SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Scripture Text 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

INTRO: In John 10:10 Jesus says that Satan our enemy that has one goal. That is to steal, kill, and destroy. His target is all mankind. He will establish strongholds in our lives to destroy us and steal the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. We must be aware of his tactics and fight him with the weapons God has given us.

I. WE ARE IN A WAR  2 Corinthians 10:3b (NKJV) we do not war according to the flesh. On one side we have our weakness, the Fleshly lusts and worldly way of thinking. Paul said that although he and his fellow workers were human, they did not wage spiritual war with human plans and methods. Human wisdom is incapable of victory over spiritual things. Devil is a spiritual being, stronger than you and I. We cannot defeat him in our own strength, that is why so many are struggling and being defeated by the things they face on a daily basis. You cannot defeat Satan by yourself! We must be strengthened with spiritual might that comes from God.

II. THE DEVILS TACTICS (V:3b)2 Corinthians ^3a For though we walk in the flesh, He appeals to our flesh or the old sinful nature. His favorite tricks are to lie, deceive, or tempt to indulge in some sinful habit. He makes situations and circumstances appear overwhelming, hopeless. He loves to use fear. Because where fear is, faith is absent. He likes to terrorize. He uses people to come against us. He uses our pride, anger, envy, and unforgiveness to divide and conquer us. He will discourage you from reading your bible, praying and attending church.

III. THE WEAPONS 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, Our weapons are not carnal. That is, they are not of man's devise, nor are they wielded by human power and reasoning. They do not depend on anything that is in this world. They are Spiritual weapons. They are mighty in God. The Holy Spirit equips Christians for the struggle, providing the weapons they need. God’s mighty weapons are faith in Jesus, and the word of God which is powerful and sharper than a double edged sword. Through the Spirit’s power we live in truth and righteousness.  We have the Spirit’s help when we pray. Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV) ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Spiritual weapons can pull down strongholds. Stronghold is referring to fortress on top of a hill overlooking everything below! It is very hard to scale and overcome. Strongholds represent all the difficulties that men or devils can put in our way. Strongholds represent Arguments and high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God found in His word. Anything that goes against God’s word must come under Christ’s authority. Satan always questions and perverts God’s word.

IV. THE BATTLEGROUND, Our mind. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  The believer must cast down "every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God": Those false ideas about God, false teaching, false human reasoning’s, human pride and arrogance, self-sufficiency and self-righteousness that are opposed to God’s knowledge. God’s knowledge is His word. Everything that is in opposition to His word we cast down or count as nothing. We must read God’s word and study it to gain His knowledge. We as believers seek to captivate every thought and bring it to the obedience of Christ. A phenomenal statement—every thought controlled and subjected to Christ! How is the control of every thought possible? Only by being surrendered to God and filled with His Spirit! Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. This is the spiritual objective of the true Christian believer. God created man for fellowship and communion, therefore, the true believer wars—struggles and fights—to captivate every thought and focus it upon Jesus and His righteousness. We should not hold on to thoughts that do not conform to the life and teachings of Jesus. We must discipline our bodies and seek to walk in unbroken fellowship and communion with God. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

INVITATION: God in His knowledge says that all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. The wages of that sin is eternal separation from God’s presence. But the gift of God is eternal life. Which do you choose? If you choose life, confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive your sins against Him. Invite Him to come and live in you and give you eternal life. Then you will be able to overcome Satan’s attempt to destroy you and steal your joy.

I Pledge Allegiance

The Great Catching Up

Scripture Text Thessalonians 4:13-18

 A survey by Pew Research done in 2013 asked, do you believe Jesus will return in the next 40 years. 47% answered yes they believe Jesus will return in the next 40 years. 38% said He would not return in the next 40 years! 14% said they didn’t know! How many of you reading this think Jesus will return for His church soon? All the signs Jesus said to watch for are appearing everywhere.  2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV) ¹ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

 These signs alone are taking place daily on a greater scale than ever before! Prophecies are being fulfilled right before our eyes! Time to get our house in order is now! Jesus warned people many times to be ready so that day will not catch you unaware! The people in Thessalonica were asking Paul what about the people who have died? Will they miss the great catching up? Paul answered that question in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV) ¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

There is a hymn that sums up what a tremendous day that will be!

