“Make War”

(Steve Matson – Lead Pastor)

It was my high privilege to speak at Flower City Work Camp this year. The topic for my talks was Spiritual Warfare.  I chose the topic because I have grown weary of watching so many students exhibit a zeal for God while in our churches only to go off to college or the workplace and abandon their faith.  I believe that there are a number of reasons for this, but certainly one reason is that they are not prepared to wage spiritual battle in the context of The World, The Flesh, and The Devil. I think that they are guilty of what Paul speaks of in Romans 10:2, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

Now, if I apply that thinking to a video about Spiritual Warfare by John Piper (which you will find below) I find myself asking what it is that attracts me to the preaching and writing of John Piper. I quickly realize that it is the amazing combination of zeal and knowledge.  I sense this in his preaching and in the Word of God. This tells me that victories in the spiritual battles of life require a substantial dose of both. I need to know what I am fighting and how to fight, AND I need to have a passion to fight and for the goal I am fighting to attain.

So what do we do with this? We must tend to both our hearts and the minds.  No long thoughts here on how to do that, just the observation itself. Maybe the best “next step” is to ask yourself, “In what areas am I strong and in what areas am I weak.  And you know what to do with that.

Now, a video with John Piper at the beginning followed by a rap. Enjoy whatever parts you can, but do notice in each the combination of heart (zeal) and mind (knowledge).

WATCHED

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