The Struggle That Prevails

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the

world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the

heavenly places.

What Afflicts the Human Condition?

The Systems Change

The Evil Remains the

Same

Why are we so helpless?

Ephesians 6:10 Evil rulers & authorities of the unseen

realm Mighty powers in this dark world Evil spirits in the heavenly places.

What Afflicts the Human Condition?

For the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One. 1 Jn.2:17

Other Explanations?

Good ‘Needs’ Evil

“Evil” Doesn

’t Exist

We’re evolvi

ng

What Afflicts the Human Condition?

Jesus mentions Satan over 100x What’s Your Explanation?

“Lord of the garbage dumps…”“The Lord of the Flies”

Mark 3:22 (NASB) The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul…”

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” Wasted lives.

“The Lord of the Flies”

John 8:44 the devil… He was a murderer from the beginning.

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” Wasted lives. Based on lies.

“The Lord of the Flies”

John 8:44 (NASB) “…Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of the lie.

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” Wasted lives. Based on lies.

“The Lord of the Flies”

Revelation 9:11 Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Greek, Apollyon — the Destroyer.

Destroyer: lay waste, ruin; make

chaotic, desolate…

Creator: to give life,

design, originate; to invest…

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” The System: a history of garbage

dumps.

“The Lord of the Flies”

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” The System: a history of garbage

dumps. Expendable Human Life

“The Lord of the Flies”

Child Sacrifice

Modern Era

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” The System: a history of garbage

dumps. Expendable Human Life We cannot correct the problem

We merely rearrange the problems.

“The Lord of the Flies”

The life of man is a long march through the night, surrounded by invisible foes, tortured by weariness and pain…Brief and powerless is mans life -- Bertrand Russell

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” The System: a history of garbage

dumps. Enslaved Within Darkened Minds

“The Lord of the Flies”

Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” The System: a history of garbage

dumps. Enslaved Within Darkened Minds

Victims of Lies and More Lies

“The Lord of the Flies”

2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe…

“Lord of the garbage dumps…” The System: a history of garbage

dumps. Enslaved Within Darkened Minds But Jesus Came to Deliver Us

“The Lord of the Flies”

Colossians 1:13 (NASB) For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

1 John 3:8 The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

The Beginning of Freedom: Forgiveness!

“The Struggle” Means:

Acts 26:18 …open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

The Beginning of Freedom: Forgiveness! Life with a future!

“The Struggle” Means:

Acts 26:18 …open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

The Beginning of Freedom: Forgiveness! Life with a future! Set apart from the garbage dump!

“The Struggle” Means:

Acts 26:18 (NASB) …that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

The Beginning of Freedom: Forgiveness!

Christian: You Have Been Delivered! From a long history of emptiness.

“The Struggle” Means:

1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

The Beginning of Freedom: Forgiveness!

Christian: You Have Been Delivered! From a long history of emptiness. From frustration and darkness.

“The Struggle” Means:

Ephesians 4:17-18 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding,

The Beginning of Freedom: Forgiveness!

Christian: You Have Been Delivered!

There Is No Neutral Ground.

“The Struggle” Means:

Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

The Beginning of Freedom: Forgiveness!

Christian: You Have Been Delivered!

There Is No Neutral Ground. Jesus is Plundering.

“The Struggle” Means:

Matthew 12:29-30 “…he first binds the strong

man? And then he will plunder his house.

"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

‘Plundering’

“Gather with Me…”

“Summing up all things” (1:10)

Scattering The Selfish Realm

The most divisive force

My life, my will… My tribe, my world…

GatheringWhich Struggle Prevails?

Matthew 12:30 “he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

Scattering The Selfish Realm

The most divisive force

My life, my will… My tribe, my world…

It Means Emptiness… A great garbage

heap… ‘The Lord of the Flies’ “Gehenna” is hell

GatheringWhich Struggle Prevails?

Matthew 12:30 “he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

Scattering The Selfish Realm

The most divisive force

My life, my will… My tribe, my world…

It Means Emptiness… A great garbage

heap… ‘The Lord of the Flies’ “Gehenna” is hell

Gathering The Spiritual

Struggle Releasing prisoners. Healing broken lives. Remove divisions,

racism... Restore love,

families...

Which Struggle Prevails?

Ephesians 6:10-11 Be strong in the Lord and in

the strength of His might.

•Stand firm against the schemes…•Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers…

Scattering The Selfish Realm

The most divisive force

My life, my will… My tribe, my world…

It Means Emptiness… A great garbage

heap… ‘The Lord of the Flies’ “Gehenna” is hell

Gathering The Spiritual

Struggle Releasing prisoners. Healing broken lives. Remove divisions,

racism... Restore love,

families... It Means Prevailing

The power of the cross

Their testimony Their sacrifice

Which Struggle Prevails?

Revelation 12:10 (NASB) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Scattering GatheringWhich Struggle Prevails?

James 4:6 Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Scattering GatheringWhich Struggle Prevails?

James 4:6 Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Scattering GatheringWhich Struggle Prevails?

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

Acts 26:17-18 “I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God…”

1 Samuel 2:9 (NASB) "He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.

2 Chronicles 14:11 (NASB) Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”

1 John 5:5 (NASB) Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Revelation 12:11 (NASB) "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Evil rulers & authorities of the unseen realm

Mighty powers in this dark world Evil spirits in the heavenly places.

What Ails the Human Condition?

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 (NLT)

“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

"Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. Matthew 24:11-12 (NASB)

2 Timothy 3:1-7 (NASB) But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money…ungrateful, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;……always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Post-Modern World

Dogma From the Unseen Realm

Lovers of

Money

Lovers of Pleasure

Moral Confusi

on

No Clear Truth