This is War!

Notes: This Is War!

Ephesians 6:10–13

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

Live, Love, Fight

Thursday, June 25, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

Most of us would agree that the church is under attack.

The church in South Carolina being attacked.

Marriage being redefined.

If you are living a Godly life then you will be persecuted.

War has been declared on me by satan. What am I going to do?

Spiritual warfare begins when you first believe. Satan and his followers are attacking.

What will our life look life if we don't fight back.

The Christian life is not a playground it is battleground.

We win in the end! I have read the end of the Bible.

1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV

[12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

You may be facing a lot of temptation right now.

Temptation comes in attractive packages. You still must resist.

What am I doing wrong to be tempted? The real question is if you are being tempted... What are you doing right?

Job was doing things right, not wrong!

We don't have to be a victim.

To be warned is to be forearmed.

The devil doesn't want us to hear this sermon.

Ephesians: is split up into, wealth, walk and warfare. Chapters 1-3 is wealth.

Ephesians 1:5-8 NKJV

[5] having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, [6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. [7] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace [8] which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

God loves you regardless of you.

This is the wealth God has given you.

John 17:22-23 NKJV

[22] And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: [23] I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Ephesians: chapter 4 to 6:9 is the walk part.

Ephesians 6:10 on is the fight part.

Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV

[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Put on the full armor of God. Meaning once and for all.

The devil doesn't take a minute off, so we must always wear our armor.

The devil is the obvious root of all the problems of our world today.

There is a devil and he is running rampant in our world.

Some people laugh off satan, when he needs to be taken very seriously.

Why would a God of love put a devil in the world?

Satan was once a high ranking angel, Lucifer.

Ezekiel 28:12-18 NKJV

[12] "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. [13] You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. [14] "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. [15] You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. [16] "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. [17] "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. [18] "You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you.

Satan was once a guardian cherubim.

Satan is also referred to be the "model of perfection"

Lucifer allowed his perfection to be his corruption.

Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV

[12] "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! [13] For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' [15] Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

Lucifer became Satan when he fell to the earth.

Though satan is in a fallen state, he still has access to God in Heaven.

Satan has to ask permission to attack a Christian's life.

Next time Satan knocks at your door. Let God answer for you.

The devil is not God's equal.

God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. The devil is not.

Ephesians 6:11 NKJV

[11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 NKJV

[11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Definition:

Wile:

noun

plural noun: wiles

1.

devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants.

synonyms:    tricks, ruses, ploys, schemes, dodges, maneuvers, subterfuges, shenanigans, artifices; More

If you believe in Jesus, then the devil will do what he can to immobilize you.

Matthew 12:24 NKJV

[24] Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

Matthew 25:41 NKJV

[41] "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

1 Thessalonians 2:18 NKJV

[18] Therefore we wanted to come to you-even I, Paul, time and again-but Satan hindered us.

Demons work two fold: they seek to hinder the work of God and to extend the power of Satan.

When God blesses someone, you can be assured that they are under spiritual attack.

The devil can hassle and tempt you, but he can not control you.

The believer has a hedge of protection around them. The nonbeliever has no protection around them.

Satan works with two close allies: the world and the flesh.

1 John 5:19 NKJV

[19] We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

1 John 2:16 NKJV

[16] For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world.

Satan doesn't tempt us with junk.

1. Recognize you are in a spiritual battle and must fight with spiritual weapons.

2. Satan is a super being and is more than I can ever handle.

That is why I must stay close to God.

3. Stand in God's strength, not your own.

Ephesians 6:10 NKJV

[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

In my strength I'm weak, in the Lord's strength I am strong.

God will never give you more than you can handle.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

[13] No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

There is always a way out of every temptation.

James 4:7 NKJV

[7] Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Resist the devil!

Flee temptation and don't leave a forwarding address.

Romans 8:39 NKJV

[39] nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The devil was soundly defeated at the cross.

1 John 3:8 NKJV

[8] He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Colossians 2:14-15 NKJV

[14] having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. [15] Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

I am not looking for victory, I am living in God's victory. I am not fighting for victory, I am responding from God's victory.

God's Plan for Parents

Notes: God's Plan for Parents

Ephesians 6

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

Live, Love, Fight

Thursday, June 18, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

The church is under attack and we need to learn how to defend ourselves.

Children need their parents. They don't need you as a best friend, but as a parent.

Our children are not ours to mold but to unfold.

We need God's help to raise our children today.

Our culture is attacking the Christian way.

Psalm 127:3-5 NLT

[3] Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. [4] Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. [5] How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

Ephesians 6:1-3 NLT

[1] Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. [2] "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise: [3] If you honor your father and mother, "things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth."

One of the Ten Commandments is to honor your mother and father.

Honoring is giving them respect, esteem, value and prize them as gifts from God.

Do it God's way.

Bring your children to Jesus Christ. Their whole lives, you should pray for them and present them to the Lord.

Mothers need to do their jobs, nurturing and raising their children.

Captain America - has great strength and his shield.

Iron Man - Tony Stark

Thor - god of Thunder 

The Hulk- very large powerful men.

Superheroes need super powers in the comics.

Superman sort of trumps everybody.

The super heroes we see daily are dads, the ones that stand by his wife and children. They are leading their families and following Christ.

