Sermon Central
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Being Strong In The Lord
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Feb 12, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: What does it mean to be strong in the Lord? What would that look like in our lives? How can we stand firm in the Lord? God's Word gives us those answers.
Being strong in the Lord
Introduction-
I read these verses concerning putting on the whole armor of God because in deed we do need to equip ourselves to fight a battle that by ourselves we are not able to win.
We talk a lot as Christians about trusting God
We talk about taking a stand even when we are outnumbered and overwhelmed by an unseen but known enemy.
We say that we are soldiers, we sometimes even sing Onward Christian soldiers, but truth is most people don’t realize the battle they are in and they have no idea the damage because of a war around them and in them.’
The enemy of your soul attacks you in three ways. World.(people) Flesh.(self) Devil (temptation)
The Devil gets the blame most of the time and we don’t see problems in the other area. The devil made me do it.
Since the day that you said yes to Jesus, there is a spiritual battle that is going on for your soul.
The World and all its sin is trying to pull you back to where the Lord has brought you out of.
Your flesh is your old nature that is trying to pull you back to your old life.
The devil tempts us, distracts us, discourages us , blinds us, so we don’t realize we are in a battle.
The church may be singing Onward Christian Soldier, but they are retreating by great numbers.
Christians live today like they are on a playground instead of a battleground. (repeat )
Illustration-
Author Jack Handey writes, there used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money everyday. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons, but the instructor wanted 5.00 a lesson, that was a lot of money at the time. I found that it was cheaper to pay the bully, so I gave up karate.
Too many Christians believe it is easier to pay the bully than learn how to defeat him.
I know a story in the bible that illustrates an enemy, a bully, a habit, situation, circumstance, our wrong desires, to scare us when we are in a battle in our own lives.
It is the story of Goliath against the nation of Israel.
Goliath paralyzed the nation of Israel with his scare tactics and his overwhelming size.
1 Sam. 17:8
“Goliath stood and shouted to the racks of Israel, why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects, but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us. Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the ranks of Israel.”
(This monster of a guy said in so many words I don’t care about your God)
He taunted Israel, He belittles Israel, He made Israel feel defeated! He made the king of Israel feel like he had no one to come up against him.
Young David who heard the taunting, heard the belittling comments, said I will go up against this Philistine!
“Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine.”
David looked at the giant, that enemy of God, that circumstance and said to the Philistine
“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
He no longer looks at the giant as a threat, but as a defeated foe because of the God that he proclaimed and served.
Today I will bring you down-In Jesus name/ by the power of God.
Today I will get victory- In Jesus name
(47) “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lords, and He will give all of you into our hands.”
Today Christians believe it is easier to pay the bully, but God is looking for some David’s to bring down the giants not only in their lives but in the lives of those around us.
Back to the text- listen to this!
(10) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand- stand firm!
