9/12/2021 - Spiritual Warfare

No army can succeed without a leader. If it wasn’t for the brilliance of past US generals, our military would not be seen as one of the strongest forces in the world. If it wasn’t for General Dwight Eisenhower, American troops may have never made it past the beaches at Normandy. If not for Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln, the USA may not have become one of the first countries to abolish slavery.

There is a war even greater than these happening every day. A spiritual war in which we look to Christ as our fearless leader. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah looked to God to deliver him from his enemies. While the story reads as an earthly battle between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the spiritual victory God had over Satan that day is of far greater importance to us. It revealed that God is powerful enough both to send fire from the sky to demolish our earthly enemies and to turn the hearts of His people back to Him proclaiming, “The LORD, He is God!”

Jesus demonstrated this same truth in the Gospel reading. When a man brought his demon-possessed son, Jesus told the demon, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” Jesus’ Word was sharp enough to pierce through the ears of a deaf spirit and cast him out of the boy’s body. This is something that cannot be done using a military weapon. God’s Word is sharper than a general’s sword and more powerful than a .50 cal.

To enter into this spiritual war, we need to be fully armed with God’s powerful Word. That is why Paul says in Ephesians 6, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take a stand against the devil’s schemes… The belt of truth… the breastplate of righteousness… your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel… the shield of faith… the helmet of salvation… and the sword of the Spirit.”

Onward Christian soldiers. You have nothing to fear with Christ as your leader.

God bless your worship.

READINGS:
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 18:21-39, Elijah battles Baal's prophets on Mt Carmel.
SECONDREADING: Ephesians 6:10-18, Put on the full armor of God.
GOSPEL: Mark 9:14-27, Jesus battles a demon.
PSALM: 46

SERMON TEXT: 1 Kings 18:21-39
SERMON THEME: “The LORD, He Is God” (Preacher, Vicar Justus McKenzie)

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