Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 12/17/14

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 12/17/14

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

The Apostle Paul knew the need of God’s people having strength.  Prior to conversion, he was just out being mean to the church of God.  He was harassing them, throwing them in prison, and beating them.  God was very faithful to this man. 

Now look at the total turn around.  He is here telling the Saints at Ephesus to be strong in the Lord.  Everyone here will be tested past their physical strength.  It is wonderful to know that the saints before us found a strength.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

There are seasons that every one of us goes through where there are a lot of darts.  There are many temptations as Sister Dorothy has been teaching us.  We are blessed to be on this journey.  There is victory along the way and there is an eternity.

Our battles are only designed to help us unless we take the attitude, “Poor me, I have it worse than everyone else.”

The enemy will try things that we never expected him to try upon us.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is always good to be reminded that it is not the individual that we are fighting, but the spirit, the evil, and the corruptness in their heart.

Sometimes God opens our vision and we catch a glimpse how rulers of darkness use various methods to hold their captives.  We serve a God that is greater than them. 

Souls that have been requested prayer for are indeed held captives by the powers of darkness.  Some are in spiritual wickedness because they think they are saved yet they live in sin.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

It is vital that we know to stand, and that we know how to stand, for the weapons or our warfare are not carnal.  People desire to stand and that is good, but if they get in the flesh in their standing, it is not profitable and is sometimes detrimental.

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Truth:  aren’t you and I so thankful for truth?  It will never change and is forever settled in heaven.  What was truth is truth and will continue to be truth.

Righteousness:  May God help every one of us to ever hold truth in righteousness, never unrighteousness.

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Peace:  it is a wonderful message.  For that soul that is in trouble and in turmoil, and people that are on a fast escalator trying to find something to satisfy, will never find it in the world.

Peace:  this is a good prayer request, “God help me to be prepared when I go into the world that I will have a message of hope, not a message of despair to give to those that are so unhappy on the inside.”

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Take the shield of faith…  quench:  it is the best of instruction that when the enemy moves in like a flood, that immediately you get the shield of faith up there and you hear the darts hit it, “Thud.”

Quench all:  the enemy will sometimes come at us seven different ways.  The design of the gospel is to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

I see the helmet of salvation protecting our thoughts, our mind, and our ears.  I thought of the Spirit.  There are times when you need to take the sword of the Spirit and say, “I’m not going to put up with that; I am going to cut what you are trying to throw at me into a dozen pieces.” 

There are some thoughts, spirits, things that come at us that we can say, “I don’t have to put up with that.”  That doesn’t mean that you are unsaved when a bad thought comes.  They may come into the vestibule of your mind, but they don’t have to stay there, whatever you have to do to get them out, get them out.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

It is ok to ask God to quicken us with His Spirit.  This Word of God that Jesus spoke, the sword of the Spirit, they are spirit.  When something comes against you that is unclean and would trouble you in your mind, your heart, and in fellowship, take the word of God.  It is spirit and it is life.

It takes a spirit to overcome a spirit.  Sometimes we have a battle and say, “Get out of here, get out of here, get out of here…”  When the enemy is coming after us with a spirit, the spirit of darkness, temptation, worrying fretting… it must be overcome by the Spirit of God and by the Word of God.  The best way to do that is by taking the scripture.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

We are glad that you children are here tonight and are being taught the gospel.  You are blessed to have those here that love you and are caring for you. 

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and by the Word of God.  It is important to take a stand and to stand firm. 

The Word of God teaches about valor.  It means to be morally strong; being a real man, having manners.  The feminine side of that is called virtue.  It is moral excellence and the feminine beauty of being right with all mankind, with your grandma, and with the brothers and sisters.

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

That which God has laid upon your heart to pray about, that which is your prayer request because you have a concern:  Have a schedule where you pray.  It has to be from your heart.  The more you pray, the more that you want to pray. 

Prayer is worship and requesting God.  Supplication is having not just a little tiny circle; it means to pray for someone else.  To supplicate for the needs of others, to care and be concerned for them.

Pray in the Spirit:  it is alright to go to God in prayer and say, “I really need you to quicken me; my mind is groggy.”  Sometimes you don’t wake up with your heart all enthused about praying.  You ask God to help you and it is not long until your mind and your heart feels it.

We really need each other.  We need to help watch for each other.  There are things that may be kept from me, but by you praying and seeking God you will be able to see, “God help and protect the brother there.”  There will be snares for everyone.

Pray for children, love them, show that you have an interest in them, and talk to them.  If you want to encourage someone, love and pray for their children and grandchildren. 

Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

This man, Paul, who was previously Saul, has a marvelous testimony.  When you make your prayer request tonight or look at the lists from last week.  There is not one that we are praying for that God doesn’t want to work a tremendous work in their life.  He is able.

That utterance:  it doesn’t matter who it is, wouldn’t you love to have the opportunity this week to speak to some soul some words about the good things of God and about Bible salvation.  It breaks our heart seeing people waste their time, money, and strength and there being no lasting reward no laying up treasure in heaven.

The Gospel is wonderful.  It brings good news to individuals that are lost in sin, which have failed, failed, and failed again.  It brings good news to individuals that go through life feeling that they are doomed.  The Gospel changes lives.  Black hearts become white and attitudes that are terrible become changed.

Eph 6:20  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Eph 6:21  But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

Eph 6:22  Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

It is wonderful to know when you are concerned about someone that they are being taken care of.  Right now we don’t know that about Sister Griffin.  We need to have that comfort of knowing that her needs are being met, she is being checked on, has food, and is being bathed. 

Eph 6:23  Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 6:24  Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.

Peace be to the brethren.  Love with faith: what a concluding thought of this epistle!