Warrior - Shoes of Peace

Today, we are in the 6th Sermon of our Warrior Series, focusing on Spiritual Warfare from Ephesians 6.  If you have missed any of the sermons, I encourage you to go back and watch the sermons you may have missed.

When I was a child, I loved getting a new pair of shoes. Because the bones in my legs were turning, I walked on the inside of my shoes and wore out the inside soles faster than the outside – and it always felt like I ran a little awkwardly. But when I would put on a new pair of shoes – I felt a spring in my step, a cushion when I walked – and it felt like I could run ten times faster than I could in my old shoes. I would take off running outside, and stare down at my new shoes running so fast to make them blur. I felt like I could run faster, jump farther, and change direction more easily.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT2)

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Like many kids back in the Seventies and Eighties, I had one pair of shoes at a time for my growing feet.  It didn’t matter what I was doing or where I was going; I had one pair of shoes to do it in. I wore the same shoes with dress pants, shorts, jeans, playing kickball, fishing, hunting, to go to school, and for PE.

My dad was an abusive alcoholic, we lived off of food stamps,  we had a family with 6 children, and shoes were expensive.  So, when the treads on the shoes started flapping before my feet grew out of the shoes, my mom would take my shoes to the little country shoe store, and Ms. Dill would hot glue the treads of my shoe together. The only time we got new shoes is when our feet had grown so much that our toes poked out.

As the Apostle Paul describes the shoes that Warriors are supposed to wear, it is important to understand first that…

THE SHOES HAVE BEEN PAID FOR, BUT YOU MUST PUT THEM ON. (Rom. 5:8, Eph. 2:8-10, Rom. 10:9)

The shoes you see on my feet right now are not the only shoes I have on.  I actually have two pairs of shoes on my feet.  These worn-out, $30 Under Armor running shoes are worn in, comfortable, and I have had them for at least five years. But the other pair of shoes, are shoes of Peace.  They were given to me when I surrendered my life to Jesus and received Christ as my Savior.

I have been wearing these shoes of peace since 1991 when I was saved, born again, forgiven for my sin, and made new. You can’t see them – but I wear them every single day. You can’t buy these shoes. You can’t tithe for these shoes. You can’t earn these shoes by doing good works. The only way to put on these shoes is by repenting of your sin, and surrendering your life to Jesus, and by receiving Him as your Savior.

Earlier in the book of Ephesians Paul said…

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT2)

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

You and I cannot earn forgiveness for our sin. We can’t love other people enough to be forgiven for our sin. We can’t distribute enough food to hungry people to be forgiven for our sin. We can’t give enough money to pay off our mortgage enough to be forgiven for our sin. We can’t care enough for people in the Western Carolinas. There is NOT one thing you and I can do to earn forgiveness for our sin from God. All we can do is accept forgiveness, we cannot earn it.

God loves us, and he has forgiven our sin, because Jesus has already paid the price for our sin and given forgiveness to us.

Romans 5:8 (NLT2)

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

You can’t put on the Armor of God unless you first invite Jesus to be your Lord.   You can’t be a Warrior for God, if you aren’t a soldier of God. And you can’t be a soldier, unless you are part of God’s family. The Bible is very clear on how a person can receive forgiveness for their sin and become a follower of Jesus:

Romans 10:9 (NLT2)

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

So – confess. Confess that you are a sinner. Confess you can’t earn forgiveness. Confess Jesus is LORD. Repent of your sin. Receive Jesus as your Savior. You can do this right now:

God, I confess I am a sinner, and I can’t earn forgiveness for my sin. But I understand I can be forgiven for my sin, if I repent and turn toward you. So, I do. I repent and confess that Jesus paid the price for my sin on the cross – and I receive Jesus as my Savior and Lord.

I am so glad that YOU chose to put on the Shoes of Peace. So, when I was younger I had one pair of shoes for all occasions - but now that I'm older, I have boots, tennis shoes, golf shoes, black dress shoes, brown dress shoes, Jordans, Adidas, and Chuck Taylor’s. I have specific shoes, for specific events.  And, if you are a woman, you have shoes to match every shade of color in the world. If you are going to spend all day shopping, you will want to wear comfortable shoes. If you are going to spend the day playing golf, you will wear shoes for the greens. If you are going to be dressed up in a suit, you will most likely wear dress shoes. We all have felt the pain in our feet at the end of the day, and we wish we had put on different shoes that morning.

In order for you and I to stand firm in spiritual warfare, we are told to wear specific items for war. In this passage, we are told to wear:

The Belt of Truth

The Body Armor of God’s Righteousness

The Shield of Faith

The Helmet of Salvation

The Sword of the Spirit.

