Jesus Saves! (CP)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Play hockey hit movie
Hockey can be rough
Skating along, minding your own business… bam! Someone comes out of nowhere and wipes you out!
Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it?
Going along, minding your own business... bam!
Your mother gets cancer
Your spouse is caught in an affair
Your best friend moves across the country
Your child gets pregnant
Worse than that, is the Spiritual impact
You doubt God’s power
You question your calling
You fear that all is hopeless
You’re not even sure if God is even there at all...
In the NHL, they can’t stop the hits from coming - 12 guys sliding around on ice at full speed - someones going to collide!
This is our last message in Ephesians
Next week starting a new series in Judges
It’s called “Destined” - looking at Samson’s life over 6 weeks
This week, we’re looking at the armor of God
YouVersion: Jesus Saves!
Ephesians 6:10 through end of book
Armor of God
Armor of God
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.
Why do goalies wear pads?
For protection!
But goalies don’t hide, they TRY to get hit!
In our walk with God, we’re not meant to hide in fear
We are meant to walk boldly in love!
Confident in the orders of our master
But that can get scary...
Story: Didn’t hurt
The type of armor you wear is important!
The type of armor you wear is important!
That’s why Paul explains what we should put on
When we fight, it’s important that we wear the appropriate armor as well
BUT REMEMBER: This is so we can make a SPIRITUAL stand
This is key, watch this...
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.
There is a spiritual battle going on!
It’s all around you, even now
Do you ever think about that?
If you aren’t engaged in that battle, you might be losing!
Sometimes we bring things into the battle that don’t belong
We think every trial, every challenge is an attack from the enemy
NOT ALWAYS!
Sometimes those challenges are from God! He has GOOD intentions!
To refine us, to grow us, to give experience, or to get our attention!
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
Some challenges come from God to make us better
Think of it a boot camp or hockey practice
A time to get better outside of the fight...
When it comes to this battle, we have to be conscious!
We have to be aware it’s happening, and be focused on the right battle
Satan just loves to distract us from the real battle
I wish we were half as passionate about sharing the gospel...
As we are about sharing the benefits of the vaccine
I wish we were half as passionate about not ignoring the lost...
As we are about not wearing masks
Obviously some things are important, but sometimes they blot out what’s way more important!
We get caught up in politics, sports, video games, money...
And we totally miss the spiritual war around us...
Let me show you:
Some of us think wearing or not wearing a mask is a Spiritual battle - it’s not
There’s definitely one going on in that conversation, but that’s not the actual battle
You think Satan cares whether you wear one or not?
No, he just wants you angry about it… He wants you yelling and cussing and unfriending people...
The Spiritual battle takes place in whether or not you can carry yourself as a follower of Christ despite a difference in beliefs!
The Spiritual battle takes place in whether or not you care about other people or just yourself
Imagine a goalie just sitting there - ignorant to the game
Thinking about the battle over your contract negotiation
Is he going to be a good goalie? NO!
You have to engage in the important battle before you
For us, the most important spiritual victory has been won
Jesus dropped the atom bomb on the cross
But we still have a role in the fight as well
Satan’s army can still capture you, and he is going to try
So what do we do?
Take up the whole armor of God and prepare to fight!!
Paul gives an illustration of a soldier in armor
I thought it would be fun to do another modern version of armor!
Get a volunteer to wear pads
We are going to break down the armor of God and test each piece
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Put on pants/girdle
Belt of Truth
Belt of Truth
For a soldier, it protected the abdomen
What does your belt do?
Have you ever forgotten a belt and your pants keep falling?
Belts hold everything together - that’s what truth does
Illustration: Dad running to first base with snap pants
1. Reliance on the truth enables you to move
1. Reliance on the truth enables you to move
Like a belt, truth brings comfort, security and freedom
Once you know the truth, you can be confident in doing what you need to
If you believe the wrong thing, you’ll caught with your pants down
Breastplate of Righteousness
Breastplate of Righteousness
Goalies don’t want to use their own chest to block a puck
Inside are our most vital organs
Guy named Nathan Crowell blocked a shot in 2007
He died of cardiac arrest
We need to use something else for our chest...
We don’t use our own flesh and bone, we use a protector
When it comes to righteousness, we don’t want to use our own either!
2. Our own righteousness is not enough!
2. Our own righteousness is not enough!
For righteousness, we use Christ’s
CH Spurgeon: "Nothing can damn a man but his own righteousness; nothing can save him but the righteousness of Christ."
Satan likes to remind us that we fall short of righteousness
How often do you hear “You’re not good enough, you’ve really done it this time, God can’t forgive you...”
If you lean on your own righteousness, you are vulnerable
But if you lean on Christ’s, you are protected and confident
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Put on leg pads
Shoes of Readiness Given by the Gospel of Peace
Shoes of Readiness Given by the Gospel of Peace
Have you ever walked on something painful without shoes?
You can’t really get around well
Can you imagine fighting a battle on a floor covered in Legos?
You can’t be ready for anything!
Illustration: When I put on shoes, Betty knows I’m ready to go
Alexander the Great’s military successes were partially because of shoes
They word shoes studded with nails - like cleats
They could march far and fast and fought with agility
What does the gospel make us ready for?
7 How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Remember, gospel means GOOD NEWS
This is kinda cyclical
3. The gospel makes us ready to share the gospel!
3. The gospel makes us ready to share the gospel!
Ever had a chance to share Christ with someone but you fumbled through it?
I’ve been there - but there is something you can do
Increase the gospel in your life!
The more you know the gospel, study the gospel, live the gospel, experience the gospel...
The more ready you will be when the time comes!
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Put on gloves
Shield of Faith
Shield of Faith
Roman armies used shields that covered their whole body
Shields were used in the most chaotic moments
Flaming arrows were fired from all sides
Put your head down and keep moving
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Roman soldiers couldn’t see much, they had to trust - they had to have faith
Illustration: Cutting off the angle
It’s tempting to be in control
But it’s better to trust in the solid foundation of our faith
4. When our lives get chaotic, we have to rely on our faith
4. When our lives get chaotic, we have to rely on our faith
Satan wants to confuse you and threaten you
We put our head down and just keep pressing forward
Trusting with faith that we will make it through
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Put on the mask
Helmet of Salvation
Helmet of Salvation
A helmet is the most basic form of protection
5.Salvation is our most fundamental and essential protection
5.Salvation is our most fundamental and essential protection
Bicycling, lacrosse, football, baseball, rock climbing...
Illustration: Getting chewed out by my coach for not wearing a helmet
You would have to be an idiot to not wear a helmet!
Goalies didn’t wear masks until Jacques Plante
Got a broken nose and stitches
Wore his practice mask or wouldn’t play
Show Plante and mask
Coach asked to go without against Detroit, and they lost
Then mask was back for good
Today it is mandatory
Today we think, you’d have to be an idiot to not wear one!
Paul would say the same about salvation
You wanna go against Satan without salvation?
BAD IDEA!
Satan is an accuser - think of the hardest prosecuting attorney ever!
You better have already made a deal in the back room with Jesus...
Cuz otherwise you take the stand with nothing but your own words...
You ever notice in criminal trials the defendant usually doesn’t take the stand?
That’s because they don’t wan’t to expose their client to a prosecutor - not a fair fight!
Being saved is the most basic protection against the enemy
Roman helmets were often customized
Shows the regiment or personal accolades
Goalies customize masks too
Our salvation is also personal
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
This is where we share our story for the benefit of others
Hand over the stick
Sword of the Spirit
Sword of the Spirit
Until now, everything has been for mobility or protection
6. The Word of God is both defensive and offensive
6. The Word of God is both defensive and offensive
A hockey stick is both
I have never scored a goal
I did have 9 assists in 11 games my Junior year
Some NHL goalies have scored
Ron Hextall scored 3 times
Chris Osgood has 2
Explain 2 ways to score
In 2001 Jose Theodore of the Canadiens essentially won all by himself
He scored and got a shut out
The Word of God is meant to be our best offensive weapon
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
The Word of God provides us with every answer we need
If you want to win battles for God, you have to know His Word
The Paul continues the battle:
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Not only the Word of God, but also time in prayer with God
Sunday Adelaja: “If you long to be a mighty warrior, to do great things for the Lord, and to win the world for Him, then remember that your power is in your prayer life.”
Paul urges us to continue the fight
To fight our part in the battles, but to encourage others as well
You’re not the only one in the fight!
People need our support because the fight is real and it’s happening NOW!
Once you have the armor of God, you can prepare to be tested
God wouldn’t set all this stuff up for you, and have you not use it
Throw stuff at goalie!
Closing
Closing
We are not God’s decorations; we are His warriors!
We are not God’s decorations; we are His warriors!
Not meant to go around looking for a fight
But to do our part in His fight
To stand as honorable and decent men and women
Examples to a fallen world around us
Let us go out into our fight, fully prepared to be Christian soldiers
Communion
Communion