February 25th, 2007
What is a Christian? Part 8 “Fully equipped for spiritual battle.” Eph. 6:10-18
Intro…Gladiator video
Text: Eph. 6:10-18
Brief review of this series:
Today’s text is the external counterpart of Paul’s emphasis on the
inward growth and edification of the church (Eph 4:12, 16)
And remember, in the Christian life, it’s not if evil will come but when...
In light of all this: ”Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” v.10-12
Living the Christian life is not something we can do on our own. We need the
power of God.
Even though victory in God is secure, it has to be won through battle. All the
resources the Christian soldier needs are drawn from Christ and "his mighty
power."
We need to be equipped, ready for “battle.” “Be strong, stand
against, stand your ground, stand firm…” These words remind us of
the need for immovable steadfastness in the face of a ruthless foe.
Who are we fighting? Let’s make this clear, it’s not necessarily
the non-Christians, or the unbelievers, or whoever you think is so ungoldy,
but against Satan himself. V. 11
It’s not a “flesh and blood” struggle...it’s a spiritual
battle.
This accoutrement is provided by God and modeled on what he wears himself (Isaiah
11:5; 59:17)
With that in mind, how do we prepare
for this spiritual battle?
By putting on the full armor of God...so that you may be able to stand your
ground.
The items appear in the order they are to be put on.
Belt of truth v. 14
This belt tied tightly around the waist indicates the soldier is ready for battle.
To slacken the belt was to go off duty. The belt was not an ornament but served
an essential purpose. It gathered in the short tunic and helped keep the breastplate
in place.. From it hung the scabbard in which the sword was sheathed (v. 17).
The belt of truth is the truth of the gospel (Eph 1:13; 4:15)
As Christians, we have the truth in Jesus. (Eph. 4:21)
Today’s application: Our loins can get us in so much trouble...
Feedback?
Breastplate of righteous v. 14
Closely linked to the belt of truth (figuratively and location-wise) is the
breastplate of righteousness.
The "breastplate" (thorax) covered the body from the neck to the thighs.
It was known as a heart-protector. It was made of bronze or chain mail.
Remember from Isaiah 59:17...Yahweh himself puts on this breastplate…
How would you define "Righteousness"? Stands for uprightness and integrity
of character, which we get directly from Christ. Eph. 5:8-9
Today’s application: Guard your heart, the seat of emotions…
Feedback?
Shoes of peace v. 15
My silly story of burning my feet at Blacks a few summers ago...
Strong army boots... The military successes both of Alexander the Great and
of Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies' being well shod
and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain.
Part of the Christian soldier's equipment is his readiness to go out at any
moment to announce the Good News to others with your feet fitted with the gospel
of peace as a firm footing. Isn’t it interesting that the term in “gospel
of peace?”
Feedback?
Shield of faith v. 16
Braveheart….soldiers hiding under their shields…
Soldiers often fought side by side with a solid wall of shields. But even a
single-handed combatant found himself sufficiently protected.
Our shield today is faith. Faith in God and his protection. Remember what faith
is though. It’s trusting in something unseen, God.
Just like the arrows in the videoclip, Satan will send his arrows, flaming ones
at that. Our shields actually quench Satan’s flames.What are some of the
arrows Satan sends?
Feedback?
Helmet of salvation v. 17
The importance of helmets in sports
"Take" is really receive or accept. The previous items were laid out
for the soldier to pick up. The helmet and sword would be handed him by an attendant
or by his armorbearer.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 the helmet is identified with the hope of full salvation...
Feedback?
Sword of the Spirit (the word of God)
v. 17
The only offensive weapon mentioned, the “gladius” a short two-edged
cut-and-thrust sword wielded by the heavily armed legionary, as distinct from
the large broadsword.
"As Jesus used the words of Scripture to repulse the tempter, so must the
Christian use the words the Spirit has inspired to drive away Satan" Matt.
4:1-4
All because of spending time in God’s word. Oh, the power of the Bible,
memorized!
Nothing mentioned about protecting your back...you shouldn’t be running...stand
firm!
