The Battle is the Lord¡¦s
Our Admonition and Aim
Intro: A group of historians have compiled a list of interesting stats. Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 yrs of peace. During this time there have been 14,351 wars in which 3.64 bil. people have died. The value of property destroyed is equal to a gold belt 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick.
Trans: For the past few weeks we have been discussing the reality of war ¡V spiritual war. We¡¦ve talked about becoming aware of the battle, our adversary in the battle, and our arsenal for the battle. Today we¡¦re going to conclude our study by looking at our aim and admonition through the battle.
Read: Ephesians 6:10-18
I Our Admonition ¡V Be Strong
Quote: We¡¦re not here for a day, a few weeks, or even a few years ¡V we¡¦re here for the journey. And the journey has an ultimate destination ¡V we are currently caught somewhere b/w two eternities ¡V eternal Heaven or eternal Hell.
A Be Enlightened
1 The Sphere of the Enemy
a It is not flesh and blood but spiritual.
b It is not fought on earth but in the heavenlies
2 The Strength of the Enemy
a Satan is the strongest being in God¡¦s creation
b Satan is has a loyal legion of demonic forces
3 The Seduction of the Enemy
a He is an angel of light
b He is the father of lies
Note: He doesn¡¦t fight fair and he is only in the demolition business ¡V he comes to kill, steal, and destroy ¡V DON¡¦T BE DECEIVED!
4 The Season of the Enemy
a Prince of the air
b Ruler of this world
Note: God has loosed Satan for a short time that God¡¦s will might be perfected in you, through you, for you, and by you to His glory.
B Be Equipped
Note: We are to equip ourselves w/ the convictions, beliefs, and truths provided by God in salvation and released to us through the reality of His Holy Spirit and the authoritative truth of His Word as a regular pattern of our lives.
1 The Belt of Truth
Idea: We must center our lives on the truth of God¡¦s person, character, and work. God is truth and in Him there is nothing false ¡V His will and way can be trusted and we must build our lives upon this reality.
Verse: This is the message that we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness-none at all! 1 Jn 1:5
2 The Breastplate of Righteousness
Idea: God has imputed and imparted righteousness to us in salvation, and we must set our focus on living rightly before him and man seeking things above ¡V setting our affections on his mission, mandate, and model.
We all must live a life that is blameless and honoring to God and man.
3 The Shoes of Peace
Idea: We are to bask in the provision of God¡¦s peace that assures us of His presence and power and gives us the confidence to walk by faith.
4 The Shield of Faith
Idea: We¡¦re to walk in faith that enables us to deflect the darts of doubt and confusion that we¡¦d have courage and confidence in the community of faith.
5 The Helmet of Salvation
Idea: Put on the knowledge and reality of the complete work of God in salvation that provides justification, sanctification, and glorification in our lives ¡V a salvation that saves me from hell and into an intimate relationship w/ God.
6 The Sword of the Spirit
Idea: We are to wield the powerful, double-edged sword of God¡¦s living and active, God-breathed, inspired holy Word.
Quote: The Bible isn¡¦t just a book. It is the oldest living book of its kind whose author is still living.
Listen: If you honestly examine the Bible, you will discover that you don¡¦t examine the Bible, it examines you.
C Be Empowered
Verse: Pray in the Spirit at all times w/ every kind of prayer and request. For the same reason be alert w/ every kind of effort and request for all the saints. 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, for whose sake I am an ambassador in chains, desiring to declare it as boldly as I should. Eph. 6:18-20
Idea: A lamp w/ a functional light bulb is useless w/out the flow of electricity. So too is the Christian powerless w/out the flow of power through prayer.
1 Spirit-Led Prayer
Note: Don¡¦t pray in your understanding and ability, pray under God¡¦s influence.
Verse: Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled w/ the Spirit. Eph. 5:18
Idea: The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we don¡¦t know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes w/ groans too deep for words, and the one who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, for the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to God’s will. Rm. 8:26-27
Note: In praying, we must allow the Spirit to lead us and to free us.
„« The Holy Spirit tells us what to pray.
„« The Holy Spirit energizes our prayers.
Note: The Spirit gives us strength, insight, power, and conviction when we pray.
2 Continual Prayer
Note: We¡¦re not to pray w/ vain repetition as the heathen ¡V on occasion, ritual, or at an appointed time ¡V we¡¦re to be in a constant posture of communication.
