Empowers Your Life (Inner Armor)

Introduction

Your school theme this year deals with being image-bearers. And ultimately we are talking about bearing the image of Christ in our actions and conduct. I believe an important part of being an image-bearer is knowing where your identity comes from. When I say identity I’m talking about your value and worth as a person. You have to know where your worth comes from if you are going to be an image-bearer.

Does anyone remember what we talked about yesterday?

Yesterday we talked about how the first part of having inner armor is knowing your identity.

This is the foundation, when you know your identity, your life will begin to change

Our second lesson is about how your inner armor will begin to “empower” your life

This is our second lesson, that inn

What does the word “empower” mean to you? (make (someone) stronger and more confident)

When in your life have you felt empowered? (personal story of Dad)

When you feel empowered, how does it change the way you look at life? your words and actions?

When you feel empowered, how does it change your words?

When you feel empowered, how does it change your actions?

Lets look at the story of David and Goliath and evaluate how his confidence in his identity empowered him

Identity

David and Goliath ()

You have incredible worth!!!When you know the worth God has placed on you, you are going to see and treat the people around you with that same worth.Where do you find your worth? (Examples of placing worth)Is it in a relationship?Is it in popularity, and how many friends you have?Is it found in how successful you are in the activities you perform? How well you can play basketball, football, volleyball…etc..Is it found in your academic successes?How many likes you get on Instagram/Facebook. Ask yourself, “Where does my worth come from?”Take a second and think about itThis is super important to think about because so many people find their value in things that are unstable, or that at any moment can be stripped away from them.E.g. Baseball (Ryan)When you find you worth in unstable things, you will never be able to properly fight for other people, because you can’t even stand in your own battle.Having all these things are good and awesome, but they aren’t what give you your ultimate worth!You are going to face things in life that are bigger than you....it’s going to happen, but knowing where our worth is found is going to affect how we respond in those momentsI know there are people in this room that are going through some very real, and tough things.You have to be convinced that what your Creator has said about you is what defines you, and when you are, you may be stretched, but you will never break.I want to talk to you about a man who was convinced by the Word of God...David in the Bible.

David and Goliath ()

How many of you know the story of David and Goliath?

We know the outcome, we know that he has an incredible victory over a giant named Goliath, but have you ever stopped to really put yourself in the shoes of David?

When you do, it makes his feat of killing Goliath even more incredible.

Let me paint a picture of the scene that David walked into.

Armies arrayed

17:10,11 - Goliath defies Israel

There is this atmosphere of fear

Goliath was up to 9 1/2 feet tall

All his armor he was wearing weighed roughly 125 pounds

Like Awkwardness

David’s not walking on to the scene with a radio

David arrives on the scene, and he hears the mocking of Goliath right, and he’s like “who is this dude” that he defies the armies of the living God like this?

David doesn’t like what Goliath is saying and he wants to challenge him, but before he gets to point where he fights Goliath:

I want to highlight 3 voices that speak to David leading up to his battle

Brother (17:28)

Read vs 28 (he starts mocking David and speaking down to him)

Few sheep

David is just showing off and speaking like a big man that can’t really back it upThis is his brother, someone who should of been there to encourage him and speak life into him.It got reported to Saul that there was a man who might challenge the giantDavid volunteers to fight this giantSaul (17:33) Read vs 33. Saul who was Davids king and leader was telling him “You can’t do this”Too youngToo inexperiencedThis man of all people should of been there to inspire David and pump him up. Tell him God is with him!Goliath (vs 42, 43) ReadGoliath is like “Are you serious? This is your challenger?”Starts taunting David with his stickThen he starts cursing David by his godsRead vs. 44 - Taunting time is over, now he gets seriousHow does David go forwardIf its me, I’m like “maybe this was bad idea”David doesn’t have inspiring Hillsong music playing in the background…there is absolutely no outside stimulation, or inspiration, or emotion to lend itself to DavidIt’s all heart and all faith in this momentDavid’s Response (vs 45, 46)Comes in the Name of the LordThe God of Israel’s armyRequoting God’s promise of deliveranceStrike down (nothing will stand in the way of God’s word)

He thinks David is just showing off and speaking like a big man that can’t really back it up

This is his brother, someone who should of been there to encourage him and speak life into him.

It got reported to Saul that there was a man who might challenge the giant

David volunteers to fight this giant

Saul (17:33)

Read vs 33.

Saul who was Davids king and leader was telling him “You can’t do this”

Too young

Too inexperienced

This man of all people should of been there to inspire David and pump him up. Tell him God is with him!

