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Sunday Morning Sermon Summary
 

Pastor Paul Lundberg

Note to the visitor:  These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.  They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the service.  Feel free to contact Pastor Paul if you’d like more detailed information.
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Self-Portraits: (Part 1) “SUITED FOR WAR”

Ephesians 6:10-18

Sunday, April 13, 2008

PORTRAITS OF THE CHURCH: (Temple/building; Bride; ARMY BODY)

We’re _SOLDIERS_ in a real _WAR_ with a real _ENEMY_! 

Matthew 12:30 "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.)”  

This is a spiritual war (Vietnam and Iraq are a kind of war new to my generation: anyone could be a soldier – even women and little children)

Commander-in-Chief:  GOD, the Father;

Point Man: JESUS, the Son:

Ordnance (Firepower):  THE HOLY SPIRIT:

Soldiers:  THE CHURCH (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National

                        and Coast Guard)

Officers: CHURCH LEADERS: Troop and Squad leaders

Enemy:    2 Corinthians 10:5-6

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 6 Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity (The Message)

Weaponry Ephesians 6:10-18

13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NIV)

We would prefer: “Pick up the hoe of the Spirit, don the straw hat of salvation, hold up your trousers with the suspenders of truth, and pull on the barn coat of righteousness.” (Keith Manry, August 2001; SermonCentral.com)

TWO “FRONTS”:

1) Our personal battle for Christlikeness

2) Our battle together for the kingdom in our culture

“…once you begin fighting your personal battles then it’s time as a church to stand up and join together in battle against the things in our culture which we know are wrong. It’s not enough for us to just be holy. We have to present to the world a living, three-dimensional vision of Christ! They must see Christ-in-you!” (Result: …the tearing down of strongholds!)

FIVE QUESTIONS:

1) Do you really want to fight the enemy at all? (Gideon (Judges 7: “Anyone who’s afraid can leave”: more than 2/3s went home)

Peace time soldiers: Jeff’s Army experience

            War time soldiers: Phillip Ramos

2) Are you living the disciplined life of a soldier? (Breastplate of righteousness)

3) Are you prepared to fight? (feet shod with gospel preparation)

4) Are you able to defend yourself? (Shield protects the heart – fiery arrows blunted and extinguished b y FAITH); Helmet protects the head – SALVATION, properly owned and understood, protects our mind, confidence, focus on mission, Salvation comes from following Christ: “take up your cross and follow me)

5) Have you learned the art and science of OFFENSIVE warfare (Matthew 16:13-18 – the gates of hell will not stand!)

      The sword is the only offensive weapon: it’s the Word of God 

      “Study to show yourself approved…”

      “Thy words were found and I did eat them…”

      “Thy word have I hid in my heart…”

Jesus used the word of God to battle Satan in the wilderness

      Hebrews: “Living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides the soul from the spirit, joints from marrow; able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart”

“The Last Chapter” (Philippians 2:8-10)

Green: Mission and Vision
Blue: Illustrations and quotes
Red: Scripture

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