Almost all ills in society today can be traced back to fatherless homes.

Fathers matter and they matter a lot to the family.

On Mothers Day, church attendance goes up. On Fathers Day church attendance goes down.

Ephesians 6:4 NLT

[4] Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Paul addresses his comments to Fathers.

Fathers need to be in the homes doing their parts.

Many people base their thoughts of their Heavenly Father on the way they see their earthly fathers.

Fathers need to hold their course and do their jobs.

Fathers should not provoke their children to wrath.

How do you provoke your children?

1. One-way to provoke is to show favoritism to one child over another.

Joseph was shown favoritism by his father and his brothers resented him.

David was not shown favoritism, but his brothers were.

Psalms says, when your father and mother fore sake you God will take you up.

God can break whatever cycle of sin is in your life and family.

Kids know when you favor one over the other. You aren't as clever as you think you are.

2. We provoke children by never complimenting them.

Children need your approval. But they don't need over protection, helicopter parenting.

Life says there are winners and losers and kids need to understand that.

Proverbs 29:15 NLT

[15] To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.

Latchkey kids are all over our country today. Who is influencing these children?

It's a parent's job to raise up their children. The job is not the church's job, or teachers, or pastors. It's our job!

We need to "bring them up" because their sinful nature brings them down.

If we aren't close to Jesus Christ we can't expect our kids to be close. Some things are taught and some are caught.

Philippians 4:9 NLT

[9] Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Nothing can be through us until it happens to us. We need to take a lot of time with kids.

We don't need to look at quality time but quantity time.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 NLT

[4] "Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. [5] And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. [6] And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. [7] Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

Use teaching moments through out the day. Even watching TV with them is time that is important to see what they see and explain what they are watching.

Develop a thirst in your child for God.

Kids want what their parents have. A relationship with God is a great thing to want.

Train up your child to know the Lord.

Create a thirst and build into your child a submission to God.

Do not live vicariously through your child. Live your own life.

Putting out parameters, putting strength and motivation together.

Train a child according to the way they are bent.

The way he should go means, "according to their bent."

Kids push back as they get older so make sure to lay the right foundation.

1. Even when kids are raised in a Godly home sometimes they rebel.

2. We must stay true to our beliefs.

Never lose communication with your kids. They always need to know you love them.

3. We should never give up on them.

Keep praying for them.

4. Always keep the door open for your kids to come home.

They always need to know they can come home.

Never give up and keep praying for them.

Parents need to get right with God.

If you don't have an earthly father, rest assured you have a Heavenly Father that loves you!

What Jesus Taught about Israel in the End Times

Notes: What Jesus Taught about Israel in the End Times

Matthew 24

1 Thessalonians 5

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: God Came Near

Sunday, June 14, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

We are looking at the words of Jesus in the end times.

30% of the Bible describes prophecy.

The more we know about the next world. The better we will live in this one.

Prophecy is not to scare us, but to prepare us.

1. Israel will be re-gathered as a nation.

A new world leader will emerge.

2. Antichrist will make a covenant and Israel will have a new temple.

3. Magog will attack.

4. They will be Armageddon.

5. Jesus will return.

Matthew 24:32-34 NKJV

[32] "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. [33] So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the doors! [34] Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Hosea 9:10 NKJV

[10] "I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved.

Ezekiel 37:11-12 NKJV

[11] Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' [12] Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

Israel re-gathering is a super sign.

After all the years and wars, who, would of thought the Jews would have a homeland in Israel again.

Israel at is widest point is 9 miles wide.

The whole country is the size of New Jersey.

Nations that have tried to destroy Israel; Egypt, Persia, Spain, Germany.

Even America has recently put pressure on Israel to stand down even as they were being attacked.

ISIS is taking over more and more land in the Middle East. They are radical Islamic extremist.

Jerusalem is the heart of the land they want.

Zechariah 12:2-3 NKJV

[2] "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. [3] And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

Luke 21:20 NKJV

[20] "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Ezekiel 38:2-6 NKJV

[2] "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, [3] and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. [4] I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. [5] Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; [6] Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops-many people are with you.

Iran wants to destroy Israel.

They can try, but the Bible teaches that they will not succeed. God intervenes.

Israel will be attacked from a large nation from the north.

Romans 11:25 NKJV

[25] For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

The complete number of Gentiles must come to Christ before all Jews will believe.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 NKJV

[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. [8] But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

Being right with God, helps welcome these events. We say come Lord Jesus, come.

We need to wake, sober up, and suit up.

1. We are to wake up!

These are words for believers, not nonbelievers.

We are to be fishers of men.

2. We are to sober up!

Let those of the day be sober.

If you don't drink, you won't get drunk! Simple reasoning.

We don't want to be intoxicated by anything, except the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 21:34 NKJV

[34] "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

To be sober does not mean to be miserable. It means to be clear headed.

3. We are to suit up!

Ephesians 6:12-13 NKJV

[12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

God says to put on armor.

We should live a life of faith, not emotion.

Faith is stable while emotion is a roller coaster.

Protect your mind. You can't stop a bird from flying over, but you can stop a bird from making a nest in your hair.

Jesus is coming soon...be ready!

Romans 13:11-14 NKJV

[11] And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. [13] Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Get ready to meet the Lord!