THE GOD OF THIS WORLD

THE GOD OF THIS WORLD I. THE CHURCH, THAT JESUS SAID HE WAS THE “ARCHITECT” AND “BUILDER”, IS FAR MORE THAN A BUILDING. A. THE CHURCH IS A LIVING FELLOWSHIP, A BEACON OF LIGHT. B. MATTHEW 16:13b-18 II. QUESTION: WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THE SON OF MAN IS? A. ANSWER: JESUS IS THE “CHRIST,” THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD!” B. JESUS IS “DIVINE,” HE IS GOD, CO-EQUAL WITH THE FATHER, TRINITY. III. THERE ARE EVIL FORCES IN THIS WORLD THAT ATTEMPT TO THWART, BLIND, DECEIVE AND KEEP PEOPLE FROM SEEING, AND BEING INFLUENCED BY JESUS AND HIS CHURCH. A. 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4 B. THE GOD OF THIS AGE THAT PAUL IS EXPOSING IS SATAN, THE DEVIL, AND HIS KINGDOM OF DARKNESS. C. MATTHEW 4:1-4 IV. JESUS DEFENDED HIMSELF FROM THE LIES AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE DEVIL, BY KNOWING AND QUOTING SCRIPTURE. A. WE ARE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO DETECT THE “DEVIL’S DISGUISES OR SCHEMES.” B. 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14 C. THE DEVIL MASQUERADES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. D. 2 CORINTHIANS 2:11 V. THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES ARE DESIGNED TO “OUTWIT” US. A. ONE OF THE ENEMY’S TACTICS IS “UNFORGIVENESS.” B. THE DEVIL ALSO TRIES TO SHAPE AND INFLUENCE OUR MINDS BY THE THINGS WE THINK ABOUT. C. EPHESIANS 6:12 VI. MIGHT THE “GOD OF THIS AGE” BE AT WORK BLINDING OUR MINDS TO OUR REAL STRUGGLE AND ENEMY? A. EPHESIANS 6:10-11,13-18 B. STAND YOUR GROUND, ARM YOURSELF!