I. We are Citizens of Another World!

A) Dual Citizenship

1) Every Christian has dual citizenship

2) By natural birth we are citizens of an earthly nation, subject to it’s laws and government.

3) By spiritual re-birth we are also citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom!

4) As heavenly citizen we are subject to the laws of the heavenly kingdom.

5) We are also entitled to share in the authority of the heavenly kingdom!

C) We Determine our Destiny on this Earth by Prayer!

You, personally, have a role in determining the destiny of your community, nation and world. Your part as a citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven.. your role as a Priest gives you and me the responsibility to call on God for the spiritual needs of the world around us…until the moral decline we are seeing is reversed!…until God’s kingdom reaches into societies that want no part of Christianity, until the opposing powers of darkness are pushed back.

And that brings up another connected issue that is the subject of today’s sermon.

II. There is yet another kingdom involved in our world!

A. Two Opposing Kingdoms

It’s not fair to talk to you about your Kingdom role in changing the course of events in your community, nation, and world without warning you that there is another kingdom that is organized and active and is determined stop all of your Kingdom efforts to determine your destiny.

Our President Bush and Britian’s Tony Blair spoke yesterday of our united commitment to fight the “global war on terror”. We had, in the past, two World Wars but in reality there were many countries in the world who were not part of those wars. The new phrase “global war on terror” signifies that the war we are now in, has participants in every corner of the globe and regardless of whether a country considers themselves formally involved they are all sucked in by the possible presence of terrorists who are camped out on their soil.

There is a conflict going on around us that is much bigger than a global war. In fact, the global terror that we are fighting is part of an even bigger battle. The bigger battle is so big that it would have to be described as “universal”.

When a young fundamentalist Muslim straps on explosives and blows up himself and many other innocent people, it’s not just a political act. It’s part of this bigger universal battle.

When our US judicial system legislates from the bench to allow same sex couple to marry in defiance of our constitutional laws, its not just a political battle, it’s part of a much larger universal conflict.

When a man named Peterson kills his wife and unborn baby and dumps them in a lake, its not just an unfaithful man who is not ready to be a father. It’s part of a much larger conflict that is bigger than the state of Colorado, bigger than the US, bigger than the world itself. It is one part of a drama in a universal conflict that is raging even as we sit in this service.

When I invite you to intercede for the affairs of your country, to bring about a change for righteousness in the moral climate of your neighborhoods and Federal Government; It’s only fair to warn you that I am, at the same time, inviting you to be a player in a conflict that spans the whole universe and beyond.

B. The Kingdom of Darkness

Scripture is very clear about what we are up against…however, I’m not sure we all really have a good grasp of the conflict, who we are actually up against, and our role in it.

(Ephesians 6:10-12) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (NIV)

(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 in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

(Ephesians 6:12) For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies, the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings, and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world. (TLB)

Whatever version you happen to like, all are clear that we, as believers, are engaged in a massive struggle that staggers the mind. There are several clear points that come from this one verse:

1) All Christians are involved in this conflict, not just Pastors and Missionaries.

2) This conflict is against a highly organized enemy, not evil insurgents.

3) This kingdom of satan is still a present obstacle to the Christian, it is waiting to be engaged in everyday, by the discerning Believer.

4) This is not a boxing match, it is not “mace in the face of the devil”, it is a wrestling conflict.

If when you came to Christ somebody told you that you were entering a life of bliss and comfort, they lied to you. Before coming to Christ you were part of the kingdom of the evil one. Your faith in Christ severed that tie and replaced it with your entry into God’s family. Could anyone honestly believe that satan would not fight for what he has lost?

It is important that you see your battle against evil, not as a conflict where you run into the ring every week or so a jab satan in the gut then run back out of the ring and hide till the next confrontation. I can assure you…your enemy is not viewing his battle with you that way…neither is God! Neither are you a sniper hiding safely behind the front lines shooting across the lines at the enemy.

God says that your engagement in this universal battle against evil is a “wrestling match”. What is the difference between a wrestling match and a boxing match or sniper shooting from a distance at the enemy?

Wrestling is the most constantly engaging, intense, form of conflict between two parties. Wrestling requires every part of the body, to be used at the same time…every skill must come into play, because a lapse of control in any part of the body will bring defeat in the conflict.

Most of us have wrestled in one setting or another. Most of us guys have been involved in more serious wrestling and you know that your toes on the right foot affect you ability of your left arms to hold an opponent down. You can’t be distracted and pin your opponent at the same time.

I’m not sure, as Christians, that we understand how serious and constant this battle we are in is. We often act as if we can be sipping an ice tea with one hand (figuratively), and wrestling satan with the other. Please grasp the full force of Paul’s warning:

(Ephesians 6:12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

(ASV)

It’s important to note that the enemy you are wrestling against is not a rag-tag bunch of misfit insurgents, but a highly organized kingdom of God haters. Satan was an archangel, Lucifer, perhaps Director of heavenly worship. 1/3 of the angels…some massive number fell with him when he, and they, rebelled against God. Scripture even insinuates that they function as a team:

(Matthew 12:24-28) But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub (prince of flies) , the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (NIV)

Clues: 1) satan has a kingdom

2) satan’s kingdom is not divided but highly organized

3) God’s kingdom is superior to satan’s because God’s kingdom can control satan’s kingdom.

4) (As a citizen in God’s kingdom you share in the authority of that kingdom)

5) As a citizen in God’s kingdom you are no longer under the power of satan’s kingdom!

******(Colossians 1:12-14) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (NIV)

III. The Battles in our World are a Symptom of a much larger Battle in the Heavenlies.

Last week I read you several examples in history where prayer literally changed what would be written in our history books. I ask you to understand that in all of history, if we could really see what was happening in this cosmic battle in the heavenlies we would often find out that an 80 year old woman on her knees in Kansas had a greater impact on world events than a general in the field.

We watched the death and burial of Terrorist Arafat this week. You may have seen the confusing situation in Ramallah as they tried to move Arafat’s corpse to the graveside. It would have been far more interesting to have been able to see beyond our three dimensions and have seen what was going on in the heavenlies in the much larger cosmic battle. The forces of evil trying to achieve their ends in the world and the kingdom of God holding them at bay.

A) A Picture of Heavenly Warfare

There is actually a perfect example of this conflict at work in the Bible.

(Daniel 10:2-6) At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. (NIV)

The angel began to speak:

(Daniel 10:12) Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. (NIV)

When was Daniel’s prayer heard? _______When did God begin to respond?________

How long was it before the answer arrived?_______________ Why?_____________

(Daniel 10:13) But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. (NIV)

You understand what is going on here? This isn’t some earthly battle going on over some piece of Middle East real estate…. This is a battle in the Heavenlies going on for the hearts of mankind!

Daniel prayed…God immediately sent an angel in answer to his prayer. Three weeks later the angel and answer arrived after having to call in top level reinforcements to get through.

1) Note: The answer did get through!

2) In Daniels situation it took power clear to the level of Archangel Michael to win victory.

3) God did win!…and he always will!

4) This cosmic battle all happened in response to the prayer of one human being!

5) Logical (and biblical) conclusion is that this heavenly battle is being waged against evil in the heavenlies at the request of God’s children here on Earth!

6) Your prayers can move Heaven on behalf of the Earth!

 

Here’s a glimpse into the Daytimer of the Heavenlies:

(Daniel 10:20-21) So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince. (NIV)

(Daniel 12:1) "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise…. (NIV)

B) The Weapons of Heavenly Warfare

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (fortresses) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)

C) The Basis of our Victory

(Colossians 2:13-15) When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (NIV)