Understanding the Spiritual Disease of Our World

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that the world is grappling with a spiritual disease, not merely a collection of symptoms. The world often focuses on addressing the symptoms—conflicts, political strife, and societal issues—without understanding the root cause, which is spiritual in nature. The Christian Church holds the key to diagnosing this disease and offering the remedy, yet it often finds itself caught up in addressing the symptoms rather than the cause. The Apostle Paul, in his writings, emphasizes the nature of the spiritual conflict we are engaged in. He uses the metaphor of wrestling to illustrate the personal and intimate nature of this battle, while also acknowledging the larger cosmic struggle between spiritual forces.

The essence of the Christian message is that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. This understanding is unique to the Bible and sets it apart from all other teachings. The world, in its ignorance, often attributes the problems of humanity to human nature alone, ignoring the spiritual dimension. This leads to solutions that are superficial and ultimately ineffective. The Bible, however, provides a deep insight into the true nature of the problem and offers a solution that is both profound and divine.

The modern world often ridicules the idea of spiritual forces, dismissing them as primitive or irrelevant. Yet, the Bible insists on the reality of these forces and their influence on the world. Belief in the spiritual realm, including the existence of the devil and his forces, is essential for a true understanding of sin, salvation, and the history of the world. Without this belief, one cannot fully grasp the biblical doctrine of salvation or the nature of the conflict we are engaged in.

Key Takeaways:

- The world is preoccupied with addressing symptoms rather than the root cause of its problems, which is spiritual in nature. The Christian Church must focus on diagnosing and addressing this spiritual disease to offer true solutions. [09:39]

- Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. This understanding is unique to the Bible and is essential for a true understanding of the world's problems. [18:29]

- The modern world often dismisses the idea of spiritual forces, but belief in these forces is crucial for understanding sin, salvation, and the history of the world. [26:17]

- The Bible provides a deep insight into the true nature of the world's problems and offers a divine solution. This sets it apart from all other teachings and highlights its divine origin. [17:03]

- Belief in the spiritual realm, including the existence of the devil and his forces, is essential for a true understanding of the biblical doctrine of salvation and the nature of the conflict we are engaged in. [42:09]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:47] - Symptoms vs. Disease
[09:39] - The Church's Role
[10:12] - The Nature of Conflict
[12:04] - Standing Firm
[16:00] - The Bible's Unique Insight
[18:29] - Spiritual Warfare
[21:08] - Misunderstandings of the World
[26:17] - Modern Dismissal of Spiritual Forces
[32:57] - The Real Problem
[34:09] - The Spiritual Battle
[39:22] - Belief in the Spiritual Realm
[42:09] - Understanding Salvation
[44:24] - The Comfort of Understanding
[45:40] - Assurance in Victory

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) - "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."
2. Colossians 2:15 (NIV) - "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
3. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV) - "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."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the root cause of the world's problems, and how does this differ from the world's perspective? [09:39]
2. How does the Apostle Paul describe the nature of the spiritual conflict we are engaged in? [10:12]
3. What are some of the modern dismissals of spiritual forces mentioned in the sermon? [26:17]
4. How does the sermon describe the unique insight the Bible provides into the world's problems? [17:03]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does the sermon emphasize the importance of recognizing spiritual forces in understanding sin and salvation? [42:09]
2. How does the metaphor of wrestling help us understand the personal nature of spiritual conflict? [11:30]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the modern world misunderstands the nature of the world's problems? [21:08]
4. How does the belief in spiritual forces influence the understanding of the biblical doctrine of salvation? [42:09]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you focused on addressing symptoms rather than the root cause of a problem in your life. How might recognizing the spiritual dimension have changed your approach? [09:39]
2. How can you become more aware of the spiritual forces at work in your life and the world around you? What practical steps can you take to engage in spiritual warfare? [18:29]
3. The sermon suggests that belief in spiritual forces is crucial for understanding the world's problems. How can you incorporate this understanding into your daily life and decision-making? [26:17]
4. Consider the ways in which modern society dismisses spiritual forces. How can you engage in conversations about spirituality with those who may be skeptical? [26:17]
5. How does understanding the spiritual nature of conflict change the way you view challenges in your personal life and in the world? [12:04]
6. What specific actions can you take to stand firm in your faith amidst spiritual battles? How can the church support you in this endeavor? [12:04]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the Bible’s unique insight into the world’s problems. How can you deepen your understanding of the Bible to better address these issues? [17:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Disease vs. Symptoms
The world often focuses on addressing the symptoms of its problems, such as conflicts and societal issues, without understanding the root cause, which is spiritual in nature. The Christian Church holds the key to diagnosing this spiritual disease and offering the remedy. However, it often finds itself caught up in addressing the symptoms rather than the cause. By recognizing the spiritual nature of the world's problems, the Church can offer true solutions that go beyond superficial fixes. This understanding calls for a shift in focus from merely treating symptoms to addressing the underlying spiritual disease. [09:39]

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you have been focusing on symptoms rather than the spiritual root cause? How can you begin to address the spiritual aspect today?


