The Bible Storyline – Lesson 6 – May 24, 2026

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Biblical Warfare — Part 2

Sermon 6 in The Bible Storyline series — learning to read the Bible the way God intended as one connected story of God’s unstoppable plan to defeat evil, restore creation and establish His kingdom on earth.

 

God’s Unstoppable Plan: •       Defeat Evil •       Restore Creation •       Establish His Kingdom on Earth

The Bible teaches this reality: You were born into a war. You were born on the wrong side of that war. Your life will end in this war.

 

The only question is — What kingdom will you be serving when the war comes to an end?

 

✓ Goal 1: Establish the Reality of this War (Completed in Part 1)

Goal 2: Establish your Responsibility in this War   (This Sermon)

 

Quick Review

Lucifer convinced one-third of the angels to join him in an attempt to take over God’s throne. This resulted in a battle that took place in Heaven where Lucifer and his followers were defeated and cast out of Heaven.

 

Revelation 12:7–9 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

 

Wartime Efforts In America

During the World Wars, the U.S. government understood that knowing a war exists is completely different from feeling personally responsible for fighting it. So they built an entire strategy around closing that gap. Every citizen was made to feel the war was their personal responsibility.

 

Four Minute Men During WWI the government recruited thousands of local volunteers to give short patriotic speeches in movie theaters, churches and schools. The speeches worked because they came from trusted local citizens. People are more likely to act when someone they know calls them to action.

Liberty Bonds & War Bonds Americans were urged to buy bonds to fund the war. Posters, rallies, celebrities and radio broadcasts encouraged people to “do their part.” Buying bonds became a visible sign of patriotism and personal investment in the war effort.

 

Victory Gardens Ordinary citizens planted gardens in backyards, schools and parks so commercial food could be directed to the military. Millions participated. These gardens reminded people daily that everyone had a role in the war effort, even if they never entered military service.

Rationing Rationing limited how much of certain goods people could buy. Americans received ration books controlling purchases of sugar, gasoline, meat and more. Citizens accepted limitations because they believed resources needed to be preserved for soldiers and national survival.

 

Scrap Drives Americans collected rubber, metal, paper and other materials for military production. Children, schools, churches and neighborhoods organized scrap drives. Even discarded household items could help win the war.

“Loose Lips Sink Ships” Americans were warned that even everyday conversations carried responsibility during wartime. Enemy spies could overhear talk about troop movements or military plans and use it against the nation. Silence and caution were acts of patriotism.

 

Hollywood & Celebrities Movie stars, musicians and athletes became major voices in wartime persuasion. Celebrities traveled the country promoting bond drives, military enlistment and patriotism. Famous figures helped make participation feel honorable and socially expected.

School & Children’s Participation Children were intentionally included in the war effort. Schools taught patriotism, sacrifice and service. The government understood that involving children strengthened family participation and created a culture where service and sacrifice became normal parts of life.

 

The Central Message Behind All of It The government continually reinforced one major idea: the war was everyone’s responsibility. Soldiers fought overseas but victory depended on citizens serving faithfully at home. Every meal, conversation, dollar, garden, sacrifice and act of discipline was presented as part of the battle.

 

On Memorial Day, we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom. And we recognize that the sacrifices made by Americans back home paled in comparison to the sacrifice of those who gave their life on the battlefield.

Jesus Gave Up Everything

We have established the reality of war between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. The war was relocated to this earth. Satan began advancing his kingdom by convincing Adam and Eve to follow his word instead of God’s. When they sinned, the dominion of this world was passed to Satan. The Bible describes him as the Prince of this world, the god of this world, the prince and power of the air.

 

But Jesus came to this earth where the battle is being carried out. He left His home in Heaven, set aside His glory, took on the form of humanity, and laid down His life as He willingly suffered and died to secure our freedom from Satan’s Kingdom.

 

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

 

Now it is time for us to do our part to advance the Kingdom of God on earth.

