minute, but this
Phrase seems to indicate some sort of a high rank he isn't just an angel, but he is an archangel
This is also you don't have to turn here, but if you remember in 1st Thessalonians 4 16 the
Famous chapter of the rapture the Bible says that the Lord himself shall descend with a shout with the voice of the archangel
So we see that Michael is an archangel, so I want you to notice that there seems to be a ranking system
Within the angels of course we know Michael is the leader of the angels the good guys and here
He's referred to as an archangel, and I do want you to notice in verse 9 there
It says yet Michael the archangel when contending with the devil, so I want you to notice that there's a contention here. There's a
They're contending they're fighting they're at war when contending with the devil
He disputed about the body of Moses does not bring against him a railing accusation, but said the Lord rebuke thee
Do me a favor
Continue to keep your place there in Ephesians and go with me
If you would to the book of Daniel in the Old Testament Daniel chapter number 10 Daniel chapter number 10
I know we're flipping to a lot of passages, and that's probably normal around here, but I'd like you to
Just see these verses Daniel chapter 10 towards the end of the Old Testament
You've got the big books of the prophets the major prophets Isaiah Jeremiah
Lamentations Ezekiel and then after Ezekiel you have the book of Daniel
Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel and then the book of Daniel Daniel chapter number 10 I
Just want you to notice this ranking system. We see within the good guys and the bad guys the bad guys
He's the prince of the power of the air. He's the prince of the devil's he's the chief of the devil's the good guys
We have Michael the archangel
Which seems to indicate a higher rank than the other angels Daniel chapter 10 if you look at verse number 13?
Daniel chapter 10 in verse 13 the Bible says this but the prince of the kingdom of Persia
I don't have time to get into Daniel 10. It's it's a it's very interesting chapter
You should read it on your own and study it out
but this is actually a chapter referring to spiritual warfare and the prince of the kingdom of Persia is actually a
Reference to a demon or a devil that is in charge of the kingdom of Persia and it says here
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia what stood me one in 20 days, but lo
This is an angel speaking about how he's being withstood by the prince of the kingdom of angels of Persia
But then he says but lo notice what he says Michael
So this is a Michael the archangel
Notice how he refers to Michael one of the chief princes
So we see that Michael is not just a prince because the Bible refers to these angels
Both fallen and not as princes or principalities. That's why Ephesians 6 says we wrestle not against flesh and blood
Who are we wrestling against the devil and his devils and his demons?
We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers against principalities
And here the Bible tells us Michael one of the chief princes. So he's not just a prince of principalities
We know he's a he's an archangel came to help me and I remain there with the king of Persia
Look at Daniel chapter 12 in verse 1 in Daniel chapter 12 in verse 1
So we see that Michael is referred to as one of the chief princes Daniel chapter 12 in verse 1
The Bible says this and at that time shall
Michael stand up notice how he's referred to here the great prince
Which standeth for the children of thy people and then of course it goes on to talk about
Things regarding end times, but again, I want you to notice that Michael is referred to as the great prince
So, let me just say this the Bible is clear about the fact that Michael is an angel
He's the archangel
Jehovah's Witnesses like to teach that Michael is Jesus and the reason they want to do that is because they want to lower
Jesus to the place of an angel, but of course that is blasphemy the Bible says
That that in in Hebrews
It tells us that the father has never referred to an angel as a son
Unto which of the angel said he at any time thou art my son to say have I begotten thee and we know that Jesus
Is not an angel, but we do see that Michael is one of the top angels. He is an archangel
He's referred to as the chief one of the chief princes. He's referred to as the great prince now you're there in Daniel
Go backwards with me into the book of Ezekiel. Let me just show you something that I think is interesting and
You may or may not think it's interesting, but I think it's worth noting especially since we're here in Daniel Daniel
You're there in Daniel. So just flip back into the book of Ezekiel
Ezekiel chapter 28
Now if you remember our sermon last Sunday on the subject of the devil
We looked at Ezekiel 28 and we saw how Ezekiel 28 was about the devil it begins with God speaking to
Him and referring to the fact that he was in Eden the Garden of God
And I'm not gonna take the time to go through that we studied that last week and you can look at look at that on
Your own but I want you to notice in Ezekiel 28 in verse 14
The Bible says this thou this is God through Ezekiel speaking to Satan
He says thou are the anointed cherub
That covereth so here in Ezekiel 28, we know that Satan
Is was an angel. He's a fallen angel. His name is Lucifer. We're told that in Isaiah 14 here
We're told that specifically what type of angel he was that he was a cherub
Thou art the anointed cherub that covered but he wasn't just any old cherub
He was a specifically anointed which the word anointed means that he was chosen. He was chosen
He was anointed that the Bible says covereth the anointed cherub that covereth he says and I have set thee so
Look at verse 16 Ezekiel 28 in verse 16
The Bible says by the multitude that I merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence and thou has sin therefore
I will cast thee as profane out of the mount of God
This is of course referring to the fall of the devil and I will destroy thee but I want you to notice what he refers to
He said I'm going to destroy thee Oh
Covering cherub from the midst of the stones of fire. So in Ezekiel 28 in verse 14
Satan is referred to as the anointed cherub that covereth in verse 16. He's referred to as Oh
Covering cherub. So he's a cherub, but he's not just a cherub. He's a covering cherub or a cherub that covers now
I believe and let me just go ahead and I always try to be
Careful to let you know
When I'm going to give you my opinion and I'm gonna give you my opinion
All right, so when I'm teaching you something straight out of the Bible
That's the Word of God and you need to just take that for what it is
but sometimes we give our opinions and and I'm this is just an opinion of mine and I think that
We can draw this out from Scripture. But again, you don't have to believe this. It's just some an interesting thought
but my opinion is this when you
Go to the Old Testament to the book of Exodus and I'm not gonna take the time to do that
Now you can do that on your own we studied through Leviticus and we studied through numbers
And we studied through the book of Hebrews and in all of those books as we've studied it
We've came across if you remember this Ark of the Covenant
when God had the children of Israel in the wilderness Institute the
Tabernacle and the tabernacle is divided into an outer core and then you've got the tent of course
