The Word of God to Equip

They Equip Us For The Fight - Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

When Paul described the armor of the believer, he only mentioned one offensive weapon: The sword of the Spirit, or the Word of God. The word sword comes from the Greek word “rhema”. It refers to what was called the “Roman short sword”. It was much like a dagger. This short sword was on the belt of every Roman Legionnaire. They carried wherever they went and used it in many tasks from preparing their food to hand to hand combat.

It is interesting that Paul should use this word for the Bible. In some other places, the word “logos” is used. The word “logos” refers to “the whole Word of God”. It is the same word used in John 1:1, where Jesus is called the Word of God. The word “rhema” refers to a “specific word”.

Think of it like this, the “logos” or the whole Bible brings to mind the idea of a complete armory. In that armory, there are weapons of every description. When a battle arises, we should be able to walk into that armory and select the perfect “rhema” or specific sword we need to fight that particular battle.

This is just what Jesus did on the Mount of Temptation, Matt. 4:1-11. Three times Jesus was tempted and three times Jesus walked into the great armory of the Word of God, entered the Deuteronomy room and walked out with the perfect sword with which He could stick the devil! (Ill. “It is written”, Matt. 4:4, 7, 10.)

Of course, before you can do this, you must be familiar with where the right swords are located within the armory! This means that you need to study the armory and familiarize yourself with placement of all the swords. Then when temptations and trials come, you can walk into the armory and find the perfect weapon for the day of your battle!

By the way, when you try to fight the battles of life and the enemy of life in your own strength, you will fail, 1 Cor. 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.. But, when you fight the battles of life with the Sword of the Spirit, you are assured of victory, Matt. 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him!

Learn the layout of the armory; it will enable you to fight far more efficiently!

Help! I Need An Attorney

Ps. 119:153-160 (Doctrinally, Jews in the tribulation)
Four things about the Psalmist:
1. His Affliction (v. 153). He prays for God to consider his problem
2. His Advocate (v. 154). He wants God to be his Attorney.
3. His Assailants (vs. 157-158). He has many enemies.
4. His Affirmation (vs. 159-160).

Situations arise that are beyond our control. We may need a lawyer.

You have been accused in the court of heaven (Rev. 12:10 cf. Job 1-2).
Christians have an Advocate! “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Jesus is my “Counsellor” (Isa. 9:6)!
James says, “Is there any afflicted? Let him pray…” (cf. v. 153).

I. A Case to Ponder—“Consider…” — Weigh the evidence. Do I have a case? "If you will consider my case, I believe you will come to my aid."

A. Consider my AFFLICTION (v. 153).
1. Appeal to God’s pity. God was sympathetic to Israel when He considered their affliction in Egypt—“I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and I know their sorrows” (Ex. 3:7). “In all his people’s afflictions he is afflicted” (Isa. 63:9).
2. Appeal to God’s power—“Deliver me…”
3. Appeal to God’s promise— “according to thy word”
B. Consider my AFFECTION for Your Word (vs. 153b, 159a). He affirms of the truth and tenure of God’s Word (v. 159)!
v. 153,“I do not forget thy law” — I consider God’s Word
v. 157, “…yet do I not decline from thy testimonies” — I continue in God’s Word
v. 159, “I love thy precepts” — I cherish God’s Word.
1. Cooperation with an attorney is essential to winning a case.
2. “If I did not love Your Word, my plea for deliverance would be meaningless.”
3. Our prayer is in¬separably linked to our attitude towards the Bible— “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Prov. 28:9).
4. Can I honestly, with confidence, ask God to consider how much I love the Bible? He loved God’s Word so much it grieved him when others did not keep it (v. 158). Grief is an outgrowth of love.

II. A Cry of Petition—

A. Cry for Rescue— “deliver me” (vs. 153, 154).
1. Persecutors (v. 157). 80 times he mentions persecution in this Psalm.
2. Enemies (v. 157).
3. Transgressors (v. 158). Difference between a friend and foe:
a. Friends do not decline from God’s Word (v. 157).
b. Foes reject God’s Word (v. 158).
c. The measure of one's distance from God is determined by one's relationship to God's Word. To be near one is to be near the other.
B. Cry for Revival— “quicken me” (vs. 154, 156, 159)—He is numb from being hurt. Needs a new infusion of abundant life. Occurs 11 times in Psalm 119. Cannot be asked too many times.
1. According to God’s Word (v. 154). God’s Word is alive.
2. According to God’s judgments (v. 156). A matter of God’s conditions. What does it mean to be infused with life? It means to be able to live life to it’s fullest extent. This requires the removal of things that God judges to hinder this kind of living.
3. According to God’s lovingkindness (v. 159). A matter of grace. We don’t deserve revival.

III. A Cause to Plead— “Plead my cause…” (v. 154 cf. Ps. 35:1; 43:1). Isaiah prayed, “O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me” (Isa. 38:14).“I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted…” (Ps. 140:12).

