Preparing for the Gathering Storm

Well, we want to welcome you to the Sunday evening service at Beacon Baptist Church.

Rob McDormand and I are the only two in the auditorium, and I must say it feels very vacant. As Beacon attendees know, we have people present services only on Sunday morning. That's at 9.30. At this point, we don't offer a nursery for that. In addition to the people present service, we're live streaming Sunday morning at 9.30 Sunday evening at 6 p.m. and Wednesday evening at 7. And we're hoping to offer more live services in the near future, depending on the dictates of our governor. November is Missions Month at Beacon, and we have, I think, a wonderful missions program at the church. Just looking at the insert and the bulletin that we had this morning, we support over 30 missionaries and 15 organizations. We're very thankful for the giving on the part of Beacon folks, and we would remind them to be praying about their faith promise commitment. And once you've made that commitment, put a card in one of the places that we have for that. In the past, we've had missionaries come and speak to us during Missionary Month, but because of COVID, that's not been possible this year.

And we've resorted to having videos, and they've been very effective. Tom and Connie Chapman, missionaries to Chile, were our first missionaries that we heard from. Paul and Trish Schneider, missionaries to Papua, Indonesia, were next. And they're home on furlough because of physical issues that Paul has. Next, we heard from Mike and Melanie Webster, missionaries to France.

I'll mention something about Mike's health a bit later. Herb and Wanda Taylor were last week, missionaries with Reaching Hispanics. And following our opening prayer tonight, we will conclude the reports from our missionaries with a video from Larry and Carol Bunyan. They are missionaries to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. We've come to love Larry and Carol. My wife and I had taken several trips out there. And even before I came on board at Beacon, Beacon had been involved in a summer missions team to the Blackfeet Indians several times during the summer.

COVID made that impossible this last year. So we called Larry and asked him if he would do a video for us as the others have. We hope and pray that very soon we'll be able to restart that program of going out there. At this time though, we want to go to the Lord in prayer. And following prayer, we'll see the video from Larry and Carol. Father, as we come before you tonight, would you praise you for the grace you bestow upon us in salvation. Lord, the continued grace that you give us in sanctification as we study and apply your word. And Father, even the grace that enables us to serve you. We thank you for providing for our church and for the families in our church. And we ask that you continue to do so. We pray for businesses, Lord, as they open up in the near future and try to recover.

Lord, that you'd bless as you see fit. We've got a host of people, Father, that are dealing with various physical needs. Nellie Hunter, Tiana Bethea, Mary Shaw, John Spencer, Dawn Burns, and Brian Griffin as they recover from recent surgeries. We pray for Marsai Councilman as she has eye surgery pending on December 1st. Father, we also pray for folks like Jonathan Wright in our congregation who have had COVID.

We ask that you'd protect our folks from this disease. We think especially of Ruth Patterson and Dinky Smith, Hazel Garcia, and Evan Butler, all of whom are in elder care facilities. Lord, I want to lift up tonight Betty Duncan and Frances Easley.

Both of these dear ladies endure chronic back pain. And we think of Art Pope as well as he continues to deal with COPD and Alice Marley as she recovers from her recent fall. Lord, we pray for sustaining grace for Drew Guthrie as she's dealing with cancer. And Lord, we lift up the following missionaries in prayer who have physical needs.

Stuart Waugh, Trevor Johnson, Paul Schneider, David and Donna Edens, Steve Worth, and Mike Webster. We pray that you bless them and strengthen them, enable them to get back to a full measure of health. Father, we pray for our brother Greg Phillips as he continues to deal with repairs to his business following a recent fire there.

And we lift up our government officials. Lord, I ask for wisdom for them and for courage to do what's right. And we would ask, Lord, if it would please you that corruption would be revealed and justice would be performed, we ask that your will would be done in the upcoming election in Georgia. Father, we please ask that you honor yourself as we reflect for a few moments tonight upon the need to prepare to stand fast during days that are becoming increasingly hostile to Christianity. May you be honored and glorified in everything that's said and done tonight. We ask this in Christ's name.