The belt, armor, shield, helmet, sword…these all support this idea that we are entering a conflict, a battle, and a war. The first five pieces of armor make sense in battle, but the sixth—"Shoes of Peace"—stands out as unusual…

If we are in a war, why would we put on shoes of peace?  Shouldn’t we put on COMBAT BOOTS?  Why would we put on shoes of peace? Why is that? It’s because…

PEACE MOVES US FORWARD IN MISSION

We read through this passage and think – I am ready to FIGHT!  We get inspired to FIGHT the enemy, put on the armor, and use the weapons…The mission for the Warrior is not COMBAT! The Mission is not to fight. The Mission is determined by the type of shoes that God has placed on our feet.  He didn’t put Combat boots on us because our purpose is not to be combative. Our mission in Spiritual Warfare is to bring PEACE.

Now, some followers of Jesus are mistaken and think they are supposed to be combative and confrontational with others. But they are wrong. Followers of Jesus wear Shoes of Peace because our mission is not just to fight battles and engage in warfare but to bring the peace of Jesus into enemy-occupied territory. We are not fighting to prove we are right. We are not fighting for a victory. We are moving forward in our mission because we are compelled to bring PEACE.

When you became a follower of Jesus, you became a Warrior assigned to bring peace to the world around you. Paul ties this mission of peace into our salvation in 2 Corinthians 5.

RESURRECTION POWER SENDS US TO BRING PEACE TO OTHERS. (2 Cor. 5:17-20)

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NLT2)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

God has given us the task of reconciling people to Him.  This means, the whole purpose of spiritual warfare is to spread the life-changing message of Jesus to the world around us.  He wants us to be known as Peace bringers, not fighters.  He has equipped us with the Shoes of Peace that come from the Gospel because he wants you, engaged in spiritual warfare, to bring the life-changing message of Jesus to others. You and I have been set free from sin, so that we can help set others free from sin too. And because we wear Shoes of Peace, that is why we are launching a new Saturday night service in April.

We are not launching this service because we need another option for people who already go to church. We are launching this service because there are people in this city who need Jesus, but Sunday morning is not an option for them. There are workers in the hospitality industry, restaurant servers, grocery store clerks, hotel staff, and emergency responders who cannot be here on a Sunday morning. There are young families juggling sports, school, and weekend shifts, and they need a place where they can encounter Jesus without the weight of their schedules keeping them away.

There are thousands of people in Myrtle Beach who are completely disconnected from church, not because they do not want to come, but because no one has invited them into a time that works for them. Jesus said in Matthew 9:37, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.”

The harvest is not the problem. The lost are everywhere. The problem is whether we will show up and do something about it. And let me be really clear: this is not just another service—this is a mission. This is a beachhead in enemy territory. This is an opportunity to take back ground the enemy has claimed.

And now, I am asking you—will you step up? Will you get in the fight? Because,we cannot do this  without you.

If you serve on a team, I am asking you to consider shifting to Saturday night for six months to help us build momentum. If you are not serving anywhere yet, this is your moment to jump in.

We need kids team members to pour into children who will walk through our doors for the first time. We need First Impression teams to welcome every person. We need prayer team who will cover this service and every person in it. We need worship team members, tech teams, production teams, life group leaders, and people willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And we need people who are willing to personally invite the lost, the disconnected, and the searching to come and experience the peace that only Jesus can bring.

There are people in this city who need to hear the Gospel—but will they?There are people in this city whose lives could change forever—but will they? That depends on us.

We wear Shoes of Peace, and that means we do not sit back and hope people find their way here on their own. We go. We serve. We invite. We make it impossible for them to miss it.

Will you step forward? Will you be part of this? Will you help carry the Gospel into enemy-occupied territory? Because this is what spiritual warfare looks like - not just standing your ground, but taking ground back. You have been set free, so you can help set others free.

Let’s do this together.

Warrior - Belt of truth

Warrior - Stand Your Ground

A few years after I became a follower of Jesus, I began dating a young woman who was also a follower of Jesus, very active in her church, and a student at a local Bible College in Ohio. We met at a Christian coffee house through mutual friends. I was flattered that she demonstrated interest in me, so we went on a few dates. I ended the relationship with her quickly after I understood a bit more about her view of God’s grace and mercy regarding physical intimacy between a man and a woman.

Shortly after I became a follower of Jesus, I attended a “True Love Waits” weekend with our student ministry. I made a commitment to keep myself pure until marriage so that I could give myself to my wife and my wife alone. I had already messed up once in this area, and I committed to the Lord I would not fall in this area again.

Would you like to know the reason I ended the relationship with this woman who was a follower of Jesus, active in her church, a student at a Bible college, and who actually thought I was attractive? Granted, it wasn’t a long relationship, but would you like to know why I ended the relationship? When we were alone together, she pressured me to sleep with her. I told her about my commitment to abstain until marriage. I explained to her that I believe “True Love Waits” and that it would be a sin if we slept together before marriage. The line she said to me that caused me to end the dating relationship was something like: “God has already forgiven us for all of our sins at the cross, so it is okay if we are sexually active. God has forgiven us.” Shortly after that, I ended it.