Day 2: The True Nature of Our Struggle
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. This understanding is unique to the Bible and is essential for a true understanding of the world's problems. The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of wrestling to illustrate the personal and intimate nature of this battle, while also acknowledging the larger cosmic struggle between spiritual forces. Recognizing this spiritual conflict allows believers to engage in the battle with the right perspective and tools, focusing on spiritual solutions rather than human efforts alone. [18:29]

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV): "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."

Reflection: In what ways have you been trying to fight spiritual battles with human means? What spiritual tools can you use to engage in this struggle more effectively?


Day 3: The Reality of Spiritual Forces
The modern world often dismisses the idea of spiritual forces, considering them primitive or irrelevant. Yet, the Bible insists on the reality of these forces and their influence on the world. Belief in the spiritual realm, including the existence of the devil and his forces, is essential for a true understanding of sin, salvation, and the history of the world. Without this belief, one cannot fully grasp the biblical doctrine of salvation or the nature of the conflict we are engaged in. [26:17]

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

Reflection: How has dismissing the reality of spiritual forces affected your understanding of sin and salvation? What steps can you take to deepen your awareness of the spiritual realm?


Day 4: The Bible's Unique Insight
The Bible provides a deep insight into the true nature of the world's problems and offers a divine solution. This sets it apart from all other teachings and highlights its divine origin. While the world attributes the problems of humanity to human nature alone, the Bible reveals the spiritual dimension that underlies these issues. By embracing the Bible's unique perspective, believers can access profound and divine solutions that address the root causes of the world's problems. [17:03]

Colossians 2:8 (ESV): "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Reflection: In what ways have you relied on human wisdom rather than the Bible's insight to solve problems? How can you begin to seek divine solutions in your daily life?


Day 5: Understanding Salvation and Spiritual Conflict
Belief in the spiritual realm, including the existence of the devil and his forces, is essential for a true understanding of the biblical doctrine of salvation and the nature of the conflict we are engaged in. Without this belief, one cannot fully grasp the depth of sin and the need for salvation. The Bible provides a comprehensive view of the spiritual battle and the victory that is available through Christ. By understanding this, believers can find assurance and comfort in the midst of spiritual conflict. [42:09]

Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."

Reflection: How does your belief in the spiritual realm influence your understanding of salvation? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the spiritual conflict and the victory available in Christ?

Quotes



The danger is that we should spend our time in medicating the symptoms. You can take various things to relieve your headache, take some aspirin, and your head will be better for a while, but it won't make any difference to the pneumonia. And so you can go on dealing with one symptom after another. [00:08:01]

The business of the Christian Church is to get down to the root cause of the trouble. Now it alone can do that; nobody else can do that. And it is because what we're looking at here is the only true understanding of the world situation and what can be done about it. [00:09:36]

The Apostle directs us to the fact of the conflict. You notice his terms: we wrestle. Now, this term wrestle causes the commentators a great deal of trouble. The trouble arises in this way: that he starts off by saying we wrestle, then when he comes to describe the armor, it's something that has nothing to do at all with wrestling. [00:10:09]

We are participators in this mighty spiritual conflict that is going on round and about us and in us, yes, but we are also, I say, individually engaged, every one of us. We've not only got to watch as an army, we've got to watch individually. I believe that he used the term we wrestle in order to show that. [00:11:43]

The fierceness and the terrible nature and character of the conflict as Christian people we are set in this tremendous conflict, wrestling, standing against, withstanding an enemy that's attacking. You see, this is the first thing you have to do. You have to repulse the attacks and you have to go on doing it because he's there. [00:12:44]

The world of course doesn't believe this. That's why the world is as it is, as I'm saying. It doesn't see this. You see, it hasn't got the negative even. What then is the cause of the trouble according to the world? Well, throughout the centuries, the world has tended to believe in various explanations. [00:21:30]

The modern man says that this is an insult to men's intelligence. There may be somebody thinking that here now. Fancy in 1960, with the world as it is, a man really proposing to preach about the devil and unseen spiritual forces. It's an insult to men's intelligence. Why don't you tell us something about how to settle the international problems? [00:36:04]

This whole matter of believing in the devil and in these spiritual powers is, after all, you know, just the problem of a belief at all in a spiritual realm. That's the fundamental question. Do you believe in a spiritual realm at all? There are many who call themselves Christian who obviously don't. [00:38:07]

A belief in the devil and his powers is an absolute necessity to a belief in the Biblical teaching concerning sin and evil. You can't really believe the biblical doctrine concerning sin unless you believe in the devil and his forces. Fifthly, I go on to say this, that a belief in the devil and his forces is absolutely essential. [00:42:09]

You cannot understand modern history and what's happening in the world today, the confusion, the amazement that the world is as it is in spite of all the advance that we've heard so much about. You cannot understand that, still less can you understand the future or have any hope with respect to it. [00:43:49]

I was never satisfied with medicating symptoms. Oh, I knew the patient felt a bit better, but you see, the question is, what's the matter with the man? And I was ill at ease until I knew. It's a great thing to know the trouble, to make a diagnosis, and the moment you got a diagnosis, you should feel better and happier. [00:44:41]

Thank God this message doesn't stop merely at the delineation of the character of the problem. It does do that in this realistic manner. It then leads us on to the source of victory and of power. It gives us a view of history which sends me home confident and assured, though I am standing against the devil. [00:45:40]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?