Amen. At this time, we'll see the video from Larry and Carol. Well, greetings to all of our Beacon friends from the Rocky Mountain front in Montana. Over the last few weeks, we've had all sorts of varying weather patterns from 70 degrees and blue sky for a couple of days. Five days later, it was 15 degrees and a howling blizzard straight out of the north, dropping about 14 inches of snow.

Now we're back to dry and windy with daytime temperatures in the 40s and 50s, all of which is relatively ordinary for this time of year. But the blizzard from about 10 days ago apparently blew the snow so hard that it blew into the vents in our attic space and it has seriously damaged the sheetrock in our ceiling. We noticed water dripping from the light fixture in the dining room and shortly thereafter, we removed the light fixture as it was starting to fall out of the ceiling. Then last night, we removed the kitchen light fixture as the same thing started happening within.

So after talking with the insurance company, I'm not sure if they'll cover it or not, but we'll see in a week or so. So life continues to bring interesting and unexpected challenges. Carol had a bout with shingles a few weeks ago. Thankfully, she had a relatively mild case and about 95% of that is beyond her now. She's kind of mostly through that ordeal. No pain now, just some itching left over and we're thankful that the Lord brought her through that round of shingles.

Took about four weeks to kind of get all the way through everything. The Brockie Tribe's COVID-19 incident command's latest public notice is that the reservation-wide lockdown is going to continue for the foreseeable future. They explicitly said that they have no intention of opening up anytime soon and probably won't even consider it until after the holidays. So we have not had an in-person church service in Hart Butte since the 8th of March and resuming the use of our facility is not on the near horizon. So we're thankful for the opportunity to use an off-reservation community hall for a Sunday service, which we've been doing since Mother's Day in May.

We've been posting a video sermon from my office each week, the exact setting that you see in this video, as well as posting audio of the sermon on sermon audio, which I know you're all well familiar with. A few of our church folks have not been coming out for church very often due to COVID issues, but we've still been gathering with whomever wishes to come and everyone else has been connecting online. We mailed out a letter last week to every post office box in Hart Butte to try to connect with the community in some way since we're hardly around other than to go get our mail and everything's pretty much shut down with all the stay-at-home orders from the tribe and so forth. We assured the community in our letter of our continuing prayer for them.

We informed them of our online presence and we had an evangelistic tone to the letter as well. You know, Native Americans comprise about 7% of the population of Montana, but they account for about 25% of the state's cases of COVID-19 and 39% of the deaths. So this virus has been quite unnerving to many Native people. We are personally acquainted with several folks who have contracted the virus and a few who have been hospitalized for many weeks. And our, I guess I'd call it an anecdotal observation, is that it seems that folks who are diabetic seem to be hit very hard with COVID if they should contract it. And the diabetes rate among Native people is about seven times the national average. So there is a lot of cause for concern among Native people. And so that has led to many of the shutdowns and the stay-at-home orders and all of the mandates that have been floating about for the last number of months. But despite all of those things, we do plan to do our annual Christmas mailing in early December, covering nearly every household in the west end of our county. We've been doing this for close to 12 years now.

And we're also planning a special Christmas evening with our folks who are interested in gathering down at the community hall off the reservation. So we are making adjustments as best we can to these interesting days. Our outgoing state governor has now tightened all the COVID restrictions as of this coming weekend with statewide mask mandates and 50% restaurant capacity and so forth. Of course, the restaurant capacity issue doesn't affect us too much here because there are hardly any restaurants around. But it does create just all of the small business issues.

It creates so many more challenges, more anger on the part of some, more frustration on the part of others. It seems that several of our church families as well have been under attack on many fronts in the last week or so. Most everyone is enduring a little COVID fatigue. Our overall support has held steady throughout the coronavirus event. We have thus far only lost the support of one church due to decreases in their missions budget.

And we are certainly blessed and thankful for your gracious and faithful support for these last 38 years. We know that God is at work. His work is not bound. His will is going to be accomplished. And we are doing our best to try to understand the circumstances and try to find ways to continue to minister to people in ways that we haven't done before.

