Preparing for the Battle | Part 1

As Christians believe in cold was spiritual about Adrian Rogers malware is a guerrilla war that Satan is waging against one of his chief does not is going to is photography and what we need to do is to counterattack and our commander-in-chief who is the Lord Jesus Christ at the battle between light and darkness, good and evil.

Satan and the Savior.

I just want to call you going battle for your family. I want you to guard your heart and protect your home, whether deliberately finding teaching the profound truth of the Bible simply stated, Adrian Rogers, Satan wages war against because the family is God's design, closeness, intimacy and true love called to battle to guard your hearts and protect their homes, were not wrestling against flesh and blood. We are wrestling against principalities and powers of darkness. But if you're Christian you know that the battle is already one. How will you have your Bible will be reading out of Ephesians chapter 5. Beginning in verse one turn there. Now if you can, as Adrian Rogers shares some things to consider when preparing for the battle turn in your Bibles to Ephesians if you would chapter 5 documentation I about how to guard your heart and therefore ProTect your home now. We talk to you about making a wise choice we told you how Moses chose because it is earned and after he discerned that he refused the things of the devil and chose the things of God and we talk to about how to make a wise choice and then we talk to you next about how to have a clean thought life of pure thought life and God's word is so clear about that but I want to remind you tonight that the chief pornographer is Satan.

Satan is a pervert and actually he is behind the whole pornographic industry were not wrestling against flesh and blood, but were wrestling against principalities and powers and we are looking the book of Ephesians because that's exactly what the apostle Paul was wrestling against in Ephesus, not Ephesus and Corinth were to Twin Cities. They were the cesspools of the first century unspeakable immoralities. We are to See Took Pl. in Ephesus.

As a matter fact I have visited the ruins of Ephesus, and I've seen there in the ruins things I would not want to describe. I would be embarrassed or somewhat embarrassed to walk through the city with other people.

It was the slime. The first century and yet God raised up a colony of heavenly and outpost of the kingdom of God and the apostle Paul had some wonderful spiritual saints who came to know the Lord Jesus Christ and live in victory. So don't tell me you can live in victory today and if it won't work now.

It was no good then and it's no good now and it will work for you. It will work for anybody won't work with your situation. It will work with any situation. There is victory for you and for me when we were born again we were born to win Outlook again and Ephesians 5 and here's what Paul says, be therefore followers of God, as dear children and all in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and had given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. I said look, walk in love.

God love you so much. The worst thing about pornography is that it war zone love.

It is against love. It is the opposite of love. It is devastating to love. It is debilitating and destroying the love. Love and lust are direct opposites.

A person is in the pornography has decimated his ability to love God, to love others to love his wife to let his children to love one's parents. Pornography erodes love.

So that is what he says here in verses wanted to walk in love and then notice in verse three. Watch by that is in contradistinction. But fornication, and all uncleanness are covetousness and covetousness. Is it what is that have been doing this list of things were not to covet another man's wife of another person's physical attractiveness are covetousness, let it not once be named among you has become of saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, digesting, which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks for this. You know that no warmonger nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater had any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Be not ye therefore partakers with them now. If this is your lifestyle you either terribly backslidden or altogether lost, then skip down to verse 11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them and notice what Paul says in verse 12, for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them and seek a shame even to talk about.

I made up my mind when I prepared this series of messages that I would not try to describe pornography. I made up my mind that I am preparing this series of messages would not look at any pornography and I don't ever intend to is no need to do it. Paul said it's a shame even speak of those things which are none of them in secret and I am going to do what Paul did, however, and I'm in one now in chapter 6, Paul is talking about the family because pornography was against love. It is against the family and the family is where it's at.

The family is the only part of the garden of Eden that would have left. I would not take anything for the ability to love and I have a family where I can love and be love. Satan wants war against the family.

Now I document how to have up your mind. That's wonderful. I talked about how to make the right kinds of decisions that's fine, but unless you learn something about spiritual warfare is still going to lose the battle and pornography. Beginning in verse 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

The whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places where poor taken you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand stand therefore, having your loins good about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith were with you should be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching them to with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Now there is a guerrilla war that Satan is waging against us one of his teeth do not is only to one of his chief tools is pornography and what we need to new is to counterattack and our commander-in-chief who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

It's a battle between light and darkness, good and evil, heaven and hell Satan and the Savior and in a way where sort of ponds in a game of cosmic chance.