And the tent is divided into the holy place and then the most holy place or the holy of holies and in the holy place
You've got the Ark of the Covenant which
Represented the presence of God and the Ark of the Covenant was really just a fancy box a wooden box
Overlaid with gold and it had poles and different things and certain things inside of it the Ten Commandments manna from heaven
And and you know, it represented the presence of God
This box had a lid if you remember and the lid had a decoration of it of two cherubims
and if you remember the description of the Ark of the Covenant these cherubims were
Images that were put on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant and specifically we're told that their wings were to cover
Their wings were to cover the Ark of the Covenant their wings would
Were would design in such a way that they would go over the ark and they would meet in the middle and they would cover
The ark we know this that all of those things
The tabernacle the holy place the holy of holies all of that is was a picture or a representation of the true
Tabernacle in heaven the true scene in heaven and what the Bible seems to indicate is that in
Heaven and we know that this is true
In in heaven, we've got cherubims and seraphims that are prying out to the Lord day and night saying holy holy holy
The Bible seems to indicate that the throne room in heaven where God himself sits has these covering cherubs these
Cherubims that are covering this anointed cherub that covers which is why the Ark of the Covenant has two of them
Covering the ark. However, we're told that Satan himself was an anointed cherub that cover it
We're also told this and we're gonna see it here in a minute. In fact go with me real quickly to Revelation chapter 12
Last book in the Bible so should be fairly easy to find Revelation chapter 12
And
Look down at verse number
4
Revelation chapter 12 verse 4 the Bible says this and his tail this is referring to Satan here
he's being illustrated as a dragon and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and
We know that the stars of heaven here and I'm gonna prove it to you in a minute
But the stars of heaven are referring to the angels that when Satan went to war with God
The angels had to make a decision and the Bible says that he drew a third part
One-third of the angels followed him now that to me that's an interesting number because it doesn't say he drew half of them
he drew one third of them and
We know that there are two covering angels to cherubims that cover the Ark of the Covenant now
But we know that Satan was also referred to as the anointed cherub that cover it or a covering cherub
This was before he had fallen
So my thought is this and it's just an opinion that it's possible that at the beginning there were three
Covering cherubs and if Satan would have never fallen that Ark of the Covenant would have not had two
But three cherubs that covered the throne room of God
But of course the and that these three covering cherubs would be the ark
angels because if you think of the word ark
Arch what does it mean? The word ark is referring to a curved
Symmetrical structure and this is the shape that these wings give over the Ark of the Covenant
So the Bible seems to indicate and this is just my opinion that there was possibly three ark angels
three covering angels that were all placed in charge of a third of the hosts of the angels and
when Satan fell the anointed cherub that cover it or the covering cherub when he fell his
tail drew a third part of the angels with him because those were the the third part of the angels that
Were under his command and that's why we have those fallen angels again a lot of that is maybe opinion
but I think it's interesting and I think it
Seems to jive with the little snippets of information. We're given here and there throughout scripture
Now you're there in Revelation chapter 12
We began by looking at the ranks of spiritual warfare. And what we see is that there's definitely a prince of the power of the air
There's a prince of the devil's or a chief of the devil's and that there are there's Michael the archangel
He's called the chief prince. He's called a great prince and we see that there's this ranking system
But I want you to notice secondly not only is there a ranking system for spiritual warfare
But there's also the rivals of spiritual warfare and we've already talked about this this a little bit this morning
And we've talked about it in the past. Well, let me just show it to you again
You're there in Revelation 12 look down at verse number 3
Revelation chapter 12 in verse 3 the Bible says this and there appeared another wonder in heaven
And of course John is seeing this
Imagery and it's all symbolic and it's telling him the history of what happened
That brought us to this place
Revelation 12 3 and there appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great red dragon now
The dragon is the devil. It's Satan and I'll prove that to you here in a minute
But this is a representation of the devil and there and behold a great red
dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his head look at verse 4 and
His the dragon's tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven
We've already talked about that
Probably in my opinion referring to the fact that there was probably to begin with three
Archangels all having a third of the angels under their command and when Satan fell he drew the third part of the stars of heaven
with him those became the fallen angels or what we now refer to as devils or demons and
Notice the Bible says did cast them to the earth and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to
Devour her child as soon as it was born. We're talking about that here in a minute. Skip down to verse number seven
I just want you to see the conflict revelation 12 and verse 7 and there was war in heaven. I
Mean stop and I know it's easy for us to read these passages and just read through that but stop and think about that for a
Minute and there was war in heaven the fact that this third heaven where God
Lives where the throne of God is where the angels abide the Bible tells us that there was war in heaven
And notice what it says Michael
We've already seen him referred to as the chief prince or the great prince or the archangel
Michael notice how he has angels under his command Michael and his angels
fought
This is the war
against the dragon and the dragon fought notice and his angels so there's
angels under the command of Michael there's angels under the command of
The dragon
the Bible says there was war in heaven Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his
Angels verse 8 and prevailed not the dragon prevailed not neither was their place found
Anymore in heaven verse 9 and the great dragon
Now, how do we know the dragon is the devil because here we should always allow the Bible to define itself for us
And here the Bible's gonna define itself for us verse 9 and the great dragon was cast out because there was found
No place the Bible says was there in verse 8 he prevailed not he didn't win the war and there was
There was neither place found any more in heaven
So the dragon was cast out and then the Bible goes into all the different titles to make sure we know who is being referred
To here. We're told verse 9 and the great dragon was cast out that old serpent
What is that referring to the Garden of Eden where the serpent appeared to the woman?