Quote: Prayer isn¡¦t constant articulation of words but an attitude of the heart where one keeps the receiver in hand ¡V always prepared taking everything to God.
3 Varied Prayer
Note: Prayers of praise, confession, petition, supplication, intercession. We are to pray publicly and privately ¡V w/ loud cries and soft whispers ¡V verbally and silently ¡V w/ hands raised and hands folded.
4 Watchful Prayer
Note: alert ¡V (prepared and watchful) to pray w/ your eyes open.
Insert: Like Nehemiah and Israel when they re-built the wall ¡V in one hand was a hammer while in the other a spear.
Note: We are to be alert for our enemy and for Our Lord¡¦s return.
5 Persevering Prayer
Idea: Prayer isn¡¦t getting man¡¦s will done in heaven but God¡¦s will done on earth.
Note: It requires tenacity and patience ¡V Prayer is not about changing God¡¦s mind but knowing God¡¦s mind and then adjusting to His person and plan.
Note: We must pray until we get an answer or until God gives us release.
6 Intercessory Prayer
Note: We are to pray for all believers and for our spiritual leaders
Note: We are to pray for their boldness and effectiveness in ministry.
Skit: The armor of God (8 volunteers)
Truth: To be strong in the Lord is to put one¡¦s total trust in who He is, what he has done, what He is doing, and what He will do ¡V w/out hesitation or wavering.
II Our Aim - Be Steadfast
Story: Archibald Naismith tells us at the height of the Battle of Waterloo an officer galloped up to the Duke of Wellington and said, ¡§My captain has sent me to request reinforcement for we are being slaughtered.¡¨ The replied, ¡§Tell him to stand.¡¨ The officer returned later w/ the same message. Wellington said, ¡§Tell him to stand.¡¨ Soon, a higher ranking officer came w/ the same request, Wellington said, ¡§I have no help to send you, tell him to stand.¡¨ The officer saluted and said, ¡§You will find us there.¡¨ When victory had been achieved, the Duke went out and found each man at his post ¡V all dead ¡V but they stood ¡V they laid down their lives for the victory.
Trans: The aim of our mission ¡V to stand. It is interesting that the word occurs 3 times in this passage, each time intensifying in the Greek over the previous.
stand ¡V Stand ¡V STAND
A Don¡¦t get Side-Swiped
Note: Don¡¦t allow someone to crash your faith and knock you out of the race.
Truth: It is amazing how many Curt Busch¡¦s there are in the spiritual life ¡V people who¡¦ll intentionally knock you off course to get ahead to steal the win.
Story: A pastor was traveling on a plane and noticed the man beside him was thumbing through some cards and moving his lips. Assuming he was a trying to memorize something, the pastor leaned over and spoke w/ the man to give him encouragement. The man said, I was praying. The pastor said, ¡§I believe in prayer too.¡¨ ¡§Well, I have a special assignment. I¡¦m praying for the downfall of Christian pastors.¡¨ The pastor said, ¡§Well I would fit into that category, is my name on that list.¡¨ The man said, ¡§It¡¦s not on mine.¡¨
B Don¡¦t get Side-lined
1 Don¡¦t get benched by a bad attitude or decision.
2 Don¡¦t pull yourself out of the game b/c your scared
3 Don¡¦t allow injury to put you out of the game.
Insert: I am so sick of hearing about godly men and women who refuse to serve God, His kingdom, and His church b/c someone hurt them ¡V they benched themselves. God didn¡¦t bench them. Man didn¡¦t bench them.
Note: Christianity is not a spectator sport.
C Don¡¦t get Side-Tracked
Note: Don¡¦t lose sight of your focus and purpose. Don¡¦t get lost in the shuffle of life. Set your course, fix your gaze, and become the person who accomplishes the plan God purposed you for.
Verse: We must fix our eyes on Jesus¡K
We must not turn from the right or left¡K
We must choose this day (and every day) whom we will serve¡K
We must determine in our hearts who is going to rule and reign our lives and submit to the One and only person who has the ability and authority to work is glorious plan in our lives.
Listen: In the kingdom of God ¡V you are either the ¡§king¡¨ or the ¡§dom¡¨ ¡V you do the math and figure out which one you are.
Invite: What is your aim? Who or what is your strength?
