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New Life COTR
Sunday May 25, 2008
“Dressed for Battle”
THE FIGHT
INTRODUCTION: Last week we started a series called “Dressed for Battle.” Whether you realize it or not, as Christian’s, we are in a battle. There’s warfare going on all around us.
God wants you and me to win the battle.
Daniel 10:12,13,20,21
This is a clear picture of what is going on in the heavenlies. The Bible clearly informs us of fallen angels over a city. Fighting against believers in that city.
Today there are still demons and there are still angels.
Daniel is praying doing his part and the angels are battling over the answer.
Ephesians 6:10-12
Principalities- a prince over a region, a prince who has authority over a city or a region.
Here’s the New Testament confirming what we read in the Old Testament. Telling us there’s a war going on in in the air. IT IS REAL!
We’re not wrestling against flesh and blood but against principalities.
Have you ever driven into a city and felt evil? Satan takes advantage of these places.
One of the gloomiest places in America is Seattle. This city has more suicides than any other city.
THERE’S A REAL WAR GOING ON!
TRANSITION: How do you win this battle?
I. RECOGNIZE YOUR IN THE BATTLE
Don’t ignore it. Don’t sit our the battle. If you don’t show up you will loose!
Jude 1:9- “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
2Timothy 2:4- “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer.”
You and I have been enlisted as soldiers.
In the natural the best advice is to walk away form a fight. It will not work in the spiritual.
You are in a fight with a bully, someone who doesn’t fight fair. He will sneak up from behind you and kill you if he can.
He’s the meanest, cruelest, violent, most vicious hateful person whose ever existed.
He’s a kidnapper, rapist, murderer, a thief. HE commits every violent crime. Satan is behind every violent crime.
He’s worse than Hitler and he hates you!
He’s prideful and arrogant and the accuser of the brethren.
He’s a divider and causes strife in the family of God!
AND HE HATES YOU!
TRANSITION: Now that’s the bad news. Here’s the good news!
II. RECOGNIZE WHO IS IN THE BATTLE WITH YOU
Satan is a bully! But big brother is behind you!
Satan is so scared of your big brother!
HERE’S YOUR CHOICE- Are you going to walk with big brother or fight the battle on your own?
Daniel was thrown in a lion’s den, guess who was in the lion’s den with him?
God sent His angel who was probably the Lord Jesus Christ.
The great thing is not that someone shut the mouth’s of the lions but that Daniel was not
alone!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are cast into the fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:24,25 (KJV)- “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto the counselors, Did we not cast three men into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the King, True, O King. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
YOUR CHOICE IS ARE YOU GOING TO WALK WITH BIG BROTHER OR NOT?
It’s not hard for your big brother to take care of Satan! Satan is not a problem with Jesus!
Psalm 18:15-17- God blows His nose and gets rid of Satan!
Luke 11:20- “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.”
Satan is not a problem for God!
1Timothy 6:12- “Fight the good fight of the faith….”
Do you know the difference between a good fight and a bad fight? A good fight is one you win!
Have you ever lost a fight? I have. It was five against two. Those were the toughest two guys I’ve ever met!
YOU AND JESUS ARE THE TOUGHEST TWO GUYS!!!
If you choose to walk with Him!
TRANSITION: If Jesus is in the fight with you, then what’s your part?
III. PUT ON YOUR ARMOR
Ephesians 6:11- “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Why would God tell you to put on armor if you don’t need it.
WHAT IS THE ARMOR? Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, scripture and prayer.
HOW DO YOU PUT IT ON?
PRAY AND OBEY! The Christian Life boils down to that. Hear God and do what He says!
We are in a battle! The only way you are going to win is to go meet with the Captain of the army!
You need to do it every day. Start your day with God!
You choose who you are going to walk with that day. It’s who you put first!
The enemy is waiting out the door for you. Take Big Brother with you!
WHO WOULD YOU SAY THE GREATEST WARRIOR IN THE BIBLE IS?
Most of us would probably say David. What made David a great warrior?
1Samuel 23:2- “he inquired of the Lord saying, Shall I go and attack these Philistines? The Lord answered him, Go attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
1Samuel 30:8- “and David inquired of the Lord, Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them? Pursue them, he answered, You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
2Samuel 2:1 - “In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah? He asked. The Lord said go up. David asked where shall I go? To Hebron the Lord answered.”
ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE?
2Samuel 5:18,19,22-25
What made David a great warrior? He kept inquiring of the Lord!
GOD WANTS YOU TO RELY ON HIM THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
Every day go into a room and ask God for help!
Every time you meet with God He will give you wisdom and strength!
2Samuel 22:40- “You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.”
Job 12:13- “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.”
If you will meet with God every day He will give you wisdom and strength.
CONCLUSION: What does the word inquire mean? TO ASK!
That’s how deep the Christian life is. It doesn’t get any deeper than this.
Ask God what to do, do it, and you’ll win the battle!
PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD IS A RESULT OF SPENDING TIME WITH GOD!
Remember I told you how bad your enemy is. Now let me tell you how good your God is!
Romans 8:37-39
You and I are in a battle. The devil wants to destroy your life. He wants hell on earth for you. He hates you!
The question is: will you meet with God?
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The Fight - Pastor Kenneth Woolf
Sunday, May 18, 2008
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!
