daddy4ms

Introduction: As I was thinking about what it means to stand strong, I was reminded of a movie I saw recently which most people saw months ago.   It was Avengers: End Game.   The scene that came to mind was the final battle scene where the Avengers with their specific gifts and powers come together and stand strong against Thanos. I could not find the exact image online, but the following picture illustrates my point.   Just like the Avengers needed everyone to come together to win the battle, our passage from Ephesians is a reminder that the battle we are going to look at today is very real and is done not only individually but together as the church body.   Let’s look at our verses for this morning. Strong vs. 10 ·          In the Lord o    Greek Word means to be or become rendered (more) capable or able for some task; receive strength; be strengthen for service or action §   You do not make ...

I am ending my Favorite Book Friday posts with 3 fiction books that I have enjoyed.  I don't read a lot of fiction, but evidently those I enjoy are about spiritual warfare.

I am ending my Favorite Book Friday posts with 3 fiction books that I have enjoyed.  I don't read a lot of fiction, but evidently those I enjoy are about spiritual warfare.

I am ending my Favorite Book Friday posts with 3 fiction books that I have enjoyed.  I don't read a lot of fiction, but evidently those I enjoy are about spiritual warfare. 

I am continuing to read through The Pastor's Justification by Jared C. Wilson.  It has been a very helpful book and there is much in the book that applies to more than just pastors.  Here are some quotes from chapters on being confident and watchful: But we forget now that Jesus is for losers and for losers only. This is good news for you... So the law cannot empower obedience to itself. It stands over us, accusing. Only the gospel empowers its own implications. God uses sinners so that he will get the glory and so that he will get the glory in vivid, repeating imagery of turning ashes to beauty.  There is someone (Satan) who wants you and your church dead.  Very few things discourage a pastor more than anonymous criticism...The pastor should give no harbor to "about" talk that avoids "to" talk. We divide when we place our preferences above community with people who differ from us. We divide when we are more interested in what we want than...

Opening Illustration-What is your New Year’s Resolution?   According to Time Magazine the Top 10 Commonly Broken New Year's Resolutions As we begin 2014, I want 2014 to be your best year yet.   One of the ways we do this is by being aware of the world around us.   This begins by recognizing the spiritual battle we are in.   2 Corinthians 2:11 says, “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” Background- The Christian should not be morbidly occupied with the subject of demonism; neither should he live in fear of demons.(Believer's Bible Commentary pg. 1952) (1) Satan is real.  (2) Satan is defeated (Colossians 2:14-15)  (3) Satan lies (John 8:44) & accuses (Revelation 12:10-11) Read Ephesians 6:10-18 (Vs. 10-13) Posture Vs. 10-Be Strong. How?   In the Lord and in his power. Vs. 11-Put on the armor so that you can stand against devil’s schemes 4 times in NIV in verses 11...

This might not be a typical post during the Christmas season. However, I am preparing to preach from Ephesians 6:10-18 on January 5th and so I was loaned this book.   Prince has a great style of writing and most of his books are easy to read within a few hours.  Here are a few quotes to consider regarding  the Sword of the Spirit during spiritual warfare: First, neither Jesus nor Satan even questioned the authority of Scripture. Second, the basis of every temptation against Jesus was a temptation to doubt. Every time Satan began with the word "if", he called something into doubt. Third, as I have already indicated, Jesus did not vary His method of dealing with Satan, but always used the same weapon of the Word of God against him. It is written. . .It is written. . .It is also written.

I had written in a previous post titled, "Black Friday" about Molly getting the stomach flu. That was about 2 weeks ago. On Tuesday, Bethany had the "privilege" of being the next one to get the flu. As I thought about this, I hoped and prayed that I would not be next. Everyone else has had a form of it already except for Megan and I. But the flu hitting my house got me thinking about something, is sickness only physical or can it be used by Satan? Here is the reason I ask: Almost every time I am scheduled to preach, someone in my house is sick. This is not an exaggeration. I will preach 4 times this year and 3 of those someone was sick. That's 75% of the time! Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think I am this super spiritual wonderful preacher, but when I do preach, I am excited! Since I don't preach 52 weeks a year, I have sermons percolating in my mind throughout the year and then they come out on paper when there is a need for someone to...

I was thinking about what to blog about today. Then an idea popped into my head. Was it God or just me? I guess I will let you determine that as you read the series of posts I am going to begin today. As I was hitting my snooze button this morning, I was reminded about how sometimes I "battle" to get up and spend time alone with God. Why is that? Stay tuned. I plan to write about that battle in an upcoming post. Then I began to think about other areas in my life where there is a "battle". Sometimes it is spiritual warfare and other times it just me and my flesh. The following verses also came to mind as I thought through some of these areas. John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." Satan wants to destroy us and steal our joy. Satan will do whatever he can if it will destroy our walk with God, our relationship with others at the church, and keep us from sharing Jesus with others. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, "For...

This Wednesday, I will be leading a book discussion on Lord Foulgrin's Letters by Randy Alcorn . I have read the book twice and highly recommend it. As I reflected on what to write, I decided to quote Alcorn from his afterword. Alcorn writes, "This is reality, not myth-we are actually being watched, hovered over, and whispered to; not only by God and righteous angels, but by fallen angels, demons. These beings are likely present in this room as I write, and wherever you are as you read. If God were to open our eyes we would see angels, both fallen and unfallen , as clearly as I see this computer screen or you see these pages. "Paul took a particular course of action 'that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes' (2 Corinthians 2:11). The degree to which Satan outwits us will correspond directly to how informed-or ignorant-we are of his schemes against us. Lord Foulgrin's Letters is intended to make us more aware of those sche...