You (the body) are the hope of the world!You are the light in the darkness.

You are God’s strategy to bring heaven to earth.Without you, darkness will prevail.

Ephesians 1:22-2322 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him

to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

The enemy of mankind:• Christ handled the eternal life part, (see John 3:16).

• Our job is get that message to the world and rescue them from the clutches of a malevolent force whose only power is to spread lies that, only when believed, cause its victims to become witless slaves or savage beasts without conscience.

John 10:1010 The thief comes only to steal and kill and

destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The Devil is a malevolent force, filled with hatred for mankind, bent on our destruction.

The nature of our enemy.ma·lev·o·lent /məˈlevələnt/AdjectiveHaving or showing a wish to do evil to others.Synonymsmalicious - malignant - ill-disposed - spiteful - vicious

Ephesians 2:1-22 As for you, you were dead in your

transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Disobedient?• To beat an army, one does not always have to meet on a

battlefield. Espionage and sabotage are extremely effective tools!

• If the enemy can get us focused on doing anything other than what is expected of us, darkness will continue to prevail.

• As an army, we need to follow the instructions of our commander in chief – Jesus – and not chill in our comfort zones wondering why the world is going to hell in a hand basket!

1 Peter 5:88 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the

devil prowls around like (pretend) a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Yup, he really wants to hurt us! But God had an answer before there was even a question!

Revelation 12:1111 They triumphed over him

by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Problem is, these days death aint the thing we shrink from. We can hardly get to a homegroup or church service... “Dude, I’m busy!”

So um.. What are we supposed to be doing then?

Ephesians 2:1010 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ

Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We already have instructions… duh!

Matthew 5:13-1413 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt

loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:15-1715 Neither do people light a lamp and put it

under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 28:17-2017 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some

doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”