Praying On The Armor Part 2
THE ARMOR OF GOD PART 2
EPHESIANS 6:14-18 (NIV)
14 STAND FIRM THEN,
WITH THE BELT OF TRUTH
BUCKLED AROUND YOUR WAIST,
WITH THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN PLACE,
15 AND WITH YOUR FEET FITTED
WITH THE READINESS
THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
16 IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS,
TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH,
WITH WHICH YOU CAN EXTINGUISH
ALL THE FLAMING ARROWS OF THE EVIL ONE.
17 TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION
AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
18 AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT
ON ALL OCCASIONS
WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS.
WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT
AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING
FOR ALL THE SAINTS.
THIS MORNING WE'RE GOING GET DRESSED FOR BATTLE AGAIN,
JUST LIKE WE DID IT LAST WEEK,
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT BY PRAYING,
SO PRAY WITH ME.
SLIDE
O LORD GOD
I PRAY ON YOUR ARMOR.
I PRAY ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION,
BY WHICH I CAN PROTECT MY MIND FROM ALL THE THINGS SATAN WOULD PUT IN IT.
I PRAY ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
SO THAT I CAN LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE BEFORE YOU
O LORD.
I PRAY ON THE BELT OF TRUTH,
JESUS YOU ARE THE TRUTH,
YOU ARE THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.
I PRAY ON THE SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
THAT I MAY BE READY TO GO OUT
AND SHARE YOUR SALVATION WITH THE WORLD.
I PRAY ON THE SHIELD OF FAITH
BY WHICH I CAN EXTINGUISH THE FIERY ARROWS OF THE DEVIL.
AND I PRAY ON THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. THE BIBLE.
I WILL HIDE YOUR WORD IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU, O LORD MY GOD.
AMEN!
REVIEW:
SLIDE
LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT THE HELMET OF SALVATION
WE ALL NEED SALVATION.
WITHOUT IT WE ARE ALL HEADED TO HELL.
WE TALKED ABOUT BEN ROETHLISBERGER AND HOW THE HELMET PROTECTS THE HEAD, AND THE MIND .
SLIDE
THEN WE LOOKED AT
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WITHOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS,
NO ONE SHALL SEE GOD.
WE LEARNED HOW THE ROMAN SOLDIERS
WOULD STAND INSPECTION EVERY MORNING
TO MAKE SURE THEIR BREASTPLATE WAS WELL KEPT
AND WOULD PROTECT THEIR HEART.
WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR HEART IN ORDER TO LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE.
SLIDE
AND THE LAST PIECE OF ARMOR WE LOOKED AT WAS
THE BELT OF TRUTH.
JESUS SAID THAT YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.
HE ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
LAST WEEK WE HEARD THE STORY OF KIMBERLY SHUMATE
AND HOW AFTER BEING A PRACTICING WITCH FOR 30 YEARS
SHE FOUND THE TRUTH. JESUS CHRIST.
AND WAS SAVED OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO HIS LIGHT.
SLIDE
NOW TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
THE SHOES OF READINESS
THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
15 WITH YOUR FEET FITTED WITH THE READINESS
THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
WE ARE TO PRAY ON THE SHOES OF READINESS
THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
THE POINT IS THAT THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF PREPARATION THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO BE READY TO SHARE
THE GOSPEL WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
SLIDE
TEEN MISSIONS TRAINING, BOOT CAMP.
THERE'S A PLACE IN MERRIT ISLAND, FLORIDA
WHERE A TEEN MISSIONS TRAINING,
BOOT CAMP IS LOCATED.
PASTOR, BOB BLAND
BEGAN ORGANIZING TEEN MISSIONS IN 1970.
HE GOT THE IDEA FROM A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL
WHO TOLD HIM AT A RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE
THAT SHE WANTED TO BE A MISSIONARY.
BUT, SHE COMPLAINED THAT EVERYONE SAID
SHE WAS TOO YOUNG.
"I WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE LORD NOW,"
SHE SAID.
AND SO PASTOR BLAND WITH GOD'S HELP ORGANIZED
TEEN MISSIONS TRAINING, BOOT CAMP.
AT TEEN MISSIONS BOOT CAMP,
CAMPERS HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR ENTIRE SUMMER
FOR THIS BOOT CAMP ON EVANGELISM.
THEY SPEND TWO WEEKS IN MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA, LEARNING THE WORK THAT A MISSIONARY DOES.
THEN THEY HEAD OUT INTO THE WORLD IN TEAMS OF 25.
DURING THEIR TWO WEEK TRAINING,
THEY'RE SCHOOLED IN
EVANGELISM, CONSTRUCTION, AND BIBLE STUDY.
THEY WEAR PURPLE CONSTRUCTION HATS
AND WORK THE GROUND
WITH HOES AND WHEELBARROWS.
THEY PRACTICE PUBLIC SPEAKING
AND LEARN TO SHARE THEIR FAITH
IN WAYS THAT DON'T REQUIRE THEM TO KNOW
THE LANGUAGE
AND THAT WILL BRIDGE CULTURAL BARRIERS,
THEY USE COMMUNICATION TOOLS
LIKE PUPPET SHOWS.
____________________________________________________
ON AN AVERAGE DAY AT TEEN MISSIONS CAMP…
THE DAY BEGINS WITH WHAT'S NICKNAMED "THE OC,"
THE OC IS AN OBSTACLE COURSE
MEANT TO BUILD TEAMWORK
AS WELL AS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STAMINA.
