IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD DENY THAT THESE ARE EVIL DAYS? IS THERE ANYBODY? NOW IF THAT WAS TRUE IN PAUL’S DAY, HOW MUCH MORE TRUE IS, IT IS IN OUR DAY. WE’RE UP AGAINST THE ORGANIZED, MOBILIZED, DEMONIZED FORCES OF HELL. AND IT COMES IN EVERY WAY. SOMETIMES IT’S A FRONTAL ATTACK. SOMETIMES IT IS VERY SUBTLE.
BUT THERE IS A WAR AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW THERE IS A WAR RAGING TODAY, FRIEND, YOU ARE DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND TO SPIRITUAL THINGS. NOW THERE IS A WAR, BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A GREATER DAY, A GREATER AGE, A GREATER OPPORTUNITY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS THAN RIGHT NOW. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING, WAITING, WONDERING, UH, CAN, CAN WE FIND A WAY? IS THERE AN ANSWER? AND THERE IS AN ANSWER. AND THE ANSWER IS IN CHRIST.
BUT, OH WE NEED A GENERATION OF SPIRIT-FILLED PEOPLE. [MUSIC] TAKE YOUR BIBLES AND TURN PLEASE TO EPHESIANS CHAPTER FIVE AND A VERY FAMILIAR VERSE THAT WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT IN A MOMENT, VERSE 18. EPHESIANS CHAPTER FIVE AND VERSE 18. NOW BEFORE WE GET INTO THE, THE PASSAGE, I WANT YOU TO USE YOUR IMAGINATION.
I’M GOING TO GIVE WHAT MAY SEEM TO YOU A RIDICULOUS AND, UH, SILLY EPISODE. BUT I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE A MAN, WHO BUYS AN AUTOMOBILE. HE’S NEVER OWNED AN AUTOMOBILE BEFORE AND HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND AN AUTOMOBILE, BUT FINALLY HE GETS ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A BRAND NEW AUTOMOBILE. AND SO, UH, HE IS VERY HAPPY WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE. HE SHOWS IT OFF TO HIS FRIENDS. HE SHOWS THEM THE BEAUTIFUL PAINT JOB.
HE SHOW THEM THE SOFT UPHOLSTERY. HE HAS THEM SIT IN THERE AND LISTEN TO THE STEREO AND THE TAPE DECK. HE SHOWS THEM ALL OF THE AMENITIES OF THIS AUTOMOBILE, BUT THERE’S ONE THING HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT. HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS AN ENGINE IN IT. AND SO EVERYWHERE HE GOES HE HAS TO PUSH IT. NOW EVER SO OFTEN HE’S GOING DOWNHILL, SO HE CAN GET IN AND COAST.
HUH, BUT THAT DOESN’T THRILL HIM TOO MUCH BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE’S GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH IT UP THE NEXT HILL. AND THIS AUTOMOBILE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BLESSING TO HIM HAS BECOME A BURDEN TO HIM. AND RATHER THAN IT CARRYING HIM, HE IS PUSHING IT. HE’S VERY PROUD OF IT, VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE IT MOST OF THE TIME. BUT SOMETIMES HE WISHES HE DIDN’T HAVE IT AT ALL. HA, HA, HA.
AND THEN SOMEBODY SAYS TO HIM, “YOU KNOW, THERE’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS AUTOMOBILE.” AND THEY SHOW HIM A THING CALLED AN IGNITION KEY AND SAID, “PUT THAT RIGHT IN THERE AND TURN IT.” AND HE TURNS IT AND HEARS THIS SURGE OF POWER. HE’S SAYS, “WHAT IS THAT?” “HUH, WELL THAT’S THE ENGINE, THAT’S THE MOTOR. NOW PUT IT IN DRIVE AND PUSH THAT PEDAL DOWN THERE.
