The sermon from Matt Mason yesterday (listen online) was really great. It was on spiritual warfare. Here’s Matt’s logic:

• God is omniscient.
• God never lies.
• Therefore, reality is what God says it is.

The bible has been proved to my satisfaction historically, archeologically, scientifically, and prophetically. If you believe the premise that the bible is true, then the logical path Matt took is true also.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world’s rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(Eph 6:12 MKJV)

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do.
(Gal 5:17 MKJV)

Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(Jam 4:7 MKJV)

It helps that the kind of spiritual warfare described in the bible and by scholars (C.S. Lewis for example) is observable and logical. C. S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters which read as if from an older, wiser demon teaching his apprentice how best to keep man in bondage. A very entertaining read, and one that everyone I know can relate to. Distraction, deceit, temptation and delay are some of the enemy’s best tools.

Distraction: So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of time because the days are evil.
(Eph 5:15-16 ISV)

Deceit: For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. Again I say, Let no one think me foolish. If otherwise, yet receive me as foolish, so that I may also boast a little.
(2Co 11:13-16 MKJV)

Temptation: And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to take a census of Israel.
(1Ch 21:1 MKJV)

Delay: That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, time and again wanted to come, but Satan blocked our way.
(1Th 2:18 ISV)

Every day I’m tempted to do other things than a bible study in the morning. I could sleep – God doesn’t want me to be overtired, does he? When I’m really tired my judgement isn’t as good and I’m more prone to sin. I’d better just check my email real quick… Hmmm that’s interesting, I’ll just take a minute to visit the website and read the whole article. It’s getting pretty late, I’d better get some work done… seen through the lens of spiritual warfare, these things make a lot more sense. I *never* find excuses to not read the latest Tom Clancy or Harry Potter, or re-read an old favorite like anything from Tolkien, Douglas Adams, Anne McCaffrey… no struggles there whatsoever. It’s not a struggle to make myself watch CSI. The only things I struggle with are the ones that benefit me most. The ones that bring me peace and calmness, that help me make unselfish decisions, and love my neighbor as myself. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another. For the whole Law is summed up in one commandment: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” But if you act like wild animals, hurting and harming each other, then watch out, or you will completely destroy one another. What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do. If the Spirit leads you, then you are not subject to the Law. What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God. But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives.
(Gal 5:13-25 GNB)

a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
(Isa 42:3 ESV)

What the heck is a bruised reed and why won’t he break it? According to Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible -

The word ‘reed’ means the cane or calamus which grows up in marshy or wet places (Isa_36:6; see the note at Isa_43:24). The word, therefore, literally denotes that which is fragile, weak, easily waved by the wind, or broken down; and stands in contrast with a lofty and firm tree (compare Mat_11:7): ‘What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?’ The word here, therefore, may be applied to people who are conscious of feebleness and sin; that are moved and broken by calamity; that feel that they have no strength to bear up against the ills of life. The word ‘bruised’ (רצוּץ râtsûts) means that which is broken or crushed, but not entirely broken off. As used here, it may denote those who are in themselves naturally feeble, and who have been crushed or broken down by a sense of sin, by calamity, or by affliction. We speak familiarly of crushing or breaking down by trials; and the phrase here is intensive and emphatic, denoting those who are at best like a reed – feeble and fragile; and who, in addition to that, have been broken and oppressed by a sense of their sins, or by calamity.

As for the wick:

The word rendered ‘smoking’ (כהה kēhâh) means that which is weak, small, thin, feeble; then that which is just ready to go out, or to be extinguished; and the phrase refers literally to the expiring wick of a lamp, when the oil is almost consumed, and when it shines with a feeble and dying luster. It may denote here the condition of one who is feeble and disheartened, and whose love to God seems almost ready to expire. And the promise that he will not extinguish or quench that, means that he would cherish, feed, and cultivate it; he would supply it with grace, as with oil to cherish the dying flame, and cause it to be enkindled, and to rise with a high and steady brilliancy.

It’s difficult for me to think of a God who is tender, compassionate, and involved in my day to day life. To apply the concept of Abba, Father to the Creator of the universe. I guess truth is stranger than fiction, because even though that is a hard concept for me to understand, my entire life bears witness to the fact that there is a loving God who is working in me and through me. That, or there is an astronomical chain of coincidences on a par with a tornado blowing through a junkyard and accidentally assembling a mainframe computer.

“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
(Isa 42:6-7 ESV)

Albert Barnes’ thoughts on this passage:

I the Lord have called thee in righteousness - The phrase ‘in righteousness’ has been very differently understood by different expositors (see the note at Isa_41:10). The most probable meaning may be, ‘I have done it as a righteous and just God, or in the accomplishment of my righteous purposes. I am the just moral governor of the universe, and to accomplish my purposes of justice and fidelity, I have designated thee to this work.’ Lowth has well rendered it, ‘For a righteous purpose.’ In this work all was righteousness. God was righteous, who appointed him; it was because he was righteous, and could not save without a mediator and an atonement, that he sent him into the world; he selected one who was eminently righteous to accomplish his purpose; and he came that he might establish righteousness on the earth, and confirm the just government of God (see Isa_42:21).
And will hold thine hand - I will take thee by the hand, as one does who guides and leads another. The phrase denotes the same as to guard, or keep – as we protect a child by taking him by the hand.
And give thee for a covenant – This is evidently an abbreviated form of expression, and the meaning is, ‘I will give or appoint thee as the medium, or means by which a covenant shall be made with the people; or a mediator of the new covenant which God is about to establish with men’ (see Isa_49:8). A similar expression occurs in Mic_5:5, where it is said of the Messiah, ‘and this man shall be the peace;’ that is, he shall be the source of peace, or peace shall be established and maintained by him. So in Eph_2:14, it is said of him, ‘he is our peace.’
Of the people - It has been doubted whether this means the Jewish people, or the Gentiles. Grotius, Hengstenberg, Vitringa, and others understand it of the Jews; Rosenmuller and others, of the Gentiles. It is not easy to determine which is the correct interpretation. But the meaning, as I apprehend, is, not that he would confirm the ancient covenant with the descendants of Abraham, as Hengstenberg and Vitringa suppose, but that his covenant would be established with all, with both Jews and Gentiles. According to this, it will refer to the Jews, not as Jews, or as already interested in the covenant, but as constituting one portion of the world; and the whole expression will mean, that his religion will be extended to Jews and Gentiles: that is, to the whole world.
For a light of the Gentiles - (See Luk_2:32). ‘Light’ is the emblem of knowledge, instruction, and of the true religion. The Messiah is often called ‘light,’ and the ‘light of the world’ (see Mat_4:16; compare the note at Isa_9:2; Joh_1:4, Joh_1:7, Joh_1:9; Joh_3:19; Joh_8:12; Joh_9:5; Joh_12:35, Joh_12:46; Rev_21:23). This is one of the numerous declarations which occur in Isaiah, that the religion of the Messiah would be extended to the pagan world; and that they, as well as the Jews, would be brought to partake of its privileges.