What she said was true: God has indeed forgiven us for all of our sins—past, present, and future. That’s true. But that doesn’t mean she was correct.

And that leads us to our sermon today, “Stand Your Ground” from Ephesians.

Ephesians 6:10-14 (NLT2)

10  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

Regarding spiritual warfare, one of the strategies that the devil and his demons employ is to deceive through false teaching, false teachers, and false shepherds. His strategy is to create deceptive teaching that appeals to our flesh and looks like the truth. The old expression shared for hundreds of years is true:

THE DEVIL PUTS A QUESTION MARK WHERE GOD PUTS A PERIOD.
(Matt 4:3)

Satan, false teachers, false teaching, and false shepherds design lies to have the appearance of the truth. After all, if lies looked and sounded like lies, nobody would believe them. But to deceive and attack the people of God, deception must appeal to our sinful nature and have the ring of truth to it. To be honest, there was part of me that wanted to put a question mark where God put a period.

The young woman I had been dating was attending a Bible College, and one of her Bible teachers actually taught the principle that since God has already forgiven us for all of our sins, we may as well enjoy what sin has to offer. I know because she placed me on a phone call with him, and we had a very long discussion. He tried to present it as right, but I knew, based on my relationship with Jesus, it was wrong.

He quoted scripture like:

Romans 8:1 (NLT2)

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:20 (NLT2)

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.

Galatians 5:1 (NLT2)

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Every verse he shared with me was accurate, but it was out of context. What about in context? Well, I told him flat out he was wrong. Then I started flipping through my Bible and quoted these scriptures to him:

Romans 6:1-2 (NLT2)

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2  Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

1 Peter 2:11 (NKJV)

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

He couldn’t believe that I, an untrained new believer, was repelling his false teaching by standing firm in the truth. He continued to attempt to make me question the truth of God’s Word. He wanted me to begin placing question marks where God had already placed periods. Finally, I ended the conversation with one final scripture:

Galatians 5:13 (NLT2)

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Look, there are no loopholes when it comes to following God in obedience. You can bet as a young 20-year-old man, I wanted physical intimacy with a woman, but I knew that God planned for physical intimacy to happen inside the boundary of marriage. That situation I faced as a young believer helped me realize the incredible power of knowing and applying God’s Word. I realized this simple truth that has become one of our guiding values today:

WHEN WE APPLY GOD’S WORD TO OUR LIVES, WE REPEL ATTACKS
(2 Tim. 3:16)

When we apply the Word of God to our lives, we repel attacks of the enemy.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

When Paul wrote these words to Timothy, it was instruction on how to teach others, but also instruction on how to live. If you want to live your life in a way that repels the enemy’s attacks, you must know how to apply God’s Word to your life. It is one thing to know what the Bible teaches about some things. The woman and the man who challenged me to question God’s Word knew a lot of scripture and Bible passages that could cause me to question God’s Word. And the very first thing that happens when you begin to question God’s Word is that you stop applying His Word to your life. Then you become a target for the evil one to attack, discourage, and destroy. Applying God’s Word to our personal battles, struggles, and relationships is the only absolute way to repel the attacks of the evil one.

When Jesus was tempted in the desert by the Devil in Matthew 4, He quoted scripture and spoke of the scripture as application. Since God’s Word says this, then I will live this way. Although the Devil misused and twisted the meaning of scripture that he threw at Jesus, Jesus understood the heart of God’s Word, its meaning, and precisely how to apply it to His life. All scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

When you apply God’s Word to your life, you demonstrate that Jesus is the LORD of your life. When you do this consistently, you repel the attacks of the Devil.

When you live your life consistently in this manner, you discover that…

LIVING IN THE TRUTH MAKES YOU BRAVE
(Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10)

Living in the truth doesn’t just help us stand our ground and stand firm in the midst of a spiritual battle. Living in the truth makes us brave and gives us courage we never imagined we could experience.

Let’s take a look at two passages that teach this.

First, let’s look at something God said to Joshua.

Joshua 1:9 (NLT2)

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Now, let’s understand the context: Joshua had just taken over the leadership of Israel after Moses. He was tasked with leading God’s people into the Promised Land, a land full of enemies, battles, and unknown challenges. God wasn’t telling Joshua to muster up his own strength or bravery. He was telling Joshua that as he moved forward in obedience and lived in the truth, “I will be with you. My power and My presence will go before you.”

That kind of bravery is what you and I will experience when we live in the truth and follow God in obedience. Not bravery because of who we are, but because of who God is.

When Kristy and I accepted God’s call on our lives in December of 2022 for me to serve the Lord as the Lead Pastor of Beach Church, I did not want to be here! The church faced division in 2021, and tackling the challenges was far too much for me to handle. But I knew that if I stayed out of God’s way and let Him work, God would work great miracles… and He has.

Now, I no longer feel that way about Beach Church. I am grateful to be a part of the movement of God that we have seen. And maybe there are roles and things that God is calling you to do right now that are frightening and scary for you. Like Joshua, when we stand in the truth and live in obedience to God, we will not be alone. God is with you.