And I'm sure this is the experience of missionaries all over the world and most churches here in the United States as well. But as I say, we know God is at work. We know his word is not bound and his will is going to be accomplished. And I want to close our thoughts with you today with just a very brief reading from Isaiah, one of my favorite Old Testament books. These words are addressed to the nation of Israel but they certainly have wonderful applications for us as well. And I have returned to these verses and gone back to re-read them a number of times over the last few months and I'd like to share them with you.

Isaiah chapter 44 beginning in verse 21. Remember these, O Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you, you are my servant.

O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out like a thick cloud your transgressions and like a cloud your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it. Shout, you lower parts of the earth. Break forth into singing, you mountains.

O forest and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and glorified himself in Israel. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb. I am the Lord who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by myself. And this is one verse that I love in these strange political days. He frustrates the signs of the babblers and drives diviners mad, who turns wise men backward and makes their knowledge foolishness. Yet at the same time for the people of God, he says, who confirms the word of his servant and performs the counsel of his messengers.

God is certainly at work and his word is not bound and his will is going to be accomplished. And we thank you for your partnership with us. God bless you during the upcoming holidays. Carol sends you her love and greetings. Many, many of you we know personally and we're just thrilled to be a part of the Beacons Missions family.

So thank you again for your faithful and gracious support, your partnership with us all of these years, and may God bless you during the upcoming holidays. Layman, that was both informative and an encouragement I'm sure to you as it was to me. As you can see, the title of my message sign is Preparing for the Gathering Storm. And the title is taken from a book by Dr. Al Mohler, Pastor Kearns gave to me and I've read through it.

I highly recommend it. I'll be reading an excerpt from it and a couple of quotes a bit later. I don't know about you, but as a father and as a grandfather, I'm very concerned about preparing my loved ones for what might lie ahead.

And I'm sure that many of you feel the same way as I do. I want you to turn to our text, 2 Timothy chapter 2, it'll be verses 1 through 4. But I want to read an extended introduction that will place this text in a context and I think will be very beneficial as we go through the message tonight.

So if you'll turn to 2 Timothy 2, 1 through 4, but listen to this as I read an introduction. In a speech given on November 12, 2020 to the Federalist Society, Supreme Court Judge Samuel Alito said, quote, it pains me to say this, but in certain quarters, religious liberty is fast becoming a disfavored right. Within his speech, Judge Alito shared the following and I quote, in 2016, a Harvard Law School professor provided a different version of a future America. He candidly wrote, the culture wars are over. They lost, we won. The question now is how to deal with the losers and the culture wars. My own judgment is that taking a hard line, you lost, live with it, is better than trying to accommodate the losers.

Taking a hard line seemed to work reasonably well in Germany and Japan after 1945. Judge Alito then asked this question, is our country going to follow that course? The question we face, he said, is whether our society will be inclusive enough to tolerate people with unpopular religious beliefs.

That's a frightening statement. Following the same sex marriage case back in 2015, Judge Alito wrote, I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes, but if they repeat those views in public, they risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools. He went on to say, one of the great challenges of the Supreme Court going forward will be to protect freedom of speech. Although that freedom is falling out of favor in some circles, we need to do whatever we can to prevent it from becoming a second tier constitutional right. Beloved, I want to ask you a hypothetical question.

What if freedom of speech becomes a second tier right? What if, quote, old beliefs are not tolerated? What will happen if a pastor preaches from Matthew 19, 4 through 6, where Jesus quotes Genesis 2, 23 and 24, and Jesus answered and said to them, have you not read that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh, so then they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate. What's at stake here? At stake is the truth of creation.

At stake is the truth that God created two genders and defined marriage as a lifelong covenant companionship between a man and his wife that's consummated when they become one flesh. What if that pastor references 1 Corinthians 6, where we're told that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, and that text is followed by a list that includes lifestyles that are in direct conflict with God's design. In 2 Timothy 3, Paul warns that perilous times will come in the last days.