called the devil and
Satan so it's real clear who we're talking about and the great dragon was cast out that old serpent
Called the devil and Satan which deceived the whole world. He was cast out into the earth notice and
His angels were cast out with him
So that's how we know that the third part of the stars is referring to
The angels because in verse 4 we're told and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to
The earth verse 9 tells us that he was cast out last part of verse 9 and his angels were cast out with him
so this is
the spiritual warfare
since revelation 12 7
There was war in heaven
And the devil was cast out of heaven
now that spiritual warfare has moved on onto the earth and this is what
We're engaged in this is what we find ourselves in the midst of what we call
Spiritual warfare if you remember Jude 1 9 you have to turn there, but remember we read it Michael the Archangel
Was contending with the devil and that was on earth that was on earth for the body of Moses
So we see the ranks of spiritual warfare
We see the rivals of spiritual warfare the devil is at war and who is he at war with now
We know in general. He's at war with God
We understand that but specifically who is he at war with notice revelation 12 and look at verse number 13
Revelation 12 in verse 13 the Bible says this and when the dragon
Now we already know who the dragon is right because the Bible's already defined it for us that old serpent
Why is he called an old serpent because it was a serpent in the Garden of Eden Garden of Eden was right at the beginning
Of creation you don't get older than that that old serpent the devil Satan gives us all his titles
It doesn't refer to him as Lucifer because Lucifer was actually I know we like to make the name Lucifer some real
Scary and evil and and and all of that, but Lucifer was actually his good name
When he was a good guy God called him Lucifer when he fell God no longer first time as Lucifer and calls him the devil
Or Satan or the dragon that old serpent now notice verse 13 revelation 12 13 and when the dragon saw that he was cast
unto the earth
So he's been thrown out of heaven now
There was war in heaven, but he prevailed not right. There was war that's what Isaiah 14 is telling us about that
Lucifer said in his heart. He said I will ascend into heaven. I will ascend above the stars of heaven
I will ascend to the throne of God. He said I will be like the most high
That's what he wanted to do he prevailed not he's cast onto the earth now this war that began in heaven is
playing out on earth, and it's happening
even right now and
Who is the devil at war with revelation 12 13 and when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth?
He persecuted the woman
Okay, we'll talk about that here in a minute the woman
But he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child now again. We could spend a lot of time on this
I'm not gonna do that one day
I'll preach verse by verse through the book of Revelation, and we'll cover all of it
But let me just say this the woman here that brought forth the man-child. This is referring to the birth of Christ and
the fact that the dragon
Was cast unto the earth he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child
So who is he at war with he's a war Satan is at war with Christ himself and
We see this
Specifically if you want some specific applications to this where do we see this war playing out?
Well, we see it of course right before the birth of Christ
When Herod is having all the children two years old and under put to death
Because he's trying to kill Jesus
He can't he doesn't know where Jesus is
But he knows that Jesus had been born within two years and he's trying to just kill all the children and of course an angel
Appears to Joseph and tells him to take Mary and the child and the baby to Egypt to protect the child
This is what's being referred to when it says and when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth
He persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child
But look it's not just Herod we can go all the way back to Egypt when Pharaoh was trying to kill all the male
Children of the children of Israel and and have them killed. Why why was that happening?
Why has any of this happened throughout history?
It's all been a war against Christ ever since Abraham
Received that Abrahamic covenant that through his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed and we know that's a reference to the Lord
Jesus Christ the devil has been at war with that woman
Which brought forth the man-child
Trying to keep that man-child from being born
But I want you to notice that not only is the devil at war with Christ
But the devil is also at war with us
This is why this should matter to you
Maybe you're here this morning. You're like, well, this is all interesting. But what does this have to do with me?
Here's what it has to do with you. The devil wants to destroy you
The devil wants to destroy your testimony. The devil wants to destroy your
marriage the devil wants to destroy your
Rearing of your children the devil wants to destroy this church
You
May not realize it or care, but you need to know this the devil's at war with you in
Revelation 12 and verse 17 the Bible says this and the dragon was wroth with the woman and
Went to make war with the remnant of her seed
He said well, who's that?
Now remember the child is Jesus and now he's going to make war with the remnant of her seed
Which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus
Why is the devil at war with me? What did I ever do to the devil?
