Defeating the Enemies of Light

The title today, Defeating the Enemies of Light, subtitle, Become the Light of the World. Defeating the Enemies of Light Become the Light of the World. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8.31, If God be for us, who can be against us? He goes on to say in Romans 8.37, Knowing all these things were more than conquerors through Him that loved us, are we subconsciously letting the cares of this world get the best of us? Not only the cares of this world, but the cares of the things that take place in our daily lives, the pressures that we're under, also the things that occur in the church that we're concerned about.

Let's note Christ's warning about how we treat our calling in His Word in Mark 14 and verse 13. If you would turn to Mark 14 and verse 13. Jesus Christ here is giving this as Mark's account of the parable of the sower, and then in verse 13, Jesus Christ begins to give the interpretation of that parable of the sower. In Mark 14, I'm sorry, I think I said 14, I want Mark 4, Mark 4 and verse 13. And He said unto them, Know you not the parable, and know then will you know, and how then will you know all parables?

The sower sows the Word. Jesus Christ came into the world. He is the light of the world. It's what it says in John 1. Peter says in 2 Peter 1, verse 19, that we have a more sure word of prophecy that we do well to take heed to as a light that shines in a dark place. Christ also said that you are the light of the world, and that you are not to put your light under a bushel, but let your light so shine that all those about may see it and glorify your Father who is in heaven because God and Christ through His Spirit and Word, they are the ultimate sources of light.

So the sower goes forth and He sows the Word. Verse 15, And these are they that by the wayside were the Word was sown, but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts. Of course, Satan is an enemy of light. In fact, he's called the Prince of Darkness, as we know. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who when they have heard the Word immediately receive it with gladness, and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time, after it, when afflictions, persecutions, arises, for the Word's sake, immediately they are offended.

It's almost like they're looking for an excuse, a way out. And in the study that was done in the 80s about how many people have left the church over the years, and what was their average tenure, the average tenure was 15 years. In some ways, that sounds like a long time, and in another way, it's not all that long. And these are they which are sown among thorns, such as hear the Word, and the cares of this world.

And that's one of the things I want to focus on today as a great enemy of light. The cares of this world can get us down. The cares of this world can so put us under that we just really, at times, want to just give up. The cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things entering in, and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful. And these are they which are sown in good ground, such as hear the Word, receive it, bring forth fruit, some 30-fold, some 60, and some 100. And of course, we want to be as fruitful as we possibly can.

Let's note the exhortation that the Apostle Paul gives us in Galatians 6. I must admit that during the past year, this year so far, well, I would go back to last year as well. So last year and this year have been, I believe, the most difficult years that one and I have ever experienced in our married lives. And that would mean basically all of our lives because we've been married all of our lives. So in Galatians 6, verse 7, Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever man sowest, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. And as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, and especially unto them who are the household of faith. There is no question that Satan and his minions have stepped up there to seekful practices.

On the one hand, we're told that we live in the age of leisure. All man has more free time than he's ever had. I submit to you that if he is in the dog-eat-dog out there in the everyday world that many of you are in, you don't have a lot of leisure time. You're fighting the freeway for one thing, and you're fighting to stay alive and to make it in this world.

And it's tough out there. There seems, just doesn't seem to be enough time really to go around and take care of our next obligation. It seems we're driven from one obligation to the next. We've got to be somewhere, or we've got to go do something. And we're hurled from pillar to post and wrung out on the way. In so many settings, we're there in body, but our mind and spirit are occupied with the cares of this world. Because there are just so many cares out there and so many things that weigh us down. And at times, we're just numb.

It seems that our bodies and mind just shut down as if to say, I can't take it anymore. I need rest. Perhaps the chief complaint of our time for both young and old is, I am tired. Sometimes, a few times, one just comes home from services and she says, well, everybody I talked to today up there says, I'm tired. I'm just so tired. And we can join in with the course. We are so tired, too. But we keep pushing ahead as if we have to meet our next obligation.

So we get another little surge of adrenaline and push forward. I was in the service station this week and a man was out pumping gas. He started and the two children came out, looked like they were about five and six or four and six, something like that. And they were chatty and so on. He got through pumping the gas and went in the service station and I expected them to come out and they would have whatever treat they had asked for.