Goliath (vs 42, 43) Read

Goliath is like “Are you serious? This is your challenger?”

Starts taunting David with his stick

Then he starts cursing David by his gods

Read vs. 44 - Taunting time is over, now he gets serious

How does David go forward

If its me, I’m like “maybe this was bad idea”

There is absolutely no outside stimulation, or inspiration, or emotion to lend itself to David

It’s all heart and all faith in this moment

David knew his identity, and he believed the promises of God

A whole army marched and pursued in victory because one man dared to take God at His Word!

So looking at our worksheet lets evaluate what how David’s confidence in his identity affected his actions and how it empowered him.

The God of Israel’s army

Identifies himself with God’s chosen people

Inner Armor changes your words (vs 45-47) get volunteer to read it with confidence

Notice first how he identifies himself by saying “The God of Israel’s army (vs. 45)”

So looking at our worksheet lets evaluate what how David’s confidence in his identity affected his actions and how it empowered him.

Identifies himself with God’s chosen people

There are two specific things that happen to our words:

What did David tell the giant?

How is it different than some of the words David heard from his brother, and from King Saul?

Your words won’t be all about you

What are some things we can speak about when facing hard times?

There are two specific things that happen to our words:

Your words won’t be all about you

When David faced the giant who did he talk about?

When David faced the giant who did he talk about?

He bragged about God

Your words will show faith in God’s promises

Comes in the Name of the Lord (vs. 45)

Did the words of those around David show faith?

The God of Israel’s army (Identity)

How did David’s words show faith?

Your words will show faith in God’s promises

Inner Armor changes your actions

Requoting God’s promise of deliverance (vs 46)

How did David’s words differ from those of the king and his brother?

What are some things we can speak about when facing hard times?

What are areas in your life where your words aren’t reflecting an inner armor

Do you swear, lie, or put people down?

Do you talk down to yourself?

Girls do you tell yourself that you’re ugly?

Guys do you tell yourself that unless you are good at sports or music, or whatever you are not a good enough person?

Inner Armor changes your actions

How did David act differently than the rest of the army?

How did David act differently than the rest of the army?

Do your actions reflect your belief in God and who He says you are?

Inner Armor makes you confident

Strike down (nothing will stand in the way of God’s word) vs. 46

I don’t care how big you are

I don’t care if everyone else around me is standing by in fear

I know who I am and I know the promises of my God

What are the areas in your life where you need more confidence?

What are the giants in your life?

Ending of the story....

Is it lying? Swearing? Dealing with your parents divorce? Dealing with bullies at school?

Inner Armor makes you confident

A whole army marched and pursued in victory because one man dared to take God at His Word!

Stone activity

Write down a promise of God you struggles believing.

Write down a promise of God you struggles believing.

What are the areas in your life where you need more confidence?

What are the giants in your life?

Is it lying? Swearing? Dealing with your parents divorce? Dealing with bullies at school?

How did David’s words show faith?

Stone activity

Comes in the Name of the Lord

Write down a promise of God you struggles believing.Comes in the Name of the Lord

Identifies himself with God’s chosen people

Strike down (nothing will stand in the way of God’s word)

I don’t care how big you are

I don’t care if everyone else around me is standing by in fear

I know who I am and I know the promises of my God

How the Story Ends

A whole army marched and pursued in victory because one man dared to take God at His Word!

So looking at our worksheet lets evaluate what how David’s confidence in his identity affected his actions and how it empowered him.

Application

Inner Armor changes your words

How is it different than some of the words David heard from his brother, and from King Saul?

What are some things we can speak about when facing hard times?

Your words won’t be all about you

When David faced the giant who did he talk about?

He bragged about God

Your words will show faith in God’s promises

Did the words of those around David show faith?

How did David’s words show faith?

Inner Armor changes your actions

How did David act differently than the rest of the army?

Inner Armor makes you confident

What are the areas in your life where you need more confidence?

The principal of the story is this: David knew who he was as a chosen people by God, and he believed the promises of God towards him.

You may not face physical giants, but you will face things in life that will challenge you as an individual, and that will try and define you as a person.

What are the giants in your life?

When that happens you have to know where your identity is found, where your worth and value comes from, and what God has said about you!

Is it lying? Swearing? Dealing with your parents divorce? Dealing with bullies at school?

It has to go from knowing up in the head to believing in the heart

Stone activity

You may be wondering, “well how do I do that?”

Write down a promise of God you struggles believing.

faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God

The most effective image-bearers will be well acquainted with the image of the one they are trying to bear....and you get all that hear.