Memorize the promise of God from Isaiah 41:10:

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT2)

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

This is a direct promise from God. You will find bravery because of three things. God says:

“I am with you.” That means you will never face any situation alone.
“I will strengthen you and help you.” When you feel weak, overwhelmed, or out of options, God steps in with His strength.
“I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.” The “right hand” in biblical times symbolized strength, power, and authority. Kings and rulers often held scepters or made decrees with their right hand.

So, when God says, “I will hold you up with My right hand,” He is telling us that He is using His full strength and authority to sustain us. The word “victorious” is key!

God has already won every battle. He doesn’t operate from a place of uncertainty or defeat. He is not wringing His hands and worried about your future. God is holding us in the same hand of power that parted the Red Sea, defeated death on the cross, and raised Jesus from the grave. We are secure in His strength, sustained by His authority, and protected by His victory. Even when we feel weak, discouraged, or overwhelmed, if we walk in obedience, God holds us steady, and He will not let us fall.

OBEDIENT LIVING MAKES US BRAVE!

Whatever you are facing today, you can trust that His mighty right hand is holding you up. You are not alone, and you will not be defeated. Living in the truth makes us brave because we stand in God’s strength, not ours. His presence gives us confidence, His power gives us strength, and His promises give us peace.

So let me ask you: what are you afraid of today? What battle are you facing? Maybe it’s a temptation, a relationship, or a fear about the future. Whatever it is, God is with you.

He hasn’t left you.

He hasn’t forgotten you.

Stand in His truth and live with courage.

Warrior - Demons & Jesus

As a child, I was afraid of the dark many times. It wasn’t a common thing. It wasn’t an everyday thing. But at night sometimes, my imagination would wander, and fear would override my common sense.

We slept on a school bus, and at night, the faces of Freddy Kruger. Jason Vorhees. Mike Myers…and Norman Bates…would float out of the shadows and shapes at night, and sometimes, the darkness would paralyze me to the point I barely breathed.  I believed that they were going to leap out at me and kill me.

Today, this sermon may begin a bit unsettling for some of us.  The truth is, If we could tear a hole in the air around us, we might see the "dark world" where evil operates and reigns. We are continuing in our sermon series called WARRIOR from Ephesians 6.  And today, we will focus on an unseen “dark world” just beyond the tip of our five senses that impacts the world around us.

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT2)

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

In this one verse, we learn that there is an unseen world, a dark world, where evil rulers, evil spirits, and mighty powers reign. We don’t talk about this world much. We don’t talk about demonic influence much. We kind of stuff it down and hide the idea of demonic spirits as things of myth…And, when we observe things like human trafficking, abusive powers, child slavery, and hate, we tend to blame the evil of people rather than looking into the world we cannot see for the bigger picture.

We hold people accountable without trying to understand the larger picture of spiritual warfare and how the unseen world around us impacts our present reality. To understand how this dark world operates and the authority Jesus has over it, let’s look at one of the most dramatic encounters in the Bible.

Luke 8:27 (NLT2)

As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.

Mark 5:5 (NLT2)

Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.

Luke 8:28-35 (NLT2)

As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29  For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. 30  Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31  The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. 32  There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. 33  Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. 34  When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35  People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.

We clearly see the impact of the demonic power of the dark world through this encounter.

Demons are not something to play around with.  Ouija Boards, Seances, and Fortune Tellers seem to communicate that demonic activity is innocent. But the Bible teaches us that…

DEMONS ARE DESTRUCTIVE AND TROUBLING

These DEMONS brought destruction and loss to this man’s life.

Because of the Demons:

• He was naked, homeless, and lived in a cemetery. (v. 27)

• He howled and cut himself with sharp rocks. (Mark 5:5)

• People didn’t know what to do with him so they CHAINED and SHACKLED him to the rocks (v. 29)

This man was tormented and bound, and his life was a mess. And he was possessed by hundreds, maybe thousands of demons.

So, can a follower of Jesus be Demon-possessed? No. I don’t believe so. Once a person has become a follower of Jesus, once they have surrendered their life to Jesus, received Jesus as their savior, and have committed their lives to Him, they have been made NEW. They have been born AGAIN, and the Holy Spirit is living in them. So, I do not believe that a follower of Jesus can become DEMON possessed because the Holy Spirit of God already possesses them.

But, I do believe that…

DEMONS CAN INFLUENCE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

I believe that a follower of Jesus can begin to believe the lies of the devil and live as confused and feel as isolated and powerless as this man. In verse 30, Jesus asked the man a very simple question.

“What is your name?” This man had lived under the influence of the devil for so long that he could not answer the question correctly. His name was NOT Legion. His real name was a good Jewish name.  Thomas, Matthew, Peter, or John…  He had lived under the influence of Demons for so long, he forgot his identity.

