Sunday, February 24, 2013

What's In Your Hand?

Ephesians 6.10-18

Exodus 4:2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”“

Much has been written about the spiritual battle we are in. Some of it goes beyond the Word of God. Some deals with the sensational. We need to be Biblical. To understand this battle once again we have God's Word as our anchor and foundation.

We need to be aware of our weapons and armor so that we can stand firm.
We are in the thick of the Last Days Battle.

Notice this soldier Paul is describing is standing, not charging. His feet are planted firmly.

There is no mention of equipment to cover his back. The LORD is his rear guard, but we are to face the battle head on.
Isaiah 52:12 But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

The armor is impressive and we will go into detail in the Bible Studies this week but this morning we are looking at what is in the hands of the Christian Soldier.

That was the question the LORD asked Moses when He called him from watching sheep to leading the nation.
What's in your hand?

Ephesians 6:16-18 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

1. The Shield of Faith
This is defensive faith.
Its purpose is extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Devil.

So often we think of faith as doing great exploits. That is part of it but not all of it.
Faithfulness and standing firm are parts of faith as well.
One who is full of faith is first of all faithful.
I would like to see equal emphasis on standing firm along with God working through a person. Jeremiah was a man like that.


Fiery darts or flaming arrows were part of Roman weaponry in the first century.

"The fiery darts" that were used in war were small, slender pieces of cane, which were filled with combustible materials, and set on fire; or darts around which some combustible material was wound, and which were set on fire, and then shot "slowly" against a foe. The object was to make the arrow fasten in the body, and increase the danger by the burning; or, more frequently, those darts were thrown against ships, forts, tents, etc., with an intention to set them on fire.

What are the characteristics of these fiery darts?
If you have ever tried archery or been close to a bow and arrow an archer is using, you know:
1. Arrows travel at extremely high speeds. They come suddenly. In warfare they came without warning. You must remain alert. (v.18)
2. In ancient warfare, they came from unexpected places. Church and family. Sometime friendly fire, sometimes not.
Zechariah 13:6 If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ he will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’
The enemy of our souls hides, is a serpent and a lion. Both of these sneak up on their prey. Like the flaming arrow they come upon us quickly and seek to take us out.

3. In spiritual warfare they come from Satan to take us out or a whole building as with the temple in the first century.
As the temple burned the silver and gold ornamentation melted down and ran into the cracks of the foundation stones. In order to get it out the Roman soldiers took iron bars and pried apart and threw down the foundation stones, thus fulfilling the words of Jesus 38 years earlier, "not one stone will be left standing on another." We can see the destruction a single flaming arrow can bring.

What are "all" the flaming arrows of the evil one?
*Discouragement
*Doubt
*Depression
*Past sins
*Condemnation
*Despair
*Bitterness
There are many more. He has an arsenal of weapons with the ability to take down anyone who does not use the shield of faith.

These can come in a split second, often after a great victory, or when we least expect it.

Paul here refers, probably, to the temptations of the great adversary, which are like fiery darts; or those furious suggestions of evil, and excitements to sin, which he may throw into the mind like fiery darts. They are - blasphemous thoughts, unbelief, sudden temptation to do wrong, or thoughts that wound and torment the soul.

Lit., the darts, those which have been set on fire, soaked in pitch, set aflame.

the furious temptations, violent and sudden injections of the devil

We extinguish them by lifting up the shield of faith.

1 John 5:4-5 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Our faith in Christ Jesus, God’s Son. Christians, that hold fast their faith even in the face of death against the power of their foes, and temptations and persecutions.

Build yourself up in the faith.
Jude 1:20-21 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Grow in grace.
2 Peter 1:3-8 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Grow in the Word of God.
Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

The shield of faith us used with the Word of God and prayer. The weapons and the armor are all related to each other and to be used as "the full armor of God." (v.11)

2. The Sword of the Spirit
The Word of God
This is an offensive tool.
It was used to put the enemy to death or cause him to retreat.
Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
This is done not by our own understanding but by the Word of God.
It reveals things to come.