The Greek word for perilous means harsh, fierce, savage. Recent years have revealed a cancer that has long been eating away at the values that have been the bedrock of our nation. As this continues to happen, biblical Christianity will become increasingly out of sync and seen as a hindrance or as a harm to the greater good of an enlightened, secular society. The straightforward preaching of God's word will be deemed hate speech, when in reality, preaching the truth is an act of obedience, an act of love, an act of conviction.

Dr. Mohler, as I said, has written a book entitled A Gathering Storm, and I want to read from a fly leaf, just part of his intro to his book. He says, From threats to religious liberty and redefinitions of marriage and family, to attacks on the sacredness and dignity of human life, the perils faced by the West and the Church are unprecedented. How should Christians respond to this challenge? The gathering storm provides the answer, revealing how secularism has infiltrated every aspect of society, and showing how Christians, equipped with the gospel of Jesus Christ, can meet the storm head on with hope, confidence, and steadfast conviction. The apostle Paul used the analogy of soldiers and warfare several times in his inspired writings.

I'll give you two examples. In 1 Timothy 1.18, Paul charged Timothy to wage the good warfare. In chapter 6, verse 12, he again urged Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. Paul picks up this same theme in 2 Timothy. This letter is his last letter. It's written from prison as a result of Nero's persecution of Christians.

Unlike his first imprisonment and house arrest, Paul's in a cold cell and in chains. He indicates in chapter 4, verses 6 through 8 that he believes his martyrdom is near. In verse 7, he writes this, I have fought the good fight.

I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Some commentators speculate that Paul feared that Timothy might be weakening spiritually in the midst of persecution. They say, after all, Paul had been abandoned by nearly all of those close to him out of their own fear of persecution. With that in mind, Paul sets out to exhort Timothy in five areas that we're going to look at tonight that apply not only to pastors in our day, but as John MacArthur contends, it also applies to soldiers in the pew. If you would, look at the text that we've chosen for tonight, 2 Timothy 2, 1-4. You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. Paul's first concern is with empowerment and education. Now, I've put all of this first point up at one time because it's just a matter of going over it quickly. It speaks for itself. Empowerment and education, look at verses one and two again. You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And verse two, and the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Verse one, empowerment, my son, be strong. The words my son speak of an intimate spiritual relationship between a mentor and his commendable pupil.

Beloved, we who are older need to mentor young people. We need to be preparing them for what might lie ahead. The words be strong literally means be empowered by the grace that is ours in Christ. Before we can encourage and exhort others, we ourselves must be strong in the faith. Matthew Henry gives two sides to this coin of be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

First of all, he notes that it's our responsibility to do so. Quote, where there is the truth of grace, there must be a laboring after the strength of grace. As our trials increase, we have need to grow stronger and stronger in that which is good. Our faith is stronger, our resolution stronger, our love to God and Christ stronger. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2.15, you be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We have a responsibility to be strong in the Lord and we become strong in the Lord as we study His word and apply it to our lives.

But the flip side of that coin, we have a responsibility, but the flip side is our dependency. Matthew Henry says be strong may be understood in opposition to our being strong in our own strength. Be strong not confiding in your own sufficiency, but in the grace that is in Jesus Christ. Paul put it this way in 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 17.

At my first defense, no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them, but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me so that the message might be preached fully through me and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion and note this, the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever.

Amen. Beloved, the need for education is addressed in verse 2. Notice it again, and the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Things heard from me. That refers to giving an ear to a teaching or a teacher to comprehend, to understand.

Obviously, you've got to know something before you can share it with others. In 2 Timothy 3 verses 14 and 15, Paul said you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you've known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Who did he learn these things from? His grandmother, his mother, and Paul himself. One thing among many that I'm thankful for at Beacon Baptist Church, and that is this, our children's program, and I must say, our teen program. In both of these, the children's program, the teen program, as well as our adult Sunday schools, and from this pulpit, this book is central. When I grow burdened over teenagers that have left the youth group and may not be perhaps following the path that I would love to see them follow, I fall back on the fact that God is sovereign, and just as he saved Paul on the road to Damascus, he can save those teens. They have heard the word of God from elementary school at this church all the way up to senior high and even into college and career, and we need to thank the Lord for that. The word's many witnesses refers to those who also heard Paul's teaching, and they'd know if Timothy was staying true to it, men like Barnabas, Silas, Peter, and Luke.

