GUEST: Matt Morrell, pastor, Fourth Baptist Church (Plymouth, MN)
In a way, one could call Satan’s rebellion against God the original sin for Satan was the one who tempted the first humans, Adam and Eve, to rebel against God as Satan had done.
Ever since, Satan and the angels who joined him in his rebellion have been waging spiritual war for the souls of men and women. The Bible says Satan “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5). He has one purpose—to keep the unsaved from being saved and the saved from being sanctified.
Jesus put it this way: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
Satan and his demons, while powerful, are not all-knowing, all-present, and all-powerful like God. If not personally attacking the believer, Satan and his minions count on the sinful allures of the world and the sinful desires of our flesh to tempt the believer out of obedience to God.
Last week in part 1 of Spiritual Warfare Requires Spiritual Armor, Matt Morrell, pastor of Fourth Baptist Church and School in Plymouth, MN and president of Central Seminary, explained the first three pieces of spiritual armor—the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with preparation of gospel of peace—that the apostle Paul exhorted Christians to “put on” in his letter to the Ephesian church.
This week in part 2, Matt will explain the final three pieces of armor—the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God—and the “supply line” of the spiritual armor—prayer.
We hope you will better understand the spiritual war taking place for your soul and the spiritual armor and weapons God has provided for you to overcome.
Related Sermon Series:
Register for The Essential
Church Movie Night
We are excited to offer a viewing of this compelling 2-hour documentary for our listening audience on Sat. Sept 9 starting at 6:30 PM at Fourth Baptist Church in Plymouth. A live panel discussion will immediately follow the film.