Surviving a Headshot
Notes
Transcript
Build Connection
I don’t watch much tv or movies, I just don’t have the time and most of what is out there doesn’t appeal to me. But I am amazed at how many people, even myself, love movie and tv series that are inaccurate. For instance, you see a fighting scene and the star is fighting several people and it only takes a swift kick and the bad guy is out.
On the flip side, two guys will be fighting and the will beat each other for 10 minutes taking multiple blows.
My grandfather loved watching boxing, you know where to hit someone so they don’t get up, in the head.
When you play a video game and you shoot someone you know where you want to hit them with one shot and kill them, make it a head shot.
Create Tension
We live in a world where there is an enemy that wants us dead and he knows to aim for the head. So how do we survive a headshot?
Provide Solution
Ephesians 6:10–17
“10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
We have been going through a series called Equipped where we have been talking about the armor of God.
As we continue this looking at how we are to protect out head by taking up the helmet of salvation, I want to highlight two things something we discussed earlier but need to be reminded of, that is vs 13..
Ephesians 6:13 “13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”
The first thing to remember is that we need to put on every piece of God’s armor…
The first thing to remember is that we need to put on every piece of God’s armor…
Pastor Marcia when sharing about the armor of God has mentioned how many people only put on the helmet of salvation, their head is covered, but the rest of their body is naked and exposed to the enemy.
Their vital organs are exposed because they fail to live righteously
Their breastplate doesn’t stay situate because the belt of truth is nowhere to be found
The fiery darts of the enemy wound them because they do not have a deflector shield
We need all the parts of the armor to be able to do what? Resist the enemy in the time of evil (now is the time of evil).
The second thing to remember is that we will be in a battle, our goal is to still be standing.
The second thing to remember is that we will be in a battle, our goal is to still be standing.
There are many who think that being a christian makes life easy, it’s just the opposite. Living a life for Christ will be hard, it will be a battle.
The world says selfishness is OK, God says us selflessness is the way!
The world says to do what feels good, God says to do what is good!
The world says we live our own truth, God says I given you the truth!
The world says sin is not wrong so enjoy life, God says living in sin will take your life!
Life is a battle we are living in, our goal is to be standing when the battle is over.
Knowing these things makes it all the more important to take up the helmet of salvation!
as discussed last week the first three pieces of armor the verb used was put on
the last three, starting with last week, the verb changes to take up!
When talking about the helmet of salvation we have to understand there are several aspects of salvation.
There are three aspects of Salvation I want to look at.
One is past, one is present, one is future.
One has been completed, one is a process, and one has yet to be accomplished
The First aspect of Salvation Freed us from the Punishment of Sin!
Justification
Free from the Punishment of Sin
To be clear the only punishment from God for sin is spiritual death!
Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Second aspect of Salvation Frees us from the Power of Sin!
Sanctification
Free from the Power of Sin
Romans 6:14 “14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”
The Final aspect of Salvation will Free us from the Presence of Sin!
Glorification
Free from the Presence of Sin
1 Peter 1:3–4 “3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”
When Paul tells the Ephesians to take up the Helmet of salvation, is he referring to all these ideas, and if not which one is he referring to?
He is talking to a group of people who have already accepted Christ as their lord and savior,
Ephesians 1:1 “1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.”
So he is not talking about taking up the helmet of salvation that frees us from the penalty of sin, they already are free from the penalty of sin!
Maybe he is talking about the salvation from the presence of sin…no because that hasn’t happened yet.
That means he is talking about sanctification, we have salvation which frees from the power of sin!
Sin is a slave-master…and a whole lot of people are slave to this master and don’t even realize it.
When you choose to follow Christ, you are free from the slave-master sin and are able to choose what is right!
When you choose to follow Christ, you are free from the slave-master sin and are able to choose what is right!
Satan is not a foolish slave-master, he knows he has to get you to believe what you are doing is your own idea!
Satan is not a foolish slave-master, he knows he has to get you to believe what you are doing is your own idea!
When you don’t realize you are a slave, you don’t try to free yourself!
When you don’t realize you are a slave, you don’t try to free yourself!
John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””
What does it mean to overcome the world? It means overcoming the temptation to care more about the things of this world than the things of God. It means trusting the doctrine of Christ more than the philosophies of men. It means delighting in truth, denouncing deception, and becoming “humble followers of Christ.” It means choosing to refrain from anything that drives the Spirit away. It means being willing to “give away” even our favorite sins.
Helmet of salvation is important because salvation is a choice you make with your mind everyday and it is not based on emotion. In fact it often tells us the opposite of our emotions.
Encourage Change
Are you walking around with only your helmet on, vulnerable to the enemy?
Have you found salvation from the penalty of sin through Christ but still struggle with sin’s power?
