The Christian's Strength
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· 9 viewsThe battle is the Lord's and we must fight with spiritual weapons
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For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
Introduction:
As 2018 is winding down, I find myself looking back over the year and taking inventory.
In fact Michelle and I will take tomorrow and Tuesday to relax and evaluate this past year in our personal lives, marriage, and our ministry!
This is not really about resolutions but about improving the things in our lives that are important to us.
I really believe that if we set no goals in life we will reach them every time.
So, we will sit down and evaluate where we can improve, and that means our ministry in the Lord.
Because we want to be as effective as we possibly can for the cause of Christ!
Did you know that according to the BBC, there are around 100,000 Christian’s martyred every year in the world?
What drives people to be willing to put it all on the line and to even pay the ultimate price for their faith?
I believe it has everything to do with perception.
And I believe that we in the church today have a major perception problem when it comes to doing ministry!
You see we judge the value and success of our endeavors by the world’s standard, and do ministry in the flesh.
I believe we have a perception problem.
And the results are meager at best, and we wonder why the church is anemic.
You see we judge the value and success of our endeavors by a wordly standard.
Examples:
The choosing of Saul as king.
And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
The attempted fitting of David with the kings armor to fight Goliath.
So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
1 sam
But if we could understand the urgency of the hour, we might just come to see that ministry is a lot more than just doing church!
This is precisely why people are willing to lay down their lives if need be, because they see what God sees!
I. We cannot experience victory if measured by the flesh.
I. We cannot experience victory if measured by the flesh.
It seems everywhere we look in Christianity today, the measure of success is closely related to a Hollywood movie trailer.
A list of actors
supporting roles
qualified by talent, good looks, how many books they’ve written.
What makes a successful gospel minister?
Are they on the radio?
Are they on TV?
Are they a NY best selling author?
How big is their ministry?
All these seem to be the criteria for success, so it shouldn’t surprise us that as we measure success by these definitions, we cannot and will not experience real victory!
A. The battle is the Lord’s
A. The battle is the Lord’s
Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
B. The victory has already been secured.
B. The victory has already been secured.
B. The victory has already been secured.
B. The victory has already been secured.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1 John
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So you see, we are talking about a spiritual victory, and that victory is something we share in the body of Christ, and are enjoined to as soldiers of the cross, yet ...
II. We cannot experience victory using carnal weapons.
II. We cannot experience victory using carnal weapons.
God says our weapons are strong for pulling down strongholds!
I believe we have a perception problem.
You see we judge the value and success of our endeavors by a wordly standard.
Examples:
Strongholds are fortresses or walled places of refuge, and I believe Christians have many strongholds in their lives that prevent them from victory!
We erect these massive walls to protect and shelter ourselves.
fear
We are comfortable in our protective fortresses.
sin
But, how do we fight the good fight of faith, or stand in the battle with our armor on, or storm the gates of hell from behind our comfortable hiding places?
We don’t!
We must pull down these strongholds, not only in our lives but in the lives of those around us!
So what do we do?
So what do we do?
A. We use the right weapons.
A. We use the right weapons.
Prayer
Knowldege
Gospel
B. We coordinate our attack.
B. We coordinate our attack.
Sometimes it takes a battalion or even an entire regimant to get the job done.
We accomplish this through several means:
Confession of sin
Forgiveness
restoration
Support
Like mindedness
Conclusion:
So, as I take some time to evaluate this past year and inventory my own passion for Christ, I want to see what kind of weapons I’ve been using, and if they’ve been effective.
I will throw away those that are wordly and carnal, and rely more on those God has given to me that I may see Him working through me!
We all need to take inventory!