But they came out, they were empty handed, and the father had one of these high energy drinks. It was nine o'clock in the morning. And with all our doing, it seems that no one really appreciates the fact that we have sacrificed whatever it was to be there and do whatever we can. We're caught up in what we call the race of survival. Some call it the rat race. And somehow we come to believe that this is just the way it is.

I can't do anything about it. I am trapped. And to some degree, we are. But on the other hand, is there anything that we can do? So sometimes we just hunker down and say, I just have to hold on and hope that I survive.

We're not in control of our lives. We are controlled by situation and circumstance. And we have no viable plan to change the way things are. What are we going to do? The reason that something like a crisis in the church can gain so much attention in the minds of some people is that it can be an escape from the boredom of our whole-home, home-drum, everyday activities.

So we focus on something outside ourselves, something we care about, and it gets the focus off what our lives are like in the loneliness and boredom of this current evil age. Yes, loneliness and boredom when we are surrounded by people of every sort going, running to and fro, as it says in Daniel chapter 12. Surrounded by people, but very often there is a gnawing, aching emptiness inside.

In so many ways, we oftentimes feel disconnected. Sort of like we are alone out there in this dog-eat-dog world. This is one of the main reasons why suicide is the second leading cause of death of persons under 30 years of age. Automobile accidents, first, and a lot of the investigators believe that many of these accidents, in which it just seems, well, he lost control and he hit a tree. One person in the car, a lot of them believe, well, he probably did this, he or she, on purpose.

Our lives are analogous to a treadmill. We walk in the same place, think the same thoughts, do the same things over and over, but we're going nowhere. We're obsessed with self without even realizing it, and now Satan the devil, Satan the devil, has us right where he wants us. And oftentimes when we pray, it's sort of out of desperation with a focus on our problems. So let's go back to Psalm 77, review this. This should be an anchor of the soul, as Paul talks about anchors in the soul in Hebrews chapter 6 of those sure promises of God. In Psalm 77, I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice, and He gave ear unto me. He said, hey, you know, I'm listening. He gave ear unto me in the day of my trouble. I sought the Lord. My sore ran in the night and ceased not. In the Old Testament, the position of prayer was on your knees with your hands outstretched like this, looking up to God. And if you hold that position very long, you'll grow quite weary. My soul refused to be comforted. That's one of our main problems today, is we refuse to be comforted. We refuse oftentimes the simple answers. We refuse oftentimes the simplicity that is in Christ. The old song that we used to sing in the Protestant church, trust and obey, for there's no other way. When it really gets down to it, there is no other way. Trust and obey. Verse 3, I remembered God and was troubled. I complained, and in another place, in the same psalm, this particular Hebrew word is translated communed. And this word means that I talked to myself. I went over my problems. I went over and over my problems. I complained or I communed. I communed and my spirit was overwhelmed. When I looked at everything that I was facing, so many problems, so many trials, so many this, so many that, there's no way out.

My spirit was overwhelmed. You hold my eyes waking. I'm so troubled that I cannot speak. I've considered the days of all the years of ancient times.

One of the escape mechanisms that people have is what they call escape to Bonanza land or going to the state of denial. And you retreat back to a former time in your mind in which the times didn't seem to be so tough. The times in which it seems like the wind was blowing in my face and I was hearing the metal arc singing and the bob whites whistling across the way as I plowed the field.

And as I plowed the field at that time, I was dreaming of being in the big lights, of going places and doing things. And I've been places and I've done things, but now I find myself oftentimes retreating to that time, the former time.

But then you come to your senses and you realize that that time is gone. If one thing you cannot do, you cannot change the past. It's there.

Verse 6, I called for remembrance of my song in the night. I commune the same word as a complaint in verse 3. I commune with my own heart. In other words, I go over my problems again, and my spirit made diligent search. And sometimes we get the notion that there must be just one little thing or there's something out there in my life that I'm doing wrong or else I wouldn't be in this situation. And we could even get to think, well, God has just fed up with me. He just fed up with me and it just sort of left me out here by myself.

But if that were the case, we might as well fold our tents and go home because the Bible wouldn't be true because it says that He will never leave us, that He will never forsake us, and lo, I am with you even to the end of the age. We must claim that promise. And then here are the enemies of faith crowding in, anxious care, fear doubt, human reason. Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Is His mercy clean gone forever?

Does His promise fail forever more? And will the Lord have forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up His tender mercies?

Selah.