…...that’s where prayer comes in.
When the battle is at its fiercest, the soldiers of Christ will still be able
to hold their line even against the most determined attack.
Feedback?
Prayer v. 18
Asking for God’s guidance, Praying for each other
Pray that Paul (as well as us today) will proclaim fearlessly the mystery of
the gospel.
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong"
(1Cor 16:13) It is taken for granted that the victory is already assured through
what Christ accomplished by his death and resurrection (Eph 1:20-23).
February 18th, 2007
What is a Christian? Part
7 Someone who submits to the needs of others.
Eph. 5:21-6:9
Intro...When you think of submission
what pops into your head?...
Certainly when you read scripture like Eph. 5:22 you’ll get everyone’s
attention.
The men could be thinking, “Hey, I’m liking the sound of that…”
The women could be thinking, “God, are you sure? Am I reading this correctly?
Submit?…”
Throughout this passage we’re going to see that in reality, we should
all be submitting to each other out of love and respect. Submit = service.
Wives to husband, husbands to wives, children to parents and even slaves to
masters (or employees to boss…).
Text: Ephesians 5: 22, 25, 6:1, 5, 9.
Let’s break this into 4 sections
(the four I mentioned earlier:
Wives to husband, husbands to wives, children to parents and even slaves to
masters (or employees to boss…).
5:22-24 Wives to husbands.
Submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Husband is head of the wife…(provider, protector, leads the way spiritually)
The church (all of us) submits to the leadership of Christ and in the same way,
women submit to the leadership of their husband.
Respect their husbands, (v. 33) love their husbands, (Titus 2:4) and live with
them to death, ( Rom. 7:2-3).
In obeying her husband, the Christian wife is obeying the Lord who has sanctioned the marriage contract. It should be noted that all Paul says is within the context of a Christian marriage. He is not implying that women are inferior to men or that all women should be subject to men. The subjection, moreover, is voluntary, not forced. The Christian wife who promises to obey does so because her vow is "as to the Lord."
Eph. 5:22-24 The Message
Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for
Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his
church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits
to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their
husbands.
Feedback?
5:25-33 Husbands to wives. (This is
actually a longer list with more responsibilities.)
Love your wives as Christ loved the church...the overriding theme here...
What did Christ do for the church?
Died for the church, gave up everything, was unselfish.
Made us holy, right with God,
Makes us clean., radiant without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish.
V. 28-29 Love your wives as you love yourself (hopefully taking care of yourself).
Again, a greater cause here for men is to take care of themselves first.
V. 31-32 Set up your new home in direct correlation to how Christ takes care
of the church.
The relationship between a Christian husband and wife illustrate what exists
between Christ (the bridegroom) and the church (His bride).
Rev. 19:7-8, 21:2
V. 33 Back to the foundation of love, men. Our wives will respect and submit
to our leadership when we love them as Christ loved the church.
In this whole “submission” thing it’s the men who have the
greater responsibility and bigger job.
Men, are you living a Christian life that your wife respects so much that she
willingly agrees to your leadership?
Feedback?
6:1-4 Children to parents.
“Children obey your parents...in the Lord” Again, back to the responsibility
of the parents to be godly.
Why should kids obey mom and dad? For the greater blessing of honoring God who
has placed these parents in your life. Luke 2:51
And (somehow) you will enjoy a long life on earth.
V. 4 (Yet more responsibility for the men) Fathers, do not exasperate your children…
Eph. 6:4 Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them.
Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. (MSG)
Eph. 6:4 And now a word to you parents, don’t keep scolding and nagging
your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather bring them up with loving
discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advise. (Living)
Feedback?
6:5-9 Slaves to master (or employees
to boss).
A word about slavery in NT times: The majority of slaves were employed in the
home. (Nanny, cooks) It is estimated that there were over sixty million of them
in the Roman empire--about one-third of the total population--and more and more
were becoming Christians.
He addresses them on an equality with their masters and assumes that they have a Christian vocation. In a society that followed Aristotle in regarding slaves as no more than living tools this was a sufficiently radical change of attitude
Remember who you are working for.