Well, if you when you got saved and you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
And you called upon him for salvation and you became a child of God you receive the testimony of Jesus Christ
And because the devil hates Christ he hates you
He's at war with Christ and he's at war with us
He went to make war with the remnant of the seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ
And of course, we know that this is all going to come to a climax in the end times
We understand that but we also need to understand this that he is at war with us now
This is why the Bible says go with me
If you went to the book of Genesis Genesis chapter 3 first book in the Bible while you turn there
Let me just remind you of 1st Peter 5 8 where the Bible says be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil
As a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour he's at war with you
And he's not at war with you and he's not at war with me because you're special or I'm special
He's at war with you and he's at war with me because we represent the Lord Jesus Christ and because the Lord Jesus Christ
happens to love us
Because God loves us and God cares about us because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever
Believin in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God wants is going to be hurt
When the devil destroys you
his goal is to send as many people to hell to hurt God and hurt Christ and
His goal is to those that he's already lost those that are already saved
To disqualify them
To make them a casualty in the spiritual warfare
But the war is against Christ
And against us notice the Genesis 3 15 this is from the very beginning
We know that
In the garden Satan had already fallen
He's that old serpent and if you look at Genesis 3 15 after Eve
Listens to Satan and Adam listens to his wife and the fall of man occurs
God is giving them the consequences of sin and we won't go into all the details
But let me show you what he says to the woman and to the serpent Genesis 3 15
God says and I will put enmity
What enmity means open
opposition open hostility
I will put enmity between thee speaking to the serpent the devil and the woman
referring to Eve and
between
thy seed the devil seed
reprobates the children of the devil and her seed
That's what we read about in Revelation 12 17
The remnant of her seed which keep the commandment of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ
It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel now. Let me just say this real quickly
I don't want to get into this rabbit trail, but I just want to answer the question just real quickly
I'm not even gonna prove it to you
I'm just gonna tell you what I think and you can wait till I preach the revelation for me to prove it to you if
That's what you need, but people often debate. Well, who's this woman? He makes war with this woman
Who's this woman because some people believe that it's that it's Mary
Mary gives birth to Christ and and and so therefore this woman must be married then others believe
Well, it must be the nation of Israel and and the children of Israel because Jesus was physically a descendant of Abraham and came through
the nation of Israel or some people say well
It must be Eve because of what we just read Genesis 3 15 and I would say this that the Bible is so deep that
I believe it's all three of them. I think the woman represents all of them
It represents Eve in the sense that the devil is at war with all humanity
It represents the children of Israel in the sense that yeah
You can't I mean we just talked about Pharaoh trying to destroy the children of Israel all the way in Egypt
All the way to the birth of Christ there has been at war a war
against the children of Israel in the Old Testament
Where the devil is trying to destroy them because of the fact that they would bring forth the Lord Jesus Christ and then of course
Christianity we know that devil is at war with Christians
We know that there's one day coming the mark of the beast which the whole point and purpose of the mark of the beast is
Identify believers to kill them
So I think that the woman at times is representative of all three and you may disagree with me and that's okay
But we see that he's an enmity with
All humanity the devil hates all humanity
but specifically Christians
Because he hates Christ so we see the ranks of spiritual warfare
The bad guys the prince of the power of the air the prince of the Devils the chief of the Devils
The good guys we saw Michael the archangel and probably a reference
I think to the fact that there was that an archangel means that he's one of those covering cherubs. We know that
Lucifer was one of those covering cherubs and the fact that
Lucifer had a third of the angels under his command makes me think that there was possibly three covering cherubs that had
Third part of each of the angels under their command and after
Lucifer fell now we only have two possibly covering cherubs
Which is why when Moses instructed to make the ark you have two cherubs that are covering the ark and you know
Who is who are the two? I don't know if I have to guess I would say Michael and Gabriel
Those are just the two that are mentioned the most
Out of I mean, they're really the only ones other than Abaddon in Revelation
But we don't know and and those are all guesses we talked about the ranks of spiritual warfare
We talked about the rivals of spiritual warfare now
Let's talk about the realms of spiritual warfare the realms of spiritual warfare now. You're there in Genesis 3
I'd like you to go over to Genesis chapter 28
Genesis chapter number 28 and while you turn there, let me just read to you a couple of verses or a few verses
The realms of spiritual warfare and
Just listen to this you go to Genesis 28, but just listen to this while you turn there
the physical world and the spiritual world at
all times coexist
We exist
amongst each other
the
spiritual world and the physical world or the invisible world and the visible world are in
Existence at the same time and here's what I want you to understand the spirit world
We've been in this series for several weeks now on the subject of the spirit world
The spirit world is an invisible world that exists amongst us
It's not like we're in the physical world and then somewhere
Away from us. There's this spirit world. Now. We know that somewhere away from us. There's a place called heaven
We understand that and there's even a lake of fire in the outermost parts
Of space we understand that but when we're talking about the spiritual world it is existing amongst us
This is why Ephesians 6
That's the key verse on spiritual warfare for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers
against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual weakness high places if you look at the teaching in Daniel and you
Look at the teaching in Ezekiel. He's referring to
Physical kings the king of Tyrus the king of Persia
Physical literal politicians, but then he's referring to the devil and the demon that controls them
Because there's a spiritual and a physical world. Look Joe Biden is a wicked individual
He is a ruler of this world, but you know, there's a devil. There's a Joe Biden devil
That's the ruler of the darkness that's controlling him
That's just the reality
There the the spiritual world and and there's one for
Kamala, I mean there's probably lots for Kamala and there's and there's one for Donald Trump. I'm sure okay
So whatever do what you want with that?