Selah is an interesting expression. You can read in the commentaries various explanations of it. Some say that it is a musical appellation or something musical. But basically, when you see that, it means that further explanation is coming in the next verse, which is true in this case. And I said, this is my infirmity.

In everyday language today, it is simply my problem is my problem. That's what's wrong with me. I am so focused on that that everything else is basically shut out. And I become obsessed with my problems. But the anecdote to that, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the works of the Lord. Surely, I will remember your wonders of old. I will meditate also of your works and talk of your doings. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary. Who is so great a God as our God? So when he gets his focus back on God and our self, then his world begins to turn around. Our time that we should spend in prayer study and meaningful interaction with others is taken up by some kind of vicarious activity. When I was a boy, of course, we kept Sunday, and we were always there. And usually Sunday night as well, sometimes, most of the time on Wednesday night, prayer meeting. But after church on Sunday, it was time for families to visit. And so we went and visited. Our people came to our house and visited. And even those people who didn't go to church, you could drive along the countryside on a Sunday afternoon. You could see those people sitting on the front porch. Of course, we don't sit on the front porch anymore. I mean, even in this area, get in the house and lock all the doors and turn on the alarm, get your shotgun, and be ready to call 911 and you still get killed.

I'm not kidding! What a world we live in! But what is is.

People were diligent, and they would go visit their father, their mother, their grandparents. But today, there's something far more important. They're led to believe or something. Or, quote, they're just so tired, they can't do it. Or they've already got something else planned that's a lot more fun in their minds. You know, when all is said and done, and when they come and and you're lying there, unaware, in the casket, the few people that are gathered over you, those are the people generally who really care. Now, sometimes there are people who are not there who care. But when is all said and done, family and friends, that's very important. And we should never neglect that.

The truth is that I don't believe that, and I look at this, not individual, no individual in mind.

But all of us need to be growing more in grace and knowledge.

But the cares of this world have beaten us down into a robotic-like state of existence. Have we unwittingly, unknowingly, become slaves to Satan's system? Is he winning?

Now, we say, wow, we've read the book. We read the end of the book, and at the end, we win.

We have to be overcomers, and we need to be overcomers all the way. Is there a way to break away from this slave-like existence and to be set free?

Jesus Christ came to the earth to set us free from sin and death. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Peter cried out on the day of Pentecost, and he said, I will repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for remission of sin. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. You know, this precious gift of life, this physical life, that some people now treat like it was nothing.

This 14-year-old girl is walking home at night. Gets about 60 feet or so, they say, from her home. And this guy who has been deported twice and also arrested a couple of times, shoots her in the back and kills her.

No respect for life. How precious is life?

Just our physical life.

Not to mention that life, that gift from God, eternal life. So people talk about freedom today, and they think they're free to do anything they want to. But that is an illusion.

It is not reality. You're not free. No one is free to do what they want to. Of course, it says in Ecclesiastes that because sentence is not executed speedily against an evil work, therefore the hearts of men are continually set upon evil. But God is watching. God knows. And there is a day of reckoning coming. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

They talk about freedom. It's an illusion.

They are, in fact, servants of sin, and sin leads to death. So we ask, do we really want to be set free from our robotic, slave-like addiction to this present evil world? Do we really want to get off the treadmill? Notice I use the word addiction. It's almost like an addiction. We become comfortable of living this way. Oh, if I can just get to my chair and plop down one more time, turn on the television.

So are we serious about living as Christ lived?

And will we begin to control our lives instead of life's issues controlling us?

Let's notice the words of Jesus concerning freedom in John 8, verse 31. Christ is in the midst here of a heated discussion, debate with the detractors of the day, John 8, 31, breaking in somewhat on the thought.

Let's read verse 30 as well. He spoke these words, and many believed on Him.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed.

See, continuing obeying in the Word.

That is a prerequisite for, And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

They answered Him, We are Abraham's seed.

We were never in bondage to any man.

They were being occupied by the Romans at that very moment.

How say you, you shall be made free.

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is a servant of sin, and the servant abides not in the house forever, but the Son abides ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

You can be in the deepest, darkest dungeon that man can conceive of making.

You can be a political prisoner. You can be like some of those poor people who have been locked up there in Iran.

Or you name the country, you name the place.

The awful inhumanity that humans have shown to one another through the ages.

But the kind of freedom that Jesus Christ offers cannot be taken from you.