I just want to call you about going to battle for your family. I would battle for my family and I will.

I'm willing to battle for my grandchildren you dad. I want you to guard your heart and protect your home now number one I want you to notice what I would call the Christian and his adversary. The Christian in his adversary. We must know our enemy, our enemy is Satan limiting some facts about number one.

He is a decided fact FACT notice in verse 11 put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil that never underestimate Satan never count him out. I never say that he doesn't exist to biopsies just a figment of imagination or metaphor figure of speech. Satan is always going to pull the veil of darkness over his kingdom now we live in an age of sophisticated age that perhaps laughs at the idea. Satan and demons, but in these days I think we've almost stop laughing.

You see if there is no enemy.

We don't recognize that Satan is behind pornography and when I get to make any preparation I when we fight the fight in the wrong arena. Now we saying something about Jesus. He walked with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own. He lives, he lives Christ Jesus lives today. I would say there's another song we could say and I think that we don't have to sing it. He lives, he lives Satan lives. Today he wars on me and he works on me along life's narrow way and if you have met the devil just because you and the devil been going in the same direct Satan is a decided fact is also a destructive force. No limit to how Satan works.

First of all, he's very systematic look into it. In verse 11 again but on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil_award wiles is the word method be his makes of Satan's methods, Satan has methodically gone about the seduce your children. He is very systematic. He is very clever. Satan is working working working very strategically. Paul said we are not ignorant of his devices. He is systematic. Number two is spiritual is almost Satan's Satan is very spiritual look in verse 12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, I gaze powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against what kind of wickedness, spiritual wickedness in high places. Now don't get the idea, therefore, that our real battle is with the pornographer. It is not our real battle is not with Hollywood. Our real battle is not with the X-rated movies are real battle is against a sinister enemy whose name is Satan and I he is very, very spiritual, that is, he is invisible and as long as you're fighting flesh and blood you I get a window back. Paul settles there and second rent is chapter 10 the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down strongholds good intentions as a, weapon philosophy is a common weapon. Psychology is a common weapon resolution is a carnal weapon. All these things on unsafe person get it where not going to win a spiritual battle with carnal weapons. Satan is a decided fact Satan is a destructive force and as a destructive force he systematic he is spiritual third thing. He's very strong look again in verse 12. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world you do not have what it takes to win this battle. I want to take I'm doing wrong is a well pornography doesn't bother me what insight will get you nowhere. If you try to come again Satan he knows what he weaknesses and I mean if you try to live for God. Any other way except by depending upon the Holy Spirit of God you going down because Satan is greater than you are Satan is systematic. He spiritually strong and is also very sinister look again. He speaks about spiritual wickedness. He speaks about darkness. Satan has a tyrannical control on this world.

He has no mercy upon your family has no mercy upon the ministry he has no mercy upon your husband or wife you child your daughter now.

I said he's a decided fact is a destructive force. Listen friend. He is listen. A defeated foe a defeated foe look in verse 10. Finally, my brother, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Satan had his back and crushed back broken at Calvary.

Soon his head is going to be crushed when Jesus comes again. First John 44. Jesus said, ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that sinew that he that's in the world.

Satan hope that you never learn that he is a defeated foe. Now let's move to the second thing we talked about the good Christian and his adversary. Let's talk about the Christian warrior and his armor you need when you go to battle to take the whole armor and take holy arm know what is the armor that you get aware if you're going to overcome the devil in this matter of salacious literature or pornography number one you put on the girdle of proof. Look, if you will, in verse 11 put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. This get blown down, if you will.

Verse 13 therefore, take of you a whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand stand therefore, having your loins girded about with proof. The first piece that you need to put on. Is the girdle on the belt of truth, and that speaks of your integrity, your integrity.

One thing that I want in my life. One thing I need one thing I will not leave home without that is integrity.

Now do you ever seen a motorcyclist.

He wears a big leather belt. Many of them to support their back in the solar plexus because of the bumps on the road.

