Stand Strong & Equipped
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-OOS
I. Welcome
A. P. Dustin & Rebekah
II. Opening Prayer
A. Mel Letourneau
III. Worship
A. 3 Songs
B. Prayer Song: “Come & Fill Me Up”
C. Song before offering: “Hungry”
D. Offering
IV. Greeting Time
V. Announcements
VI. Sermon
-Sermon
I. INTRO
A. Where We’ve Been
B. Where We’re Going
a. in closing:
b. Illust.
1. imagine ur self standing on a hill side
C. Main scriptures
Eph 6:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 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.
13 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.
D. Pray
E. Context
a. Paul says, “finally”: bringing letter to a close
1. He has covered the greatness of God & his purpose in & through Christ
2. His glorious high calling on us
3. & how that should influence & saturate our daily life in rel. w/others
4. the last thing Paul wants his readers (yes & us) to know is the life of a Christ follower is a life o war
i. not a life o ease & complacency!
ii. Christianity is not for the faint o heart, but we r called in2 service in a cosmic, spiritual war where souls (both ours & the people of this world) are at stake!
iii.The enemy o God is attacking (sometimes subtly, sometimes on a full frontal engagement)
1. Illust.
II. BODY
A. We have a scheming adversary
Eph 6:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
a. This adversary has come to steel, kill, & destroy
John
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
1. steel, kill destroy
i. our faith
ii. our marriages
iii. our rel. w/our kids
iii. He wants to render us vulnerable, isolated, ineffective
-If he can shipwreck enough o us he thinks he can disrupt God’s plan of Restoring everything that sin destroyed
-If he can keep us fighting amongst ourselves, standing up for our own “pet issues” w/out regard to others needs (selfishness)
-If he can keep wives subverting their husbands authority while he abdicates his responsibilities!
-if he can keep kids rebelling against their parents and parents provoking their kids to anger and crushing their spirits
*we’ll be so focused on fighting ourselves we’ll forget about the real war (God’s war against this adversary)
2. There’s only a few things we can do in response to this adversary
i. bow to him
ii. run from him
iii. or do as Paul tells us...
B. We must stand strong (who’s strength?)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
a. Stand in God’s strength
how are we strengthened
1. That is, be empowered by the force of God’s might!
i. But pastor, u don’t understand, I’m weak, I’m at my limit
strength: force
might:
-Paul thought the same (thorn in his side) & God’s response
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
ii. God is big, awesome, & pwrfl!!! (how are we strengthened?)
b. Strengthened by God’s grace
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
1. grace is: unearned favor; the extra oomph to do what we otherwise could not
c. Strengthened by God’s word
14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
1. side note: great argument 4 a multi-generational Church
i. A multi-generational church is a healthy church
-we strive to be a church o all generations!
-Back to the point: we r strengthened by God’s word
2. word of God is the scriptures (know ur bible)
-read it & get to know God’s promises in the easy times so that when it’s hard u can lean on the truth not what u see & feel, which is quicksand to our faith.
3. word of God is also the promises HE has given to u/us specifically
how?
i. illust.
-James
-Call to b a pastor
d. Strengthened by waiting on God
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
1. waiting lit.: hopeful endurance that causes tension; stretching
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
i. God strengthens us through suffering, difficulty, sorrow, etc.
C. We must stand equipped
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
a. God equips us with HIS armor
w/that armor we can stand against anything the devil will throw at us
1. why does he give us armor?
i. w/that armor we can stand against anything the devil will throw at us
ii. We are warriors waging war under the banner of God’s kingdom against the enemy who has, through the entry of sin, taken occupation of God’s territory
-our battlefield: Bennington
w/that armor we can stand against anything the devil will throw at us
*where & with whom do we wage war?
who does the devil use in his schemes?
12 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.
Eph 6:
*lets start w/whom we aren’t at war w/
~we don’t wage war w/people: “flesh & blood”
b. Our war is against ungodly systems, backed by evil spiritual forces
1. ungodly systems in terms of:
i. cultural
ii. political
2. All o which r empowered by the demonic spiritual forces; specifically the devil & his spiritual minions
c. Our war takes place in this present darkness & heavenly places
1. Present darkness: our present circumstances that do not submit to God’s rule & reign
i. often this looks like the authorities in our culture & political systems calling sin righteous, & righteous sin
-abortion
-homosexuality
2. Heavenly places: our engagement in spiritual warfare through combative prayer (more on this next week)
13 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.
D. Final encouragements
a. We are victorious
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ro 8:37
b. God in us is greater
1 jn 4:1
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 Jn 4:4
c. we are not an army of 1 but an army of many standing together (in 1-ness)
Phil
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
1. standing firm together w/1 purpose & focus
2. striving: ea. fully commited & working 2gether (all o us have something 2 contribute!)
i. u r necessary & when 1 o us refuses 2 contribute it leaves a hole
-illust. look @ this pic
*what happens if 1/2/3 o these soldiers r missing?
*same is true o us as a church when we r not standing together/contributing.
ii. areas to contribute:
-prayer min. tues nights sunday am
-gospel proclamation events: mayfest, cafe in the park, fallapalooza,
-food pantry volunteers
-training up next gen: super church, nursery, treasure seekers, teens, & so much more!
III. next 2 weeks we will discuss
A. Our armor & weapons o warfare in greater detail &...
B. How we wage war in the heavenlies