July 9, 2017 AM

This past week. I visited a bookstore. I like going to bookstores. I like holding books. Even though probably half the books I read her on the the iPad. When I visited this bookstore Angela and I were together we we decided to have a quick books tour dates. And we walked into the vestibule of this bookstore of the airlock and there was on the right hand side series of books never saw them before that centered on learning various different subjects in 30 minutes time, and there were a lot of different subjects. There was subjects on architecture subjects on physics. Philosophy Roman history, but the one that caught my attention was religion learning 30 learning religion world religion in 30 minutes. I caught my attention so I picked up the book and I perused through the table of context.

contents contact sorry and so as I peruse through this this the table of contents, I saw a chapter on Pentecostalism and that caught my attention because we are a Pentecostal church. And so I opened to that chapter and I began to read through it peruse through it very quickly and I saw three things that caught my attention. The first thing was that the author stated that Pentecostalism is the fastest growing part of Christianity Today. The second thing that caught my attention was that more than 25% of all the world's Christians are Pentecostals. Did you know that? we are we are fast becoming

second only to the Catholic Church as far as as far as the makeup of Christianity in the world, but the third the third thing that caught my attention was that the author stated that Pentecostals take very serious the matter of spiritual warfare.

Even though we are a Pentecostal Church. It doesn't mean that all of us have the same view of the subject of spiritual warfare. Some may minimize it and others may be consumed by it, but the scripture gives us a very clear view of its reality in Ephesians 6:12. The scripture says 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 that tells me right there that this is a very serious matter that every single one of us need to take to heart. This is a spiritual reality. It is as real as anything we can see So the Christian cannot afford to ignore or minimize this reality of spiritual warfare, but life happens, doesn't it? We get busy we get distracted and we forget that there is an enemy and that there is a life-or-death battle going on. So the scripture gives us a way through this battle. Which will help us to stay strong. And to give God the glory. In verse 13 of Ephesians 6 the scripture says 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 French. We live in an evil day. I know that may sound a little bit old-fashioned a little bit archaic to declare but we need to understand this is what the scripture tells us. I didn't put a slide on this but there's a scripture in 2nd Timothy chapter 3 that tells us that in the last days perilous times shall come.

So the scripture makes it abundantly clear that we are all and gauge whether we like it or not, whether we believe it or not engaged in spiritual warfare. Critical that we take this seriously understand this accurately and implement this as God intense. See we previously looked last week at verse 14 Ephesians. 6:14 says stand there for having fasten on the belt of Truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness here. We talked about how we need to understand the importance of living a life of Integrity that belt of Truth and that we need to live a life of Holiness. Breastplate of righteousness integrity and Holiness holes life together and safeguards are soul. This is important. This is critical but it's not the only part of the armor of God that we need to put on to face this evil day to face the spiritual battle that all of us are in

striping and striving for integrity and holiness Does not mean that we will not face hardship we will. The enemy will attempt to persuade you that truth and righteousness is overrated impractical and prudish. People especially encourage you to compromise to justify sinful Behavior to change the meaning of scripture and even depart from the faith. I see this project far too many times. So what must we do? How do we withstand this evil day? How do we have you done all continue to stand? Some 5th verse 15 gives us another part of the armor of God that we as Christians need to put on. In verse 15. It says for shoes put on the piece that comes from the good news so that you will be fully prepared.

This letter of Ephesians is also part of a group of letters that comprise what is known as the prison Epistles.

And most likely when Paul was writing this letter he is reminded. He was reminded of the fact that he was a prisoner of Rome. And most likely he was chained to a Roman soldier soldier. And as usual, he was chained to this Roman soldier. He probably had plenty of time to notice up-close-and-personal what Roman soldier was wearing. And so he saw the the belt that held his tunic together. He saw the breastplate. placed upon his torso and then he looked down and saw the shoes. the Roman soldiers shoes a boot was there to protect his feet and his lower leg a boot that included nails that serve to grip the ground in combat out all of us know that our seats are very sensitive. Especially if you are parents of young children that leave their toys everywhere and you have to walk in the middle of the night to make sure all the doors are locked and you step on things.

It's this imagery of the scripture. That we see this next part of the Christians armor to help the believer face the battle. And these shoes represent good news. The first thing about good news is that this good news of Christ is our foundation that's important that we need to understand the symmetry of shoes on our feet serve as a representation of our foundation in Christ.