     What A Day That Will Be

      There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There'll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Invitation: Are you ready to meet Jesus if He were to come today? Would you go up with Jesus or be left behind? If you are not sure make sure today! Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive and save you and you will go up when Jesus returns for His church.

Reflections

Intro: There comes a time in every Christian’s life that we need to stop all our activity, clear our minds and reflect on God. This means we fix our thoughts on Him and carefully consider His place in our lives. There are four areas of reflection we need to make.

I. Look back and thank God. Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) ¹ And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 a. Remember when you were spiritually dead. The first three verses of this chapter presents how  hopeless we were—trapped in sin, under Satan’s power, unable to save ourselves. We all were once spiritually dead and had no communication with God. We were physically alive, but our sins had rendered us spiritually dead, alienated from God, and headed for hell. Being a sinner we were subject to God’s wrath like all sinners.

 b. Then Remember when God who is rich in mercy and love.  Ephesians 2:4-10 (NKJV) ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God gave you eternal life when He raised Jesus from the dead. He saved you by His grace and seated you with Christ in the Heavenly realms. He saved you when you believed in Christ as your personal Savior. It was not because of some great thing you had done.

II. Look within and find God.

 a. At the time of our salvation the Holy Spirit of God came into our lives. The Spirit actually lives in our bodies which are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) ¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

  b. We have received the Holy Spirit of God so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given to us. 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 (NLT) ¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. ¹² And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 1 John 2:27 (NLT) You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

III. Look around and serve God. We are to build up and improve the church with our gifts. Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) ⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Colossians 3:23-24 ²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴ Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

IV. Look forward and trust God. We are to live our lives as those who are eagerly looking for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (NLT) ⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. ⁹ God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Jude 1:24-25 (NLT) ²⁴ Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. ²⁵ All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

Invitation: Romans 8:16 says ^“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” As you look within yourself, do you find the Spirit of God in you confirming that you belong to Him? If not right now is the time to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you of those sins against God and save you for Heaven. The bible says in Romans 10:13 ^“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Importance of God’s Word

Scripture Texts

Heb. 4:12 

 Psalms 19:7-14

Intro: There are many books in this world you can read but no worldly book will do for you what God’s word can. When the word of God was written it was under the specific guidance and supervision of the Holy Spirit. That same Holy Spirit is still revealing the truth of God’s word to our hearts today.  God’s word shows us the path to take in this world of confusion. There are many voices speaking to us today but only one voice needs to be heard above all the others. God’s word is the necessary standard for all other hearing and the way we live.

I. King David had learned the importance of obeying and living God’s word. Psalms 19:7 (NLT) The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

 a. The perfect Law of God can change people. God’s word is constantly changing people. It revives the weary soul, those whose souls need rest from the trials, tests, tribulations of this life. The word’s instructions can be trusted to make one wise.  There are many books filled with knowledge, but only one addresses our spiritual needs. We can fill our minds with knowledge, but only God’s wisdom can tell us how to apply God’s word to everyday living.

II. God’s word gives joy to the heart and gives insight for living. Psalms 19:8 (NLT) The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

 a. Insight is an understanding of the motivational forces behind our actions, thoughts, and behavior.  That is, insight brightens our lives and guides us each day. The word’s instructions, commands, and rules for living are all clear and specific instructions from God Himself on how we are to live. It gives us guidance when we don’t know the way to go or what to do. Joy and guidance fill the soul of one who meditates on the word of God and follows His commands.

III. Reverence for the Lord is pure and God’s word is always true. Psalms 19:9 (NLT)
 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.

 a. Reverence is here a synonym for fear, for its purpose was to put fear into human hearts. It means to deeply respect God as the One who controls our life. The Law (word of God) is true.... sure, and righteous. It was designed to cause believers to obey God and leads to righteous living. We reverence God because He saved us and adopted us into His family.

IV. God’s word is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. Psalms 19:10-11 (NLT)
¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. ¹¹ They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.

 a. God’s words are more precious than gold, the most valuable commodity in the ancient Near East, the rich man who lost his soul. The values of the Word cannot be computed in terms of gold. But it does have this one thing in common with gold: persons must dig for its treasures. Great wealth is hidden in the pages of God’s Book, and man’s best interests are served by searching for them. God’s words are sweeter than honey, the sweetest substance known in the ancient Near East. Nothing is sweeter than reading God’s salvation message and His words of love, mercy, grace, and compassion toward us who belong to Him. God’s word’s give us warnings of the dangers of folly and sin. God’s word protects us from all evil and its terrible consequences. God’s word brings us a great reward. God’s word gives us the path of life that leads to His blessings and favors.

