To Be, or Not to Be
Notes
Transcript
I. Be Ready — There’s a Battle (Be on the Alert)
I. Be Ready — There’s a Battle (Be on the Alert)
There’s a Battle for Your Soul
There’s a Battle for Your Soul
If you don’t know there’s a battle for your soul, it’s because you’re blinded to the battle
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul has just finished saying they have no need to trick or distort the Word of God, they simply tell the truth.
3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Every person starts here, blinded to the truth and beauty of God.
Salvation happens when you confess Jesus Christ as Lord
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
When you are saved, you transfer kingdoms.
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
When did that happen for you?
When did you make this conscious decision?
You’re not saved because your parents are Christians
You’re not saved because you go to church
You’re not saved because you are a “good person”
You are saved by believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior and confessing Him as Lord of your life.
Vigilant Against the Enemy
Vigilant Against the Enemy
Vigilant — alert and watchful, especially against danger
What kind of battle is it?
There is a spiritual battle for your soul
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.
We face a battle from three different places:
1. satan
1. satan
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
We often get a picture of satan as a red devil with horns and a pitchfork, but Scriptures says satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14)
Christians have an enemy. You don’t need to fear that enemy, but you do need to be watchful and alert.
satan is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4).
For the non-Christian, he will do anything he can to keep you blind to the truth and beauty of Jesus Christ.
Once you become a Christian, then the battle gets real, because you have transferred kingdoms. Now, you face the full force of satan’s attacks.
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
2. Temptation
2. Temptation
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
As Christians, we are asking God to not only lead us toward good, but to lead us away from evil.
Non-Christians are tempted too, but it’s not a battle.
3. False Teachers
3. False Teachers
3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 4 I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
There’s a Battle for Your Soul
There’s a Battle for Your Soul
You will face persecution, trials, and hardship
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
This is a promise every Christian can count on
The Christian life is not easy, but like with so many things in life, it is worth it.
Put on the armor of God
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.
The battle is raging now, but with the strength of God we will find ourselves standing strong when it is over.
We lean on God’s strength and might, not our own.
God has given us everything we need
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
God called us and given us every tool we need to be successful, because He desires for us to succeed.
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
II. Be Rooted — The World is Enticing (Stand Firm in the Faith)
II. Be Rooted — The World is Enticing (Stand Firm in the Faith)
The World is Enticing
The World is Enticing
The tactics the enemy uses are enticing
Enticing — alluring, desirable, attractive
Have you ever been to the fair? You smell turkey legs grilling, carmel corn popping, and funnel cakes frying. All the vendors and rides have bright, flashing lights that draw your attention to them.
This is what enticing means! Enticing is the pull to enjoy something that appears delightful.
16 Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
satan can’t create, he can only destroy
he takes the good things God created and twists them for his own evil purposes
Even though satan’s desire is to steal, kill, and destroy, he makes following him look enticing.
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
What did satan do?
He lied and deceived
Was satan’s lie attractive to Eve?
Yes
What do the best lies always have?
Elements/portions of the truth
How do we know what is a lie?
We have to know the truth
Counterfeit — to make an imitation or copy, to create a deception
The U.S. Secret Service was formed during the Civil War to combat the rise of counterfeit currency.
Every day, the U.S. Secret Service seizes hundreds of thousands of dollars of counterfeit currency.
To combat counterfeit currency, the U.S. Secret service does not study the fake bills. They are experts in genuine currency.
If we want to recognize the lies and the deception of the enemy for what they are, we have to be experts in the truth of God.
The World Celebrates
The World Celebrates
Independence from God and others
“You don’t need God. You don’t need anyone else. You just be the best ‘you’ can be.
satan and the world wants to isolate you.
Ignorance of God’s Word
“There is no God. There is no truth. There is no purpose to life.”
Indifference to God’s will
“You do you. Live your truth,” and other lies.