As a follower of Jesus, you cannot be demon-possessed, but you CAN BELIEVE LIES that prevent you from living a Spirit-Filled, resurrection power life. You may be a believer in lies, discouragement, harsh words, and whispers of hopelessness that have been spoken into your thoughts. You may have allowed demonic lies about your identity to steal away your love for the Lord, your joy for life, and your faith in God.

Maybe like this man… You are overcome by evil in this world. Maybe you are overwhelmed with an addiction to anxiety. Maybe your relationship with your spouse is crumbling, and you feel like you will never experience a HEALTHY relationship with them. Maybe you have a hidden addiction to drugs…an addiction to alcohol…or hopelessness. Like this man, perhaps you feel like you have been cowering and hiding in the darkness for so long that you have forgotten who you really are and who you belong to. And like this man, you too can be set free from your past, forgiven for your sin, and experience a life-changing relationship with Jesus. And, there are beings from the unseen world that are very interested in seeing humans set free from sin. There are beings in the unseen world that will celebrate and worship God as you step out of the darkness.

When you step out of darkness into the light of Jesus, not only does heaven rejoice, but God has also provided supernatural helpers to care for you—His angels.

God has provided Angels to help us that most of us take for granted and never mention. In the unseen world…

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF ANGELS

I don’t have all the answers when it comes to ANGELS, but just as demons are real, ANGELS are real as well. Angels are referenced roughly 300 times throughout the Bible. They appear in both the Old and New Testaments as messengers of God, warriors, and servants of His will. And, there are millions of them.

Revelation 5:11 (NLT2)

Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.

There are thousands and millions of Angels. So, if we were to tear a hole in the air around us, not only would we see demons – we would see Angels, too. And, all those millions of Angels have a pretty incredible responsibility… If you are a follower of Jesus…

GOD SENDS ANGELS TO CARE FOR YOU

While demons aim to destroy, God has sent His angels to protect, guide, and minister to us. This means you are never alone in the battle, no matter how dark it feels.

Hebrews 1:14 (NLT2)

Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

Psalm 91:11-12 (NLT2)

For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12  They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

In this unseen world, while demons are fighting to destroy, angels are actively fighting for God’s purposes and protecting His people. This means that even when you can’t see it, God is working for you. His angels are actively involved in protecting you, guiding you, and fighting for you in the unseen battle.

While most of us, myself included, may never have seen an angel or had an encounter with an angel, that doesn’t mean angels aren’t at work. The Bible shows us that God’s angels are constantly working in a world we cannot see.

So, when you face challenges or feel overwhelmed, remember that God has not left you alone. His angels are guarding you, and He is working for your good in every situation. Trust Him.

And, if you feel overwhelmed today – let me end with a Biblical understanding that no matter what you are in bondage to…

JESUS HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SET YOU FREE

Throughout the Gospels, JESUS demonstrates AUTHORITY…

Over nature: by calming the storm, walking on water, and multiplying food.

Over death: by raising the dead and conquering sin through His resurrection.

Over spiritual forces: by casting out demons and defeating the evil one through the cross.

Over creation itself: by ascending into heaven and demonstrating power over the laws of physics.

He demonstrates AUTHORITY over sin by paying the penalty for sin through his death and rising from the dead. THERE IS NOTHING THAT MY JESUS CANNOT DO!

Jesus is standing at the edge of your darkness today, and he is calling your name. So, step out of the shadows of shame and darkness.  And begin to live how this man did.

Jesus cast the demon out of the man, people who witnessed it ran to the town and told everybody and when they all came running back, the man was clothed, sitting calmly and in his right mind. He wanted to follow Jesus at this point, but Jesus would not let him.

Luke 8:38-39 (NLT2)

The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, 39  “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

He told everybody about what Jesus had done for him. So, go and do the same.

Warrior - The Strategies of the Devil: Equipping Yourself for Spiritual Battle

In High School, one of my best friends' dad was one of the leaders of a Biker club—Not a Huffy Biker club: a Harley-Davidson Biker club. They drank a lot, smoked a lot of marijuana, and were a pretty rowdy and violent group to run with…

One weekend, my friend and I were camping out at Saline Creek Boat Dock, fishing and minding our own business, when two groups of people from different worlds showed up: Chad’s dad, with all of his Harley Club buddies, and soldiers on leave for the weekend from Fort Campbell.

Clean-cut, disciplined, and ready-to-party soldiers mingling with long hair, long beards, Harley riders. There was a heated argument over where vehicles could park and where tents would be set up.

So, to settle it…Mark said, “I tell you what. Any one of our guys can whip any of your guys.  The first one to pin for three seconds wins.” They agreed, and I was eager to see this fight! Then, Mark looked at me and said, “Joe – go get him.”

Before I could say anything, a circle of soldiers and bikers gathered around me, and a GI about my size and height.  I thought, “I can beat this guy.” We lunged at each other. And, I held my own for about 2 seconds.    Before I knew it, my legs were swept out from under me; I was thrown down into the gravel, out of breath, and pinned. Then, I heard the bikers and the soldiers all count out my pin.  “1 – 2 – 3.” It ended faster than it started.

