Sermon 24 Supernatural Defense

Announcement

Olive Garden September 13th

Game Night Friday August 21st

Ladies Fiber Arts 7/26 6 PM

Youth Ministry - Bee Ridge Student Parents Meeting August 19, 6:30

Pasta With the pastor coming soon!

Membership Meeting August 15th

Call to worship

Say: Let us now begin to worship the Father the Son, the Holy Spirit, Our Call to worship Comes to us from

Psalm 18:30–48 ESV

30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— 32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. 33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. 36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. 38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. 39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. 40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed. 41 They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them. 42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets. 43 You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. 44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me. 45 Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses. 46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation— 47 the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, 48 who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence.

Introduction

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon Everything Is a Precious Gift (Job 1:21; Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; James 1:17)

I suppose there is many a little thing in your house that is of no great value in itself, but it was given to you by someone who was very dear to you. How much a child values that Bible that was given to her by her mother, who wrote her name in it! Many a man has, in his house, things that an auctioneer would appraise at a very small amount, but that the owner prizes very highly because they were given to him by someone whom he greatly esteemed, and who gave them to him as a token of his love.

In like manner, look at the bread on the table of a believer as a love token from God. The Lord gave it to him. If there were on his table nothing but that bread, it would be a token of God’s gracious condescension in providing for his needs.

Let us learn to look in this way at everything that we receive in this life, for such a view of it will sweeten it all. We will not then begin to calculate whether we have as much as others have, or as much as our own whims or wishes might crave, but we will recognize that all we have comes from the hand and heart of our heavenly Father, and that it all comes to us as a token of our Father’s love, and with our Father’s blessing resting on it

Today we are looking at one of the key defensice promises in the book of Phil.

We are called to think on the things that are good and pure.

Text

Philippians 4:8–9 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Background and teaching

Paul is moving from the conflict to the church as a whole now. He is speaking to everyone.

The ESV uses the word ‘finally’ it would be like saying “let me finish with this.”

What is neat is the list he is about to give is actually a teaching from the Greek Philosophers.

Don’t panic about that, that isn’t the first time Paul has done that.

Truth is true even when the pagans teach it. God is the author and perfector of what is true.

So Paul is telling the church to focus on this things and to follow his teaching, and that will lead to peace in the church, in your family, in your own life!

Verse 8-9a

Philippians 4:8–9 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things

The Context, breakdown, and explanation

This verse is a expansion of the last section, it shifts to a broader topic, not just the conflict from the previous section but to all Christians in that church.

The ESV and NKJV use the word “Finally.” The best way for you to understand this point is like someone saying “in summation.”

Paul is teaching the church here for their benefit, with his use of the word ‘brothers’ I actually prefer the NKJV here ‘Brethren’ but brothers and sister would be a fine understanding.

Then Paul provides a list of things we are to Mediate on.

KEY to the verse section today:

To have this blessing we must do the follow ing things “Mediate on, ponder, consider, reflect on these things.

What we are to reflect on

We are to reflect on the following:

Philippians 4:8–9 ESV

whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

This is a list that mostly comes from Greek Philosophy, so many would have been fimalr with it.

The Ultimate thing to think on is Christ, after him it is the good things he has created, and the things he has given you, that you are thankful for.

A way to get these good things into your brain is to play or sing Christian music,

We sang one of my favorites today “Jesus paid it all” That keeps you in good perspective.

You have been bought by the blood of Christ!

God was crushed so that by beleiving in him and his ressurection you may live.

(break down the song for points)

Some applications:

This is key weapons in spiritual warfare

Let me give you some context right now and then expand. I’m prepping for the youth ministry to start and have been practicing my quiet time book with my family, highly recommend btw, if you’re looking for an excellent bible study help let me know, and when working through it these text jump out at me.

Colossians 2:6–10 ESV

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

This is a text to help you through spiritual warfare, just as our text today.

If you focus on Phil. 4:8

Philippians 4:8 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

You will do as Paul says and ‘“walk in him”

and what does that do?

It protect you from 3 things

Colossians 2:6–10 ESV

philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world

Philosophy and Empty Deceit

Let’s look at today. Let me say it clearly Socialism is a demonic evil. It’s growing popularity amongst our left leaning friends and family members is a trap that we need to pray them out of.

It teaches hatred, “we must destroy the white middle class.” Breaking though shalt not murder.

Let me go back to 101 Christian teaching, God made us all hatred for the color of your skin even if it’s pink, or in my case so white it’s basically translucent is a sin.

It teaches hatred of father and mother, one candidate “hates thanksgiving.” Traditions of our fathers and mothers, especially Christian ones is break ing the fifth commandment

Socialism is the love of theft, and the legalization of Covetousness.

It is an empty promise that leads to death. We have many friends who lived through the evils of the USSR or the Third Reich, both Socialist both responsible for the death of millions.

My Gen X and old friends must be thinking “I thought we won the Cold War!” Time to dust off your old tools my friends

According to Human Tradition

So many false religions put requirements on man. But when you look to the words of the Holy Spirit through Paul

Philippians 4:8 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Ask yourself, do these things people put in front of Jesus, or take away from him do they measure up to this defense?

Elemental Spirits

It shouldn’t surprise you that we live in a supernatural world. If you believe in a God who was raised up from the dead, a God who made the world in 6 days, then you also must believe in other supernatural things.

I truly believe that some of the evils we run into are devils of a kind.

You are not powerless against them. You when you focus on what is true can stand against them.

When you are Col. 2:7

Colossians 2:7 ESV

7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

You can stand against the schemes of the devil.

This is key to defending your mind

It should come to know surprise but many things are trying to steal relesate in your mind, and for your time.

Dad it is your job to make sure that these things are first in your families. How can you keep that which is not true, good, lovely, and so on on out of your home? To put it another way, Christ is calling you to resist the devil and protect your home.

Your job is interception and detection. By the power of Christ you must ask him to help you identify things that don’t belong in your home, that are breaking up these things Paul calls us too.

For example: I know of a family that the wife is prone to stress, so he just stopped the news from entering their home, he doesn’t share with her what is going on, she doesn’t ask. She was so stressed that he took that off her. You will need to evaluate what is preventing these things and act! This took several conversations and great honesty on both of them, last I heard it was going well.

Mom in that home are you building up and reflecting these things? Once again have a good trip to hobby lobby, fall is coming you can decorate to the glory of God, you can be creative to the glory of God.

This Is all about defending you mind from this.

Verse 9 the benefits of that reflection

Philippians 4:9 ESV

9 .... and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul having taught the things we are to

This is another promise of God

Right this in the margins of your bible. Get yourself a note card and tape it to the front page and write the verse down, make a digital file in your phone of God’s promises so you can grab them quickly.

God’s promises are like having a key ring, not all keys are useful at all times, but they are useful when you need them.

When you focus on those things you WILL have peace.

Christian I need to tell you something that shouldn’t surprise you. Jesus suffered and because you are his, you will suffer also. We are called to be like him, and so we share in his sufferings.

Yet, we share in his overcoming the world. We will, and even today we are more the conquerors as the text says.

When you are overcome, when you are drained, when you are spent, you have but to turn your mind to the things of Christ and you will have peace.

The Gospel

How to have peace, give the gospel

Benediction

Say: As we close our service of worship dear brother and sister please stand for our benediction and receive by faith this blessing from God

Psalm 115:14–15 ESV

14 May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! 15 May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!