So note carefully, once again, John 8, 31. If you continue in my word, so we ask ourselves this afternoon, are we continuing in his word? Or are we making God over in our image and speaking for God where he has not spoken?

Are we heeding the words of the Apostle Paul? Let's go to Philippians 2, verse 12. Very inspiring words here. Philippians 2 and verse 12. When Paul wrote Philippians, he was in prison. It's one of the prison epistles. This is really a treatise on humility. The first part of Ephesians 2 says, Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, who humbled himself.

In Philippians 2 and verse 12.

Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, as I said, he was in prison.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both will and to do his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings.

That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.

I hum lights to the world, holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.

Yes, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.

For the same cause also do you joy and rejoice with me.

So Paul was in prison, and he said he was rejoicing. One part of there, he says, has given me opportunity to preach the gospel to people here, if where I'm in jail, that I would have never had the opportunity to preach to you, unless I were in jail.

So are we shining as lights in this dark world?

Or are we, on the other hand, analogous to the foolish virgins, whose lamps are going out, because we're quenching the Spirit, the spiritual oil that quenches darkness and chases away the demons of darkness?

It seems at times that we think we can.

I don't think we are remotely aware of how much the world is affecting every dimension of our lives. You know, Christ says in Matthew 24 that because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

And as we've already said, it's tough out there.

And we need every bit of spiritual in Jerusalem in the early days of the church. He was the one that made the decision at the famous Acts 15 ministerial conference in James chapter 4 verse 1.

Where do wars and fightings come from that are among you? Or from whence come wars and fightings among you?

Come they not, hence, even of your lusts, that war in your members?

Now, we first of all need to clarify this interrogative. Where do wars and fightings come from? Well, until about two years ago, I had always viewed this question as, why are there disagreements and upsets among brethren?

But I began to study this and look at it and look at the Greek.

The Greek word that is translated among in this verse is the Greek word, en, in English. It is the equivalent in English of our word, go in the house, in, i-n.

It's a primary preposition denoting fixed position in place, time, or state. And by implication, it can mean immediately or constructively a relationship of rest and intermediate or in between.

The question that is being asked is not, why are there wars and fightings among brethren, but rather, why is there war and fightings in each one of us? What's going on inside each one of us that makes us the way we are?

This particular word, just to give you an idea of en in Greek, it is translated in, i-n, 1,902 times.

That's the primary translation. Translation. It is translated by by 163 times, with 140 times, among 117 times, at 113 times, on 62 times, through 39 times. And miscellaneous translations, 265. It appears 2,801 times.

It's a common preposition. The question that is being asked is not, why are there wars and fightings among brethren, but once again, why is there war and fightings in our own being? In other words, he is saying, why do each of you have this warfare going on in your minds?

You say, well, I'm not convinced by just one word. Well, let's look further.

This becomes clear when we note the Greek word translated as members is melos. Now, the word melos means parts of the human body.

So from whence come wars and fightings in you? Come, they not hence even of your lust that war in your body parts.

In your mind, in your spirit, in your heart. The succeeding verses bear witness to this fact.

James is talking to each one of us individually.

We want to defeat that warfare that might be getting us down where we feel disconnected, helpless, out of sorts. Let's see how it applies specifically, individually. You could apply it collectively. Verse 2, you lust and have not.

Is he talking to you and me or somebody else? You lust and have not. You kill and desire to have and cannot obtain. You fight in war, yet you have not because you ask not.

You ask and receive not because you ask amiss that you may consume it upon your lust. This has to do with each one of us. We can ask ourselves, what about me? You adulterers and adulteresses know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. It is an enemy of light.

Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Yet oftentimes we think we can have one foot in the world and one foot in the spiritual body of Christ.

Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, the spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?

You know the Scripture of Romans 8-7 of the carnal mind, but he gives more grace, more courage, more divine favor.

Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, gives grace to the humble.

Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

How do you resist him? Draw nigh to God. He will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your heart, you double-minded.

Be afflicted and mourn and weep, and let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy of heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of God, and he shall lift you up. In James 1, verses 13-16, we go there, we see further how self is responsible for the war in one's mind. See, to get control of our own minds and our own spirit. Remember the proverb that says that he who controls his spirit is mightier than he that takes the city. As a man thinking in his heart, so is he.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life. If there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things whatsoever is.

Lovely true. In James 1, verses 13, let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man.

But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed, from which comes wars and fighting in you, in your body parts. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.