God, not your boss.
If you are a boss, v. 9.
Feedback?
Conclusion:
Leadership and submission in the Lauer house...Kelley and I make 99% of the
decisions together. At times I do step up and make decisions for our family,
but more importantly, I’m trying to live my life in a way that is respected
by Kelley and our children, in a godly manner.
The passage is really about the golden rule. Treating others as you would like
them to treat you. Human relationships can be transformed when controlled by
a prior obedience to Christ.
And remember Eph. 5:21...
February 11th, 2007
What is a Christian, part
5, SEX!
Eph. 5:3-21
Intro… My journey into girls, dating and understanding sexual desires…
Text: Eph. 5:3-7
Brief review of our current series…
I have so many conversations with single guys who are Christians trying to remain
pure before marriage… Women’s underwear ads?!
Sometimes I wonder why God gave us all such strong sexual urges...such a battle!
We know that sex is for our enjoyment and procreation….yet it can be a wild
tiger that needs to be tamed...outside of marriage and inside of marriage.
No one is exempt from the need to stay sexually pure.
Today, we’ll attempt to define “sexually pure” from the Bible.
V. 3-5 Sexual purity and decent moral behavior.
Defined:
Fornication but and all uncleanness or greediness not let it be named among
you as it fitting for saints
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any
kind of impurity or greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
“Porneia” , adultery, to act the harlot, indulge in unlawful lust of either
sex, practice idolatry. Fornicaiton: sexual intercourse between a man and woman
not married to each other.
V. 3 “Not even a hint” of sexual immorality, we’re all busted...hence the struggle
with this issue...
Matt. 5:27-28
So, after all those definitions, what does that leave us with? What is sex that
God honors, sex that is pure? Sex inside of marriage.
3-4 Greed is obvious…as well as obscenity, foolish talk (dirty jokes) goes along
with lust…)
V. 5 Potential consequence of sexual immorality? Or greed? Left out of heaven...whoa!
Why? Because leading a life of immorality could prevent you from ever having
a soft enough heart to consider the claims of the Bible.
What happens to Christians who commit acts of immorality, are they now excluded
from heaven? No.
1 John 5:11-13, John 10: 27-30
Feedback?
Some answers to the struggle with our sexuality:
V. 6-7 Don’t be let astray by false messages.
Watching the Super Bowl with my sons…some of the ads...way to much sex!
Matt. 7:13-20
Instead live as children of the light. V. 8-14
Buying the new video cable the other morning and passed a brand new XXXX theatre,
“Parking in back” and of course all the window were darkened out…
V. 15-17 Be careful how you live.
It doesn’t take a biblical genius scholar to figure out what wise living is…
Making the most of every opportunity...because the days are evil…
Seek the Lords will…
Accountability...24hr, me and Jake…
V. 18 Watch your alcohol intake…
Remember, this verse is not saying “Don’t drink…”
The tie in to too much drinking it obvious and everywhere…
V. 19-21 Act like a Christian! (What is a Christian??? Right here!)
A nice positive note to end on in the midst of all the “don’ts”
Speak with Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, sing
Always giving thanks…
Submit to one another...how can I serve/help you?
Conclusion:
There will always be consequences for our wrong choices, especially the immoral
ones.
For me, where it stinks most is as I raise my children and have to answer their
honest questions…
We’ll never win the morality battle under our own strength...GOSPEL
Communion intro...1 Cor. 11
February 4th, 2007
What is a Christian, part
5 Ephesians 4
Intro...
A pastor dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a
guy dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter
says to this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether to admit you to the
Kingdom of Heaven?" The guy replies, "I'm Joe Cohen, taxi driver, of Noo Yawk
City."
Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi driver, "Take
this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven." The taxi
driver goes into Heaven with his robe and staff, and it's the pastor’s turn.
He stands erect and booms out, "I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Creekside Community
Church for the last 43 years." Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the
minister, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Just a minute!" says the pastor. "That man was a taxi driver, and he gets a
silken robe and golden staff. How can this be?" "Up here, we work by results,"
says Saint Peter. "While you preached, people slept. While he drove, people
prayed."