 V. God’s word reveals our sins and faults. (v:12) Psalms 19:12 (NLT) How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

  a. When we read God’s word is a warning to us. Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. The word of God penetrates through our outer facade and reveals what lies deep inside. The metaphor of the sharpest knife pictures the word of God cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires, revealing what we really are on the inside. Nothing can be hidden from God; neither can we hide from ourselves if we sincerely study the word of God. It reaches deep past our outer life as a knife passes through skin. It penetrates to the soul!

  b.   God’s word tells us how to be cleansed from our secret sins. 1 John 1:9 (NLT) But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Conclusion:  David closed with a prayer. Psalms 19:13-14 (NLT)
¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

   a. Contemplation of the holy word of God led David to pray for complete cleansing so that he could live an upright (innocent) and acceptable life before God.

      He prayed for God to keep him from deliberate sins. Those he planned in his heart and then carried out knowing it was wrong. He asked to be free of guilt and to be innocent of great sin.

   b. David prayed that the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart be pleasing unto God his Rock and Redeemer. There is much to gain by reading, studying and living God’s word. How to live the successful and abundant life is found in God’s word.                    
Invitation: The word of God says that we have all sinned and come short of God’s glory. (Rom. 3:23) The bible says the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. (Rom. 6:23) Have you asked Jesus to forgive and save you from hell and give you the gift of eternal life? If not now would be an excellent time to do so. Are you daily reading and studying God’s word? Are you daily living for God? If not start today and watch your life to change!

Effective Prayer

Scripture Text 

Colossians 1:9-14

Intro: The book of James states in James 5:16b (NKJV) “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” For our prayers to be effective and powerful they must be according to God’s will. These verses before us today are God’s will for all of His church.

When we pray according to God’s will, we can expect powerful results.  (1 John 5:14-15)

I. This is a prayer for us to be filled with knowledge of God’s will for our lives. Colossians 1:9 (NKJV) ⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

 A. In all wisdom. Wisdom is Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just    judgment as to the action which is to be taken in a every situation we face in this life. 

     B. In all spiritual understanding. Means skill in dealing with or handling spiritual things!

This knowledge, wisdom and understanding are not for just one particular thing but for all of life. God's will for us involves our very behavior and conduct; it even reaches down into the depth of imagination and thought. Imagine!

Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5)

God has willed a life for us to live and we need to be filled with the knowledge of that life.

II. This prayer is to be able to walk worthy of the Lord. Colossians 1:10 (NKJV) that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 a. We are to be pleasing to the Lord in everything. Is it possible for Christians to please God? Apparently so, for Paul prayed exactly that for the Colossian believers!

 Perfection won’t be achieved in this life, yet believers press on toward the goal of God’s high calling for our lives.

 b. We are to be fruitful in every good work. Knowing something and having the ability to do something are very important, but they involve only head knowledge. The critical point is putting what we know into practice. We are to live out the will of God; we are to practice and do the will of God. Knowing the will of God is of no value until we have committed our lives to do it and produce the fruit of righteousness.

 c. We are to constantly be growing in our knowledge of God. The only way to increase our knowledge of God is to read His word daily. We are to pray for spiritual understanding of His word as we read it.

III. This prayer is to be strengthened with all might. Colossians 1:11-12 (NKJV) ¹¹ strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 

 a. According to God’s glorious power. One can hardly pray a more wonderful prayer. To be made strong with God’s power is to be given incredible strength—it was God’s glorious power that created the universe and that brought Jesus back to life.

 b. It’s the power to be patient and longsuffering. Patience is the ability to stand firm against opposition without giving up; it is often used in describing one’s dealings with difficult people and circumstances. Endurance is the ability to continue toward a goal regardless of the obstacles; it is often used in relation to difficult problems. Both are needed, and both come from the empowerment of God’s glorious strength. God's power gives us a spirit of joyfulness through all the trials and tribulations of life. We have joy knowing we are doing God’s will and pleasing Him.

 c. It’s the power to have Joy. Joy means an inner gladness; a deep seated pleasure. It is a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful and rejoicing heart. It is a cheerful heart that leads to cheerful and rejoicing behavior. We can be joyous because God has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. We have to be prepared, that is, qualified and made fit before we can receive the inheritance. Man is not qualified or fit to receive anything from God, especially an inheritance. God has qualified us for the inheritance through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. What have we inherited? We are heirs of salvation and eternal life. We are heirs of the promises made to Abraham, the promises to inherit the world and to be a citizen of a great nation of people. We are heirs of God’s glory, grace, love, and righteousness. We are heirs of God's very special favor. We are heirs of an immortal and perfected body that shall be given us when Christ returns. We are heirs of God’s kingdom.