If we want to defeat the enemy and his attacks against us, we need to fortify ourselves with the Word.

Jesus fought off Satan's temptations with the Word of God. (Matthew 4)

The Bible itself must be brought out, not only as the best defense against all the assaults of infidelity from the lofty towers of human reasonings, but also as the mighty weapon to overcome and bring the enemies of God into captivity to Christ. "They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). "

He washes us with the Word. He feeds us His Word. In our hand is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In our hearts and in our hands.

3. The Prayer of Faith

In the Spirit
Faithfully
For Each Other
For the spread of the Gospel

In our hands, in our heart are precious weapons, faith, God's Word and prayer. Let's use them together to win the battle!
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Christ's Love For the Church

Ephesians 5.25-33

Its a season of love. Valentine's Day this past week.
"The whole thing is a love story!"- Pauline Dallenbach


The mystical union

A Profound Mystery. Megas Mysterion
A splendid excellent secret

hidden thing, secret, mystery
not made known to ordinary mortals
a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding
a hidden purpose or counsel
secret will of God: the secret counsels of God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly
in rabbinic writings, it denotes the mystic or hidden sense of an image or form seen in a vision or of a dream

A loving, living and lasting union.



1.Christ loved the church

He gave Himself up for her. Philippians 2
to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put to death. Jesus went through each facet of this for the church, for you! We ought to think about this often. Paul determined to nothing among the Corinthian Church except Jesus Christ and Him crucified!

He died.
To make her Holy:
Radiant held in good or in great esteem, of high repute
illustrious, honourable, esteemed
notable, glorious splendid
free from sins

No stain
No wrinkle
No blemish

He found her in rags and wretchedness, but He looked on her in love and spread His skirts of mercy over her. He washed and clothed her with broidered work. He anointed her and decked her with ornaments and jewels, and made her perfect with the comeliness He put upon her (Ezek. 16. 5-14). It is all His doing. Praise His Name.

Hosea 9:10 “When I found Israel,it was like finding grapes in the desert;when I saw your fathers,it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree...


A complete allegiance to an absolutely self sacrificing love.
In taking on the sin of the world He had to suffer and die this way.
Romans 5:6 And we can see that it was while we were powerless to help ourselves that Christ died for sinful men. In human experience it is a rare thing for one man to give his life for another, even if the latter be a good man, though there have been a few who have had the courage to do it. Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us. (Philipps)
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV)

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.


2. Christ loves the church

He feeds it.
He nourisheth her with the milk of His Word, and holds her in the arms of His love (John 17. 14, 15). He satisfies her with good things by His comforting Spirit (John 16. 13, 14).

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The food of the church is the Word of God. This is why there is so much immaturity today in Christ's Body.
Three main sources:
Personal Quiet Time
Weekly Bible Studies
Sunday Morning Message


The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
’Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.
Refrain:
The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

The Bible stands like a mountain tow’ring
Far above the works of men;
Its truth by none ever was refuted,
And destroy it they never can.

The Bible stands and it will forever,
When the world has passed away;
By inspiration it has been given,
All its precepts I will obey.

The Bible stands every test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And to prove and to make it mine.


He cares for it.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.

My family in Florida was in shock at the death of Christopher. Two years and a half years ago in my cousin, Lori's home, I got up early before we were to leave for church and was reading my Bible and journaling. The day before I was on a Southwest Airline flight out of MacArthur. I had been reading Psalm 50-70 while I waited. These are some of David's Psalms of difficulty written while Saul was pursuing him and trying it take his life. I encourage people to read these psalms while going through deep grief. I discovered how much they can help from my own experience.

Suddenly Psalm 55.22 jumped out and grabbed my heart there in MacArthur Airport. That is the verse for my family I thought. I took my journal out the next day, on that Sunday morning and wrote down the verse, "Cast all your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you." I had no sooner written it than Lori my cousin, came out and greeted me with a "Good morning". She picked up what had been our Nana's (Rose Biggs) old Promise Box, full of scriptures, Nana had based her life upon.