See, as we've said before, the only religion really that has a Redeemer, a solution really for sin, is Christianity. The wages of sin is death. Now, in the Islamic world, they'll have the month of Ramadan, 30 days of fasting during the daytime, offering up prayers, asking for forgiveness. How do they attain forgiveness? Well, they just ask God, ask Allah, and they do good works.

But no good works can pay for the sin. Only the sacrifice of Christ can pay for the sin.

Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no verblis, neither shadow of turning.

Of His own will beget He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

So, the first place we need to look, we're going to defeat the enemies of light. If we're going to be a source of light, if we're going to be able to deal with the pressures and the cares of this world, we have to look within ourselves. Now, recently I gave a sermon. You can make it despite Satan himself, and definitely we can.

So, the first place we look when we're experiencing this woe is me and everything is so heavy, when we're dissatisfied, we feel the torment of war in our minds, we look at ourselves.

And oftentimes we say, well, why am I not overcoming? I should be growing. I'm not making any progress. This may be a self-justifying way of saying, I'm still sending the same old sins.

But if God's Spirit is working with us, then one of the things that it does is convict us of sin.

And this conviction creates feelings of guilt and anxiety and urge to seek relief. And relief can be attained through repentance and faith in God. But you have to accept it. Your soul has to be comforted with the promises of God. Remember, we read in the Psalm that my soul refused to be comforted. There's great simplicity in Jesus Christ and faith in Christ. If you would look at 1 John 1, the sin remedy as it were. 1 John 1, verse 5.

This then is the message we have heard of Him and declare unto you that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. We have been called to defeat the enemies of darkness. Satan, the prince of darkness.

The spirit that now works in the children of disobedience, the prince of the power of the air.

We can defeat Him. And God, there is no darkness at all.

1 John and the Gospel of John was written to some degree to defeat Gnosticism. Gnosticism was a syncretic blend of Judaism, the roisterianism, and Greek philosophy with a few other things thrown in.

They thought that God is pure light, but as you go away from God, you finally come to the demiurge of darkness. From this Gnosticism came the idea of dualism. Since man is physical, the physical body is evil, and he has to get back to the light. To get back to the light, you go through the various bands, and you learn key words and past words, and so on, to get back to God. And that is the basic structure of virtually every fraternal order in the world. The Masons, they have the 33rd degree, and so you start off and you work back through, and then you come up to the so-called band of light where God is. Because they don't believe. Masons do not believe in Jesus Christ. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no to sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we've not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. My little children, these things are right unto you. That you sin not. And if any man sinned, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And He is a propitiation to go between for our sins. He went in our place.

And not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. Nearly all of these so-called law and grace questions can be simply answered by 1 John 2 for the Apostle of Love.

Hereby we know Him, we keep His commandments. And in verse 4, He that says, I know Him and keep His not, His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. I mean, has the law been done away with? Well, no.

If we don't seek God's forgiveness and mercy, then feelings of guilt and anxiety can overcome a person and cause them to be of all men most miserable, especially those who have ever been in the light. Let's go to 1 John 3, 18.

I'm talking about being set free. I'm talking about the kind of freedom that Jesus Christ offers. If you continue in my Word, you shall know the truth and you shall be set free. And if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.

In 1 John 3, 18. My little children, let us not love and word, neither in tongue, but indeed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, knows all things. In other words, if that knowing, aching, feeling of guilt is in there, obviously God knows, and you want to be free from that. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God. You know, there's nothing like being reconciled to God, the slate is clean, reconciling with your brother, the slate is clean. You have great boldness toward God. You feel like a different person, and you bring your gift to the altar, and there's no gnawing, aching feeling in there. You're free.

If our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

You know, why is it that some people would rather go to the pit, go into the fires of Guyhenna, rather than to face the situation and repent?

Now, the Carl Mine has three responses to sin. It's what Adam and Eve did after they sinned. First of all, they tried to hide, then they tried to blame, and then they tried to justify. Then there are those who play the martyred Myrtle role and swallow and wallow in their guilt, become filled with self-deprecation and self-pity. They perform a type of penance in a seemingly fruitless effort trying to pay for their own sins. There's the only way that sins can be forgiven, and that's through repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ. The human race has not learned the fact that you cannot hide from sin and you can't outrun sin. The sins will always come to light, and sin will always catch up with you. But the good news is, God and Christ are long-suffering, merciful. There are no sins that cannot be forgiven. Of course, we know about blaspheming the Holy Spirit and turning your back on the ground.

You can commit the unpardonable sin.

When Job was in the very depths of despair, he had come to the end of his rope, as we say.

He thought that the only person he could talk to was God.

His three friends had tried to help him to know a veil. They did not see Job's problem. See, Job's problem was simply, he justified himself instead of justifying God. That God is just in whatever he allows us to experience.

That is oftentimes so hard for us to accept. That's why I so often remind us of Hebrews 11 and 6, and I remind myself, that he who would come to God must first of all believe that he is.

And that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. In other words, he always has her best interest at heart.

And if we are faithful to the end, of course, he will see us through as the song goes. No, Job's friends cannot see his problems. Job was personally consumed with self-examination like the person in Psalm 77, the way we oftentimes are.

If I could just find out exactly what's wrong with me and make the right move or whatever, then things would be all right. Or sometimes, for that reason, if somebody else would do the right thing, then I would be fine. God eventually sends his messenger, Elihu, to Job, and Job gets the point.

Then after Elihu gets Job's attention, God speaks to him.

Maybe we should look at that for just a moment. Let's go to Job 32.

Job 32 in verse 6.

Job 32, verse 6.

In Elihu, the son of Bar-Rachel, the buzzite, answered and said, I am young and you are very old, wherefore I was afraid and dare not show you my opinion. I said, days should speak. In other words, older people should speak first, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

But there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives him understanding.

Great men are not always wise, neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore, I said, harken to me, I also will show you my opinion. Behold, I waited for your words. I gave ear to your reasons while you searched out what to say.

Yes, I attended unto you, and behold, there was none of you that convinced Job or that answered his words.

Lest you should say, we have found out wisdom. God thrust him down, not man. Now, he has not directed his words against me, neither will I answer him with your speeches. They were amazed. They answered no more. They left God speaking.

When I had waited for, they spoke not, but stood still and answered no more.

Then, Elihu said, I won't be restrained anymore. I'm going to speak plainly.

So, in the first part of chapter 33, he reminds Job of some of the things that he said.

And look at verse 9, Job 33-9. I am clean, Job had said, I'm clean without transgression. I'm innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, he finds that as God finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy. See, that's a sad state to come to.

And you will be weighted down if you ever come to that state.

He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.

And then Elihu says, Behold, in this you are not just. I will answer you that God is greater than man. And why do you strive against him, for he gives not account of his matters.

See, God is always faithful.

The war in fighting within is won through spiritual weapons at our disposal.

Let's note in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, 2 Corinthians chapter 10, where Paul reminds the Corinthians.

You know, in Ephesians he tells us to put on the whole armor of God, that we might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against wicked spirits in high places. So therefore, put on the whole armor of God. Then in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 3, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. You cannot fight all of these things that I described in the first 15 minutes of the sermon, of the way we might feel at time, and the way the cares of this world might get us down. You know, God says, Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you.

Christ says, Come unto me, all you that are labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. My burden is light, my yoke is easy.

Yet Satan oftentimes has us enslaved, thinking that the way may be too hard.

And all of us have been there. For the weapons of a warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. These strongholds are the things that I described in the first 10 or 15 minutes.

Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

What's the knowledge of God? I love you. I care for you. I want you and my family. Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

He does not mark iniquities. If He did, no man would be able to stand, removing our sins as far as the east is from the west, never leaving us nor forsaking us. Lo, I'm with you to the end of the age.

We could go on and on with the promises that He has promised us. But somehow, some way, Satan at times can get to us and to a large degree, it is because we don't control our thoughts and our mind. You know that thoughts are the precursors of action as we read from James 1, verses 13 through 16. First of all, a man is enticed when he's drawn away of his own lust. When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin brings forth death. The devil may have planted it in your mind, whatever it is, but when all is said and done, we make the decision. Otherwise, we couldn't be held accountable. Casting down imaginations, every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought that is left in the mind. To the obedience of Christ.

We have that power. God has given us that power.

You know, oftentimes we use displacement to justify the way we feel. That is, we blame our troubles on someone else.

The problems in the church are distracting me. Why can't they get their act together? If all perceived and real problems within the church were resolved today, and everything was perfect, and everybody loved everybody, you can't be a Christian.

