A Word to Fathers

Revelation 2:8-3:13

Pastor Miles

6/17/2012

1. Be faithful.

Rev 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown.

Rev2:13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

2. Don't fall for false teaching.

Rev 2:14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Rev 2:20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets, 'I will not impose any other burden on you,

See "the Resolution" from Courageous The Movie.

3. Be an overcomer.

Rev:25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.'
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations

Rev 3:5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

Rev 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

"hold on. I'm coming!"

Rev 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Challenge: talk to your family about Communion.

Stand Firm

Ephesians 6:10-20

Pastor Jeff

1. Be strong in the Lord, v10-13.
- we are engaged in a spiritual battle
- we battle evil spiritual powers, not human enemies
- be strong in the mighty power of God
- we need God's armor to stand
- God's armor strengthens us to stand firm

2. Stand firm by putting on God's armor, v14-17.
A) fastening on the BELT OF TRUTH
Isaiah 11:5

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Ephesians 4:15,21,24;5:6,9

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:15, 21, 24 ESV)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), (Ephesians 5:6, 9 ESV)

B) putting on BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah 59
14 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter
15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.

and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24 ESV)

(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), (Ephesians 5:9 ESV)

Pursue right living the way God intended in light of the reality of what Christ has done for us.

C) fitting your feet with the READINESS OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

Isaiah 52
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:14-18 ESV)

Christ is our peacemaker, and He has restored our broken relationship with our heavenly Father. This is the Gospel of Peace, which our way sure and firm.

D) taking up the SHIELD OF FAITH

Genesis 15:1
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. "

Proverbs 30:5
"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (Ephesians 3:12, 17 ESV)

one Lord, one faith, one baptism, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (Ephesians 4:5, 13 ESV)

E) taking the HELMET OF SALVATION

Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:5, 6 ESV)

F) Taking the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT- Word of God

Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

3. Watch and pray, v18-20.
- all believers need constant prayer and constant watchfulness
- prayer is not identified with any weapon
-- it is foundational to the use of all weapons
-- life of dependence on God in prayer is essential
- requires staying alert