Sometimes the watch Olympic weightlifter. He will wear a leather belt to protect his loins and his solar plexus. The early warriors would wear a leather belt since uptight and a sense the manner that they would wear a tunic. They would gather the tunic up and incense the belt very tight and then from that belt. They would hang their weapons.

Now God says the truth is very much like that belt. If that comes lose everything else falls apart that belt speaks of truth, not just facts, the truth, not just the knowledge of proof, but integrity truth in the inner person question you have integrity. I mean if I could see her heart. If I can read your mind like God's what I be disappointed if you knew me. You can see inside of me if you have a really grim, would you be disappointed if I have integrity, you would not be you would not.

If I am a man of truth that I'm a person of truth devil met belt of truth that other people and ethicists were able to go to war and when the wall because they had the belt of truth, but isolate one piece of the now not only do you need I integrity but you need the breastplate of righteousness, which is the believers purity look again in the Scripture. He says here stand therefore, having your loins good about with truth verse 14 and having own the breastplate of righteousness, a soldier that they would have metal plates are chains that would cover his body from the chest to the waist and the reason for this is to protect his vital organs because of costs that would be swords that would be smears that would be arrows.

The heart the organs had to be protected.

That is a crack in the Omma are that breastplate is not there then because the enemy has an advantage same question. I will ask you tonight you will win this war. There on the breastplate of righteousness by me by that not only integrity but purity do you use in your heart tonight.

Any unconfessed unrepented sin is a good night Adrian images using Dragon give up everything on tell you who would not give up dirt for diamonds who would I give them hugs will connect testimony and you may think I'm bragging may think I'm boasting I don't have any unconfessed sin in my heart not so you think you're super Christian on the normal Christian that is the normal Christian why I would be and mitigated fuel the standard intron preach without the breastplate of righteousness. Matthew not going to win the war with pornography if that's all you find is pornography. What about honesty what outcry, what selfishness is a pastor Rogers me to tell me you will have any problem finding that life item all the time fuming tell me you don't fail. I fail I met Sam perfect God knows I'm not so was Joyce. But I'm telling you there's no reason that any man, woman, boy or girl in this building tonight cannot be as pure as clean as the driven snow. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Why what I want to drag around San.

Why would I want to start the day in the morning with a bag of sand when I can be clean. This example if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Not some all. Thank God for that you say will a little sandlot so bad. Who is it not so loud lonely little sin slip through.

I answered and soon all hail was in no you treat sin like sin would preview No mercy on San Sam will have no mercy on you don't have a crack in the armor you need integrity you need purity when you go into this battle. Now Max I want you to look at the next piece of armor that you have.

Look, if you will, in verse 15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Now a soldier this day. Not only did have a leather belt. Not only did have a breastplate. The cover is tested by wardens, but he had boots hobnailed boots, the NFL bitten and that those those who run track with spikes and those of my baseball cleats. They didn't have those those go all the way back the Bible times where soldier would have cleats, spikes on the shoes of their shoes would be thick enough to help him on a rocky soil where he might be.

Brewster might slip how to get his feet into the turf so he can stand and fight. What is that gives you standing is the gospel of peace.

What is the gospel of peace. The gospel of peace is knowing there's nothing between my soul and the same that I'm his. He is mine. He satisfies me. I am at peace with God. The gospel of peace is knowing there's nothing between my soul and the Savior is nothing better than knowing that I am his and he is mine you know that truth in your life are you at peace with God. If you have questions about who Jesus is about what he means to you what it means to follow him and commit your heart to him, go to our discover Jesus page@lwf.org/radio to find resources and materials that can answer questions you might have about your faith again go to LWF.org/radio and click discover Jesus if you like to order a copy of today's message on CD. Call us at 1877 love God and mentioned the title preparing for the battle. This message is also part of the powerful series. Guard your heart protect your home for the complete collection. All four insightful messages: number 877 love God or go online LWF.org/radio to order, or you can write is that love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 thanks for joining us for today's study. Keep in mind, God wants us to enter the battlefield armed with integrity purity, tranquility, certainty and insanity. Don't leave off any piece of the armor of God that. Be sure to join us next time for the conclusion of caring for the battle writing on them were buying listing in Texas reached out to us recently to share her love of love with finding she wrote thank you for sharing God's word I've already sent two dozen people to your program. Who knows who else I may say I'm jumping for joy because the word is taught.

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