Grace Baptist Church

Grace Blog

December 2, 2008

Knowing Your Enemy, Part 2

On Sunday, November 30, Pastor Tom Ascol continued in his series on spiritual warfare with his third message from Ephesians 6:10-12 focusing on primarily on verse 12. Paul writes:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Pastor Tom’s outline addresses each description of the enemy’s army, namely (1) princes and principalities, (2) powers, (3) rules of he darkness of this age, and (4) spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Satan has a kingdom, and every human being is either under the rule of Christ or under the rule of the devil. There is no spiritual neutral zone. Jesus said, “He is not with me is against me.” Those who have not come to Jesus are under he deceptive power and domain of darkness of the devil.

Yet the conquest of the cross was the overthrow and defeat of the prince and power of the air. There is a real danger in thinking that God and Satan and dueling interlocutors who are fighting for supremacy. This dualism is nowhere found in Scripture. God is sovereign, and the devil is God’s devil. Although the world in which we live today embraces the ruler of darkness, his kingdom will come to an end, and those who belong to the kingdom of light in God’s beloved Son, take ground by the force of the gospel.

To listen or download this sermon, click here.

Labels: Grace Baptist Church, Spiritual Warfare, Tom Ascol | posted by TimBrister at 9:35 am | Categories: Reflection and Review, Sermons |