Armored and Courageous
Nov. 18, 2007
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Text: Ephesians 6:10-13
Ever been manipulated? “To control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage.” Gotten again? Games people play? Playground manipulation? Beaten, or tricked again! The enemy wants people to live defeated lives - he wants to bring you down! What identifies that? God offers abundant life! The ability to stand firm! What identifies that? Live armored and courageous and you will stand! How?
Live armored and courageous!
V10 - exist with almighty power in your life - Finally - Why? Our struggle - against 6X! The enemy is armed and dangerous!
Heavenly trusting and training
Abraham - obey! Relevance - my ministry? David - Goliath - stand up! Relevance - peer pressure - 1 Samuel 17:45 - His name is power! Our believing, asking, seeking - Joshua - be strong and of good courage! Jericho?! - David - 1 Samuel 30:6 - How? His word - prayer -Heb 4:12-13, Eph 3:20, Gen 18:14, Jer 32:17, 26 - Be battle ready!
Evil in the world? How the enemy is armed and dangerous - stats - bull rushed, blitzed, sneak attack
Spiritual Change and confidence
“You may be able to stand” - You have been altered! Regenerated! A living power is in you - Greater is he. . . You have spiritual power!! Atomic bomb scare as a kid - fear caused a response - We do not have the spirit of fear! But of Power - love - self control - You have spiritual power! You are the bomb! Radioactive Christians - Phil 4:13 - If God be for us, never separated - He’s my rock! My helper! My deliverer!
Why you must stay radioactive - 1 Corinthians 16:9 - “because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”
Conclusion
Fantasy movies - It is no fantasy that there are soul winning, ground holding, armored and courageous Christians! One of my favorite passages - 2 Chronicles 20 - Will you stand firm? Will you be battle ready? Will you be the bomb? We can take our stand! Heavenly trusting and training, spiritual change and confidence! Finally!
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin