Blessed Memories

Revelation 14:13 NLT – And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

Introduction: Memories are a blessing.

Transition: There are only two ways to die, either in our sins or in the Lord.

Exposition: When saints die in the Lord, they are RELEASED (II Corinthians 5:8), CARRIED (Luke 16:19-31) and WELCOMED (Acts 7:54-60).

Rest belongs to those who work!

The proof is always in the pudding!

Conclusion: For those of us who remain, we can live despite the void because God never leaves us!

*Maroon 5… Memories Video https://youtu.be/SlPhMPnQ58k?si=hKS2-7I9rMAI1Fg3

Gotcha! Again

Objective: To establish that when you think you’ve reached the pinnacle of what life has to offer, that God knows how to bless your socks off!

Genesis 22:1-2 NLT Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Introduction: Listening to God is a skill that believers learn and finds delight in. Obeying God is sometimes difficult, because what we hear is a far cry from what we actually want to do.

Transition: God’s testing significantly differs from Satan’s tempting.

Exposition: Faith is risky business, but the reward is worth it!

  1. The confusion: Abram means exalted father but Abraham means father of the countless.
  2. The consumption: Can you be obedient without a why?
  3. The conviction: “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” (verse 5)

Conclusion: No matter what you’ve heard, seen, or experienced, remember that God provides (Yahweh Yireh/Jehovah Jireh)! God not only provides for today, but for tomorrow too…

Gotcha! Who’s Laughing Now?

Objective: To establish that when you think you’ve reached the pinnacle of what life has to offer, that God knows how to bless your socks off!

Genesis 18:9-15 NLT “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked. “She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied. 10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

Introduction: Christians must invest in their relationship with God, to avoid tragedy and hilarity. The investment is trust in God’s track record, timing, and truth.

Transition: When you think you’ve figured your life out, you run into a gotcha moment without warning. God shows up and turns your winter of decline into a wonder of development!

Exposition: Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90 years old, but God’s Gotcha! has interrupted their acceptance of mediocrity…

Revealed Prophetically (verse 10a) -Removes Sarah’s Shame -Rekindles Abraham’s Ambition

Received Poorly (verses 10b-12) -Laughed at her current condition -Laughed at the condition of her husband

Rectified Providentially (verses 13-15)

Put Your War Clothes On 9

Put Your War Clothes On (9 of 9) Objective… To arm believers with the tools needed in light of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.

Prayer Means Victory

Ephesians 6:18-20 NLT Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Introduction: There is an intensely intimate connection between prayer and warfare. Reference Exodus 17:8-16 and Zechariah 4:6

Transition: “Prayer does not equip us for some greater works, prayer is the greater work” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest).

Exposition: Prayer is human petition and praise for Divine intervention. Reference Romans 8:26-27

We must intercede (to pray on behalf of) for…

–Our Christian Connections Reference Luke 18:1 and Philippians 4:6-7

The Christian family is an army, and we must be dedicated, disciplined, divinely dependent.

–Our Christian Clergy Reference Acts 12:5

Share in the ministry of the pastor’s leadership, by pleading to God for them!

Conclusion: The armor and artillery are worn and wielded through prayer.

Put Your War Clothes On 8

Put Your War Clothes On (8 of 9) Objective… To arm believers with the tools needed in light of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.

Spiritual Swordsmanship

Ephesians 6:17b NLT “…and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Introduction: These two hath God joined and shall never part, dust on your bible and a drought in your heart.

Transition: The Christian army must be dedicated to the word, we should be delighted by the word, and we will win the victory with the word!

Exposition: There are three Greek terms for ‘word’…

1. Graphe (written) study

2. Logos (living) submit

3. Rhema (spoken) strike

We need our swords for the “evil day” (verse 13). In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus teaches us how to handle the devil’s attack. We must beware of the devil’s bread, bid, and of his bribe.

Conclusion: Fight on, because the burden of proof isn’t on you, it’s on God!

Put Your War Clothes On 7

Put Your War Clothes On (7 of 9) Objective… To arm believers with the tools needed in light of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.

Think Like A Soldier

Ephesians 6:17a NLT Put on salvation as your helmet…

Introduction: The point of this message is to admonish us all to have minds yielded to God. Reference Romans 8:6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death (defeat). But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace (victory).

Transition: Soldier… noun-one who serves in a fighting force. verb-to carry on doggedly; persevere.