Jesus his work his teaching his authority his death his resurrection impacts Our Lives. This is the good news. This is the foundation of our life as a Christian. Too often we forget about Jesus don't we we we focus on so many other things in life that we forget about Jesus Christ and yet he needs this be the center of our attention the center of our life where we are life revolves around him rather than too often where we want God to revolve around.

2face spiritual warfare requires a firm grip on the good news of Jesus Christ, hence, the the the the the the nail serving like a cleat on a Roman soldiers shoes firmly grasp in the ground. We need to firmly grasp the good news of Jesus Christ. We need to have this firm grip established in our life. But how do we establish this grip on the good news of Jesus Christ, there is there is no shortcut to studying the scripture friends. I know there's an intense pressure on us to minimize the word of God.

Too many Christians no longer open this word and study this word, but I will tell you if you want to have victory in your life. We need to know the word in the word. We need to know Jesus Christ.

This must be a priority of Christians, especially. the intense the serious the detailed examination of the Gospel record of Matthew Mark Luke and John.

I remember all scriptures inspired. All scripture is important. But one thing I want to stress to you is we need to know Jesus and the best way to know Jesus is we need to know what God revealed about him in his word. Now we can know about Jesus in the Old Testament. We can know about Jesus in the New Testament but friends. We also need to study the gospels to know Jesus his work his teaching how he dealt with people because doesn't it make sense that we as Christians should be imitators of Christ. How do we know how to imitate Christ? We need to know what he did and God gave us four perspectives on the life of Jesus and we need to study his word. Knowing Jesus is essential to withstanding the attack of the enemy and withstand the attack of the enemies cohorts that want to bring so much pressure to you to discourage you to be men and women of faith. It is no mystery why the Apostle Paul made a declaration in in in Philippians chapter 3 verse 10 and 11 that the focus of his life and his attention is he says I want to know Christ and the experience of the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him and share in his death. So that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead. That was Paul's priority in life friends as a Christian. There's a lot of things we can focus on a lot of things that we can engage in. But if knowing Christ is not on the top of your to-do list in life. Something is out of order. Jesus needs to be the focus of our attention in life. But if this is not our priority what would happen? The Apostle Paul confronted the Christians in galatia for not diligently grasping the gospel of Christ in Galatians chapter 1 verse 6 & 7 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God that you called who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the good news, but is not the good news at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. We need to be diligent about knowing Christ. Who is Jesus he's more than a painting on a wall? And he's more than a cuss word. I will tell you. Jesus is the infant Son of God. Who loved us and gave his life for us?

We need to be passionate about knowing Jesus.

Cheap without price being the center on the foundation of Our Lives. We will Drift Away. We will I see it happened so many times over run away from the truth. And as a result, we will lose our footing and we will expose ourselves the spiritual defeat. So we need to take series inventory of our spiritual Pursuits. Do these listen do these activities lead us toward Christ or away from him?

We are regularly. engaged in the study of Jesus

Make that a question are we regularly engaged in the study of Jesus making it our life priority to know Christ as revealed in the scripture. Is this a passion? You know, I was a pastor one of my great concerns is how little we talk and share about Jesus. This life is work is teaching but it needs to be part of our conversation again friends. But more than that. You can be the most involved person in this church. You can be involved in so many different Ministries so many different activities. But if you do not keep Christ at the center of your attention how in the world can we experience the blessing of God in our life? In fact, I know too many people were so actively involved with everything.

That they don't have time. to know Christ

In friends, we as a church need to be diligent and safeguarding every person here. your primary activity It's to be a person. Who knows. Who is knowing and who follows Jesus Christ? This leads me to to the to the second thought concerning this good news that we put on as part of our armor. And that is that Christ is our instruction.

This good news is our instruction about Jesus. Jesus said at the conclusion of his Earthly Ministry before he was arrested and crucified. In John 14:6 these words. He said I am the way the truth and the life. No one can come to the father except through me.

We can successfully navigate through life by becoming imitators of Christ because of Jesus is the way the truth and the life.

In a in a very quick perusal of the New Testament specifically the the the gospels Matthew Mark Luke and John identified at least four types of battles that Jesus faced. virtual battles that he faced in his life He was tempted by the enemy Satan. In which Jesus confronted Satan with scripture?

Jesus was a pose from religious leaders which Jesus confronted them by teaching the true meaning of scripture rather than than them embracing false teaching in a false understanding of what scripture was all about and how it should be applied to our life. Jesus was opposed even from his friends like Peter. Which Jesus confronted by recognizing the true source of opposition safe. And remember he said get behind me Satan.

And then Jesus was faced with the plain simple human condition. They were lost people people in sin and the cross. Which often times he confronted with prayer? Why we learning about how Jesus?

