God's Territory

We just finished Thanksgiving and have so much to give thanks to God. We have life, we have liberty, and we have these wonderful truths. And yet, that means there are more responsibilities upon all of us, for he who has been given more, God expects more as well. And speaking of God's truths, one remarkable thing is that they begin in Genesis and go through the Bible, sometimes just in the incipient stage. We see it in Genesis just a little mention of something that will bud and grow throughout the rest of the Bible. And as it goes through like seamless tapestry, these truths end in the book of Revelation. One of those truths that is found in the book of Genesis that goes through the entire Bible are related to the two trees found in the Garden of Eden. Mr. Armstrong emphasized these two trees in his last years to the point where he was criticized because it seemed like every sermon had to do with the two trees. And yet, he saw how important they were, and that's why he emphasized it.

And the lessons of these two trees have many aspects to them. You can go into this subject by many or through many angles. And I'm going to focus on one angle that is vital to our spiritual lives.

It will help us to overcome and not fail, for it is not a given that we are going to be victorious in this spiritual fight, in this spiritual struggle that we have. As long as we have breath to draw, we are in a spiritual battle.

And those two trees in the Garden of Eden symbolized two ways of life. One was following God's way, and the other one was following Satan's way.

Adam and Eve took of the wrong tree, enticed by Satan, and they would be punished for it. And yet God allowed them to continue on their way and reap what they had sown. So God didn't stop this experiment to go forward. Man wanted to go, and along with Satan guiding him, and God allowed man to do so. Man could not go back to the Garden of Eden and take of the tree of life that had been closed momentarily. And after man was expelled from the Garden of Eden, things went from bad to worse. There were 1,600 years, approximately, of man's history, and it led to total and absolute disaster. A flood had to inundate the earth and take with it all of mankind. Things had gotten so bad and so corrupted that only Noah and his family had managed to avoid being contaminated and corrupted. Everyone else. God saw, as it says there, that they just were continually thinking evil things. They were being influenced by Satan, and they were just going along to where it just became this rotten barrel of apples that there was only one apple left, and God said, I've got to take this apple out and get rid of this barrel full of rotten apples. There was only one that was worth saving, and God had to start anew.

So, afterwards, God had to make some course corrections for mankind not to fall into the same type of corruption as before the flood. And so, one of the things that God did was institute the death penalty for killing of man. And so, it says here in Genesis chapter 9, verses 5 through 6, he says, surely for your life blood I will demand a reckoning. So, somebody sheds the blood of someone else. God now is going to demand a reckoning. In other words, there would be governments. They would administer the death penalty. He says, from the hand of every beast I will require it. So, beasts that kill human beings would be killed. And from the hand of man, God would also require the death sentence. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed. In other words, there's going to be judges. There's going to be government. For in the image of God, he made man. Man should not be killed in this way.

This was a course correction to avoid massive killings like there were before the flood.

Another course correction would be found in Genesis 11, when God confused the languages at Babel.

And God would reserve the right to intervene in man's history when necessary, until we would come to a time similar to Noah's day.

And this time, there would be a definite intervention. It wouldn't be a flood, and then build society basically on the old foundation. No, this time it would be a definite change. No more would man live in Satan's territory. God would set up his territory, which is what's going to take place during the millennium. Satan is not going to have influence nor any more territory. We are living now in a Satan-influenced world.

And so I'd like to go to the key scripture that will define this message. It's found in Colossians chapter 1 verses 12 through 14. Notice what it says in Colossians 1 verses 12 through 14.

It says, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. I'd like to read this in the new living translation. It makes it a bit more vivid. It says, So here's this vivid picture of our son, who has been the son of the Lord. He has always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the Lord, who has blessed our freedom with His blood and forgave our sins. So here's this vivid picture of us having lived in a different territory. It was Satan-influenced.

And then He transfers us into this new territory, which is God's territory. And that's through His Son, that He actually changes us from one place to another. I want to explain how this works. There are actually two spheres of influence.

Notice in Acts chapter 26, verse 17. I'll read this because it goes hand in hand with the previous verse. Acts 26, 17 through 18, it says, I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me. So Paul never forgot that, and he would use it in his different epistles like he did, transferring from one sphere of influence to another sphere of influence. So we have, in a sense, two territories. One is of God, and the other is inspired by Satan.

