The Spiritual Battle
Bible Text: Luke 9:37-50 | Preacher: Graham John | Series: Visiting Preachers | 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