Stand Firm For The Family

Now listen, I know Paul resurrected that young man, but I’d just as soon wish everyone would stay awake for the next 3 hours that I’ve been given to speak to you.

Seriously though, I want y’all to receive this in the spirit in which it is given.

Pastor Parrish encouraged us to “be real” in our messages to you today.

Let’s go to the Lord>prayer (1 min)

So here goes!

I don’t know if I’m here to harvest fruit, or prune deadwood! It may be a little of both.

But men, we’ve got to be bold and stand firm in the gap for our families, and that’s what I’d like to share with you today. Fair enough?

We’re going to examine what it takes, and what it looks like, to stand firm for our families!

When I say family, I mean our blood family, our adopted family, our church family and anyone we love, and are willing to go to battle for!

I’m here today, to encourage you to rise up to your calling.

BODY

Do you realize that before you can go to battle and protect your family, you must be suited up for battle yourself?

Eph 6:11 -we begin by clothing ourselves in the complete, full, whole, divine armor of God. So that we can stand against the strategies & tricks of the devil.

Eph 6:12 because in this present darkness, our conflict is not with mere flesh and blood, but the evil arrayed against us, in the heavenly warfare.

Eph 6:13 we must do this if we are to withstand in that evil day, and having done all, we stand to overcome all obstacles.

Eph 6:14 we’ve got to gird our loins with truth. I don’t know how you men feel about this, but I think the most vulnerable part of my body is right here (use my hands to describe the location), my loins!

Personally, I rather get hit in my skull with a baseball, than the lower section of my loins.

Listen, if we gird our most vulnerable physical, emotional, mental and spiritual areas, with a wide band of truth, and personal integrity and moral courage, who can stand against us?

Eph 6:15 but we’ve also got to ready ourselves with a firm foundation in our feet, to walk out our faith, and spread the gospel of the good news,

Ephesians 6:16 in all circumstances, we allow faith to be our shield that quenches the relentless showering of the flaming arrows of the devil.

Eph 6:17 all the while, accepting God’s saving power, as our helmet of salvation, taking a firm grasp of the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word, as He reveals truth to us!

Do you carry your sword of the Spirit with you everywhere you go?

Story of Daryl @ Brigs wedding.

Eph 6:18,

Not only do we need to arm ourselves w/ God’s word, we need to have prayer on our lips continually! We must actively seek out opportunities to pray!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

What did you give thanks for today?

If we really thought about it, we’d have to get up early today, in order to have enough time to give thanks for everything, and be here on time!

Praying with all prayer and supplication (a humble, earnest, persistent plea to God) in the Spirit. Being watchful for the opportunities to pray, and pour out our souls to God in prayer. Is that you?

Do you ever find yourself knowing you need to pray, but not knowing what or how to pray, or the energy to speak? Prayer takes energy!

Story of Socrates:

Socrates student, Plato came to Socrates asking him the path to wisdom.

Socrates paused and replied “meet me at the river at dawn tomorrow”.

Plato arrived and Socrates waded chest deep into the water.

He motioned for Plato to join him.

When Plato got the spot where Socrates was, he asked Plato “what do you want”? Plato responded “to find wisdom”.

Socrates grabbed him, and dunked Plato’s head under water and held him there for several seconds. He pulled up his head and asked him again “what do you want”? Again, Plato replied “to find wisdom”!

Socrates dunked Plato again, this time for several seconds longer and pulled his head up and asked “what do you want”?

Plato gasped “air!!!”

Socrates then explained “when you want wisdom as badly as you just wanted air, you will find wisdom!

Men, when prayer becomes as necessary as breathing, we gain spiritual wisdom that NOTHING can stand against!

Paul tells us that in our weakness, the Holy Spirit stands in the gap with groanings that we cannot utter!

I have prayed that this conference will inspire, motivate, and encourage us to rise up to our calling! C’mon!