How Are You Equipped?
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There is no substitute for walking with the Lord.
Once you are saved the flesh doesn’t suite you anymore, and the weapons of the flesh are not only obsolete but they hurt the child of God that wields them.
38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
Your flesh will never win the battle that you’re struggling with.
God revealed something to David out in the fields as David walked with God. God revealed to David a higher form of warfare.
The point of David’s narrative of his encounter with the lion and the bear was entirely lost on Saul. The king regarded these exploits as solely the result of superior agility and sinewy strength. He did not fathom David’s meaning when the lad ascribed his success to the direct interposition of Jehovah, 1Sa 17:37. Already the underlying note of Psa 27:1-14 may have been haunting the young psalmist’s soul. Saul had no idea that faith opens new sources of power, touches new stops in the great organ, and accomplishes alliance with the Almighty.
Talents
Personality
Gifts
We should not be wrestling with flesh and blood, it’s a losing battle
Rehoboam - made shields of brass to replace the shields of gold
The Holy Spirit is our treasure - We are the temple and the treasure is the Spirit
Brazen shields are not only not
There is no substitute for the Holy Ghost - genuine Holy Spirit Power
We can never substitute the Spirit of God for anything we do
Parenting
Serving
Working
All must be empowered by The Holy Spirit if it will last
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
The axehead is God’s Spirit enabling us to do the eternal
Let’s recognize that without the axehead, the axe is useless
We can preach
we can sing
we can knock on doors
But all these things cannot be done without the power of God
We have motivated people to share the Gospel
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
We must do this job
The supernatural power of God must be present in order to do this work
God wants to live and speak through you
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Men and women getting together to pray - you need the power of God
Prayer closet
corporate prayer
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Wouldn't you like to see everyone filled with the Holy Ghost
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
A private walk with God - you need the strength
When the Apostles returned they had much to tell. Some were flushed with success, others radiant with victory over demons, others, perhaps, overstrained and weary, and all needing the quiet, holy influence of repose and silence in the Lord’s company. And in those quiet hours or days, as the fever passed out of them, He taught them memorable lessons of how He would feed the world by His Church, and how His people would be safe amid the storms that swept the sea, for always he would watch them from the height, and come to them at the moment when His help was most needed. Christ sits as host at the great table of the Church, and the meager resources of His servants yield the starting point for His multiplication of bread.
What we are in church may not be what we really are
We can’t fake the power of God on our life.
If we don’t come apart to be with Jesus, our world will be torn apart
If we serve the Lord in the energy of the flesh
anxiety
depression
High blood pressure
low self esteem
If we live in the flesh at home
If we live in the flesh at church
If I try to be a dad in the flesh
If there is a mom living in the flesh
Trying to teach school
Anger, hurtful words,
Just because someone is active in church, doesnt
I’m the type of Christian
Without the Spirit of God, you will live in self condemnation
The Lord knew how being with the Father was important
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
Elijah hid himself for three years
2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
You don’t know about my prayer life and I don’t know about your prayer life
When you get alone
shut the door
In secret
There will be a reward
Getting alone to receive the power of God so everyone will see God
We help people by getting away from people
You getting alone with God everyday
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.
But they that wait upon - to bind together (perhaps by twisting), that is, collect; (figuratively) to expect: - gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).
We like, as Americans, to speed things up.
mount up
run
not be weary
walk and not faint
Everyone is so tired
Everyone is so impatient
Some have a personality - gift, that causes them to want to do all the time
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Things need done, People need to hear about Jesus
but you can’t have the energy to do what needs doing without God’s power.
You’ll be like an axe without an axehead
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
The Axe Head Was Borrowed
God’s power does not belong to us
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Simon attracted people to himself; he posed as a man of power and mystery. The gospel fixes our thoughts exclusively upon Jesus. We preach Him as Lord, and ourselves as servants for His sake.
There can be loss of power
Lack of unction
Anemia
Conformed rather than transformed
Could it be that the lack of influence in our family and in our society is a result of lack of Power from God?
There was a concern for the loss of power
20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
In the energy of his flesh - the Lord was not with him
A few years back, I spent a few days in Maine with my family. I went bird hunting with one of my college friends and decided that I’d try to go out by myself. I went to this field - It looked a little wet, there was a pond in the distance; as I ventured out I found out it was a marsh. I sank deep in mud and water. Spiritually, that’s what it feels like without the Spirit’s power.
I don’t want to venture out without the Spirit
Sampson ventured out without God’s power
Are those under your care, being led by the power of God, or by your power?
How are you equipped? With your power or with God’s power?
Are those under your Spiritual care being impacted by God’s divine power or by a power that comes from the flesh?
When we are not operating in the power of God, we become discouraged - because we don’t see a change
Who is hurt when there is no axe handle?
There is no power in the flesh, we get hurt
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
You waste no time sharpening your life by spending time alone with God.
6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
Where did you lose the power.
What sin did you get involved in that disconnects you from the power of God?
Activity that quenches the Holy Ghost
He found the axe head where he lost it
Where did you draw away
Where did you leave
God will raise the power up when you draw nigh
Nobody knew, but God knew
You know when the holy Ghost is grieved
There is no replacement for God’s power and His leading on your life
Anger
Bitterness
You are working with just an axe handle
Forgiveness
Wrath
Invest in you, so you can invest in others
Get alone before God
Church should not be a place that is hard to be unless we are not investing in our time alone with God
Feed yourself so you can feed others
Drink of the water of life
Spend time with God, so you can share Him with others
Mad at God - God didn’t fail
What are we equipped with?
Flesh or Spirit
There are four conditions which we must fulfill, if God is to have full possession:
1. We must be subject to the will of God;
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
2. We must draw nigh to God;
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
3. We must cleanse our hands and purify our hearts;
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
4. We must humble ourselves in His sight .
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.