I was not prepared or ready for this battle. He had gone through 6 weeks of basic training. He was skilled and trained in hand-to-hand combat. And I…was not. I was fifteen years old and unprepared to fight a person who fought with strategy.

As followers of Jesus, many of us are unprepared for daily spiritual battles.  We fight an enemy who is strategic, disciplined and knows our weaknesses. The Devil has been studying humankind for a long time.  He understands our weaknesses and has developed strategies to attack us and destroy our lives. But prayerfully, at the end of this sermon series, you will be more prepared for the strategic attacks of the Devil.

Ephesians 6:10-18

10  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

At the beginning of this passage, we are told to put on all of God’s armor so we will be able to stand firm against the strategies of the devil. Today, I will give you four strategies of the Devil found throughout scripture, along with four suggestions that followers of Jesus can do to protect you and your family.

HE DECEIVES & DISTORTS; STAY ANCHORED IN TRUTH

We see his deception in the Garden of Eden. God had just created all the animals, looked around, and called them GOOD.  And the first thing the Devil did was disguise himself as GOOD to bring destruction.He became a serpent, part of God’s GOOD creation, to deceive. God gave Adam and Eve the freedom to eat from any tree except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He warned them that eating its fruit would lead to death. The Devil, in the form of a serpent, deceived Eve and distorted God’s command, saying they wouldn’t die but instead become like God. Tempted, Eve ate the fruit and gave some to Adam, who also ate it.

Their disobedience led to separation from God. This act of rebellion gave birth to sin, and sin brought death, disease, and destruction into the world.  This changed humanity’s relationship with God forever. And it all started because the devil first disguised himself as something that Adam and Eve had known as GOOD. They didn’t know it was the devil. They were convinced that the serpent was part of God’s GOOD creation. When God asked Eve why she disobeyed him, she said, “The serpent deceived me…” In other words, “God – the creature YOU put in the Garden with us, deceived me.”  She blamed God.

Similarly, thousands of years later, in the New Testament, the apostle Paul exposed false teachers to the church in Corinth.  He said this:

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NLT2)

14  …Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15  So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, angels served as messengers of God, sent at special times to communicate His will to His people. God sent these Angels out as his messenger to deliver Truth. The devil disguised himself as God’s messengers to deliver LIES. Paul warns that the devil often disguises as good to deceive and mislead.  Never forget that a clever lie will look like the truth. A counterfeit bill is passed because it looks like the real thing.

So, stay anchored in the truth. Know the Word of God. Memorize scripture. Spend time in the Lord’s presence. Be Growing in your relationship with God.

Another strategy of the devil we see throughout scripture is that…

HE TEMPTS THEN CONDEMNS; FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS

The Devil TEMPTS, and he CONDEMNS.  We have already established that the devil disguises himself as good to tempt us.  But the Devil doesn’t just tempt us; he also condemns and accuses us.

The Apostle John describes the devil as our ACCUSER in Revelation:

Revelation 12:10 (NLT2)

10  Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

The Devil is a TEMPTER and an ACCUSER – and these two traits create a pretty nasty strategy of what I call the Devil’s “One-Two” combination punch. He tempts people to sin by deception and distortion.  He whispers things like:

• It’s not really cheating if you do it online.

• It’s just this once, nobody could possibly find out.

• You have already messed up, what’s the point in stopping now?

• God will forgive you anyway, so why not?

• If you don’t do this, you will never be happy.

That temptation is NORMAL!

1 Corinthians 10:13a (NLT2)

13  The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience…

Every single follower of Jesus experiences temptation. Every single one of us has been lured by these whispers. And - every single follower of Jesus has given in to temptation and chose to sin at some point. And – it is in that place after a follower of Jesus has chosen to sin, where we experience the Devil's second punch. After he tempts us with his left jab, he follows it up with the right hook of condemnation and accusation. After sinning, he whispers to you:

• “I can’t believe you did that.”

• “What kind of follower of Jesus are you?”

• “You’re a hypocrite.”

• “You’re a pathetic excuse for a Christian.”

• “You better keep this hidden because others will be disappointed with you if they find out.”

When those accusations come, remind yourself of this truth:

Romans 8:1 (NLT2)

1  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Write it down, memorize it, and declare it every time the Devil whispers lies about your identity. Let the Devil ACCUSE you all HE wants! Let the Devil condemn you all He wants! But understand that you are a child of the most high God. The shed blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed you. You have been forgiven for all your past, present, and future sins. So, forgive yourself.

Don’t hold your sin against yourself. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, God has forgiven you, and he is not rubbing your nose in your sin.  So, stop doing that to yourself.  Forgive yourself.

Another strategy of the Devil that we see throughout scripture:

HE DIVIDES;
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND BEACH CHURCH

After tempting and accusing us, the Devil will begin to create division in the church because a divided church is a dying church, and the devil knows it. We see an example of the dividing work of Satan in a man named Diotrephes from the third letter of John.

3 John 1:9-10 (NLT2)

9  I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10  When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.

The Apostle John was sending out traveling teachers of God’s word to churches, and at one of the churches, a man named Diotrephes: refused to have anything to do with the Apostle John… refused to welcome the teachers…and if any followers of Jesus did help them, he kicked them out of the church! Diotrephes loved to be the leader.  He did not like the Apostle John, and he created division in the church as a result. The Devil prefers to see a dysfunctioning, divided church because a healthy church threatens his Kingdom!

Humans are more prone to lean into division, gossip, lies, and deception than we are to forgiveness, grace, and the power of the Spirit of the Lord. When things don’t go how we think they should – especially in church – we complain. We gripe. We cause division. So, we prevent division and protect our church and our families by demonstrating UNCOMFORTABLE GRACE:

Colossians 3:13 (NLT2)

13  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

When people in your family or church offend you, forgive them. Make allowance for each other. Don’t create division because you don’t like a decision I made, and make allowances for my faults, too.  The reason why the Devil deceives, tempts, condemns, and accuses is because…

HE OPPOSES GOD’S WORK; STAY FOCUSED ON GOD’S MISSION

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he explained why it had taken him so long to visit them:

1 Thessalonians 2:18 (NLT2)

18  We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.

We are unsure what was happening, but the Devil prevented Paul from visiting the church to strengthen the church…The Devil does not want Beach Church to lead people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus. The Devil does not want us to launch a Saturday night service to reach people who can’t get to church on Sunday. The Devil does not want us to be debt-free and able to invest $16,400 into our mission every single month. The Devil does not want those 200+ people who were baptized in 2024 to grow in their faith. The Devil does not want our church or your family to be actively leading people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus.

So, we stand firm in the power of the Lord. We overlook the faults of others. We forgive ourselves and learn to stand firm against temptation by memorizing the Word of God. The Devil deceives, tempts, divides, and opposes, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can stand firm. Anchor yourself in the TRUTH. Resist temptation. Protect unity. And stay focused on God’s mission.

Warrior: Overcoming Spiritual Battles Through Obedience and Faith

We are kicking off the new year with a thirteen-week emphasis on Spiritual Warfare in a series called Warrior.

A few months after I became a follower of Jesus, I got into a fistfight with 4-5 local bullies from my high school.

Do you want to hear the rest of the story? It was Halloween night and I had just left a Halloween Party at the church I surrendered my life to Jesus in.  As I was driving through town, a truck passed me coming the opposite direction and somebody threw eggs at my car and my windshield.  I slammed on my brakes, threw the car into reverse squealing tires, caught up with the truck, pulled the truck over, jumped out of my car, and demanded that whoever egged my car get out and clean it up.The 4-5 guys, jumped out from the back of the truck, surrounded me, and began throwing punches.

I was hit several times in the head, knocked out momentarily, and came to when they jumped in their truck and left as the police were pulling into the parking lot. I had two black eyes, knots on my face, and a bruised ego.

In my naivety, I didn’t realize that these boys were out looking for a fight. I thought that when they realized who I was, they would apologize, clean the car, and drive off down the road.  But, they were out looking to jump somebody, attack them, and whip the snot out of them…and that is what they did.

I never imagined that all 7 of these guys would jump me. (Every time I tell this story – the number of bullies grows.) I was left slumped into the front passenger seat of my car, humiliated, embarrassed, and left wondering, “What the heck just happened?”

As followers of Jesus, we often fail to understand that we are in a fight right now.  Even as we are sitting here in this worship center, even while some are listening online, we are engaged in a battle and quite possibly being attacked. And, we are not just in a fight, we are in a battle.  And, the battle has real consequences. Now, don’t jump up and start throwing haymakers. You are not in a fight with the people around you. You don’t have to take on our safety-team…

But, our fight is far more frightening. You and I are in a battle with the devil and his evil demons.  This is not a physical fight. It is a spiritual battle with real-life consequences.

Ephesians 6:10-18

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

As followers of Jesus, we have been forgiven for our sins, we have been given a relationship with God, and we have become a target of the evil one.  The devil was defeated when Jesus rose from the dead, and since the devil has learned he cannot overtake God, he will do his best to attack and destroy those who belong to the family of God.

THE BATTLE IS REAL

Ephesians 6:10

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”

When we fail to stand firm in the Lord, the fallout can be devastating. Marriages fall apart because selfishness replaces love, and bitterness goes unchecked. Parents get so consumed by their own struggles that their children grow up feeling lost, insecure, and disconnected from God. Families stop praying together, and before long, they stop fighting for one another. In the workplace, compromises lead to ethical failures that destroy careers. Stress and burnout take over as we chase success, thinking it will satisfy us, only to find ourselves empty and exhausted. Our finances tell the same story. We give into greed, overspend to fill a void, or hoard out of fear, leaving no room for generosity.

