BREAKING STRONGHOLDS ? PART TWO

Posted under Uncategorized on January 12th, 2011 by with no responses 

The World, the Flesh and the Devil
Excerpts from a sermon by Dr. John Sparks

The World sins against the soul. What is the world (Kosmos)?

Pride of life: Conformity to a social standard, keeping up with the Jones’.

* The atmosphere of life; society’s morals and principles; the system, sin and ungodliness, rejection of Christ.

* “Worldly affairs; the aggregate of things worldly; the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God, and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.” (Oxford English Dictionary)

* The world operates entirely by the senses.

* The wisdom of it is foolish (1 Corinthians 1:20).

* The devil is in it (1 John 4:4) (This is his world-Prince, God of it).

* We walked in it before salvation (Ephesians 2:2).

* We are commanded not to love it (1 John 2:15-17).

* We are not to be conformed to it (Romans 12:1,2)

* How does this differ from the flesh? Church lady – Didn’t want another lady to be in leadership-“she drinks, smokes, dances and uses too much make-up”…Pastor said “she is not worldly-you are! She may be carnal, fleshly, but you love show and position, you want to be the head of organizations, you brag about your son-doctor, daughter, rich, etc. Ladies do not like to come to your home because you show off your antiques, you love to make an ostentatious show of your linen, your china, your crystal…You are worldly.”

* (1 Peter 3:3,4) Adorning – world: “Whose world, let it not be the world of the Beauty Shop, the Jeweler, or the Dressmaker…But let her world be the world of a meek and quiet spirit…”

* A young man who was not interested in spiritual things came to a professor at Harvard. He was angry always looking for evil in the lives of other people. The Professor said: “Do not misunderstand I’m not accusing you of killing anyone, or of being immoral, or a drunkard. Your evil deed may be sitting among the stacks of books at Widener Library thrilled with joy over the solution to some problem you may have discovered while reading Shakespeare’s plays which has puzzled other scholars…If it keeps you away from God-the world of books is as evil as stealing or adultery. It is your world apart from God! He was a good man with a world between him and God!

* It doesn’t matter what the nature of your world is. If it keeps you from God it is evil “And this is the condemnation that light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil”(John 3:19)……Work, pleasure, study, home, money, family

* How do we combat the world? Sins against the soul? A definite turning away…Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. (1 John 2:15-17). But god forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world (Galatians 6:14) And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4) Renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2) Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17)

* The watchword for sins of the world is FAITH!

The flesh: sins against the body. What is flesh?

* Sarkikos, Sarx … Human nature, flesh, senses, earthly nature apart from the influence of God.

* Not just the body, but the whole man.

* Four common doctrines in the world today.

* Determinism…Blaming fate, a denial of guilt. I couldn’t help myself its just the way I am. The devil made me do it!
* Hedonism, Pleasure or happiness is the chief goal in life the ultimate pleasure…Drugs, sex, booze, even suicide.
* Utilitarianism. The end justifies the means. If it makes me happy, it really doesn’t matter what I do.
* The new morality…If it feels good do it. It’s the same as the old immorality.

* What can we do about it? Eight questions:

* Is it forbidden of the Lord?
* Does it interfere with my fellowship with God?
* Would Jesus have done it?
* Would I like to be found doing it when He returns?
* Can I feel free doing it knowing the Holy Spirit lives in me?
* What effect will this conduct have on others?
* Is there the least bit of doubt in my mind?
* Is there any glory for God in it? 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians.3:17; 3:23)

* The watchword against sin of the flesh is FLIGHT.

* Flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy.2:22)
* Flee Youthful lusts (I Corinthians 6:18)
* As Joseph did when tempted by Potiphar’s wife – RUN!

The Devil: personal attacks against the spirit of man:

* He “walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”. He wants to keep the debased and fallen spirit of man from looking to God -he wants man to turn and adore him.

* His tactics:

* He works to keep our spiritual life poor, our witness nullified.
* He works on our pride…He wants us to believe we are self-sufficient – that we can get along without God.
* Listen to some of the reasoning that began in the garden: 7 tools:
o Everyone else does it.
o We always have done it.
o No harm in it.
o Depends on how you look at it.
o You have to live.
o A little bit won’t hurt.
o You have to keep an open mind about it.

* The watchword against sins of the devil is FIGHT! (Ephesians 6:10 ) Be strong in the lord…Put on the whole armor of God^?Fight against the wiles of the devil”…

Contrasts and Comparisons: World, Flesh, Devil…Faith, Flight, Fight.

* Woman buys a $2000 Gown.

* Flesh – to seduce a desired lover. Lust of the flesh.
* World – to conform to a social set-Mrs Jones bought a $1500 gown. Lust of the eyes.
* Devil – I earned this money myself. I didn’t need help from anyone. If I want to wear a $2000 gown that’s my business…She uses the gown as a weapon to put others in their place…The original sin was pride… Pride of life.

* Drunkenness:

* Flesh-The sheer pleasure of drowning your sorrow.
* World-To be accepted by a certain social set.
* Devil-To show that you can do it. “I’m the master of my fate, I’m the captain of my soul.”

* Adultery/fornication:

* Flesh-Carnal indulgence-it feels good.
* World-If I don’t do it he, she/he won’t like me or I won’t be accepted.
* Devil-To control the other person-to dominate for the purpose of self- pride.

Sins of the flesh – the ultimate pleasure-if it feels good do it.
Sins of the world – keeping up with a certain social set.
Sins of the devil – self-pride, putting others down.

Conclusion:

* Be Strong in the Lord: Ephesians 6:10)

* Strong … Endunamao …”To clothe oneself in power” Not self effort…Not that we are to make an effort to be strong for the Lord….It is in the passive voice-the subject is acted upon. “We are to be strengthened in the Lord by the Lord.”

* It is a total dependence upon the Lord for His strength. (Ephesians 1:19) The exceeding greatness of His power to us. (Ephesians 3:16) Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. Resurrection power to live a resurrected life!

* The Holy Spirit is the mighty strength of God…Ephesians 5:18 is the fuel that moves us through our Christian life.

* This strengthening is something that God does for us when we trust Him and give ourselves to Him in complete surrender!

The power of His might-Not mine-His! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. An old preacher quoted this verse: I can do all things. Then he would ask questions:”Paul, are you really trying to tell us you can do ALL things? Is there really nothing you cannot do, without exception? Can you fight principalities and powers? Can you fight the rulers of darkness? Can you resist the powers of Satan even in high places of authority? Are you equal to the task of fighting the Devil?”

The old preacher went on for some time, putting up difficulties and asking the Apostle questions and suggesting that Paul was going beyond himself. Even Abraham, the friend of God was defeated by the Devil. Are you claiming you are superior to Abraham? But you say “I can do all things. Then the old preacher read the rest of the text” I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me. The old preacher then said: “Oh, I beg your pardon Paul, I didn’t know there were two of you.”

On this day...

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