This world is
Controlled he's the lowercase G god of this world
He's the prince of the power of the air
So
The physical world and the spiritual world it coexist
I know we don't want to use that word now because of the bumper sticker, but I'm not I'm not talking about coexisting religions
I'm talking about the fact that the spiritual world affairs the physical world. They they exist at the same time in the same place
There's spiritual warfare going on right now, I'm sure
The devil trying to distract you and keep you from hearing the truth of the Word of God
You you're in Genesis 28, let me just read to you some verses
Okay, and we've read these already in our series
So I'm not gonna have you turn to them
But I'll just read these to you to remind you Colossians 1 16 says for by him referring to Jesus
We're all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth
Visible that's the physical world and invisible
That's the spirit world whether there be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created by him and for him
So in the same way that the physical world
Has thrones and dominions and powers and principalities the spirit world also has
Thrones dominions principalities powers and they overlap with each other
so the physical world in the spiritual world at all times at
All times coexist if you remember we read this story
Earlier and again, I'm don't turn here. Let me just read it to you or remind you second Kings 617
Remember when the the servant of Elisha woke up one day and Elisha the prophet had so angered the Syrians that he wakes up one
Day and he realizes that the entire Syrian army has surrounded them and is there to capture them
And he's afraid and he's scared
And he says to the prophet Elisha
What are we gonna do and in second Kings 617 the Bible says and Elisha prayed and said Lord I pray thee
Open his eyes referring to his servant that he may see and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man
And he saw and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about
Elisha and
He couldn't see it the servant because it was invisible
But while there was a physical army around them
There was this invisible army around the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around about Elisha
and here's what you and I need to understand we are at all times as
We walk through this physical world. We're also
In the spiritual world, it's invisible to us. We don't see it, but it's happening
Look, you just need to understand it's part of the life we live in
So when you're giving the gospel to that individual and you knock on the door and you find that individual
Happens to be extremely interested in the subject of the gospel and and and and very receptive and you start preaching the gospel to them
And they're engaged and they're learning they're saying and doesn't it always seem like right when you get
Ready to bring it to an end and and lead them in that
Sinners prayer that they might call upon the Lord doesn't seem like that's when the phone goes off the baby starts crying the dog bites
Them, you know all these things
You say what is that?
It's spiritual warfare
That's why you know, I think you know, the the
Soul-winding partner needs to take the the bite, you know, put put your foot there. Let the dog bite you and I'm kidding
All right, please don't do that
It's spiritual warfare
So the physical world and spiritual world at all times
Coexist at all times, but let me just say this the physical world and the spiritual world sometimes intersects
Let me just show you a few verses on this and
I'm just gonna show it to you guys in the Bible and you do what you want with it. Genesis 28 10
Genesis 28 10 and Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. Remember this is Jacob running away from home and
He lighted upon a certain place and tarred there all night because the Sun was set
and he took of the stones of that place and put them for his pillows and
lay down in that place to sleep and he dreamed and behold a
ladder set up on the earth and
The top of it reached to heaven and behold the angels of God
ascending and descending on it and
behold the Lord stood above it and said I am the Lord God of Abraham my father and the God of Isaac and the land
Where now lies?
To thee will I give it to thy seed. I want you to notice that here we have a story where
Jacob is in this certain place and those spiritual and the spirit world and the physical world
Coexist at all times and there's always spiritual activity going on around us
it seems that this is a place where it's not just a coexistence of the spiritual world, but an
intersection of the spiritual world
We're here in this place
He says there's this ladder
That reached to heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it here in this place
There seems to be this
crossing over between the spiritual world and the spirit in the in the in the physical world verse 13 and behold the Lord stood above
It and said I know the Lord is standing at the top of this ladder and he's saying I am the Lord God of Abraham
My father and the God of Isaac the land and he's talking about the physical land where he's at
The land wherein thou liest to thee will I give it to thy seed
Genesis 28 13 look at verse number 14 in Genesis 28 13 verse 14
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth
and thou shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south and
In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed notice the same
Covenant being made here with Jacob who later be known as Israel
And behold I'm with thee that that was made with Abraham and behold
I'm with thee and will keep thee in all places whether thou goest
I will bring thee again into the land and I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken
Spoken to thee of now notice verse 16 and Jacob awake out of his sleep and he said
Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not
Now that's the fact that there's spirit
There's a spiritual world Jacob says I just walked into this cave and there's all sorts of the spiritual activity happening here
There's this ladder and angels ascending and descending and the Lord is in this place. He said and I knew it not
Look at verse 17, and he is afraid and said how dreadful is this place?
This is none other but I notice it the house of God
And this is the gate of heaven
So
The Bible seems to tell us that though the physical and spiritual world
Coexist and we interact as we interact in this physical world
We also interact with the spiritual world the Bible seems to tell us that there are places
There are certain places that seem to be places where the spiritual world in the physical world
Intersect and in fact, he uses this term. He says this is the gate of heaven
I want you to notice nothing in the Bible is incidental coincidental or accidental
He says this is the house of God and
This is the gate of heaven
Now it wasn't it wasn't the physical cave. It's it's that this is where God was
We know that later in the Old Testament the tabernacle is referred to as the house of God
We know that the temple is referred to as the house of God
We know that in the New Testament the Bible tells us that the house of God is the Church of the Living God
the pillar and ground of the truth
Look I believe that Bible believing churches real I'm not talking about fund centers that call themselves churches. I'm out real
churches where Christian people congregate the Word of God is preached and where spiritual work is being done is a place where
The spirit world and the physical world intersect
What I think is interesting is that most Christians look I'm not talking about this physical place
Jacob was sleeping in a cave with a stone as his pillow
We're not talking about these beautiful beams and this beautiful building. We're not talking about these chairs
But Jacob said God is doing something
Something is happening here
I walked into this place and and God is here and the work of God is being done here and something
Spiritual and special is being done here, and he said
The Bible says there in verse 16 and Jacob awakes out of his sleep and said surely the Lord is in this place
And I knew it not I
Wonder how many of you walked in here this morning?