IV. We are to thank God we have been delivered. Colossians 1:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 

 a. From the power of darkness. We have been delivered out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness and evil. We have been bought back from Satan’s control by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died for man. He took the penalty of sins and bore the punishment Himself on the cross. (Isaiah 53:5 ) He was able to do this because He was the Perfect and Ideal Man, and as the Ideal Man, He stands for and represent all mankind. He took the keys of death and hell away from Satan. We have been transferred from spiritual darkness into the kingdom of Christ.

      b. Into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

  1. We are to thank God’s Son Jesus that we have redemption through His blood. Our sins have been forgiven. They are not going to be forgiven, they have been forgiven. We have been transferred from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God by Jesus Christ.

We now live for Him we show our gratitude.

    Invitation: Have you been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom by Jesus Christ? If not now is the perfect time! Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you. Invite Jesus to take charge of your life. If you have been saved, will you pray this prayer for yourself and the church? It is time for us to take prayer seriously! We have not because we ask not. (James 4:2)

Freedom

Freedom

Intro: As of July 4, 2016, the United States of America is 240 years old. The Declaration of Independence from Great Britain was approved by the thirteen colonies on July 4, 1776, at which point the United States became a country. As of April 30, 2016, the United States has a total resident population of 323,730,000, making it the third most populous country in the world. The total number of Americans killed in all U.S. wars to defend America’s freedom is over 1.1 million. Today, out of a nation of over 323 million people, 1.3 million Americans are in active duty military, and another 1 million serve in the reserves, according to the Department of Defense. We are free as a nation today because someone was willing to put their lives on the line for us.

I. Jesus said the truth sets us free and keeps us free. (John 8:32-36) The pilgrims, as you will recall, were Christians fleeing Europe in order to escape religious persecution, and they literally began their stay in their new land with the words, “In the name of God, Amen.” America was indeed founded by bible-believing Christians and based on Christian principles. When they founded this country, the Founding Fathers envisioned a government that would promote and encourage Christianity. Freedom cannot survive without it!

   All but two of the first 108 universities founded in America were Christian. This includes the first, Harvard, where the student handbook listed this as Rule #1: “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, John 17:3; and therefore to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation for our children to follow the moral principles of the Ten Commandments."

    In 1777, Continental Congress voted to spend $300,000 to purchase bibles which were to be distributed throughout the 13 colonies! And in 1782, the United States Congress declared, “The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools." Yes the truth of God’s word has been instrumental in the freedom we enjoy in this country.      No other religion except Christianity is compatible with our constitution.

         In No other country with a religion other than Christianity are you            allowed freedom of religious expression. You will be terminated! 

    II. We are a free and blessed nation as long as we give God His rightful place.           (Psalm 33:12-22)

 a. This verse expresses joy over being part of God’s elect people, recipients of His loyal faithful love. God has had His hand on this nation from its very beginning and for 240 years He has kept this nation free through His Son Jesus Christ.  The psalmist then stated that God sees all people from His exalted position in heaven (His dwelling place). (v:13) He created each one of us with His hands and sees even our inner thoughts. (v:15) God does not save the self-confident. Those who look to a king (government), or human strength, (man’s wisdom) or a horse (military might) cannot find deliverance. (v:16-17) This nation will not be saved by any work of mankind. Rather the Lord saves and preserves those who trust and hope in Him (vs:18-19) “God saves those who “fear” Him and hope in His mercy. Those who wait for Him, rejoice in Him and trust in His unfailing love. (vv. 20, 22) What the Christian flag rep. keeps what the American flag rep. free.

