Which Ship?

TEXT: 1 Jn. 3:8; Rom. 13.11-14

Anyone ever been on a cruise? Give us some key words that might describe what you experienced:  [Comfort, relaxation, beauty]. Anyone ever served on a battleship, carrier, or destroyer? How would you Compare the Cruise ship to the Destroyer:

                      Cruise Ship                           Destroyer

If the Body of Christ were a ship, which should it be?

Sometimes I think that we at New Life are on a cruise ship instead of a warship. The Cruise ship New Life . . .  just going to events & playing games with people we like. Occasionally having to rub with people who are not on the same deck with us. 

All humans have a tendency to get distracted and complacent; to desire comfort above danger.

But let’s reexamine the nature of our calling—Same as Jesus:

1 Jn. 3.8                                                   

 8b The reason the Son of God appeared was rto destroy the works of the devil.[1]

Heb. 2.14-15

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise hpartook of the same things, that ithrough death he might jdestroy kthe one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who lthrough fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Destroying things that keep people in bondage:

·        Fear

·        Sin – generational; cultural (sexual sin encouraged by the enemy, then punished)

·        Debt

o       Indentured slavery

·        Bigotry – (class, nationality, )

·        Means knowing your culture, your community, and doing battle with evil.

Destroying the works of the Devil is DANGEROUS business. You will be EXPOSED:

Luke 21:10-19

"Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.

John 15:20

"Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20, ESV)

2 Timothy 3:10-12

"You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"

Some of us know we’re called to warfare, so we make a decision to no longer be a passenger.

Some of us step up to serve on the crew. We work, we work hard, but we are still on the cruise ship. We are nicely dressed. We don’t get dirty or get in harms way. We work, yes, but we’re still cruising the Bahamas, not searching the dark waters for the enemy seeking to destroy that enemy and his weapons. We’re not laying our lives down—irrevocably. We’re not totally surrendered. We’re still holding on to something that we won’t part with.

How do we get on board the Destroyer?

Romans 13:11-14

 "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand.

·        Recognize the time

·        Wake UP

So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

·        Escape from the Sinking Ship (our own fears)

·        Get free yourself FIRST

·        Become a Warrior in shining armor

“Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.”

You are a warrior against these things of darkness. You seek to break your loved ones free from such as these.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

·        Live for Christ – 2 Tim. 2:3-4 – Live for your Enlisting Officer. Put Him on every day. Stand Watch wrapped in Him

and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."

·        Reckon Yourself Dead to Sin & this World System. Settle it irrevocably . . . You are not your own. You are dead to the lure of this disintegrating kosmos.

You will not be quiet. You will not shirk any opportunity to be about destroying the work of the Devil in your own life first.

But Lord, did I not . . . away from me you evil doer. I never knew you.

You will find out your gifts, passions, and assignment from God and be about the work He’s assigned to you. You will follow orders. You will train and respond to Your Enlisting officer, the Captain, Jesus, as he uses your life to demolish Satan’s kingdom.

Where things are dark, you’ll be light.

Where things are bad, you’ll bring good.

Where people are committing sin, you’ll live in holiness.

When people are afraid of the terrors that will come, you will be brave and bold.

When they persecute you, you will bless them.

They will see that you are dead to yourself. This is the FINAL END of self-centeredness.

The New Life Cruise ship is mortally wounded and listing badly to port

The New Life Destroyer is fitted and ready. No civilian passengers allowed, only crew members. Equipped to Fight.

Permission to Come Aboard is Granted.

But How Can I leave everything behind? - Mark 10:28-30

"Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life."

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r Heb. 2:14; [Gen. 3:15; Luke 10:18; John 16:11]

[1]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., 1 Jn 3:7-8. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001.

h See John 1:14

i See 1 Cor. 15:54-56

j [Col. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:10]

k 1 John 3:8; [John 16:11]

l See Rom. 8:15