Don't with spiritual conflict. We can begin to learn how we are to deal with spiritual battles in our own life. When were facing circumstances and challenges because we know Christ the good news is a part of our life because that is part of our armor. That's part of our defense as as we are used of God in the Bible. We begin to do things differently instead of reacting. too often we we we we reacting we we we say well people's fault We don't even realize that the enemy is hard at work. Remember the scripture says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the principalities the powers anime.

It's so what do we do when we're facing conflict the battles in our life we pray because Jesus praying. We we meditate and use the scripture because that's what Jesus did. We look at the true meaning of scripture rather than trying to twist scripture to fit our own agenda. Because that's what Jesus did. cheap week we deal with spiritual battle the way Jesus dead and because of his instruction through his life through his teaching. Changes us and helps us to approach spiritual battle in the right way and just leads me to another thought. and that is the good news is also our peace

knowing the good news of Jesus Christ brings peace to our life, which remind us of the scripture in Ephesians 6 13 or 15 your shoes for shoes put on the piece that comes from the good news. See where peace comes from it comes from the good news so that you will be fully prepared you often were looking for peace in all the wrong places. If just my family would do everything I say that I want them to do that. I'm going to have peace. Okay from the pastor's perspective if everybody in the congregation can be perfect and stop sending then I'm going to have peace. Okay. Or people at work if they would just do their job, so I have to worry about it. I'm going to have peace. see see see we think if everybody else can behave then we can have peace but that's not where peace comes from peace comes from our relationship with Jesus credit comes from the

When it comes from the good news, it doesn't matter what family does it does. It doesn't matter what people at work done. Do it doesn't matter what matters in a different ways, but but I'll tell you what whatever happens around me I can still have peace.

One of the darkest days in my life as a minister.

Was and I shared this before. Was when I was working for pastor. That wanted me to sign an insurance paper that I knew was wrong. It was not filled out correctly. It was inflating the loss of a theft that happened in the church. And I told him I can't sign it. He was very angry with me. A few weeks later. He took me out to Chinese restaurant, Angela. And he said Ed. We're not going to be able to afford you anymore.

So we're going to have to let you go.

And he said I don't want you to tell anybody. I'll tell them after you've gone. So I can say goodbye to anybody.

And I'm like, okay Ward. What do I do?

I was angry.

assault hurt used misused

and it doesn't look good that you've been fired from a job, even though he said it was it was being laid off.

But I found out he told his son later that he he fired me because I wouldn't listen to what he had to say.

You know what? I did. I I was I wanted to throw a little pity party. I went back to the church. Nobody was there. I went into the sanctuary.

And I began to pray. When the smartest things I ever did because I see that that took me out of a an emotional situation where I could have easily said things and did things that were inappropriate because I was my motions were Raw.

m i remember praying

And God says don't worry about it. It's always sad didn't tell me what my next step was. Where I was going to go.

I mean for all I knew I was going to be homeless. Didn't know what was going to happen, but God says don't worry about it.

And I did something else that was not always within character. I listen to him.

I did. I obey I said Okay, God you said not for me to worry about I went in the sanctuary all by myself. I said, okay. I'm not going to worry about it.

So I went to church that Sunday. Nobody knew. Can't tell anybody. But something interesting happened. Again, it could have been a coincidence, but I have this funny feeling it was the Holy Spirit just saying I got your back. the church What's in an old fashioned designed with two rows of pews and on the platform? It was very old-fashioned with a lot of wood and you know, just it was that kind of church and it had this beautiful thick velvety curtain as a backdrop huge theater theatrical curtain, and when I walked in to that Sanctuary that Sunday morning and looked I looked up And the curtain was rent in to from top to bottom.

And I just felt God saying don't worry. I got your back. had to take the curtain down and modernize the building because of that but

I walked away early. Monday morning without saying a word to anybody because that was what was instructed to me.

I drove to Joplin Missouri because a friend of mine said hey, you could stay with me for a while.

And I just felt the presence in the peace of God even in the midst of storm. It doesn't matter what the storm. Is happening around you because every first of all everyone of us are going to face storms of life. Everyone of us are going to sing face hardship and pain every one of us are going to face a lot of questions more questions and we have answers. But when we when we have our peace that comes from the gospel. Then we can be in the eye of that storm. And we can sense his presence and his power and his authority working in our life. And it changes everything because she hardship will come. Pain will come. But when we have the peace of God that surpasses understanding because that pieces coming flowing out of the Gospel of Jesus Christ into our life. It does not matter because God is in control and We Know It We Know It

CPS gives us confidence. Confidence gives us courage and courage's enables us to fight the good fight and not quit. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans chapter 1 beginning with first number 5DS. I'm in first number one. These words Romans 5:1 therefore since we have been made right in God's sight by faith. We have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ Our Lord had done for us. You see with clarity as you know, we have peace with God you see that

because of our faith Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. Is that incredible that amazing? Actually, I'm going to stop in verse 3.

Actually, I'm not I'm going to read verse 3.

We can Rejoice too. When we run into problems and trials you see that. For we know that they help us develop endurance. So even trials even hardships change us that it helps us God uses as the enemy uses it for Dad, but then God turns it around and he makes it into a blessing.

And endurance develops strength of character that changes us when we go through this being let of God because we have a peace of God.

And character strengthens our confident. Hope in Salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. You see that? For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love is that amazing and the scripture needs to be memorized right there needs to be something. We need to put in our back pocket in anytime. There is a challenge, you know, we we break the glass pull that thing out and use it. Okay, because it will extinguish a lot of fires that that prop up in our life it will help us to know that we have peace with God and because we have peace with God everything else is okay.

When we know we have Christ. We have peace. And we are prepared for Life helmet. Would you come to the piano?

Friends our Focus must be on Christ. His work is teaching his authority it needs to be.

We Face a lot of challenges in our life. Sometimes we don't know what to do.

Sometimes works. We're trying to figure it out.

Sometimes we scratch our heads. And wonder God, how am I going to make it through?

How we make it through?

Is Christ needs to be the center of our attention and our life? He needs to be.

Prince this is the most important spiritual discipline that we can engage him.

Know Christ and the power of His Resurrection The Fellowship of sharing in his suffering becoming like him in his death. And so somehow the resurrection from the dead that needs to be the center of our attention friends. That's how we navigate through life. We navigate through life because of Jesus. Egyptian speaks My eyes need to be on him doesn't make sense. My eyes need to be on him. But what happens when we go through challenges in life problems that we Face the unexpected but seems to happen too many times.

What start developing The Habit? turning Our Eyes Upon Jesus first Instead of pressing the panic button instead of throwing the pity party.

instead of trying to find a hole to crawl into

instead of deleting everybody from our Facebook account.

What's take that pause?

And let's look to Jesus. The author and finisher of our faith.

See things are going to happen. And it makes me feel that all around us seems to be obscured and confusing.

but

there's Jesus.

Glory

his grace

changes everything Sing with me that's little song.

your slope on

Let stand together and begin into an attitude atmosphere of worship.

Will grow strangely.

Friends prayer is very important in this church. And maybe you're going through battle this morning. Maybe you need healing in your body.

Maybe you need comfort in your soul. Maybe you need to be encouraged or you need God's provision or you need God's wisdom and guidance. There is no shortcut. We need to be people of Prayer. And we need to invite the presence of Christ.

To be the center of what we're going through. And we will experience his peace as presents his power. Proteins would you make your way forward? I want to give you an opportunity friends. to have your need prayed for we believe in the importance of prayer in this church.

You know, you don't you don't have to go through a lot of worship services in this church the realize what's important? Jesus's Center Worship is what we do. The word of God is going to be proclaimed.

And we're going to pray for one another. And if you have a need in this room this morning. I want to invite you to make your way forward and praying with One of These Fine people up here and they want to pray with you agree with you in prayer that God will minister to you and your need. and see what God is going to do see the peace that surpasses understanding flow in your life sea does presents and power overcoming the challenges that you might be faced put. Put God. At his work what he says friends. He will do he's a god of Promise weekend believe and trust in him as you're making your way forward. I want you to know we're going to be praying with you and believing with you but friends out here in the congregation. Let's let's sing that song one more time before we go into the next direction of Our Lives. Some of us will be going to meetings with Junior Bible quiz and teen Bible quiz others of you going to go to lunch or go home, but let's let's remind ourselves. Jesus needs to be the focus of Our Lives not just on Sunday morning. but every moment of every day

Rosewood

I pray in the name of Jesus. Lord that you will help us put our eyes upon you. When we are sick in body that our eyes would be upon you when we need provision. Our eyes would be upon you when we Face conflict challenges in our marriage. Challenges that would be upon you. More. Jesus you would be first and foremost in our life that our life would orbit around you. And God made your piece of the Gospel flow into us. And Ward that your piece would cause us to worship you to praise your name to give you the glory and the honor. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen, God bless you.

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