The Way

The way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelA7KRLINA

Acts 24:14 (ESV)

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

Acts 9:2;19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22

John 14:6

Foundlings are abandoned or helpless children who, when encountered by a Mandalorian warrior, are taken in and raised by them.

Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

To be part of the way ..we need to

Be strong (Get swole)

Ephesians 6:10 (ESV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Swole society picture

Strong means empowered/strengthed.

What is the source of your strength.. what empowers or strengthens you day to day

In the Lord

To be strong you must know the Lord

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

To be strong you must confess

Football injury.. playing hurt..

You have to admit your weakness’ to be in the Lords strength and let it empower you

Spurgeon in his book banner of truth states We must see that we are convicted and condemned, with the rope around our neck, before we will weep for joy when Christ pardons us.

1 John 1:8 (NIV)

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)

10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To be strong you must trust Gods strength more than your own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3-CpzZJl8w

time in: 0:00-0:41

Do or do not..there is not try

unlearn..

we trust God with our eternity, why not the now?

Why God’s strength and not our own?

In his might

Job 26:7-14 (ESV)

7 He stretches out the north over the void     and hangs the earth on nothing. 8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,     and the cloud is not split open under them. 9 He covers the face of the full moon     and spreads over it his cloud. 10 He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters     at the boundary between light and darkness. 11 The pillars of heaven tremble     and are astounded at his rebuke. 12 By his power he stilled the sea;     by his understanding he shattered Rahab. 13 By his wind the heavens were made fair;     his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. 14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,     and how small a whisper do we hear of him!     But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

Jesus Miracles..

Shadrach Meshach abendego

Daniel lion

David and goliath

Abraham blessed with Isaac

Are you willing to trust your strength for your eternity or the one who hung earth on nothing.

To be part of the way ..we need to

Armor up

Ephesians 6: 11 (ESV)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

The armor

belt of truth

breastplate of Righteousness.

Boots of readiness (Gospel)

shield of faith

helmet of salvation

sword of spirit (Gods word)

With God we have victory

We are in a war but we in order stand it is good to know if you believe in Jesus you have already won.

Revelation 12:10-11 (ESV)

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

To be part of the way ..we need to realize

We are at war and are called to stand

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

We are battling Satan and his army

half of all Americans (57%) believe in the existence of the devil and a slight majority (51%) believe in possession by evil spirits.

“Born-again” Christians are the most likely to both believe in the devil (86%) and possession (72%).

Among those who are Christians 50% believe more in the idea of evil and less in a spiritual being or spiritual forces.

James 2:19 (Esv)

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

The name satan means adversary

Scripture calls satan a tempter Gen 3 amurderer and a father of lies John 8:44 He is a deceiver and persecuter Rev 12:9-10

I take these evil powers to heart.. no hooror movies not play with a magic 8ball

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:2 (ESV)

2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Satans servants

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (ESV)

14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

JC Ryle stated in his book Soldiers and Trumpeters that

“The saddest symptom about many so-called Christians is the utter absence of anything like conflict and fight in their Christianity” “But of the great spiritual warfare,--its watchings and strugglings, its agonies and anxieties, its battles and contests,--of all this they appear to know nothing at all.”

Did Jesus bring us peace hope joy..yes

But he also told us there would be great struggle.

Matthew 10:16 (ESV)

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

John 14:30 (Esv)

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,

Mark 3:11 (Esv)

11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

To be part of the way ..we need to

Stand Firm

Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

We stand firm against evil

in Christ’s power

John 16:33 (ESV)

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

In Christ armor

Come back next few weeks..

In the next few weeks we will look at the armor and how to stand firm

But first the armor doesn’t help if you do not know the Lord

Trust in his strength for everything

Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

To stand firm

Don’t be anxious

Psalm 119:11 (ESV)

11 I have stored up your word in my heart,     that I might not sin against you.

Prayer and supplication

Mark 11:23-24

23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received[a] it, and it will be yours.

Guard your hearts and minds

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Prayer.. God made us a promise, he keeps it and his grace is all we need nothing can keep us apart from him

Not even death..