Notes:

Sermon: 4/10/22

My argument is to step away from identifying something singularly as… “That’s spiritual warfare.” (But over there, it’s not.)

The intention is that Everything we contend with is spiritual warfare.

If we can look at the world through this lens…then what we see in those who annoy us, disappoint, or in the throws of horrible depravity—Hollywood & Politicians—…then we won’t see them as enemies…We might then honestly look at what is the real source of homelessness.

If so…

We’ll be forced to see them as creations of God…in bondage to sin and the dark forces in this world.

In other words we’ll see them as people in desperate need of liberty.

I’m gonna read Genesis 11:1-9

But to build a connection fo relevance and scripture from OT to NT…I’m going to read portions from Romans 1.

20.) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

24.) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

25.) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.

This is called the Romans 1 Event…where God says, I’m done.

And what we’re about to read is that same type of event happening in the Old Testament. 

Text: Genesis 11:1-9

Tower of Babel

ESV

1—Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.

2—And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

3—And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar.

4—Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

5—And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.

6—And the Lord said, “Behold they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible.

7—Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

8—So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.

9—Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Notes:

A.) Okay, we got the story. We know the Babel story.

But let’s look at a couple of versus.

B.) V1, what unifies man…and quickly. Language. Up to this point there were no nations, no boundaries, and one language.

C.) V2, after Noah’s account they were given another mandate. Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth.

But in verse two we see they’re not doing that…Instead, they’re gathering in the plains of Shinar…and immediately get full of themselves again…defying God’s call…

Tangent Note: There’s speculation…that Noah, who lived 350 years after the flood was still alive at this time…There’s also good speculation that Abraham was already alive….These aren’t deal breakers…I just though it was kind of fascinating.

D.) V7, we see the classic “Let us…” designation.

E.) We had fall in Gen. 3, Gen. 6…God tries again…gives the original mandate…But they congregate and attempt to elevate themselves.

F.) The perfectly fits our world today…with a new tower—the UN Building—serving as the icon.

G.) And God’s response like we later see in Romans 1. However you want to phrase it he divorces, disinherits humanity. He’s done. 

H.) What happens next…God gives the world its walking papers, but he’s not ready to give up on us. Genesis 12 we see the call of Abram (Abraham).

I.) Deuteronomy 32:7-9

7—Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.

8—When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the Sons of God.

9—But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.

J.) Moses is rapping up his ministry, Joshua has already been named his replacement…and he wants them to remember. The reason they are to be set apart (holy) from the other nations.

V8, Most High (talking about Yahweh himself)…And then the Babel event separating people, fixing the borders…

K.) He divided them according to the number of the Sons of God. (Not Israel, Not Angels)…but Yahweh keeps a portion for himself…and chapter 12 we immediately go into Abraham.

Abraham’s seed is set apart. They will be a conduit back to God…Ultimately the coming of the messiah…

Tangent: Set apart. Naaman

L.) But he assigns the nations lesser elohim of his council (Sons of God)…As place holders. They will rule the nations with justice… 

M.) But in Psalm 82:1-6…We see instead of justice we see these lesser gods sewing chaos in the nations…and accepting worship.

N.) No one really knows the breakdown…or the how…but have ever wondered when Jesus is being tempted where Satan had the authority to offer him all the kingdoms of the earth?

O.) Ever wonder why Israel is in the constant crosshairs of the other nations?

P.) Ever wonder why it’s such a big deal that Peter has his vision of the sheet being lowered and being told that nothing God has made pure is unclean.

Q.) Every wonder why we have Paul…a messenger to the gentile nations…and the spiritually dark places he goes into.

R.) Ever wonder why Paul doesn’t just say demons…but uses expressions like Rulers, Principalities, Authorities…all of these speak of a geographic designation.

S.) 

1 Corinthians 2:8

None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Colossians 1:16

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Colossians 2:15

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Ephesians 1:21

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 3:10

so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Romans 8:38

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Daniel 10:13

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

Daniel 10:20

Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.