Distracted with your finances distracted with sports
Distracted with life and fighting with your spouse or fighting with your children or fighting with whoever
Walked into this place, and you don't realize that the Lord is in this place
and I knew it not I
missed it
You're not awake to the fact
That this life is not just about you and this physical aspect is not just about us, but there is more going on
There's a spiritual battle going on
He says how dreadful is this place? This is none other, but the house of God. This is the gate of heaven
You know we need to get back to the place where we make the house of God a dreadful place again a
holy place again
When you wake up on a Sunday morning
You don't just wake up and say well
I I got to be there because I got to be there for orchestra and I got to be there because I'm an usher I'm
On the safety team or I got to be there because I got to do this I got to do that
But when you say I got to be there because I want to meet with God this morning
Because I want to meet with God's people because it's a dreadful place and a special place
It's where God meets with his people and I'm here to tell you that when you're at the grocery store
There's an intersection between the spiritual world and the physical world when you're at your job
There's an intersection between the spiritual world
Physical world at the park there is that too
But there are certain places on this earth where all of a sudden the place itself is not special
But the presence of God makes it special where Moses walks up to a burning bush and the voice from the bush says take thine
Shoes from off thy feet for the place without standards is holy ground
What made it holy not the bush not the flame the presence of God?
And you and I need to realize that what makes this place special is that God's people meet here and the word of God is
Open here in the spirit of God ministers to us, and we ought to take it specially. It's a special thing
Every time you knock on the door and ask someone if I can show you from the Bible
How you know for sure you're on your way to heaven?
And you open up the word of God all of a sudden that becomes a special place a holy place
Please don't take your shoes off when you're preaching the gospel. I'm not saying that
Some of you are weird, and you like to take things to extremes
What I'm saying is that there's times when we intersect between the spirit and the physical world
Where God begins to work?
and we ought to look at it as a special place and a dreadful place and
say
This is the house of God. This is the gate of heaven
This is where God a spiritual God meets with his physical people I
Just wonder how many of us come in and out of this place Sunday morning Sunday night Wednesday night
distracted and grumbling and
Criticizing and upset and like Jacob we might say surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it now
we see that sometimes the physical and
The spiritual intersect they always coexist, but sometimes they intersect
Let me give you some other examples go to revelation if you would revelation chapter 4
Revelation chapter 4 sometimes the Bible tells us sometimes
Though the spiritual and physical they're there they coexist one's invisible one visible
Sometimes the curtain is drawn back, and there's this interaction between the spiritual and the physical world
You better believe it happens every time you're by your head with a sinner, and they call upon Jesus
Revelation 4 and verse 1 here's John being caught up
The Bible says after this I looked and behold I
Want you to notice this I looked and behold
The Bible says a door was opened in heaven
See it doesn't matter how how fancy of a telescope you have it doesn't matter
How fancy of a telescope scientist we can look up to heaven and look up to heaven
We'll see the stars and the Milky Way we see the different planets
We see all that, but you're never going to see the spirit world unless God opens the door
Behold the door was open in heaven in the first voice
Which I heard was as it were over trumpet talking me talking with me
Which said come up hither, and I will show you things which must be here after
Now that happened especially for John at the beginning revelation
So he could see the events of the end times and write them down for us
But let me show you when it all happened for all of us revelation 614
revelation chapter 6 and verse 14
the Bible says this and
the heaven
departed as a scroll
When it is rolled together and every mountain and island were moved out of their place
You know the Bible is telling us that after the rapture
There's coming a time frame known as the wrath of God and the Bible tells us that at that time the heavens
Will be rolled back as a scroll and they'll be for the first time in all of human history an open
Interaction between the spirit world and the physical world that why do you think that hell gets open at all?
I mean you've got these scorpions with heads of lions and a hair of women and all this stuff attacking men
Why is this happening during the wrath of God because the heaven is departed as a scroll?
God pulls back this curtain that separates the spirit and the physical world
And every mountain and island were moved out of their place
Let me show you another time this happens revelation 19 and verse 11
This is of course the glorious coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
He's coming on a white horse and we are coming with him those of us that are saved
the Bible says in Revelation 1911 he's coming from heaven a
Spiritual place coming down to earth the Bible says that he'll set his foot down on the physical mount of olives
And when his physical foot touches the mountain the mountain will split
an interaction between the spirit and the physical and the Bible says in Revelation 1911 and I saw heaven open and
Behold the white horse the knee that sat on him was called faithful and true and righteous. I see the judge and make
Look at it
It's always been this war
spiritual warfare
So we see the ranks of spiritual warfare. We see the rivals of spiritual warfare
We see the realms of spiritual warfare and look you and I need to understand that
The spirit world and the physical world coexist. We're always interacting between the spiritual and the physical. We're always interacting
But there are special times in special places and the place itself doesn't make it special but the work of God makes it special
Where the spirit world and the physical world interact?
