Idols of Tongues
The speaker emphasizes the importance of faithfulness and obedience in the face of opposition, and calls the church to engage in spiritual warfare using its spiritual weapons.
In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not being swayed by the crowd and instead focusing on God. He highlights the power of the weapons mentioned in Ephesians 6 to overcome strongholds and imaginations that go against the word of God. The preacher warns against allowing negative thoughts to take root in the heart, as they can lead to destructive words and actions. He also addresses the issue of idolizing spiritual gifts and the fear that can arise from witnessing their misuse. Ultimately, the message encourages believers to stay true to the word of God and remain holy, even in the midst of spiritual warfare.
Full Transcript
You've got one set of people that made an idol out of tongues. And the powers of darkness use them to go scare the death of everybody else about gifts. And then you have another set that's watching the devil use some people and they won't have anything to do with spiritual gifts, scare the death of them.
But see, that's another thing. I don't want to have anything to do with it because I've watched some folks over here abuse it. I'd rather die than be healed because I've watched some folks on television making money and merchandising it.
Now, you hear what I'm saying? So I don't have anything to do with that part of the Bible because I've done watching folks merchandising it. Devils are all over the place. There's more devils now than anything else.
The Lord said they're just going to be a few. He talked about holiness. He said, I'm not one because you're many.
You're not going to be many. It's going to be a few. Crowds don't run to God.
Crowds go to the devil. Are you hearing what I'm saying? I hope it's getting past your head up here. I hope it's getting down in your flesh.
So here's what he said. We no longer war at the flesh, but your weapons that we have on Ephesians 6 are mighty in God to turn down strongholds and fortresses. And I'm seeing them right here all over this building right now, people, right now, fortresses and strongholds.
Your weapons are mighty in God to turn down strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every thought right here that comes in your mind and exalts itself against the Word of God. Your weapons are mighty in God.
You don't have to receive them. When you stomp them up here in your mind, they don't get down in your heart. If you let them get down in your heart, it's going to come out of your mouth.
It's going to break God's law. And that's the opposite of fear and fire in your heart. There's been a war going on.
The church hasn't showed up for it.
Sermon Outline
- I. Idols of Tongues
- A. Two extremes: abuse of spiritual gifts and rejection of them
- B. The Lord's call for holiness and a few faithful followers
- C. The power of our weapons in God to overcome strongholds
- II. The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
- A. The presence of devils and strongholds in our midst
- B. The importance of discerning and resisting evil thoughts
- C. The connection between our thoughts and actions
- III. The Call to Spiritual Battle
- A. Engaging our spiritual weapons to overcome strongholds
- B. The need for faithfulness and obedience in the face of opposition
Key Quotes
“Crowds don't run to God. Crowds go to the devil.” — Milton Green
“Your weapons are mighty in God to turn down strongholds and fortresses.” — Milton Green
“It's going to break God's law. And that's the opposite of fear and fire in your heart.” — Milton Green
Application Points
- We must be careful not to let evil thoughts get into our hearts and come out of our mouths, breaking God's law.
- We have the power to overcome strongholds and fortresses through our spiritual weapons and faithfulness to God.
- The church must engage in spiritual warfare and use its spiritual weapons to overcome opposition and bring people to God.