Then my cousin Lori began to tell me a story about it.

She showed me how she had one card sticking out of it. She said that during a very difficult night in her life, she could not sleep, so she got up to clean. She was dusting and she accidentally knocked Nana's Promise box off. It fell on the floor and one card flew out. She showed it to me. It was Psalm 55.22 and I Peter 5.7. I showed my journal in which I had just written out Psalm 55.22 and how the day before as I began my trek to Florida the LORD had given this to me for my family there. And suddenly we realized we were in the Presence of God. We prayed, thanking God for the wonderful gift of our heritage. Our Nana had gone to heaven 22 years ago but the influence of her life lived on and the LORD was showing us that and that those promises were as true today as the day He gave them to David, the shepherd who became Israel's king and Peter, the fisherman from Galilee turned apostle and the day our Nana read them and the night that card popped out. Our God is an Awesome God.

There are times when we find life's situations to be unbearable. I think of Tiffany, Christopher's fiance. Wedding Invitations all sent out and suddenly he is gone and what was to be three weeks of wonderful expectation had become difficult beyond description. Horatio Spafford and Joseph Scriven knew about this. They wrote, It is Well With My Soul and What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Scriven's fiance drowned the night before they were to be married.

Christ cares for us!


The church is His Body.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

The members of the body are the operators on behalf of the Head (Rom. 12. 5).


We are one with Christ. Profound mystery. Like husband and wife.

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the Word:
From heav’n He came and sought her
To be His holy Bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace for evermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly,
In love may dwell with Thee.

This oneness with Jesus is forever!


3. Christ's Eternal Love For the Church.

Our union to Christ is just just lasting, it is everlasting.

To present her to Himself.
He longs to "present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing" (v. 27). A Bride without blemish in His eyes. Seeing that this is His ultimate purpose concerning all His own, should we not expect Him to work out that which is pleasing to Him now in each individual life ? Let us ever remember that we are always in the hands of Him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy (Jude 24, 25). That will be the happy day of the "Marriage of the Lamb."
Revelation 19

From heav’n He came and sought her
To be His holy Bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away
Marriage will be between Christ and His Church.
Mark 12:25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
Matthew 22:30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

The morning is coming! The night of weeping will soon be past. "Until the day beaks, and the shadows flee away," be of good courage. Patiently hope, "and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." He will surely come again; and even the tears of to-day shall be turned into joy to abundantly.

Matthew 25.1-13


Let's live fully for Him!
Let's offer ourselves as living sacrifices.
Let's reflect His glory.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

The Bread of Life For The Church



Ephesians 5.25-29

Due to the blizzard and many folks unable to get out yet we I am going to expound on one portion of what was to be this morning's message and bring the entire message next week, LORD willing.

The Word of God is the food of the church. It nourishes it. We need daily bread from heaven.

We are told here in Ephesians 5.29 that Christ feeds the Church, His Body.
He feeds us with the Word.

The idea of feeding it is:
to nourish up to maturity, to nurture, bring up

Jesus said to the disciples, before He died, John 15:3, 7-8 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Christ loves the church

He feeds it.
He nourisheth her with the milk of His Word, and holds her in the arms of His love (John 17. 14, 15). He satisfies her with good things by His comforting Spirit (John 16. 13, 14).

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.

I have been in the church all my life. I became a member at 7 years of age, back in 1963.
The trends in the American Church have bern interesting. They are overdoses.
An overdose can be too much of something that we need to stay healthy.
In the 1960's it was evangelism.
In the 1970's it was the discipleship.
In the 1980's it was politics. Reform the country through voting in the right person.
In the 1990's there was an outbreak of renewal, I believe Jesus knocking at te door.
In the 21st century everything is leadership. Conferences, seminars, and books abound.