Then that word commit. The New American Standard Bible translates this word as entrust, and it carries the idea of depositing something of value for safekeeping. If you look back one chapter to chapter one, verse 14, the New American States, New American Standard states, guard to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us the treasure which has been entrusted to you. Friends, this begs the question, do you treasure the word?

Do you treasure the word? Your personal time with the Lord each day as you're in the word will answer that question loud and clear. And then last, under this particular thing of empowerment and education, men who were faithful. MacArthur states that this refers to men whose character reflects the faithfulness of God's own word and God's own son. Men who were capable, elders in particular, but as I mentioned in my introduction, MacArthur also states that on a more general level, parents, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders are responsible to the best of their ability to pass on God's word to those under their care. So when we reflect upon empowerment and education, I ask this question, is it your personal conviction that you must have God's daily empowering and that the Bible is the supreme standard that must be obeyed in the face of cultural norms that contradict it?

Is that your conviction that the Bible is the standard by which all men, including you and including me, will be judged and we are committed to standing for that no matter what? After speaking on Timothy's need to be strong and teach the truth to others, Paul addresses a second thing and that is endurance and we see that in verse three. He says, you therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Endure hardship. The appeal to endure hardship means literally to suffer together with someone.

You're not in it alone. Enduring hardship means collectively as individuals together as a local body suffering together with someone. The sense of the command is join the ranks of those who bear suffering. Hebrews chapter 11, as you know, lists many.

Soldiers are motivated by the example of their commander. This principle of endurance or perseverance is likewise emphasized in Hebrews 12, one through three. And in that text, Christ is a supreme example.

Listen to it as I read it to you. Therefore, we also, since we're surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, those people listed in Hebrews 11, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us 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. For consider him who endured such hostility of sinners against himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your soul. Well, we have to ask the question, how are we to endure hardship? Matthew Henry says, when we're referring to a good soldier Jesus Christ, the soldiers of Christ Jesus must have proved themselves good soldiers, faithful to their captain, resolute in his cause, and must not stop fighting till they're made more than conquerors through him that loved him. Found in Romans chapter eight, verse 37. For us to do this, it necessitates four things in our life. And we want to look at those for a second. And you're going to find them in chapter one.

If you turn back just one chapter. Second Timothy one, the first thing, power. Verses seven and eight, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me, his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel, according to the power of God. Beloved, when we pray for power, God will answer that prayer, and he will give us what we need during the time of trial. A second thing that we need is persuasion. What do we mean by that? Well, we find that in second Timothy 1 12.

For this reason, I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I've committed or entrusted to him until that day. Verse 13, hold fast the pattern of sound words which you've heard from me and faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. We not only need to pray for power, but we need to pray that God will help us remain steadfast. We need to be persuaded the fact that we are in Christ. We know whom we have believed, and we are persuaded he's able to keep the treasure we committed to him until that day. A third thing that we're going to need, though, is partnership. Second Timothy 1 15, Paul said this to Timothy, this you know that all those in Asia have turned away from me.

What a statement. This you know that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. In contrast, Paul said of Onesiphorus, he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain.

When he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. Beloved, do you have Christians that you are in partnership with? I'm not talking about the glittering generality of being a member of the Church of Christ, the universal church.

I'm not even talking about just being a member at Beacon. Do you have people that are a special encouragement to you, like Onesiphorus was to Paul? We need to encourage each other. We need to encourage each other daily. And then, fourthly, not only power and persuasion and partnership, but public identification. Notice how in verses 8, 12, and 16, it refers to not being ashamed.

We're not going to read those. But I think that's one of the things, if we're honest, that we have to battle the most, and that is the fact that we are not quick to share our faith with other people. Pastor Bartman alluded to that this morning in an excellent message on giving thanks. If we're truly grateful for what Jesus has done on our behalf, if we're in Him, we will be quick to publicly confess our faith in Him. And if we're not people who are able to talk easily, certainly we can speak through our lives as well. Question, is it your conviction that through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, you will endure hardship as you persevere in the faith, come what may?

