February 23, 2020

The Spiritual Battle

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Luke 9:37-50
Service Type:

Introduction

  • We know what it is like to come down from a spiritual high
    • The disciples have come from the Mount of Transfiguration
    • From the land of light to the land of shadows
    • The other 9 disciples were faced with failure and their own inadequacy
      • A father had brought his son to them
    • It reminds us of Moses descending from Mount Sinai
    • Sometimes we fail
  • Luke is presenting an orderly account
    • A thematic order - the failure of the disciples
    • 4 events - 4 examples of failure
    • This explains why there will be another 12 chapters of teaching
    • The disciples are not ready
    • Luke is charting their progress as Christian leaders

Faith is the key to success

  • Faith is the key to success in spiritual warfare
  • Unbelief is the sure road to defeat
    • Jesus comes to a scene of unbelief
    • Present in the father, disciples and generation
    • Jesus comes from holy company to unbelieving company
      • He was grieved - v41
    • Shouldn't the disciples have believed?
  • There is weak faith and strong faith
    • Some are like John the Baptist - example
    • Some are frail
    • We are saved by faith
  • Strong faith:
    • Brings stronger enjoyment and consolation in God
    • Benefits others in prayer
    • Example of Stephen and Barnabas (Acts 6 & 11 respectively)
  • A weapon by which the Church grows - in prayer, power and effectiveness
    • The disciples - we see the opposite
    • The most useful person in the church - the one who has great faith
    • Without this, our service will become barren and unfruitful
  • Faith
    • Confidence in God
    • Trusting in His will
    • Such was the time during the prophet Zechariah and Zerubabbel
    • Example of Charles Wesley Hymn

Satan's kingdom cannot be pulled down without great care and trouble

  • Satan's kingdom cannot be pulled down without great care and trouble
    • The disciples had come up against strong opposition
    • It required special attention
    • Warfare cannot be waged lightly against satan
    • It requires self-sacrifice
  • We must not underestimate our foe
    • Greater is He that is in us
    • But he is the prince of the world and the strong man who will not depart from his goods without a struggle
  • We must go about the work with concentration and determination

Spiritual ignorance about the truth is sometimes found in the hearts of good people

  • Spiritual ignorance about the truth is sometimes found in the hearts of good people
    • v44-45
    • The disciples seem slow to receive Jesus' teachings
    • The disciples held common ideas/misconceptions
    • Hence the disciples could not understand Jesus' teachings
      • E.g. - a suffering Messiah
  • Children of God may suffer from great spiritual ignorance
    • Example
  • We must bear with spiritual ignorance
    • Especially those new in the faith
    • Especially those speaking in another language
  • If Christ could bear with those with spiritual ignorance - so must we
    • Consider the thousands who were saved at Pentecost
    • We must believe God and the power of His word
    • Consider the power of Jesus
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