A. Do we have a cause worth pleading?
B. Lord, I’m trying to win souls…
C. Lord, I’m trying to raise a Godly family…
D. Lord, I’m trying to practice good stewardship…
E. Lord, I’m trying to get a building built for Your work…
F. Lord, I’m trying to train Christian workers…
G. Lord, I’m trying to maintain a good Christian testimony where I work (go to school)…

Doctrines

Someone ask if I would post this list. I hope it helps. Let me know if you can think of another doctrine I have left out

DEFINITIONS OF DOCTRINES

1. ANGELOLOGY -- DOCTRINES ABOUT ANGELS

2. ANTHROPOLOGY -- STUDIES ABOUT MAN

3. BIBLIOLOGY -- DOCTRINES ABOUT THE BIBLE

4. CHRISTOLOGY -- TEACHINGS ABOUT CHRIST

5. COSMOLOGY -- DOCTRINES OF THE UNIVERSE

6. DEMONOLOGY -- DOCTRINES OF DEVILS

7. DEONTOLOGY -- DOCTRINES OF MORALS

8. ECCLESIOLOGY -- DOCTRINES ABOUT THE CHURCH

9. EPISTEMOLOGY -- THEORIES OF KNOWLEDGE

10. ESCHATOLOGY -- DOCTRINES OF THE END TIMES

11. ETIOLOGY -- DOCTRINES OF ORIGINS

12. ETYMOLOGY -- STUDIES OF WORD MEANINGS

13. HAMARTIALOGY -- DOCTRINES ABOUT SIN

14. LEXICOLOGY -- DOCTRINES OF WORD USAGE

15. ONTOLOGY -- DOCTRINES ABOUT REALITY

16. PHILOSOPHY -- STUDIES OF THOUGHT AND BEHAVIOR

17. PNEUMATOLOGY -- TEACHINGS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

18. PSYCHIATRY -- STUDIES OF MENTAL DISORDERS

19. PSYCHOLOGY -- STUDIES OF MENTAL PROCESSES

20. SATANOLOGY -- TEACHINGS ABOUT SATAN

21. SOCIOLOGY -- DOCTRINES OF HUMAN ASSOCIATIONS

22. SOTERIOLOGY -- DOCTRINES CONCERNING SALVATION

23. TELEOLOGY -- THEORIES OF FINAL RESULTS

24. THEOLOGY -- DOCTRINES CONCERNING GOD

25. TYPOLOGY -- STUDIES OF TYPES, THEMES, SYMBOLS, AND METAPHORS

Dealing with Defeat

Joshua 7

I. The Consequences of Defeat – vs. 4,5

A. They Fled – running is the opposite of standing or fighting
B. They Feared – if you're afraid, you're defeated
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
C. They Fell – falling is a picture of being overcome with evil

II. The Concern of Defeat – vs. 6

A. A Time of Remorse – rent clothes; dust on their head
B. A Time of Reflection – and fell upon his face until eventide
C. A Time of Reproach – vs. 8
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.


III. The Cause of Defeat

A. The Lacking – vs. 1-3
1. They lacked communication – God was angry but they didn't know it!
2. They lacked cooperation – let not all the people go up (vs. 3) No unity
3. They lacked caution – for they are but few; depended on their own strength
B. The Looking – vs. 21 when I saw
Lamentations 3:51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart
Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:
Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: C. The Lusting – then I coveted them
D. The Looting – and took them
E. The Lying – and they are hid

IV. The Cure of Defeat

A. A Sanctifying – vs. 13 ...Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow
B. A Separating – vs. 13 ...until ye take away the accursed thing from among you
C. A Severity - do not make excuses or be soft when it comes do dealing with sin
Note: They destroyed everything that was even remotely affiliated with Achan (all that he had)
D. A Sign – a great heap of stones unto this day (remember what happened!)


Conclusion: God doesn't want us to be defeated. When we are defeated, it's ALWAYS our fault. God is faithful and He is an ever present help in time of trouble. But you reap what you sow

Jesus Changes Towns

JESUS CHANGED A TOWN WITH INDIVIDUALS -

John 4:39-42 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
This truth remains, when people are changed . . . towns, cities and society is changed!

A. Jesus Changed the Town through the Testimony of this Woman

1. The woman, who had been changed, brought to this town of Sychar an incredible change. She "testified" of the good news to her friends and family.
2. This five-time loser at the marriage altar, who was living with another man, was running up and down the streets urging people to come and hear the prophet who knew everything" (Vs. 28-30).
3. They observed the change conduct in her.
a. Arguing and nagging won't effect them, but changed behaviour will.
b. Has your family, you neighbour, your town experience change because of the change that has been made in you by Jesus?
c. If you are Christian have you shared your good news about Jesus with anyone?

B. Jesus Changed the Town with His Caring Words - Vs.40-41

1. When the people of Sychar heard Jesus they asked Him to stay. He was willing to alter His schedule to stay with them for two days.
2. Our agenda is not as important as God's agenda! We must stop and take the time to introduce people to the caring words of Jesus.

C. Jesus Changed the Town by the People Believing in Him - Vs.42

1. They experienced Jesus firsthand, and now their testimony and witness was from personal experience.
2. A town can be changed when people are so excited about Jesus that they tell others what a difference He made in their lives. Ireland is changing whether or not we like it. What kind of country do you want?

CONCLUSION:
Either we are "agents of change" or are we people who need to be changed? Which are you?
The scriptures speak so much to us today.
… We can change people through our witness of Jesus.
… We can be changed to view people differently.
… We can change our neighbourhood, our town and our country because of the difference Jesus makes.
Has Jesus Changed Us?