Ironman

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Have you ever shown up to a place dressed completely wrong?

This is one of my fears

Or how about, have you have went to do something and did not have the right clothes or equipment?

This has happened to me in the worst way. I went one a missions trip once and there was a lot of hiking involved, I mean a lot.

To get where we were 10 miles in dirt, sand, and gravel, all in 120 degree heat. and I wore the wrong Shoes

I wore a cheap pair of Wal-Mart shoes

to make matters worse, from where we were staying into the village was a 2 mile hike each way.

Our spiritual life is in a similar way like this, if we are not prepared we will suffer or fail

On that same trip my friend wore the wrong shoes to and busted their ankle and to have a helicopter take her out.

The issue is that we live our lives the way we want to, and not the way God wants us to, when we “wear the wrong foot ware” we are setting our selves up for failure.

We think its ok to live a way that goes against God, and we will be alright. kind of like Tony Stark.

Clip 1, party

Tony was living his life for fun, and pleasure, not for anyone else but himself. Have you done this?

Well lets ask this a different way, “Is God a side part of your life? you know, like a Sunday thing, or when things are going rough, or when you feel like it

See after this clip Tony had to go to the desert to show off his new weapons platform, and he was attacked and taken. He was not protected in the way he should have been

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

We as Christians also need to make sure that are protect ourselves in the way we need to be

When we gave our lives to Christ, he did not just leave us with nothing but He gave us the Armor of God

Peter reminds us that we have to be looking out for danger and He continues

1 Peter 5:9–10 NIV

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

But how do we stand firm?

Clip 2, Armor on

Ephesians 6:10–18 NIV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

I Mean this is how I am going to wake up in the morning from now on

But the honest truth is that if we are not “suiting UP” we are going to be left defenseless, and when the attacks come with will either fail, or but hit harder then we need to be.

Putting On The Armor

This is not something that we wait to do

Think about it for a moment, military personal do not wait for an attack to put on their vests and helmets, when they go out on patrol, or guarding or whatever they are wearing their equipment. If they wait to put it on, its already to late.

We do not put this armor on physically

But what we do is put some good habits into practice

if we form good habits that is putting on the armor, then we will stand “Our Ground”

Studying and Memorizing The Word

this goes beyond just reading the Bible, its good to read the Bible, but we are suppose to be

Psalm 119:11–13 NIV

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.

When we have the Word in our hearts when the attacks come, we will be ready with the truth of God’s Word.

As you remember the Bible when life get you down you can combat it

recite verses

Jesus shows a great example of this

Luke 4:3–4 NIV

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

it is such a great moment, Jesus combats temptation with the Word of God

Fellowship

The US Army used to have an Ad that was “I am an Army of One”

The slogan went, "I am an Army of One." It was intended to attract individualistic young Generation X and "Next Gen" men and women, who might resonate to the idea that service in the Army would complete their self-sufficiency.

But the ad was abandoned do to the fact that it was coming off as anti-team, and we are not an Army of one but as Christians we are in this together.

Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Many times I have heard, “I’m good doing it on my own” But the truth is that you are just an easy target.

We need to be fellowshipping together, we need to be coming to the Church together

We need to be doing Life together.

We Need To Be In Constant Prayer

If you are just saying your “Night, Night” prayers and that is it, you are missing out on so very much

Psalm 145:18 NIV

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Ephesians 6:18 NIV

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The enemy wants us to stop praying, he wants us to be separated from God.

We need to start looking at prayer like it really is, our LIFE LINE.

If we are putting on the armor of God, then when the enemy attacks we will be ready

Clip 3, The earth is closed

see I love the story of Elijah On mt Carmel

he acted like tony

alter call time to stop checking the boxes

Communion

Mark 14:22–24 (NIV)

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.