They intersect
And this battle
Rages on go back if you were to Ephesians chapter 6
We'll finish this up. I'll give you got several verses. I want to show you
We talked about the ranks of the spiritual warfare the bad guys have their chain of command the good guys have their chain of command
The rivals they're at war with Christ and they're at war with us
the realms
There's a spiritual war around us
Elijah could see it his servant couldn't most of us couldn't I remember back in 2016 we had this big protest
Well, we didn't have this big protest
they had this big protest against our church and
On that day the news outlets reported that there were
Up to a thousand people here. I don't know if that's true or not. That's just what they reported
I know that there was a sea of people not here. We're in building in Northgate
Remember on that day, you know our little church was there
And if you remember we the the police were there and they and they were the 200 police officer
I think sheriffs and whatever were there and they had to create this pathway to allow people to come into church and all
Around the building. I mean a sea of people again. I don't know what the number was
They said it could have been a thousand people. I'm not sure if that's sure or not, but there was a lot of people
But you know on that day if you and I would have had spiritual eyes
I think what we would have seen is this host of protesters against our church
We would have seen an army of angels surrounding our church
Protecting us on that day
Helping us on that day on that day engaging with us in this battle of spiritual warfare
Ephesians chapter 6 we've already looked at these verses, but I just want you to see it again
This is why the Bible says put on the whole armor of God
Look tomorrow morning when you and I wake up
We don't need to wake up and say oh, it's just Monday. What are we gonna do today?
We need to wake up and realize I'm in a war today
I'm in a battle today
and because of it I need look you went when when when a soldier is deployed to a battlefield when during the
fights and things in Afghanistan and Iraq when
People don't deploy to Iraq and just wake up and say what what am I gonna do today?
You know they woke up and and and they realize they're in a war zone
I'm in a war zone, so I'm gonna put a breastplate on I'm gonna put a helmet on
And what the Bible is telling us that you and I should wake up tomorrow morning and realize we are in a spiritual war zone
Put on the whole armor of God
That you may be able to stand against the wows of the devil
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness
in high places
It's a fight that we must engage in
Go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 you're there in Ephesians you go past if you go backwards you go past
escalations into 2nd Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter
number
10
2nd Corinthians chapter 10 in verse 3
2nd Corinthians 10 in verse 3 notice it again
References to this battle we find ourselves in 2nd Corinthians 10 in verse 3 for though we walk in the flesh
That's the physical world
For though we walk in the flesh look at it. We do not war after the flesh
I'm not I'm not at war with a physical person
Why for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal?
The weapons of our warfare are not physical
They're not of this world
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds
We must engage in
the spiritual warfare
Now what does that mean?
Let me just give you just quickly. I know I'm out of time
But let me just give you these thoughts just real quickly go back to Ephesians chapter 2 if you would
Ephesians chapter 2
And look look down at verse number 1 again. This is where we started
What does this mean
Ephesians 2 and verse 1 the Bible says and you had the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins is that you this morning
I hope it is
You were dead in trespasses and sins now you're quickened you're saved you're in the family of God
When in time past you walked according to the course of this world
That should be the testimony of every Christian that before I was saved. I walked according to the course of this world not anymore
According to the prince of the power of the air
Look at the words the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience
Among whom also we all had our conversation in time past in the lust of our flesh fulfilling
Desires of the flesh and of the mind and we were by nature children of wrath even as others
You say what does the devil want in this fight?
You know what the devil wants he wants as many of the soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ
To walk in the course of this world
To
Walk under the influence of the prince of the power of the air
To fulfill
the lust of the flesh
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind if
He can cause you to not engage if he can cause Christians to not be spiritual. He's one
because it's spiritual warfare and
As long as we're engaged in that which is carnal as long as we're engaged in that which is flesh
As long as we engage in the desires of the flesh the lust of the flesh the thoughts of the flesh
The carnal man the carnal mentality
He's one
If he can get Christians to just walk in the course of this world, he's one
But what is it that's really at stake here?
Go back to 2nd Corinthians if you would chapter 4
2nd Corinthians chapter 4 you kept your place there
If you kept your place in 2nd Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 and look at verse 3
2nd Corinthians chapter 4 in verse 3 the Bible says, but if our gospel be hid look nothing in the Bible is incidental, right?
Coincidental accidental it's not just thrown here for no reason, but if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost
That's the context of verse 4 in whom the God of this world lowercase G
God not big G. God a false God in whom the God of this world talking about Satan have
Blinded the minds look at that word minds
Of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them
What is it that the devil is doing the devil is blinding the mind of them which believe not?
What does it mean to engage in spiritual warfare we are under attack of spiritual warfare and
What is at stake?
the eternal souls of mankind
How do we engage go to acts 26 real quickly and we'll be done acts 26
And look at verse 18 if you're there in 2nd Corinthians
You just go backwards you go past 1st Corinthians Romans in the book of Acts acts 26 verse 18
acts 26 verse 18
How do we engage
Because he wants you to just be distracted
He wants you this is why Paul told Timothy that a good soldier of Jesus Christ
It says they do not entangle themselves in the affairs of this life
They don't get all caught up in the things of this world
Acts 26 verse 18
Here's what the Bible says this is spiritual warfare acts 26 18
When we go out and we do this we are engaging in spiritual warfare to open their eyes
What does the god of this world do he hath blinded the mind of them which believe not
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
Should shine unto them
So what are we he's blinded them? What are we to do to open their eyes?
To turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and
Inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me
I've said this before and I'll say it again everything we do everything we do at Verity Baptist Church falls under these two categories
reaching and teaching
We reach people with the gospel we go out and preach the gospel
We open their eyes to turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins
But then we teach
right
Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the gospel teach the gospel
Teaching them to observe whatsoever. I've commanded you. Jesus said we teach people why why do we disciple people?