Exposition: A helmet is necessary because the Devil is not forceful, he’s the mastermind of manipulation through lies, lust, and pride (I John 2:16). We are soldiers in the army of the Lord, and so we must…

1. Be like Jesus (Philippians 2:5) and rescue the wounded… Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.

2. Be clearheaded because you can’t help if you’re not healthy… I Thessalonians 5:8a But let us who live in the light be clearheaded…

3. Be confident because we have assurance not insurance… I Thessalonians 5:8b …protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

Conclusion: The Roman soldier’s helmet was brass with a leather security strap. It was always within reach, because it was carried over the shoulder. Don’t get so caught up in past procurement, that you lose sight of the need for future protection!

Put Your War Clothes On 6

Put Your War Clothes On (6 of 9) Objective… To arm believers with the tools needed in light of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.

Put the Fires Out!

Ephesians 6:16 NLT With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Introduction: Flaming arrows were a tactic of guerrilla warfare to terrify and disburse an army. The goal was exposure from the abandonment of their planned strategy, and for the fire to rage.

Transition: The shield that is faith, is not in this instance salvific (eternal) but living (daily).

Exposition: Faith has feet that stands on truth, and produces righteous living (active).

–When do we wield it? In all circumstances. Reference Hebrews 11:6

–Why should we wield it? To extinguish all the enemy’s arrows. Reference I John 5:4

Conclusion: The Roman soldier’s shield was 2 feet wide and 4 feet long, and it was beveled on the sides. This is important for coverage and for community.

Put Your War Clothes On 5

Put Your War Clothes On (5 of 9) Objective… To arm believers with the tools needed in light of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.

Blessed Are the Balanced

Ephesians 6:15 NLT “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”

Introduction: The Roman army was successful in large part, because of their footwear. It allowed their soldiers to be both mobile and stable.

Transition/Definitons: In order to understand Paul’s exhortation, let’s study the key words of the text…

-Shod: to wear as an attachment

-Gospel: news too good to be true

-Peace: not because of but in-spite of

Exposition: Balance is a blessing in such an unbalanced world. What do we do to keep steady on our feet; holding ground in this good fight of faith?

1. Stop… Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2. Study… Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

3. Share… Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Conclusion: It is because of these shoes that we have the peace of God (position) and peace with God (protection) Reference John 16:33 I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!

Put Your War Clothes On 4

Put Your War Clothes On (4 of 9) Objective… To arm believers with the tools needed in light of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.

Silence the Accuser

Ephesians 6:14b NRSV “…and put on the breastplate of righteousness”

Introduction: There is an action expected to be taken by believers, which is “to put on”. This statement is a state we’re to continually be in.

Transition: Righteousness is God’s standard; right-side up living; our application of the truth.
The opposite of righteousness is wrongness, which is upside down living. It’s trashy and is an invitation to pests.

Exposition: The importance of the breastplate PROTECTION (during attacks), PREVENTION (of vital organ targeting), and PRESENTATION (as prepared for battle).

With the sole thought of securing victory/perfection in mortal combat, 70 pounds of armor is put on with most of the weight being the breastplate.

The armor is too weighty to carry so the truth lifts it from our shoulders giving relief. Since the standard is perfection and we can’t ascertain it on our own, Jesus’ righteousness is IMPUTED into our accounts!

Conclusion: Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), meaning he steadily offers false accusations about us to God. However, because of Jesus/our elder brother we are presented right even though we are guilty of wrong. Jude 1:24 says “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy”.

Put Your War Clothes On 3

Put Your War Clothes On (3 of 9) Objective… To arm believers with the tools needed in light of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.

Satan Hates Integrity!

Ephesians 6:14a NRSV “Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth…”

Introduction: To have the facts is to say you have information, but that isn’t necessarily the truth which is ultimately the base root.

Transition: We search the scriptures, studying them because the known truth is what sets us free! REFERENCE John 8:31-32

Exposition: Followers of Jesus must be committed to the truth, and that is what gives us integrity (The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. The state of being whole and undivided/ REFERENCE James 1:8.).

The belt of truth gives order (REFERENCE I Corinthians 14:40)…

–Holding things together… to prevent the armor from shifting

–Attaching things to it… to allow easy transport and access of the sword

–Freeing things up… tunics prevented swift movement

Conclusion: The armor begins with truth, because Satan (enemy/organizer of evil) is a liar! Truth disrupts Satan’s plot to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).