Each has its own characteristics. And when you look for it, you can clearly see it here in the Scriptures, the two territories that are being described. Notice in Galatians chapter 5. Galatians chapter 5 verse 16. Paul uses this contrast, the territory of darkness and the territory of light. You're being transferred from one to the other. Galatians 5 verse 16. It says, I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you're not under the law. You're not under any penalty that the law would give. You haven't broken anything if you're being guided by the Spirit. It's like a person that's law-abiding. He doesn't have to worry about a policeman coming in and arresting him. It's only those that are breaking the law that are fearful. He says now this is the territory of Satan's influence, where he influences. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness. Some of these are actions. Other things are thoughts, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in the time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. They're in the wrong place. They're in the wrong territory, because this is what Satan influences people to do. And now let's go to God's territory. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. There's no law against that in God's Word, because God's law is for the production of these things.

He goes on to... So here, it says in verse 24, And those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. So again, Paul uses this constant contrast. What territory are we living in? What kind of influences are we allowing in our lives? Is it God's influence or Satan's influence? Notice this same contrast found in Ephesians chapter 5 verses 1 and 2. So here we start with the right territory, where we should be, and then he contrasts it with the wrong territory. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 1, It says, Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. And now here's Satan's influenced territory. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints, neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks, just like we had thanksgiving. That's something positive. For this, you know that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, because here it's talking about coveting money, coveting things, it becomes like an idol to you. You love it more than you do God. It says, none of them has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

So we see from the right terrain, it goes on to the wrong terrain. He continues on, saying, verse 6, let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them, for you were once darkness. We lived in a territory that was dark and darkness. But now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the spirit is in... Now he goes back to God's territory. Is all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable. Is acceptable to the Lord. In other words, which territory are we living in? And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them as being in the wrong territory. This isn't where we should be, finding ourselves. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. And as they say, light is the best disinfectant. And light is something that has no shame to it. Verse 14, therefore he says, Awake you who sleep, as arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.

So this is again telling us which is the right terrain and which is the wrong terrain to live in. Notice in Colossians chapter 3, Paul thought this was so important that he constantly contrasted. In all of his epistles virtually, he was always bringing this up. Colossians chapter 3, verses 1, starting here, it says, If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Okay, the contrast between the spiritual with God and devilish and satanic with Satan, things on the earth. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ and God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Repeat it here again.

This is the wrong Satan-inspired area to be in. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created them, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, Barbadian, barbarian, Scythian, slave, nor free. But Christ is all in all. We're all in this together. We're all, doesn't matter what age, what gender, what nationality, what state in life you're in. We are all together in this. This is a spiritual battle for our minds and for our hearts. What territory are we going to end up in? It is the big question here. Notice again in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, this is the wrong area to be in. 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 9 through 11. Paul is very candid. He's talking about where we are living, where we are dwelling. Verse 9 says, Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. So some of them had had these other things, but they repented. He says, but you have washed. In other words, through baptism, they washed that former life. But you were sanctified. They received God's Spirit. But you were justified. You were forgiven in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. And so he constantly just switches from the right way of thinking to the wrong way to avoid this. It is a spiritual combat and where it's going to be determined, where our hearts and minds are going to be in the end. Notice Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10.

It is a spiritual combat. Starting here in verse 10. I'm going to read it first in the New King James, and then I'm going to read it in the Message Bible because it brings in a couple more elements to think about. I think it's very vivid again, very realistic. It says in verse 10 of Ephesians 6, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Now, we can't see them, but they, in an invisible way, influence society, and they affect the way society acts. And so that's where the source of many things that we just see society, but we're not asking, is this influenced by God or is it being influenced by Satan? Verse 13, it says, Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand, to remain standing. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. So here he's describing spiritual armor, but that we are spiritual soldiers. We have a battle. These are powerful beings. They have all these subtle influences in society. They already destroyed mankind once before with the flood. It was the them who just got so infused into the people that eventually people were just doing their bidding. We see this now more than ever in this type of society that we have. And so if you want to break it down, what the armor of God is all about, it says here that girded your waist with truth. And when soldiers would go out to battle many times, they didn't wear pants. They wore a tunic type of thing. This is what they would have. And so to avoid tripping up in their tunics, or that they could be caught by the enemy, they would wrap it around their legs. They would take up the hem, bring it up to the waist, and then with the belt, they would tie it. So it became kind of a short. That way, they had their legs free from any hindrance, from anything impeding them. So it says, gird your waist with God's truth. So the first thing we have to have is God's truths well understood, strengthened, because that's the first part of our clothing. If we're following false teachings, it doesn't matter everything else. You're part of the problem. You're not part of the solution. So first of all, we have to have God's truths and be practicing them in our lives. That has to do with keeping the Sabbath, keeping the feast days, being faithful with our tithes, being close to God in prayer.