Let me ask that again. Is it your conviction that through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, you will endure hardship as you persevere in the faith, come what may? Education and endurance mean very little in the spiritual warfare without engagement. And we find that in verse 4. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier. And warfare refers to active duty.

It refers to active duty. 1 Peter 3.15, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. The English Standard Version says with gentleness and respect, without being confrontational, without coming across as a know-it-all, can you defend that which you believe? If I were to ask you this question, how would you answer it? Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God? Most of you listening to this tonight are going to say, of course I do.

Well, what if you are followed up with a return question? Why do you believe that? Can you defend why you believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, all-sufficient Word of God? A challenge. A challenge that I gave to my senior Bible class to answer. Education and endurance mean little in spiritual warfare without engagement. Engagement in warfare refers to active duty.

But secondly, engagement in warfare involves an opposing army. Listen to Ephesians 6.12. 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 and heavenly places.

This quote from a commentator. These powers exploit culture and social systems in their attempts to wreck the saving work of God. Can you give us examples?

Yes. North Korea, the China Communist Party, radical Islam, and groups like Freedom From Religion Foundation, Atheist Alliance International, the American Humanist Association, and most institutions of higher learning, to name some. And that's one reason why I think that we need to be preparing our young people for what might light ahead. Secular colleges, quite honestly, and I hate to say it, but perhaps some Christian colleges are going to be hostile to a literal translation of the word, an exposition of the scripture. They're going to be hostile to that. Now for any of you who doubt the reality that this warfare for freedom of religion is waging in America today, let me share just three recent headlines from Christian Broadcasting Network.

Listen to these if you would. November 17, 2020. Kansas Middle School ends Operation Christmas Child after Atheist complaint. Let me read it again.

November 17, 2020. Kansas Middle School ends Operation Christmas Child after Atheist complaint. Operation Christmas Child, as some of you know, is the shoebox outreach done by Franklin Graham and Samaritan's Purse. Several of our kids have been involved in that in our church. Samaritan's Purse has collected and distributed more than 178 million shoebox gifts to children in 160 countries. Well, who could have a problem with that?

Well, here's the problem. Franklin Graham stated, every box is an opportunity to reach a child with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's about telling children around the world and their families, God loves them. God has not forgotten them. The problem, Franklin, is you've got to involve God and they will not tolerate it. A second heading.

November 19, 2020. 30-year military chaplain fired from Air Force. His crime, biblical views on sexual morality. Here's a quote from the chaplain. I got passed over for promotion twice and involuntarily separated from the Air Force in 2016.

That means even with almost 30 years of service, nearly 20 of them, active duty, he can't retire from the Air Force. This chaplain then says, while it's a net loss of more than a million dollars in pension and health benefits, he sees a bigger issue. What is the issue? Freedom of speech. The last headline that I would share with you, November 21, 2020. John McArthur warns that America is in a moral free fall. That was the headline.

John McArthur warns that America is in a moral free fall. This headline's in reference to his interview on Fox News Thursday, November 19, 2020 concerning California's shutdown of churches. And notice this.

This is the interviewer's opening statement. Quote, while a judge has ordered San Diego strip clubs to be reopened, California churches are still fighting for the right to open their doors once again. I guess this virus is selective. But that ought to be alarming, folks. This is happening now.

This was this month. Kansas Middle School ends Operation Christmas Child after atheist complaint. Two people complained. November 19, 2020, 30-year military chaplain fired from Air Force his crime biblical views on sexual morality. And finally, John McArthur warns that America is in a moral free fall. And I believe we all would agree with that. The next thing that we want to look at, though, is engagement in warfare necessitates effective weapons. Engagement in warfare necessitates effective weapons of war. I want you to listen to 2 Corinthians 10, verses 3 through 5. Paul writes, 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.

Passing down arguments in every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Folks, if we do that last thing, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, we will have more than half the battle won.

