I. Illustration:
play Matrix clip"
A. When
I first saw this movie I was struck by how powerfully it
illustrates some very
important Gospel Truths. One of the main
ones is this: Everything’s NOT
OK."
B. “There is something wrong with the world.” "
C. The
world that we’re born into - what we know as the REAL world is a LIE. "
D. “It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind
you from the truth...that you are a slave...like everyone else you were born
into bondage - born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch. A
prison for your mind.”"
II. The Lie"
A. Since
the Fall of mankind in the garden the god of this world,
Satan, has worked
tirelessly to construct a false narrative to
deceive humanity into believing
this lie."
B. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own
character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44, ESV)!
C. This
effort of the Devil’s has been a huge success! Fallen humanity has willingly
cooperated with this effort and has been enslaved by this deception ever
since."
D. The
Lie has become hard-coded into the DNA of this fallen world."
E. From
birth we come into this world knowing and believing nothing
but some version
of this lie: "
1.
that the world is a happy, friendly place,
"
2.
that we people are noble and good, "
3.
that God is the proud Father of us all and that
he is very happy
with us"
4.
and basically: THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE
OK"
F. The Problem: Lies will out"
1. Our
external circumstances and our internal intuition
consistently contradict this
lie."
2. The
pain and suffering and evil that we encounter in the world
keep nudging us
telling us that something is wrong with this picture."
3. Our own hearts betray the fact that we’re
actually not good people. We’re not truly happy and at peace.
4. "
We have these stabs of insight and
awareness when the corner of the veil seems to be pulled back just a bit and we
see, feel the awful truth."
5. Despite this we insist on tenaciously holding
on to this false narrative."
a) Because the truth
seems to scary."
b) Because we don’t know what to do with it."
c)
Because everyone else can’t be wrong can they?" d) Because, after all, a
person has to get by somehow."
6. Paul writes about this in the first chapter
of Romans:"
a) For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by
their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is
plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible
attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly
perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been
made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not
honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their
thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:18-21, ESV)!
He writes about it again in our passage for
today"
a) And even if our gospel is veiled,
it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world
has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of
the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.!
5. So according to Scripture there is a perfect
storm of forces working against us to keep us enslaved to this lie. What I call
the infernal 3 ’S’es:"
a) Satan"
b) Sinful Self"
c) Society"
G. The Hope:"
1. What possible hope could there be against
such a corrupt campaign?"
. a)
Let’s read further in our passage"
. b) For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ
as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. !
(1)
Talk about what “Jesus Christ as Lord” means"
(2) God means to rescue
people who are enslaved by this
axis of
evil."
. c) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of
darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.!
. d) “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ...So if the Son
sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-36, ESV)!
. e) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and
whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (John 6:37, ESV)!
. f) for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches
on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.” (Romans 10:12-13, ESV)!
2. What is your response to this?"
a) If you are here today and you have always
believed what we have called The Lie - if you have never experienced God shining
in your heart to give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ - WHAT ABOUT TODAY?"
. (1)
If today you are seeing the lie for what it is"
. (2)
If you are seeing your sinfulness and poverty of spirit"
. (3)
If today you are seeing Christ as wonderful and glorious
and
gracious"
. (4) Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not
to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I
listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now
is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:1-2, ESV)!
b) Maybe for you the veil has already been
lifted and God’s light has already shone into your heart - I hope that’s most
of you here today - WHAT ABOUT YOU?"
. (1)
It’s easy for you now, right? The spell has been broken and you are no
longer affected by The Lie, right?"
. (2)
No, of course not. The war has been decisively won for us, but the deadly
battle still rages."
(a) Is Satan still laboring to bewitch you with
his lies? "
. i)
YES! "
. ii)
Your adversary the Devil still prowls around like a roaring lion seeking
someone to devour? "
. iii)
His mission is still to steal, kill and destroy you."
(b) Is Satan’s kingdom of this world still
repeating and reinforcing the lie in our daily lives - 24/7/365. YES!"
(c) Our own flesh has not been completely
eradicated and still wages war against the Spirit
within us."
(3) Remember: "
. (a)
Jesus Christ is Lord"
. (b)
The King has given his servants every tool they need
to
wage a winning war."
. (c)
That is why we must orient our lives not according to
the
pattern of this world, but in a way that allows us to avail ourselves of all of
the weapons that God has given us to fight for truth, faith, hope and
love."
.
i) To let the Sword of the Spirit, which
is the Word of God, dwell richly in you, by reading it, studying it, memorizing
it, meditating upon it, singing it and praying it."
.
ii) To take full advantage of the family of
fellow soldiers which is the church in practicing all of the ‘one- anothers’ together:
encourage, exhort, sing to, bear with, pray for, correct, submit to,
serve..."
(d) So that we can regularly hear and see and
feel the Truth"
"For I know
that the Lord is great,!
and that our Lord is above all gods.!
Whatever the
Lord pleases, he does,!
in heaven and on earth,!
in the seas and all deeps. (Psalm
135:5-6, ESV)"
"
Whom have I in heaven
but you?!
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.!
My flesh
and my heart may fail,!
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion
forever. (Psalm 73:25-26, ESV)"
"
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will
snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater
than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (John
10:27-29, ESV)"
"
What then shall we
say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not
spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously
give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God
who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than
that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding
for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in
all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am
sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord. (Romans 8:31-39, ESV)
