Point of Grace Worship 1.19.25 Sermon Notes – “Showing Up to Armor Up”
The Temptation of Jesus – Luke 4:1-13
… The real battle with a real enemy is real
… Jesus is the only One that wins
… If I can live connected to Jesus, I can win too!
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
The battle is real! The enemy is real!
1 Peter 5 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
The enemy is an unholy trinity – the devil and his accomplices!
The Devil – the enemy above -Satan – the lying deceiver- accuser – a conscienceless enemy of God and His children
The World – the enemy around - collective humanities values, initiatives, institutions and culture formulated without God in the center– a godless endeavor
The Sinful Self – the enemy within – every person is born estranged from God – our natural default is to trust “self” over God for life
The enemy is so effective because he has “power” but only “illegitimate authority”.
We don’t have enough power or authority on our own to fight him. We win when we come clothed in Christ who has “legit” power and authority. That is why we must “Show up to Armor up every day!”
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.
In my baptism, God gives me real and effective armor …to wear daily!
Putting on the armor of God is like a parent helping a child get dressed.
The question is … will I be present with Him every day for Him to dress me?
Will I show up to armor up?
Prayer in His Presence is like the “dressing room” for “armoring up”!
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
Jesus is the Truth who speaks truth. We need to be belted with truth and the Truth!
“I am the Way the Truth and the Life” John 14
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
The end of striving …. True life is not performing to be approved it is the overflowing result of being given approval.
Jesus, I renounce the devil as the Father of lies and surrender to You as my Truth.
I confess I am vulnerable to believe lies about You, about me and about the rights and wrongs of life.
I repent of all untruths I have treated as truth and ask You to reveal the lies I have believed that I might repent and turn to You as Truth. I now buckle on You and your Word as my Belt of Truth.
Jesus, You were perfectly righteous on my behalf and I receive your righteousness as my own.
I turn now from all my attempts to prove my self-worth, validate the value of my existence and author my own version of righteousness.
Instead, I now receive your righteous sacrifice for me as an unmerited gift – a covering of value, worth and righteousness found only in You which protects my vulnerable heart as a breastplate.
Jesus, I surrender to You and your Righteousness as a Breastplate of worth, value, identity, and validation.
Jesus, I take my stand today in You and You alone. Amen