In National Lampoon’s Vacation, Chevy Chase plays a father who falls asleep at the wheel of his car while he and his family (also sleeping) careen through neighbourhoods putting everyone in danger.

On November 12th at Westminster we talked about the much-neglected topic of spiritual warfare. But if we don’t talk about or take spiritual warfare seriously, it’s like we’re also asleep at the wheel, possibly putting ourselves and those around us in danger.

In North America, it’s a topic that has fallen out of favour—probably because we’ve been so influenced by a kind of thinking that devalues or ignores anything that doesn’t fit with a horizontal or naturalistic view of reality.

But in our world and lives there’s more than what meets the eye. That idea might make some people uncomfortable, but if Jesus takes Satan seriously, so should we.

We talked about common misconceptions, what spiritual warfare actually is, why you’re already in battle, and four practical things you can do about it.

But there is nothing to fear. As the 17th century monk Brother Lawrence said, “We must go about our labors quietly, calmly, and lovingly, entreating Him to prosper the works of our hands; by thus keeping heart and mind fixed on God, we shall bruise the head of the evil one, and beat down his weapons to the ground.”

Let’s not be asleep at the wheel. Let’s live abundantly, victoriously and confidently as the people God made us to be. And let’s do it with both eyes open.

Listen in. The message is called “Mathematics of Spiritual Warfare.”

Click here for the summary handout mentioned in the message: Mathematics of Spiritual Warfare-handout full

[National Lampoon’s Vacation is a Warner Bros. movie from 1983]