Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
In 1385, Sir Edward Dallingridge built a castle for protection against the French during the hundred years war. Bodiam Castle is near Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England and has some massive towers and a huge moat approximately 540 ft long and 8 ft deep. When moats were filled with water, they were usually deep enough to make it difficult for attackers to wade across. This moat was supplied by several springs, some of them within it. A moat prevented attackers from gaining access to the base of a castle’s walls, and served as a great first line of defense from an oncoming enemy.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Like a moat, the thing that protects us and preserves us as we walk through the darkness of this world is our faith. Just like a shield, it is a line of defense that helps us win the battle against evil, and separate us from the world and its influences.
Ephesians 6:13, 16 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Just as an enemy attempting to attack a castle, the devil attempts to attack Christians. He tries to trick or ensnare you to sin through deception. This is what he does, because he is the father of lies. He allures and beguiles others, tempting them to disobey God just as he did to Eve in the garden of Eden. He is an enemy of God and wants to break through the fortress of your heart. Just like a castle guard we must resist him wholeheartedly in the faith.
James 4:7 – …….Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Our hearts need to be like a moat that is completely filled up with God’s Word, because the best defense against the lies of the world is the truth of scripture. When we speak about faith, it has to do with belief in the entirety of the teachings of Christ. As a Christian we place our trust in God’s Word rather than the teachings and philosophies of the world. When our faith is strong it cannot be penetrated. It’s like an incredibly deep moat that cannot be crossed. No matter how big an army may advance, no matter how hard they try, their attempt to dissuade you from the truth will only result in their failure, and their swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:1-3, 12, 17-19 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Faith is defined as a religious belief system. It is an obligation of loyalty and fidelity to the teachings of your religious beliefs. We want to faithfully obey Christ, no matter how much the world tries to lead us astray. The Apostle was glad to see the strong faith in the Colossian church.
Colossians 2:5 – For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Many people who are in modern day law enforcement or the military wear bulletproof vests to protect themselves. The Word of God is very similar, because when we believe it, our hearts become impenetrable, protected from the onslaught of the enemy. Christians don’t battle using earthly weapons, but the Sword of Truth. The devil is lying in wait, waiting for the moment to deceive you into believing a lie. It’s time to rise up in faith, and with the sword of the Spirit in our mouths, cut Him down with the truth.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
The Lord Jesus warned about these deceivers.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
The world that we live in is a battleground between right and wrong. It’s a fight between good and evil. It’s a standoff between truth and lies. There is no greater weapon that you can ever have than the Word of God. While early weapons only pierce the flesh, the Word of God pierces the soul. All the Earthly weapons ever made will someday be destroyed and dissolved with the Earth and everything in it, but God’s Word will never fade away.
Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
God’s Word is a weapon that nobody will be able to run away from, or escape.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
It’s time for the church to repel boarders, fighting with the sword of the spirit from the castle walls. The devil and his agents are trying to bridge the moat, but we must burn it down with the fire of God’s truth.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
They’re engaged in a losing battle and they know it. They cannot fight against Jesus and win. Don’t allow yourself to be deceived. Make sure you prepare beforehand, filling up your vessels with scripture, and digging that protective moat around the castle of your heart. Dig it deep my friends, deeper than any moat has ever been dug, much deeper than the one that you will find surrounding,…..
……Bodiam Castle
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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