If we win the battle for our mind, we have won significantly. The word warfare in this text literally means campaign. This warfare is not a skirmish. It's an ongoing war or battle. The word arguments refers to reasonings that are opposed to the truth of God's word.

Now listen carefully to this. It refers to pride of intelligence that exalts itself. Paul wasn't attacking intelligence, but intellectualism. The high minded attitude that makes people think they know more than they really do.

That's what he was attacking. Paul used spiritual weapons to tear down opposing arguments. What are those weapons? Well, I put them up for you on the screen and I ask you this question. What part do these play in your life daily? Prayer for the empowering of God's spirit and for wisdom.

Do you ask for that before you start the day? Lord, I ask that you would give me the power to be courageous, to be a man of conviction, to be a Daniel and not a dud. I ask that you give me wisdom to make proper decisions that would glorify you.

A second weapon of warfare, practical application of God's word in daily living. In other words, practicing what we preach. Can you say that you genuinely seek to do that? None of us do it perfectly. But folks, are you sincerely seeking to practice what you preach? I'm careful in saying this. When I first started coaching several years ago, I'm ashamed of some of the memories that I have because basically what I had was an ACC philosophy with sugar toned sugar coating of Christianity over it.

You know, the old if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. I hope and I believe that I've grown since then to the point where in the latter years of my coaching I realized that that's where I can be the greatest example to the young people that know me involved in the context of Alamance Christian School. They expect me to act a certain way when I teach Bible.

I want them to see me act the same way when I coach soccer. And that is a challenge, listen, and a choice. Ask yourself this question, am I doing my best to apply the word of God in daily living? The third thing proclamation of the gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone and Christ alone for the glory of God alone.

You've got to know it to be able to share it. And that's something that we should be rehearsing in our hearts and our minds over and over again, ways that we can share the gospel, the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. And then finally, principled love for his fellow believers, his neighbors and his enemies. We say principled love because it's based upon the command to love each of these groups.

It's not on their loveability. So you love out of principle, you love out of obedience. What are some of the spiritual weapons that tear down opposing arguments?

Prayer for God's power and for your wisdom, practical, consistent application of the word of God, proclamation of the gospel of salvation and principled love for other people. Question, is it your conviction that Christians must love others enough to confront error with biblical truth, both in what you say and how you live? Is that your conviction that you must love others enough to confront error with biblical truth, both in what you say and how you live? Then Paul warns Timothy not to get off track and make himself a victim of entanglement, a victim of entanglement. Notice verse four, no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life. Why? That he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. No soldier who desires to survive and to be victorious entangles himself with hindrances to victory. He's serious. Why? Because the stakes are high.

He's serious because the stakes are high. The word entangled refers to an absorbing, engrossing pursuit. Beloved, although we have earthly obligations and opportunities, Matthew Henry warns us that we must not entangle ourselves with those affairs and be diverted and drawn aside from our duty to God and the great concerns of our Christianity. In other words, keep things into perspective.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Be careful about becoming entangled with the things of this world. It's not that all secular things are bad. It is that even appropriate things of this world cannot be our priority.

Even appropriate things of this world cannot be our priority. And then finally under entanglement, Paul's appeal shows the importance of developing an ability to distinguish between doing good things and doing the best. Isn't that one of the hardest things that we have to deal with? Paul's appeal shows the importance of developing an ability to distinguish between doing good things and doing the best things. We're not supposed to as soldiers of Christ be well-rounded dabblers in all kinds of trivial pursuits. We need to be tough-minded from the standpoint that we are focused on the kingdom first and foremost. And I have an extended poll here that I think is pretty profound.

You see it on the screen, just part of it. The further one retreats from the front lines, the more frequent and trivial become the complaints. That is a profound statement. The further one retreats, a person retreats from the front lines, the war, spiritual war, the more frequent and trivial become the complaints.

Let me flesh that out. Those involved in the struggles of survival and the exhaustion of combat rarely complain about the food. They're simply happy to eat.

