Evil and Hope

This message is a heartfelt sermon delivered by Pastor Scot Pollok during a time of personal and communal turmoil, reflecting on recent tragedies and cultural challenges. Scot expresses vulnerability, grappling with emotions like grief, confusion, and anger, and uses these to affirm the existence of the soul. Drawing from Luke 13, the pastor highlights Jesus’ response to contemporary tragedies, connecting them to the gospel’s call for repentance. The sermon addresses current events, including the 24th anniversary of 9/11, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and other violent incidents, urging the congregation to process these through a biblical lens.

Pastor Scot outlines four key points:

1. Active War in an Alien World: Christians live in a spiritual battle in a world that is not their home, as described in John 15 and Matthew 5, where persecution and division are expected.
2. Spiritual Nature of the Battle: Ephesians 6 emphasizes that the struggle is against spiritual forces, not flesh and blood, requiring spiritual tools like prayer and faith.
3. The Enemy’s Strategy: The devil’s tactics, outlined in 1 Peter 5 and Genesis 3, involve diminishing truth, dividing people through blame, and disarming the church by casting doubt on its spiritual tools.
4. Christ’s Clear Commands: Christians are called to stand firm (2 Corinthians 10), endure suffering (2 Timothy 3), and champion holiness to be a refuge for those disillusioned by the world’s falsehoods.

The church is encouraged to avoid fear, despair, and misdirected anger, instead focusing on hope, courage, and righteous resolve. The sermon concludes with a call to prayer, specifically for those affected by recent tragedies, for revival, and for the church to be equipped with the armor of God to stand firm in faith. The congregation is urged to remain united, rooted in scripture, and ready to welcome those seeking truth.