 

It is impossible to be neutral in this war. Jesus said you are either for Him or against Him.

 

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

 

Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

 

Review: God created earth as our home where He will dwell with us. He created mankind in His image and likeness and commissioned mankind to have dominion over earth and rule under His authority. We expand God’s kingdom by filling the earth with His image — living out God’s holy character on earth. Both God and Satan are actively working to advance their kingdoms on earth. And you are playing a role in this war.

Your Responsibility In This War

 

First – Join God’s Kingdom

We are all born into the kingdom of Satan. There must be an active choice to change allegiance and join the Kingdom of God.

 

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

 

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

 

Colossians 1:21–22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.

 

You and I were born into the Kingdom of Satan but Jesus came to deliver us from that kingdom. We now have a choice to serve God and His kingdom or continue serving Satan and his kingdom. We do not get to choose to live in God’s kingdom without devoting ourselves to serving Him and His Kingdom. In other words, who you serve now tells you where you spend eternity. Jesus said you cannot serve two masters:

 

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

Jesus says it is impossible to give your loyalty to two masters. The idea of love and hate in the Bible is different than many people think. The Hebrew way of using these terms deals with priority not feelings.

 

Love = Loyalty The Hebrew use of love meant the one who received the priority or loyalty. Jesus said “if you love me keep my commandments.”

Hate = Lack of Priority The Hebrew use of hate does not reflect emotional feelings but lack of priority or loyalty. Every act of sin or disobedience to God’s law is prioritizing the Kingdom of Satan over the Kingdom of God.

 

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

 

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

 

John 14:23–24 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

 

1 John 2:3–5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

 

These verses help us identify whose kingdom we are serving. Love for God is only genuine when it is backed up by obedience to God.

 

I love God For this statement to be true it must be interchangeable with this one:

I obey God in everything When we image God, we advance His kingdom. When we image Satan, we advance his kingdom.

 

The statement “I love God” is not accurate when family time, friends, sports, sleep, or anything takes priority over obeying God’s command to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as a church and serving God through the church body.

 

The statement “I love God” is not accurate when sexual pleasure, racism, political allegiance, or personal comfort takes priority over imaging God.

 

The statement “I love God” is not accurate when our language does not image God.

 

James 3:8–10 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

 

The first step in advancing God’s Kingdom is to join God’s kingdom and that means giving total allegiance to God.

 

Second Hold Your Ground

You advance God’s kingdom by joining. Satan loses a follower and God gains one. You are like a flag planted on earth that represents God’s rule. Stand your ground.

 

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

Hold your ground. Every lie replaces God’s flag and gives up ground to Satan. Every sexual sin, every disobedience to parents, every sinful word that is spoken replaces God’s rule with Satan’s. This is why it is impossible to serve both.

 

Third Advance God’s Kingdom

God created mankind in His image and after His likeness. Then God sent mankind into the world to fill it with His image. Jesus came to save us from the kingdom of Satan, place us in His Kingdom and has now re-commissioned us to go fill the earth with His image bearers.

 

Matthew 28:18–20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Matthew 5:14–16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

Just as our American forefathers accepted their responsibility to be involved in the wartime effort, we must take responsibility to advance the Kingdom of God.

 

• Every submission to the law of God holds ground conquered for His kingdom.
• Every good deed and act of kindness to both our enemies and our brothers and sisters in Christ advances the Kingdom.
• Every time we gather in worship, clean the church, mow the church yard, send a card, pray for one another, or support each other in love, we are advancing the kingdom.
• Every invitation you share about church, post you share on social media, person you witness to, advances the Kingdom of God.
• Every time you teach a child a Bible story or model God’s holiness in front of them, you advance the kingdom.

 

• You were born into a war.
• You were born on the wrong side of that war.
• Your life will end in this war.

 

 

The Only Question Is

What kingdom will you be serving when the war comes to an end?

 

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.