Be Rooted:
Be Rooted:
1. Rooted in Christ
1. Rooted in Christ
We must remain rooted in Christ, because
Without Him we can do nothing
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Abide — remain, continue, or live
2. Rooted in the Word
2. Rooted in the Word
We must remain rooted in the Word because:
God’s Word is profitable for us
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
God’s Word is able to guide, direct, and change us
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God’s Word points us to Jesus Christ
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
The Result of Rootedness
The Result of Rootedness
1. Thankfulness
1. Thankfulness
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Thankfulness because:
You were created — You weren’t a “happy cosmic accident”, but were intentionally formed and created by the God of the universe (Jer. 1:5)
God created a way for salvation — Even though you sinned against God and can’t save yourself, God stepped into history through His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the sacrifice for your sins so that you might be redeemed and saved (Jn 14:6)
2. Fruitfulness & Usefulness
2. Fruitfulness & Usefulness
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Your rootedness determines your fruitfulness which impacts your usefulness.
6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
3. Perseverance
3. Perseverance
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
4. Readiness
4. Readiness
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
III. Be Brave — Passivity Kills (Act Like Men)
III. Be Brave — Passivity Kills (Act Like Men)
The phrase literally reads “act like men”
Passive — opposed to activity, the tendency to remain in a given state
We are Passive:
We are Passive:
1. Because We Think Our Way Is Better
1. Because We Think Our Way Is Better
1 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” 3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escapefrom the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.
30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.
9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Every time we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” we are simultaneously saying, “My kingdom go.”
Every time we pray, “Your will be done,” we are simultaneously praying, “Let my will go.”
2. Because We Are Afraid
2. Because We Are Afraid
Afraid to take a step without seeing the big picture
1 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
God is the artist, and often the only One who can see the greater picture.
Like a quilter, we often only see the tangled colored threads from underneath, but God sees the beautiful masterpiece He is weaving together.
Afraid of what other people will say or think
1 Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! 4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. 6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. 8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. 9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.
Afraid to fail
20 “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. 21 I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’ 22 “ ‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, 23 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
Be Brave
Be Brave
1. Choose to Follow
1. Choose to Follow
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
2. Choose to Act
2. Choose to Act
13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’
In other words, DO SOMETHING!
The Christian life is one of activity
How do I know what God wants me to do?
3. Ask God to Show You Your Next Step
3. Ask God to Show You Your Next Step
10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
4. Do Not Fear —the Lord Goes Before You
4. Do Not Fear —the Lord Goes Before You
8 “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
What is Your Next Step?
What is Your Next Step?
What has God been telling you that you have been ignoring?
What is the next step, big or small, that God has told you to take?
What in your spiritual life needs to change?
What in your physical life needs to change?
Where is God calling you to?
Who is God calling you to?
Will you choose to follow?
IV. Be Strengthened, God is With You (Be Strong)
IV. Be Strengthened, God is With You (Be Strong)
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Strong — to increase in strength, to be made strong
Being strengthened is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Strengthening my vocal cords for a musical.
You Are Strengthened Through:
You Are Strengthened Through:
1. A Relationship with Jesus
1. A Relationship with Jesus
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
“If I am made in the image of God, would not knowing God be essential to knowing myself?”
2. Food (The Bible, God’s Word)
2. Food (The Bible, God’s Word)
3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
3. Exercise (Living Out Our Faith)
3. Exercise (Living Out Our Faith)
8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.
7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
4. Friendship/Fellowship
4. Friendship/Fellowship
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Notice that it is iron that sharpens iron. It takes two like materials (two Christians) to be mutually beneficial (i.e., sharpen and strengthen) each other.
God Strengthens You Because:
God Strengthens You Because:
1. He Dwells in You
1. He Dwells in You
17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.
2. He Wants You to Understand His Love
2. He Wants You to Understand His Love
17 Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.
3. He Wants You to Look More Like Him
3. He Wants You to Look More Like Him
19 Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Even though the moon appears bright in the night sky, it does not produce it’s own light.
The moon is made of rock and dust, reflecting the light of the sun.
Even though the moon appears bright, it actually poorly reflects the suns light, reflecting on 3-12% of the sun’s light.
God Will Continue to Exceed Your Expectations
God Will Continue to Exceed Your Expectations
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
