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We Are Strong When We... Ephesians 6.10 Introduction:
1) Man does not define strength as God defines it. We might define strength as:
what you can lift up over your head, how long you can work without taking a
break, the size of an army or group, lack of illness, etc. 2) We should seek to
be strong according to God’s definition, not man’s (Ephesians 6.10). We
should note that God is interested in the spiritual and not the physical. 3) So
let’s look at God’s viewpoint. According to God, we are strong when we… A)
Have Respect for Bible Authority, Colossians 3.17 1.
People think they are smart enough to out think God, Proverbs
14.12; Jeremiah 10.23
a. The work of the church is too limited in the Bible, we need to expand
it to make it more appealing.
b. The organization or the church is not suited for today’s social
gospel. 2.
Failure to acknowledge God as the source of true knowledge and wisdom is folly, Proverbs
1.7; 9.10; Matthew 4.4
a. How many of us think we are smarter than God?
b. How many of us act as if
we are smarter than God? 3.
We are strong when we listen to God instead of the wise of this world, Proverbs 3.5-8
a. Not many of the wise of this world accept the Gospel of Christ.
b. To them it is foolishness. 4.
We are strong when we submit to Christ and His word completely and totally, Matthew
17.5, Colossians 2.3, Matthew 28.18
a. Keep this in mind; most religions do some of what Christ says to do.
b. Only when we decide to do all of what says to do will we be
strong. B)
Are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, Romans 1.16-17 1.
Paul was persecuted, ran out of town, placed in prison, but he would not shut
up!
a. Every place he went he preached the Gospel of Christ.
b. This was not limited to Paul, other Christians faced the same
persecution and kept on preaching the word, Acts
8.3-4 2.
Many are ashamed of the gospel of Christ
a. Some don’t really believe it,
Romans 10.16, 2 Corinthians 4.4
i. Remember the argument a man made to his mother. She believe in
“faith only” if she was right then it did not matter if she was baptized or
not; if she was wrong, then she had everything to lose.
ii. I am afraid many may be baptized but not be fully convinced in the
Gospel.
b. Some don’t study it, 1
Timothy 4.16; 2 Timothy 2.15; Romans 10.17
c. Some pervert it, Galatians
1.6-9, 2 Peter 2.2
d. Some don’t live it, Phil.
3.17-18; Matthew 15.7-9 C)
Are weak, 2 Corinthians 12.7-10 1.
We do not know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. It existed and it hindered
Paul. He prayed for its removal and the answer was no.
a. Why did God not remove the thorn in the flesh?
b. Because Paul was better off with it than without it.
c. There have been a lot times that I wanted one thing only to later
realize I was better off not getting what I wanted. 2.
How can such an apparent paradox be true?
a. We realize our strength is limited and nothing when compared to
God’s strength, Isaiah 40.12; 46.5-7, 9-10
b. We can only find spiritual success by relying on God’s power and not
our own, Judges 6-8; Ephesians 3.20 3.
Adversity is good for us!
a. Draws us closer to God like it did Paul, 2
Corinthians 12.7-10
b. It helps us better understand His word,
Psalm 119.71
c. It strengthens our faith, 1
Peter 1.6-7
d. It produces
patience, James 1.2-3 D)
Practice what we preach, Romans 2.21 1.
No one admires a hypocrite, Romans
2.17-24
a. Have you ever heard a child say that they want to be a hypocrite when
they grow up?
b. One of the strongest condemnations of the Pharisees was when Jesus
called them hypocrites. 2.
Yet, the vast majority of people are hypocrites! Think about it.
a. People condemn those that condemn.
b. They are intolerant of those that are intolerant.
c. They speak of loving God and then break His law.
d. We need to make sure we are doing the right thing and not worry
so much about everybody else. 3.
That is why a godly life is so powerful, Matthew
5.13-16; Galatians 2.20
a. I know a true Christian when I see one.
b. True Christians stand out from the crowd. 4.
People really do pay attention, 2
Corinthians 3.2; 1 Peter 3.1-4 E)
Are united, Psalm 133.1 1.
Unity is pleasant and makes growth possible
a. Can not preach the Gospel of Christ and be effective when there is
disharmony in the body of Christ.
b. When all the members work together there is growth of the body. 2.
How is unity achieved?
a. Requires effort, Ephesians 4.3
b. Requires us to place God first, others second, and ourselves third
c. Starts with me and not you, Ephesians
4.1; 1 John 1.7
d. Requires being on the same page,
1 Corinthians 1.10 3.
In short, it requires humility toward God and others, James
4.10 Conclusion:
Are you weak or strong? If you are trying to do what the world sayings instead
of the Bible, be self reliant, hide the Gospel of Christ, not practice what you
preach, then you are weak. --adapted from a sermon by Johnny Edwards (D.T.) |