In other words, they're glad to be alive. In the same way, Christians who determined to live wholly obedient lives before God place themselves on the front lines of spiritual warfare. They encounter attacks of Satan. They suffer scorn and rejection, often denied themselves many comforts.

This is the point that I want us to get. Rarely do people on the front lines in spiritual warfare concern themselves with petty inconvenience, unmet expectations, or criticism of fellow soldiers. Can I say that again? Rarely, rarely do people on the front lines of spiritual warfare concern themselves with petty inconvenience, unmet expectations, or criticism of fellow believers.

Why not? Because they're alive spiritually and they're focused on kingdom work. Beloved, finally, Paul reminds Timothy of the debt of gratitude that he owes to God's amazing grace for his enlistment. Notice verse four again. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life.

Why? That he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. The motive for a soldier of Christ is the desire to please the king who enlisted him.

Enlistment means to gather as a warrior to enlist in the army. We need to be grateful for the grace that saved us to serve him. The method, the method for pleasing the king involves these five things, and I put them all up at once to give you time to copy them if you so desire, but the method for pleasing the king, consecration to the cause of Christ. This is an intentional act with a price to be paid.

What's the price? All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. You choose to consecrate yourself to please the king. Competence in sharing the gospel. We've already gotten into what that means and involves. Courage to declare the whole counsel of God. That's one thing that our church does, and I believe anyone who consistently attends this church knows that. We don't pick and choose.

If that's the next thing, that's the next thing. Courage to declare the whole counsel of God. Number four, contention when, not if, the instruments of unrighteousness attack freedom of religion. And notice I did not say that they just attack Christianity. We need to be very careful to uphold the freedom of religion because if freedom of religion is taken away from another religion, it's just one step from being taken from us.

I don't think we have to worry about that happening because it surely seems like they've leveled their guns at us first. Then the final method, consistency in the performance of our duty. Applications for young and old. I have one more.

Yeah, applications for young and old alike. I'm sorry. Empowerment and education. Is it your conviction that the Bible is the standard by which God will judge all men? Is that your conviction? A second thing, endurance. Are you prepared to persevere during persecution for your active faith in God's word? That takes a mindset, folks.

You can't make that decision last minute. Are you prepared to persevere during persecution for your active faith in God's word? That persecution could be verbal at work. I was persecuted in public school. My nickname was Mama's Boy.

It was not easy. The Baptist. Not John the Baptist.

They just referred and it wasn't a compliment. The Baptist. It may be verbal persecution. Our children, our teens, our college and career age.

You may be persecuted verbally. A third thing, engagement. What proof could you offer that you're on active duty and not in the Army Reserves?

What proof could you offer that you are on active duty and not in the Army Reserves? Number four, entanglement. Is it obvious that your priorities involve seeking first God's kingdom and His righteousness? Is that obvious in your life? And finally, under this enlistment, are you confident that Christ has enlisted you as a soldier of light in a world dominated by darkness? Beloved, if you're not confident in knowing who you're believing, flee to Christ. A positive conclusion, I want to read an excerpt again from Dr. Mohler. He concludes that in the gathering storm, only the Christian worldview is sufficient to answer the demands of secularization, nor can any other worldview provide the framework for true human flourishing.

Young people, make sure that you get that. It's only the Christian worldview that gives a framework for true human flourishing. Silence in this age is not an option.

Indeed, silence and retreat are tantamount to failure. Believers in Jesus Christ possess the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as the power of the Holy Spirit. Obedience to Christ demands our faithful stewardship, careful thinking, and wise engagement in the midst of this pressing crisis. Three massive Christian virtues mark our way. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, so now abide faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love. We need to make certain we're people of faith.

We need to make certain we're people who display a living hope. We need to make certain that we love God and others as we're commanded to do. By faith in the living hope that is ours in Christ, focus upon grateful love for God and active love for others with the confidence that none of these things happening in the world has taken the Almighty by surprise.

Dare to be a Daniel, even if it means sometimes standing alone. Bow for the benediction if you would. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, and on some have compassion, making a distinction, but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Father who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Maranatha, even so come. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.