Review of our current sermon series...
We have now been into our “What is a Christian?” series for 4 weeks. If you’ve
been looking for a list of “do’s and don’ts” here it is….and please remember,
this is not my list it’s God’s...
While maybe it’s not all inclusive, still this is a daunting list….
I’m figuring that we’ll all get convicted in at least a few areas. And remember,
today’s list has nothing to do with your political party, race, ethnicity, where
you live, how much you make etc.
We all stand equal before God and are accountable for our actions.
So, let’s check out the list from Eph. 4 and see how we match up.
Text: Ephesians 4:1-6
Here is chapter 4, Paul turns from the doctrinal to the practical...yet the
two are still linked...
A Christian is someone who: lives together in unity. Eph. 4:1-6
V. 1 Is a prisoner for the Lord…(Paul’s dramatic calling, and validity…)
V. 1 Lives a life worthy of the calling…Ecclesia…”the called out ones”
V. 2 Humble, gentle, patient, bearing with others in love…a “witness” that can’t
be denied or argued...
V. 3 Makes every effort to keep unity (of the Spirit) through the bond of peace…not
fighting over petty differences in the faith...
V. 4-6 Realizes and accepts that there is only one way to God...v. 4-6 (one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and
through all and in all).
Evaluation: From this list I need to work on:
_________________________________________________________________
A Christian is someone who: Recognizes the important of Spiritual gifts. V.
7-13
Spiritual gift defined: Gifts given by God to every Christian to build up and
complete the church, the body of Christ.
Apostles: to be sent forth to new frontiers with the gospel, providing leadership
over church bodies and maintaining authority over spiritual matters pertaining
to the church.
Prophets: Speaks the message of God to His people telling of the will of God.
Evangelists: to be a messenger of the good news of the Gospel.
Pastor/teacher: to be responsible for spiritually caring for, protecting, guiding,
and feeding a group of believers entrusted to one’s care.
(For a complete list of Spiritual gifts see also Romans 12 and 1 Cor. 12.)
..so that we all may be prepared for works of service...to build up the body
of Christ…
This is the only way we’re going to reach unity...when we are serving each other
in ways we are gifted….v. 13.
Evaluation: I know my spiritual gift and am using it in the church: Yes or No
_________________________________________________________________
A Christian is someone who: Is mature in their faith (or at least striving to
get there). V. 14-16
V. 14 is such an easy mentality for us here in San Diego. Jason and I on the
Pier Friday morning watching surfers get “tossed back and forth by the waves”
How do we avoid a Christian life described in v. 14?
The only way to avoid what happens in v. 14 is to read, study and apply God’s
word, stay accountable, open your life to other Christians etc. small groups...
Evaluation: What am I doing in my Christian life that helps me to mature?
_________________________________________________________________
A Christian is someone who: recognizes the downfall of the “former life” and
avoids it. (Whatever that former life was for you, dramatic or not…) 4:17-5:2
IOW...Now lives as children of light. No longer living as a Gentile (unbeliever)
with a hardened heart. V. 17-19
Is still sensitive to what is right. V. 19
Puts off the old life and is made new...v. 22-24
Speaks the truth. V. 25 and 15
Controls his/her anger/temper. V. 26-27 (My little computer victory on Thurs.)
Does not steal...v. 28 instead works for what he gets…
Has a clean tongue...v. 29
Doesn’t grieve the Holy Spirit...v. 30
Has gotten rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and every form
of malice. V. 31
Is kind, compassionate and forgiving (just as Christ forgave us). V. 32
Evaluation: Which of these areas do I need to work on?
_________________________________________________________________
Feeling inadequate? Good, that’s just where we need to be.
Our job? Let’s break it down simply instead of getting to overwhelmed with this
list… Be imitators of God, because we are his dearly loved Children. Eph. 5:1-2
Live a life of love (just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us…).
Conclusion: Jason’s Costa Rica “bar story”