Why do we have sermons like this series doctrinal sermons?
Why do we do the things we do all of it is meant to engage and to help you grow in your?
Spiritual life so that you will be a soldier that goes out and fights in the spiritual war for battle
It happens when we go soul winning and it's happening right now when we preach the truth when we open up the Bible and we
Teach the truth of God's Word and we open somebody's eyes to the truth of God's Word
We engage in spiritual warfare
You say why would we have a harvest party? We had a wonderful harvest party by the way
I think it's probably the best harvest party we ever had
I think it helps the fact that we had four acres to use that probably helped us a little bit
You say why would we do a harvest party really one reason what only one reason?
So you can develop friendships within a congregation of believers
To
Help you grow
To help you get connected to help you get engaged so that we can get you ready and send you out into spiritual warfare
It's reaching and teaching
And the problem with the spiritual warfare is this that I think there's many Christians who are missing in action
They're AWOL they're absent without leave I
Hope that you and I will take the things we've learned in the last several weeks and say you know what?
There is a heaven
There is a hell
People will spend eternity in hell. They don't hear the gospel
The only way they can know about heaven is if somebody comes and preaches the gospel to them
There is a devil he wants to destroy you and there is this thing called spiritual warfare
And we must engage in it because we're in it whether we like it or not
Spire heads and I were to prayer Heavenly Father Lord. We do love you
And we thank you for allowing us
To study these things in the Bible learn these things
Lord help us to be cognizant of the fact that though we
Do not see the invisible world it's there
It's coexisting with us
We interact with it
And sometimes we intersect with it
Help us to not come to a place like this without realizing that this is a dreadful place. It's the house of God
It's the gate of heaven
Help us not to come to a place like this and say the Lord was there and I knew it not
Help us we have eyes
Open not physically, but just to the thoughts and the ideas that we are in a spiritual fight
And help us to engage properly
The matchless name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray
Amen. All right, we're gonna have brother Matt
Come and lead us in a final song, but I do just have some real quick final announcements. First of all, I
Forgot to announce this during the bulletin time, but I want to announce it now miss Christine Ortiz many of you know
She gave me permission to announce this she had a stroke and
She and she it happened on Thursday. She's she's doing better. She's actually home now
But she you know, obviously we just want to be in prayer for her and we're asking the church family to be in prayer for
Her but we are setting up. My wife is setting up meals for mr.
See we'd like to be a blessing to her over the next several days
She she she just got home from the hospital and of course
Don't want to have to worry about making herself food or anything like that
So if you could help with bringing a meal, my wife has the sign-up sheet and she can get you sign up
We'd appreciate your help with that
If there's any ladies out there that would like to help bring a meal to miss Christine over the next several days
we would appreciate your help with that and then of course just want to remind you that
tonight we're gonna be finishing our
Sermon series we've been doing this elect election themed series and we talked about the fact that God is not a
Republican and we talked about the fact that the devil is a Democrat
but tonight I'm gonna be preaching a sermon on the subject a biblical perspective on a woman president a
biblical perspective on a woman president and I can promise you this if you love the Bible it won't be offensive to you if you
Don't like the Bible then you know, that's I don't know about that. You should love the Bible
But I want to encourage you to be here and we're gonna look at this of course
We've got a woman that's running for president and I think we should ask Christians to know what does the Bible teach about that?
What does the Bible say about that?
And I'll say this it doesn't matter if it's Kamala Harris or Sarah Palin
We need to just know what the Bible teaches about these things. So biblical perspective on a woman president tonight Sunday night
I have a great sermon
Service lined up for you great sermon. Hopefully lined up for you
It'll be an exciting service most exciting service of the week Sunday night service
So I want to encourage you to be here for that. You're gonna want to be in God's house
This is a dreadful place where we get to meet with the Lord and we'd love for you to join us for that
And then of course
I want to encourage you to bring somebody with you next week and might somebody with you to church
Bring somebody with you when you bring someone to place like this, you know what you're doing
You're engaging in spiritual warfare and you're you're helping the good guys
Reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ disciple people so invite somebody with you next week
If there's anything we can do for you, please let us know
Don't forget to see my wife if you'd like to help bring a meal to miss Christine
Why brother Mac come up and lead us in a final song?
Turn to song 262
To 62
You
262 sing it out on the first
The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin the light of the world is Jesus
Like sunshine at noonday his glory shown in the light of the world
is Jesus
Come to the light is shining for thee
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me
Once I was blind, but now I can see
the light of the world is
Jesus
No darkness have we who in Jesus abide the light of the world is Jesus
We walk in the light when we follow our guide the light of the world is Jesus
Come to the light is shiny for thee
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me
Once I was blind, but now I can see
the light of the world is
Jesus
He dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes the light of the world is
Jesus
Wash at his bidding and light will arise
Jesus
Come to the light is shining for thee
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me
Once I was blind, but now I can see
the light of the world is
Jesus on the last
No need of the sunlight in heaven were told the light of the world is Jesus
Lamb is a light in the city of gold the light of the world is Jesus
Come to the light is shining for thee
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me
Once I was blind, but now I can see
the light of the world is
Jesus
Amen good singing before we leave here if anybody has questions about salvation church membership or baptism pastor be at the door
He'd love to talk to you direct you to someone who's trained to talk to you about that
Brother surge, would you close the prayer for us?
Amen
You