If you don't love your brother, you just can't. That's according to the Bible. Now, some of you have a different Bible.

But if all of that were resolved, how would my life be different?

How would your life be different?

You know, the principal reason that I'm very concerned about the problems in the church centers on what it may do to each one of you first and foremost.

We can never say that we've crossed the final bridge. You know, even the Apostle Paul writing, I believe it's in the Galatians, where he says, I count myself not to have apprehended.

And he says, I continue to run the race and fight the fight, lest I too become a castaway.

In other words, we never, quote, haven't made. But we do have a storehouse, anchors to draw on from the many battles that we have been in.

Notice what Paul writes in this regard to Timothy. Once again, 2 Timothy 1, beginning verse 6. This is another prison epistle. Paul is in prison. Of course, he had worked with Timothy, and Timothy had been very faithful and loyal to Paul, and one that he could really count on. But it seemed that even Timothy was becoming timid and withdrawing at this time.

And so Paul writes to him. Now, there were people, and this is speculation, it's implied in Philippians, especially, where Paul talks about in chapter 1 that some are preaching the gospel out of spite.

And he says, nevertheless, I'm proud at least, the name of Christ is going forth. It's like, you know, if Paul were really an apostle, if he really is who he says he is, he wouldn't be in prison. God wouldn't allow that to happen to one of his servants. Well, they must have never even read anything in the Old Testament, and that's basically all they had then.

In 2 Timothy 1, 6, Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up. It's like striking a match with friction. You stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands, where God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Be you therefore, be not you therefore, ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner. So that's where you get Timothy.

Perhaps was even drawing back at this time. But be you partaker of the affliction to the gospel according to the power of God. Who has saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, hath sought life and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For unto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the nations, for the which I also suffer these things nevertheless I am not ashamed.

This is my key verse here.

For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast that form of sound words which you have heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto you, that is the gospel, keep by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us. This you know that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me, of whom are Phyjalis and Ermogenes. So they turned away, Paul's in prison. Who is he?

The Lord gave mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he has often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain. So they withdraw from Paul because he's in prison. He must not be an apostle. God must not be with him or else he wouldn't be there. But when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me. The Lord granted to him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day and in many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus. You know very well.

So here we are, brethren, fighting the good fight of faith and I hope we'll continue to fight the good fight of faith. Remember the four great enemies of faith, anxious care, fear, doubt, human reasoning. Of course, remember that Satan walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. That he wants you in one ditch or the other. He wants you to feel like you're the greatest thing in the world and you have never sinned or done anything wrong or he wants you to wallow in the very pitty pits of misery and despair. But God wants us walking in the straight and narrow. So let's turn to Luke now, chapter 10 and verse 19. Luke 10, 19. Let's tap in on that great power, the great power of God and Christ through His Spirit and word, through our communication with God and one another. You know, Paul talks about forsaking not the assembling of yourselves together. And so much and so much the more as you see the day of approaching, exhort one another, build one another up, edify one another, because we're going to need all hands on deck.

You know, the time is coming in which it talks about, once again, in the Olivet prophecy about brethren betraying brothers. I hope that never happens to any of us, because we have been given this great promise of great power. Notice this in Luke chapter 10 and verse 19.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. For brethren, we have to be bold. We have to stand for that which is right.

So are we so busy being busy that we are forgotten that we have access to the power of the God who created the heavens and the earth, who created us in His very image, who gave us the power to tread on serpents and scorpions? So, brethren, perhaps we need a change of mind, a change of course, if we're going to fulfill the mission that Christ has given us and change our view of ourselves. You know, one voice, crying in the wilderness, can make all the difference in the world. John the Baptist turned the nation upside down in six months.

So let's learn to live life, and let's learn to be in control of our lives, and not let the issues of life control us. Can we learn to live life and enjoy it so that we are not just weighted down on the way to our next obligation? Let's not wish our life away, hoping for a brighter day. Let's become a light today. Light drives out darkness. Darkness vanishes when the light's turned on. Christ tells us to turn on our lights and let our light so shine. So let our light shine in this perverse and wicked world. So let's light up our lights. Let's light up the light and lives of others as much as we can. Let's ask ourselves, does my life represent an invitation to life, or does it represent an invitation to darkness, gloom, and doom?

It's a good question to ask of all of us. So, brethren, let's go forward from here. Let's defeat the enemies of light and become a light to the world.