But when we look at the final words of Jesus as He was wrapping up His ministry on earth to those who would carry on (John 14-16, Luke 24, Acts 1), the emphasis was on prayer, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit working.

That we get excited over a human instrument today, or quotes from writers or the latest overdose shows how much need the basics of prayer,the Word and His Spirit.

The feeding of the 5,000

One of the final conversations
John 21:15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep."

Jesus feeds His Church by His Word, the Bible.
I love that hymn, The Bible Stands

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
’Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

Refrain:
The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

The Bible stands like a mountain tow’ring
Far above the works of men;
Its truth by none ever was refuted,
And destroy it they never can.

The Bible stands and it will forever,
When the world has passed away;
By inspiration it has been given,
All its precepts I will obey.

The Bible stands every test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And to prove and to make it mine.

That is one of the songs of my life.

Jesus feeds us
1. Personally
Daily Quiet Times
Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe pleasing in your sight,O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heartthat I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow;strengthen me according to your word.

2. In Times of Stress and Great Difficulty
Psalm 119:81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation,but I have put my hope in your word.


3. Through Pastors Teachers
Ephesians 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

4. All the Time
Christian Maturity is
Praying without ceasing.
Being so marinated in the Word that it comes to mind continually

Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.








Sunday, February 3, 2013

Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit

Ephesians 4.1-6

Every spiritual blessing we have in Christ relates to our walk with the LORD. God has given us spiritual riches so that we can bring Him glory by reflecting Him and so that we may love each other with all the facets of His love.

Salvation happens in a moment.
Growth in grace is a life long work.

There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely God’s sovereign work— “Look to Me, and be saved . . .” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation. -Oswald Chambers
That is why Jesus spoke about those who believe for a whie and then fall away because they have roots in the Parable of the sower/soils in Mark 4.
Mark 4:5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

Here are several areas Paul calls our hearts and minds to, areas we all need to grow in.

It is tragic when a believer stops growing.
It is not right.
It is sad.

These verses explain:
Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

We put forth effort as a result if God's work in us in saving us.
He gives the power and energy and is at work in us to bring about change within.

What are graces we ought to be growing in? What are things we need to be working out?

1. Being Humble- a correct opinion of yourself.
Be a servant. Seek the lowest place.
a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness

Look at Jesus Philippians 2.5-8
Setting ourselves beside the life of Christ Jesus
Facing our weaknesses, failures and shortcomings.
The Masters, The Barclays, PGA Phil Mickelson's approach shots incredible! I realized how far I had to go in my game.

Face yourself
Look to Christ


2. Being Gentle
mildness, meekness
Listen to Jesus
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus was no pushover.
What does this mean?
Christ is approachable. Children, the destitute, the learned, the rich and the everyman were drawn to Him.
He had compassion on people.
He listened carefully.

He was always angry and the right time and never at the wrong time.
This word gentle also is used to describe an animal that has been trained, whose every passion and instinct are under perfect control. A great example of that would be the seeing eye dogs. Bernard's words to me about their strict training.

Times when He was angry
*Clearing the Temple
*When the disciples tried to prevent the children from coming to Him.
*When Philip asked Him to show them the Father
*When they came down from the mountain after He was transfigured.
Matthew 17.14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

It is possible to be tough minded and tender hearted.

3. Being Patient
endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance
forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

Allow the LORD room to work out His purposes
Exodus 23. 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

Patience is cooperating with God's timing which is perfect and He makes all things beautiful in it. Bright and fair.

Patience is endurance.
It also describes the spirit of a man who has the power to take revenge but never does so, a refusal to retaliate. A puppy with a big dog.


4.Love's forbearance
to hold up, to hold one's self erect and firm, to sustain, to bear, to endure

We must bear with
*where each other is at on our own spiritual pilgrimage.
*the sins - offenses of others
*our backgrounds
*our cultural differences
*our oddities idiosyncrasies

Love:
Eros
Philia warm affection between friends
Storge family
Agape
Unstoppable seeking of the highest good in another person's life.


These we are to be!