After we do that, then you can put on the breastplate of righteousness. That covers God's truths. And what is righteousness? Psalms 119, 172, it says, all of your commandments are righteousness. So we strengthen God's truths with a way of life that is obedient to following God's commandments, keeping them in our hearts and minds. And then it says, and having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

So these are not passive soldiers. We've got a job to do. We've got to get that gospel out. We've got to support this work. We've got to get that gospel. What kind of gospel is it here? It says the gospel of peace, not of war, but what is coming. And so this is a work of God that is being carried out. We've got to have those sandals, just like the Romans had these very strong, heavy, boot-like sandals, so that you could walk a long distance, that you persevere getting this gospel of peace to the world. And then it says, and taking the shield of faith, which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

The faith that you're close to God, you're trusting Him, and you're going to do your part, and you just have that shield in front of you. And you just know God is more powerful than Satan and any of his minions, that you are going to stand up and be faithful.

And any of those darts of doubt that He casts on you, you just bounce those off your shield. They're not going to penetrate your armor. And then it goes on to talk about the helmet of salvation. You've got to protect your head, because that's the most precious part of the body.

And so you shield it, and actually in Thessalonians it talks about the same armor. It talks about the hope of salvation. So what you do is you have your mind on that coming salvation, on being part of that kingdom of God. You don't let anything distract you from that. Just like a good soldier, he concentrates and focuses on the job at hand. So what is it? It's that hope of salvation that we need to... we're going to be rewarded by being faithful soldiers one day. Continuing on, it says, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

And so anything that the world comes at us, we take God's Word, and we are going to defend ourselves with God's Word. We're going to do things as God's Word says. As the tests and trials come, you always keep in mind that, just like the apostles, they wielded that spiritual sword in front of the high priests when they attacked them and said, by how dare you defy us, and how do you dare do this?

And Peter said, I have to obey God before I have to obey man. And they couldn't argue against that. You have to put God first in your life. And then prayer is very important because that's our headquarters. That's where we're getting communicated, and that's where we get the instructions, and we get the strength from God through His Spirit. I'd like to read this to you from the message Bible. This phrase, it says, so take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials, and put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way.

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get. Every weapon God has issued so that when it's all over but the shouting, you'll still be on your feet.

Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You will need them throughout your life. God's word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. So, God tells us this is spiritual warfare that we're involved in. He also describes this in one other place, so we might as well go there in 2 Corinthians chapter 10. These are key verses that you learn as you begin your Christian battle.

2 Corinthians 10 verse 3, it says, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God, for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments in every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. I'd like to again read this in the Message Bible. It makes it quite vivid. It says, The world is unprincipled. It's a doggy dog out there. The world doesn't fight fair, but we don't live or fight our battles that way. Never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

So this is the way Paul was inspired by God to teach us. We're in the 21st century, and we still have this spiritual battle. Perhaps it hasn't been this bad since the time except prior to the flood, because in Noah's day and in Sodom's day, we are living this period of continual corruption and immorality, running rampant. We are living it, so it's kind of hard to compare it, but 50 years ago, people lived in much more peace. You could trust your neighbors. You could trust that somebody wasn't going to ransack your home or rape somebody going out at night. Now there is no assurance of what can happen to people, because we are in a very corrupt system.

And so again, we are battling to keep ourselves in God's territory, because Satan wants to capture us and take us to his territory. He wants us to think like he thinks, and he's got all of these tools to manipulate and to let people's guards down. And before they know it, they're in Satan's inspired territory. Notice the example of Jesus Christ, how he didn't have anything to do with Satan's world, with Satan's territory, in John chapter 14. John chapter 14, in verse 30. He said, I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in me. The Amplified Bible helps understand this verse a little more. It says, I will not talk with you much more, for the prince or ruler of this world is coming, and he has no claim on me. He has nothing in common with me. There is nothing in me that belongs to him, and he has no power over me. So they lived in totally different territories. Jesus Christ always lived in this territory of God's way and God's manner of doing things, and so Satan could never draw him into his terrain, his area of influence. Notice in John 16 verse 33.

It says, these things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. So this is what he overcame when he says we have to overcome what is it? It's this world's false values. Satan's influence, that territory of darkness that can be so alluring, that can look so innocent at times, but it isn't. Now, how can we become overcomers? Here are four points about overcoming. Number one, when we're facing something that we don't exactly know, whether it's right or wrong, something that's coming from this world, we should ask, is this inspired of God, or is it inspired of Satan? In other words, Satan doesn't have to go and appear, but is he influencing? Is this something that has to do with his focus, with his attitudes? We should ask, does it have to do with the works of darkness, or does it have to do with the works of light? Notice again how Paul, in Ephesians chapter 4, contrasts these two territories. Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 17.

He says, This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness, but you have not so learned Christ.

If indeed you have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning your former conduct the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and they are deceitful, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.

So sometimes we have to ask, is this coming from God's side of things, or is it coming from Satan's side of things? The second way to become an overcomer of this world is to focus on that point of weakness that we have and don't allow it to dominate in Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12, verse 1. It says, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, that sin of weakness, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus Christ had to overcome successive trials that got harder and harder. As a child, he had to overcome child-level temptations. And then as he grew up into an adult, he had to deal with adult temptations. And he could not go into Satan's territory not once. Then, at the beginning of his ministry, Satan took him for 40 days. And he was, well, he was, he fasted during that time, and Satan tested him harder than any other time. And yet, he never yielded. He was so close to God, he was in God's territory, and he just told Satan, I'm not going over to your side. Don't matter how much you tempt me, how much you offer me, I'm not going over to your side. And then, of course, the worst temptation of all was right before his death, where he was betrayed, where he was insulted, where he was accused falsely by false witnesses, beaten, scourged with whips, and made a mockery of, and crucified with criminals. And he allowed that. He never yielded to that dark side he could have.

And so, we also have to overcome that sin that so easily ensnares us. That trips us up.

Number three, remember the overriding reason God wants this so much for us. Remember the overriding reason God wants this so much for us. Why does he allow us to be tempted? Why does he have to put up with all of this evil that there is? There's one overriding reason. He mentions it. Let's continue in Hebrews 12. Verse 3. It says, For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. I don't know anybody who's been whipped who can show in his back that he has bled to stay faithful. He says, And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons. My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by him, for whom the Lord loves he chastens and scourges every son whom he receives. God sometimes uses the circumstances in a person's life to say, I've got to have a wake-up call. He has to go through certain things. He's going to have to suffer certain things before he gets it, what I'm trying to get across to him. Verse 7, If you endure the chastening, God deals with you as with sons. The term here again includes men and women with children. For what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. God's not dealing with people in the world in the same way. He's not using the circumstances to shape that spiritual character and develop it more. But he is with us.

Verse 9, Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the father of spirits and live? This is an important point. What he's contrasting is that we all remember our child rearing, and when we were corrected, and we did dumb things, and we did wrong things, and our parents corrected us for it. And yet, we consider looking back, well, we appreciate that they got our attention, that they steered us maybe from the wrong crowd or steered us from wrong habits, and we suffer. What Paul is saying here is that how much more should we be appreciative that God is always apparent to us, not just when we're just children, throughout our lives? And yet, sometimes we don't give him credit for all that he has done as a parent, as a loving father.

Continuing on, it says in verse 10, For they, indeed, for a few days chastened us, as seemed best to them. But he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. There's the overriding reason, because he wants us to learn how to live in the right way, like he does. In other words, to live in his territory.

That is the territory that is coming in his kingdom. Did you ever think about that? In the millennium, God's territory is going to spread to the entire earth. We're not going to have Satan's influence territory here on the earth. It's going to be eliminated. It might take the first couple of maybe, I don't know how long, Christ is going to establish. But once he secures everything, and everybody is going along and obeying him, God's territory is going to rain. And we won't have even a little city that is just a dumpy place to do all the dirty things and all the dark things that are being done in today's society. There won't be any. It won't exist. And so he wants us to participate of his righteousness and his way of life. So we shouldn't ever give up. God is merciful. He is forgiving. And he corrects us because he loves us. Notice in Hebrews chapter 2 as we end, Paul is pleading with the Hebrews, don't give up. Don't turn back. You've got so much to win if you overcome. He says, Hebrews chapter 2 verse 1, Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. We can lose it. We can lose this wonderful opportunity for salvation. For if the words spoken through angels prove steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who hurt him? Yes, this church started the day of Pentecost with God's Spirit moving all of these people inside, manifesting that God is working that way. We are the descendants, the spiritual descendants, of that church that started in the day of Pentecost. And we have been holding firm our territory, how we are going to live within God's territory. We're not going over to the dark side. We're not going to that other territory. But brethren, it is a spiritual struggle. We should never underestimate our adversary, but overcoming is what we have been called to do. And so, are we living in God's territory? Are we going to hold fast and stand firm in that final day of having like a good spiritual warrior, having fought and stood fast to the end?