Basic Training - Blue Phase
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Introduction:
Good morning - it is an honor to be here with you today - to worship the Lord with you all.
PRAY.
We know, as a church, our purpose is to most importantly Glorify God, then, to equip saints, and to share the gospel. Last week we started a new sermon series on being equipped saints. To be equipped means to have the things that you need, to be fixed - repaired - and positioned for the purpose that is set before you. Our purpose, as it says in Ephesians 4, is to be equipped for the ministry - the application of - the gospel. We are to be prepared correctly for - giving out and applying the gospel. We want to have the tools for the doing of the things that God calls us to do. And the approach that I am taking to this is one like what a person would experience when joining the military and going through basic training - because of the similarities between becoming and growing as a christian and going through that process as a citizen becoming a soldier.
In my first message of this series, we looked at what it even means to be saved, to go through that culture shock of becoming a new creation, like getting that first army hair cut. We saw that there was a adirective given by the Lord, that if we called ourselves his followers, but did not follow his commands, then we were lying to ourselves. I compared that to reception at basic training for the military - you have to fill out all of the paperwork, get all of the shots, look like a duck.
Then, we entered RED phase… We read and studied through Romans 12:1-2. And discovered together that as believers - we have a requirement to be different. We don’t get to act like the people around us. We aught to talk differently, we should respond differently, we should live differently. We looked at mercy - and the implications that it has on our lives, and the call of Mercy to live, to present ourselves as a living sacrifice - holy and pleasing to the Lord.
Last Week was White Phase. Basic Soldiering Skills - We looked at the two most basic things that we MUST be doing as Christians, reading our bible and spending time in prayer. And then the call of Paul to continue on. We discussed that it is the long term faithfulness that is truly difficult - but that small disciplines, like prayer and reading our bible, have huge impacts over time.
So Today we enter BLUE phase. This is the final phase of Basic training, Before going to job specific training. Our focus today is to understand what exactly we are getting ourselves into. Know God and yourself, to know the enemy, and to do the work.
Know Your God and Yourself.
We can know God, to the extent that He chooses to reveal himself.
For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
We have the world around us, and we have the Word. Psalms, proverbs.
2. There are things we have to know about ourselves.
You have the ability to say no to sin.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,
You are created in God’s image - for a purpose that is prepared and in place for you to do.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Know the enemy.
The enemy is cunning - he knew, back in Genesis, what it would take to make Adam and Eve turn away from God.
The enemy is a liar, he is persistent, he attacks our weaknesses.
We are in enemy territory. Hostile Territory. In theater. Behind the lines. Out there, even in this little town, the enemy has strongholds.
The Bible also tells us that we are part of the problem.. along the way, we make choices that we know aren’t right, seeking pleasure or relief.
Know the Outcome.
God’s word will not return void.
God will accomplish his purpose.
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
This is like the ultimate “Because I said so” moment.
Do the ministry.
Our focus through the last month has been to accomplish the direction given in Eph 4:12 - as we understand that my purpose, as a pastor is to Equip you all.
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
Serve the body.
Encourage one another to do the same.
And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works,
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,
We are going to grow in all of these things. The level that you are at right now, is just a starting point. Over the rest of your life, we will work together to know and understand our God better and better, to grow closer to him. We will work to grow in our knowledge of ourselves, so that we can work to become the people that God has called us to be.. We will work to know the enemy, so that he might not catch us unaware.
If you don’t know the lord - today is a day to start. We want to help you.
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.