Choose Power Series

Ephesians 6:18-20

Eph 6:18 ISV Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert with every kind of effort and request for all the saints.

Eph 6:19 ISV Pray also for me, so that, when I open my mouth, the right words will be given to me. Then I will boldly make known the secret of the gospel,

Eph 6:20 ISV for whose sake I am an ambassador in chains, desiring to declare it as boldly as I should.

Father’s Day

Men’s Thesaurus

THE MEN’S THESAURUS (men don’t always say what they mean) – excerpts:

When a man says: "IT’S A GUY THING" He means: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with this, and you have no chance at all of making it logical"

When a man says "CAN I HELP WITH DINNER" He means: "Why isn’t it already on the table?"

When a man says "UH HUH, SURE HONEY,” or “YES, DEAR" He means: Absolutely nothing – It’s a conditioned response.

When a man says ’’IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN" He means: "I have no idea how it works"

When a man says "TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU ARE WORKING TOO HARD’’ He means: "I can’t hear the game over the vacuum cleaner"

When a man says ’THAT’S INTERESTING DEAR.’ He means: "Are you still talking?"

When a man says "YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS." He means: " I can remember the theme song to ’F Troop’, the address of the first girl I ever kissed & the vehicle identification numbers of every car I ever owned – but I forgot your birthday"

When a man says ’OH, DON’T FUSS, I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT’S NO BIG DEAL" He means: "I have actually severed a limb, but I will bleed to death before I admit I’m hurt"

When a man says ’I CAN’T FIND IT.’’ He means: "It didn’t fall into my outstretched hand, so I’m completely clueless"

When a man says “I HEARD YOU.” He means: "I haven’t the foggiest clue what you just said and I am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you’ll not spend the next 3 days yelling at me."

When a man says "YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE" He means: "I am used to the way you yell at me and realize it could be worse."

When a man says "YOU LOOK TERRIFIC!" He means: "Oh please don’t try on one more outfit, I’m starving."

When a man says "I’M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.’’ He means: : "No one will ever see us alive again."

Our fathers have given us so much… They take care of us so well. I remember the time in the ninth Grade when I failed to get the lawn mowed. It was my job and I didn’t get it done. I asked my dad if it was ok to go to a track meet inspite of that fact. He told me go ahead. Later that day I saw him mowing the lawn as I rode by on the bus. Thanks Dad!

Our spiritual father has given us much too! We have been given all we need to win the battle of a lifetime.

The Armor of God! Remember the description of the armor available to the Christian in the battle of a lifetime – the battle for our souls! There is the belt of Truth; The breastplate of righteousness; The shoes of the gospel of peace; The shield of faith; The helmet of salvation; and The sword of the Spirit

Now imagine having the armor and not using it. Imagine preparing for a battle and discarding the equipment given to you to protect yourself with and to prosecute the fight.

That would be sort of like:

…Going golfing and not taking golf clubs with you. (Not that it would make a huge difference in my case!)

…Going shopping at the mall without money, credit cards, or checkbook.

…Going to play for the Red Wings and not taking ice skates or hockey sticks.

…Going to college and not attending classes, taking notes, reading the assigned books and then taking the final exam.

Now, How foolish would that be? Anyone who would do these things would be regarded as foolish at minimum – more likely as just plain stupid. Why? Because they had the resources they needed to complete the task and they didn’t use them.

If there is anything made clear in the letter the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians it is this one simple fact: We are in a spiritual battle for our very lives.

This fact cannot be overstated. It is not merely a matter of personal discipline, self actualization, will power, or better self-esteem. It isn’t simply a matter of providing enough education, job opportunities, or governmentally mandated entitlements.