Union With God - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

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New Life COTR Sunday May 18, 2008
“Dressed For Battle”
Union with God

INTRODUCTION: Today we begin a new series titled “Dressed For Battle.” I hope that you are aware that we are in a battle.
Our key scriptures for this series will be from the book of Ephesians.
I asked some people if they could have only one book of the Bible to read and live by for the rest of their lives what would that book be? Romans was the first response. Psalms was next. Then the book of James. And another was Proverbs.
My choice would be the Book of Ephesians. Let me tell you why.
Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. Most likely in Rome.
Paul wasn’t trying to bring order to some doctrinal controversy or handle some pastoral problem as he did in some of his other epistles.
He wasn’t trying to bring correction to some church.
***Ephesians conveys the impression of a rich overflow of revelation growing out of Paul’s personal prayer life.
Ephesians is believed to have been written with a wider readership in mind than just the church in Ephesus.
It was possible intended to serve as a circular letter to all the churches in the province of Asia.
Paul’s immediate purpose for writing Ephesians was because he prayerfully longs for his readers to advance in faith, love, wisdom and revelation of our Heavenly Father.
The two basic themes of the New Testament are (1) How we are redeemed by God and (2)How we as the redeemed are to live.
Chapters one through three of Ephesians deal largely with how we are redeemed by God through His Son Jesus Christ and Chapters 4-6 focus on how we are to live as those who now belong to God.
(36) times in Ephesians Paul mentions the phrase “IN CHRIST!”
Every “spiritual blessing” and every practical issue of life relates to us being “in Christ.”
God’s eternal purpose and goal for His church is found in Ephesians.
Paul gives you and me the key to becoming all that God has called us to be!
In Ephesians you understand who you are in Christ and you understand how to live life in (1) Your home (2) the church (3) On you job!
In Ephesians you discover who your are as a child of God and how you should live as a child of God!
TRANSITION: As Paul closes out this book he lets the readers in on some valuable information! There’s someone
1. Who doesn’t want you to know that Jesus has redeemed you by paying a price for you because He loves you?
2. He doesn’t want you to know who you are “IN CHRIST.”
3. He doesn’t want you to have harmony in your home.
4. He doesn’t want you to be the employer or employee God has called you to be.
5. He doesn’t want the church the purpose God has placed it here on the earth for. He doesn’t want the church to be in harmony and unity!
We’re talking about our enemy that we daily do battle with. The devil!
Satan, the devil doesn’t want you to be the person God has called and equipped you to be! In your home, in the church or on your job!
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
Ephesians 6:10-18 (Message)
It does us well to remember that we are fighting and enemy that wants to destroy the plan of God in your life.
1Peter 5:7(AMP)- “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.”
That’s why Paul admonishes his readers with the following verse.
Ephesians 6:10 (Amp) “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [Be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides.]
TRANSITON: Four truths to take home with you that will help you get dressed for battle.

I. WE ARE UNABLE TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY, SATAN, ON OUR OWN.
“Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.” That’s why God gives us His armor.
Philippians 4:13- “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
(POLICE OFFICER ILLUSTRATION)

II. GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO DO IT ON OUR OWN
Don’t allow the enemy to tell you that you’re on your own. God doesn’t want you to do it on your own. Again that’s why He gives us the armor and says “be strong in the power of My might.”
Psalm 91:15- “He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”
(POLICE OFFICER ILLUSTRATION)

III. GOD SELDOM DEFEATS OUR ENEMIES IN LIFE WITHOUT OUR COOPERATION
We need to work with God. “Put on the whole armor of God.”
Joshua 6:2-5- Turn and Read
Jesus defeated the devil in the wilderness when he used the Word of God. The Word of God came out of His mouth.
(POLICE OFFICER ILLLUSTRATION)

IV. GOD AND YOU ARE AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE
If you will cooperate with God you will defeat the enemy!
God is an unstoppable force. You are not an unstoppable force. God and you are an unstoppable force.
“Be empowered through your union with Him.”
James 4:7- “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1. We can’t defeat Satan on our own
2. God doesn’t want us to do it on our own.
3. God seldom defeats our enemies without our cooperation
4. God and you are an unstoppable force.
SO GET DRESSED FOR BATTLE. GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO BE A CHAMPION! WITH GOD YOU ARE A VICTOR AND NOT A VICTIM.
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD!