Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO War stories: Invasion and liberation (Seventh in the series, 'A Christian worldview') Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA September 19, 2004 Main Scripture texts: various (see below) A Christian Worldview Sermon Series Aug. 8, 2004 • The Power of Perspective Aug. 15, 2004 • The Holy Bible: Our Guide for Faith and Practice Aug. 22, 2004 • Origins Aug. 29, 2004 • Will the Real God Please Stand Up? Sept. 5, 2004 • The Spirit World Sept. 12, 2004 • A Warfare Worldview Sept. 19, 2004 • War Stories: Invasion and Liberation Oct. 10, 2004 • War Stories: At the Front Oct. 17, 2004 • The Enemy's Battle Plan Oct. 24, 2004 • Personal Defense Oct. 31, 2004 • Our Weapons: The Sword of the Spirit Nov. 7, 2004 • Our Weapons: The Name of Jesus Nov. 14, 2004 • Our Weapons: The Blood of Jesus Nov. 28, 2004 • Warfare Worldview: The Real Star Wars A Christian worldview must include an understanding that there is a war going on and we're in the middle of it. This war began long ago. After God created the world and declared it to be "very good," Satan's launched a sneak attack, recorded for us in Genesis 3. Deceived by the devil, Adam and Eve sinned against God, marring the goodness of what God had made. In response, God issued a declaration of war against the devil, warning him that there will come One who will crush the his head. Thus the war began, and it continues to this day. The good news is that God has acted to make sure the devil is not going to win. Let me give you analogy from history. In 1941, much of Europe had fallen to Hitler and the Axis powers. From France, Hitler's forces began a steady bombardment of England. The allies knew something had to be done to retake France, so that England could be protected. So they planned D-Day, a daring frontal attack on the French coast. From that beachhead began an advance to liberate France and the rest of Europe. The birth of Jesus Christ was our spiritual D-Day. God launched a direct, head-on attach against the enemy who was dominating virtually all the earth. The incarnation established a beachhead from which God could launch an invasion to liberate humanity. Hitler's response to D-Day was a counter-offensive we've come to call the Battle of the Bulge. The Germans pushed back the allied lines, but they couldn't break through. The line bulged, but didn't break. Most military analysts believe that after the Battle of the Bulge, victory for the Allies was assured &endash; the outcome of the war was no longer in question. About 30 years after a beachhead was established through the birth of Jesus, Jesus began His earthly ministry, which was God's offensive to liberate humanity. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, raised the dead and cast out the demons. The devil launched his counter offensive. He set out to kill this man who claimed to be one with God. And he did it! It seemed that evil had won. But that was Friday. On Sunday morning Jesus walked out of the tomb and destroyed death. Now here's the good news. Just like the World War Two Battle of the Bulge, after the resurrection the outcome of this war is not in question! Our victory has been assured. Jesus invaded the kingdom of darkness and liberated its captives. Now it our responsibility to continue the offensive to liberate humanity, assured that final victory is ours! There is a war going on and you and I are in the Lord's army, standing firm against the devil and his schemes. Let's get in the battle, and go and make disciples of all nations. Supporting texts: Genesis 1:31 | Genesis 3:1-7 | Revelation 12:9 | Revelation 20:2 | Genesis 3:14-15 | John 8:44 | Matthew 2:13-18 | Luke 10:19 | 1 John 4:4 | Romans 8:37-39 | Galatians 5:1 | Psalm 144:1 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (27:30). (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of this sermon is available free of charge (U.S requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 040919a: War Stories: Invasion and Liberation. © 2004 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us