The American church doesn’t escape the enemy’s attacks either. Division, gossip, and complacency infect the body of Christ across America. American Christians focus on petty issues instead of the mission God gave us, and our opportunity to reach the community is destroyed.

Spiritually, many of us are barely holding on. Unchecked sin like lust, addiction, or anger takes root, and we wonder why we feel distant from God.

Satan’s goal is clear: to destroy everything good in your life—your faith, your family, your purpose, and your hope. This is the cost of not standing firm. But, we are not powerless. Through His strength, we can stand firm in the Lord, so that when the battle is over, we are still strong, and we can reclaim what the enemy has stolen.

We are going to talk more about this next week, but this passage also shows us that…

THE DEVIL IS REAL AND YOUR ENEMY

Ephesians 6:12

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

We have an Enemy.  He is the Devil. The Evil One.  He is the Father of Lies.  Since the beginning, he is a hater of God, a hater of all things God loves. He hates creation, he hates Christianity, and if you are a follower of Jesus, he hates your guts. He is not a symbol or a myth. He is real. Jesus spoke about him in the gospels:

Jesus called the Devil a murderer, a liar, and the father of all lies:

John 8:44

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

In the beginning of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

In Matthew 13:19, Mark 4:15, and Luke 8:12, Jesus describes the Devil as the one who snatches away the TRUTH of God’s Word from the hearts of believers…

In Luke 22, Jesus warns Peter that Satan desires to “sift him like wheat.”

In Matthew 25 Jesus says that hell is an eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons…

The Devil is real, and he wants to do all he can to bring destruction to believers and turn the world away from following Jesus. Jesus described him as a destroying thief…

John 10:10

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

The devil wants to steal your joy, kill your hope, and destroy your hope in Jesus.  He is ruthless and seeks to devour you.

That’s why Peter warned followers of Jesus to be on the lookout for the devil, he writes:

1 Peter 5:8

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

But – followers of Jesus do not need to curl up in fear, weep, or live terrified.  Rather, if followers of Jesus simply live in obedience, God will be glorified and an already defeated Satan will be threatened. Every day, we make choices to follow God in obedience or yield ground to the Devil. When we choose sin, we give Satan influence over our lives.

So, If you want to begin to live in freedom in 2025.

If you want to walk in the power of the Lord in 2025.

If you want to experience victory and the power of the Lord 2025.

Then you need to begin living in OBEDIENCE in 2025 – because…

VICTORY BEGINS WITH OBEDIENT LIVING

Jesus is LORD over the last minute.  He is LORD of the nick-of-time and LORD of the its-already-too-late.  He is able to turn a hopeless situation into something incredible. When you feel as though all hope is gone.  When you feel like you have really messed up your life and made one poor decision after the next, Jesus is able to bring you back to life.

There is never a time when it is too late for Jesus. I know it feels that way at times. I know that there are dark valleys and pits of despair you have walked through. I know you are walking through depression, and sadness, and confusion. Even though it feels as though it is too late – it is not too late for Jesus! There is never a place that you have gone that is beyond his mercy, grace and compassion. There is never a problem that you have dealt with or are dealing with that is too difficult for him to overcome. He will turn your mourning into joyful dancing…because He is LORD and that is what He does!

When I think of the Lord’s power I always think of the time in the Gospels when Jesus stood at the entrance to a tomb - and shouted: "Lazarus come out!"  And Lazarus came out!  The dead man sat up, walked out of the grave wrapped in dead man clothes and Jesus told those standing there: Unwrap him and let him go!

This morning, Jesus stands at the edge of your darkness and calls your name!  He calls you to come out from the edge of your darkness.  From the edge of your depression.  From the edge of your despair.  He stands at the entrance peering into the darkness and says to you, "Come out!"   “Come out of the darkness.” Are you being held back by insecurity and fear?  He calls you to let it go!  Are you bound by depression and anxiety?  Let it go!  Believe HE CAN.  Admit you CAN'T.  Believe he is able!  Trust in him completely!

Have you thought the distance between you and your spouse has become so great that the relationship is broken and beyond repair?  He can restore life to your marriage!

Your children may have traveled far down the wrong path.  So far it seems - the cold reality of their decisions are dragging you down in spirit.  Jesus can bring them back from the brink!  Believe and ask and seek!

Jesus does desire to turn your mourning into dancing and great joy - he loves you completely and totally.  But we are not guaranteed to experience the joy.  If we want to experience the VICTORY we must live in OBEDIENCE.

Just because you were walking closely with the Lord last year, last week, or yesterday does not mean that you are walking closely with the Lord today.  Personally – your faith from yesterday is not enough to keep you walking in step with the Spirit of the Lord.  If you want to experience the joy of walking with the Lord again, continue to live in obedience to Jesus.