Conclusion: There are other religions coming into our nation on a daily basis. They have the freedom to practice their religion but we are never to support them or put their religion on the same level as Christianity. All other religions will send you to hell. We are to actively try to help them come to know the truth about Jesus or else they are eternally doomed. We are to tell everyone that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God come to earth to live a perfect life, be crucified on a cross and then be resurrected as payment for our sins.  (John  3:16)

Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can give us the things we need for this nation! All else will fail!

Invitation: Do you know for sure you are going to heaven when you die? If not today is the day to make sure before it’s eternally too late. Jesus said He is the only way, truth and life. No one comes to the Father but by Me. (John 14:6) Ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your life and save you from the penalty of your sins and give you a home in Heaven right now. 

Spiritual Growth

Scripture Text Ephesians 3:14-21

Intro: Paul’s prayer for Spiritual growth in these verses was addressed to the Father of the whole family of God. God is the Father of all believers who have ever believed and trusted His promise, both past and present. This prayer is for spiritual strength and understanding of God’s plan for our lives. We also are to;

I. Pray for Holy Spirit Power. Ephesians 3:16 (NLT)
¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. The first request is for power and strength in the inner man, for the strength and power of God's Spirit to be released in us, that we become aware of His presence and power at work in our lives.

a. The word "empower" means to enable with force, energy, might. It means to have energy or force; to act, endure, or resist.

 b. The word "strengthen" means to be made strong, tough, enduring.

 c. The believer needs to be strengthened with power in the "inner man," that is, in the deepest part of his being, in his soul, in his heart, in his spirit—in the spirit that God has renewed. It is there that he must be strengthened with power. Why?

 d. Because it is the only way he can overcome the flesh with all its weakness. It is the only way he can conquer...•  temptation and sin•  grief and death•  trouble and trials•  disease and suffering•  selfishness and worldliness•  problems and circumstances. We can’t overcome these things in our own power and might. We must overcome the things of this world through the power of the Spirit of God within us, so we must pray for ourselves and each other.

II. Pray for Christ to be at home in our hearts. Ephesians 3:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

     This prayer is not for Christ to enter the hearts and lives of believers; Christ is already in their hearts and lives. What then does this request mean? It means that Christ would be at home and live in a permanent sense within the believer.  It means the believer would be aware and conscious of Christ within his heart—always aware and conscious that Christ has taken up residence within him. It means the believer would let Christ control and guide his life—permanently and constantly—because Christ is at home in his heart. The more the believer is aware and conscious of Christ within him, the more he will walk and live in Christ. Note that Christ dwells within the believer by faith. Faith means trust, assurance, and conviction based on God’s word.

III. Pray for power to understand. Ephesians 3:18 (NLT)
¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

    Understanding means Insight, judgment, discernment, intelligence. It means a full understanding of all spiritual things. It is crucial that the believer grasp God's eternal plan and glorious salvation. All believers must comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of what God’s love has done for them and the church. The more believers comprehend, the more they will surrender their lives to Christ and serve Him. There is no limit to God’s love for us. It can’t be contained, it’s unlimited.

IV. Pray to experience Christ’s Love. Ephesians 3:19a (NLT)
¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.

     This prayer request is to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge. It is utterly impossible to grasp and experience the love of Christ anywhere close to its full measure, but we should pray for God to help us learn more and more of His love and we should make the request often every day. There has never been penned a greater description of the unbounded, unlimited love of Christ than that of F.M. Lehman in the song, "The Love of God": "Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forever more endure. The saints and angels song.

     

V. Result of prayer. Ephesians 3:19b (NLT)
¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

    When we experience the love of Christ that passes all understanding, "Then you will be filled (through all your being) with all the fullness of God...[that is] you will have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!" Then you will be complete lacking nothing.

Conclusion: Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

     Here is the encouragement to pray and to trust God for the answer. God is able to answer our prayers through the mighty power that works in us. What is that power within us? It is the Holy Spirit of God who is at work in us and He is able to do infinitely more than we could ever ask or think.

    1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) ¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

     The purpose of God in answering prayer and in doing all this for us: that He might be glorified (adored, idolized) in the church through Christ Jesus. And note how long He is to be glorified: throughout all ages, world without end. Ephesians 3:21 (NLT) Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

    Invitation: Have you confessed your sins to Jesus and prayed for Him to forgive you? Are you praying for your spiritual growth and are you also praying for others spiritual growth? If not, why not? We will never be all God wants us to be until we begin to get serious about our spiritual growth!