AT RUNNING SPEED,
THE CAMPERS COMPLETE OBSTACLES
THAT HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY BIBLICAL STORIES.
THERE'S MOUNT SINAI,
WHICH IS A HUGE PILE OF TIRES,
AND THERE'S JACOB'S LADDER,
IT'S A ROPE LADDER.
THEY SWING OVER A RETENTION POND,
WIGGLE THROUGH SMALL PLASTIC TUBES,
AND CLIMB WOODEN WALLS
STANDING AT LEAST 10 FEET HIGH,
THE WALLS REQUIRE AN ENTIRE TEAM WORKING TOGETHER TO GET OVER THEM.
AT MEALS,
CAMPERS HAVE TO EAT EVERYTHING PUT ON THEIR PLATES
IT'S TRAINING FOR THE HOSPITALITY
THAT THEY'LL RECEIVE IN THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES,
SOMETIMES IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES
MEALS ARE PREPARED
WITH THE LABOR OF THE WHOLE VILLAGE.
AND MANY THERRE ARE STARVING.
CAMPERS QUICKLY REALIZE WHAT THEY USED TO TAKE FOR GRANTED.
FOR INSTANCE AIR CONDITIONING IS A BIG ONE THERE.
AFTER THEIR MISSION TRIP,
THEY RETURN TO MERRITT ISLAND FOR A FEW MORE DAYS TO REFLECT ON THEIR EXPERIENCES
BEFORE HEADING HOME AT THE END OF SUMMER.
TEEN MISSIONS HAVE TRAINED SOME 40,000
YOUNG MISSIONARIES,
SOME HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME CAREER MISSIONARIES.
SLIDE
THE SHOES THAT PAUL WAS WRITING ABOUT
WERE REALLY SANDALS
THAT THE ROMAN SOLDIERS WORE ON THEIR FEET.
THE SANDALS WERE A SIGN THAT THE SOLDIER
WAS READY TO GO,
READY TO MARCH, READY TO DO BATTLE.
THE SANDALS WERE MADE WITH NAILS
THAT GRIPPED THE GROUND.
THE NAILS GAVE GOOD TRACTION
EVEN WHEN THE GROUND WAS SLOPING OR SLIPPERY.
LEHMAN STRAUSS HAS MADE THE POINT THAT:
"THE SOLDIER'S SHOES
ARE NOT THE DANCING SLIPPERS OF THIS WORLD
OR THE LOUNGING SLIPPERS OF THE SLOTHFUL,
BUT THE SHOES OF THE CHRISTIAN WARRIOR
WHO KNOWS CHRIST AND MAKES HIM KNOWN" (GALATIANS AND EPHESIANS, P.232F).
SLIDE
WAY TO OFTEN THE SHOES WE'RE WEARING
ARE LOAFERS.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT
THE CHURCH THAT WEARS LOAFERS
IS A LUKEWARM CHURCH.
WE CHRISTIANS NEED TO BE READY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.
WE NEED TO BE WEARING SHOES WITH NAILS IN THEM
SO WE CAN DO REAL BATTLE IN SPIRITUAL PLACES.
THE SHOES OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER
IS A READINESS TO MARCH
AND A READINESS TO BEAR WITNESS
TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL.
WHEREVER THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER'S FEET TAKE HIM,
HE SHARES THE GOSPEL.
THE GOSPEL HAS THE ABILITY TO GROUND A WORLD
THAT'S REELING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF SIN.
IT CAN SAVE A WORLD THAT'S IN DESPERATE NEED
AND CONSTANT CONFLICT.
SLIDE
THE NEXT PIECE OF ARMOR IS
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT
UNTIL A LITTLE LATER.
AND LOOK AT
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT, FIRST
PRAYER IS SUPERNATURAL PROVISION
FOR THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER—
IT IS OUR COMMUNICATION LIFELINE.
WE CAN GO INTO BATTLE WITH EVERY PIECE OF ARMOR ON, AND YET, WITHOUT THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WE WON'T KNOW WHICH DIRECTION TO GO IN.
WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE'RE BEING LED BY GOD.
WE HAVE CONFIDENCE,
WE HAVE ASSURANCE AND COURAGE TO STEP RIGHT OUT.
WE GET THIS COURAGE
BY LIVING IN A SPIRIT OF PRAYER.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE NOTED
ABOUT A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER'S PRAYER.
SLIDE
1. WE MUST PRAY—WE'VE GOTTA ACTUALLY DO IT.
THE SOLDIER WHO IS NOT ALWAYS PRAYING
CAN NOT BE ASSURED OF GOD'S PROTECTION.
THIS MEANS SPENDING A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME COMMUNING WITH GOD EVERY DAY.
I THINK AN HOUR A DAY
IS NOT TOO MUCH TIME TO SPEND IN PRAYER.
IN ADDITION TO A DAILY PRIVATE PRAYER TIME
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MUST PRAY ALL THE TIME
HE MUST MAINTAIN
A CONSTANT UNBROKEN CONSCIOUSNESS
OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND CARE.
THIS IS HOW WE DRAW
ASSURANCE, CONFIDENCE, AND COURAGE
TO FACE OUR DAILY CHALLENGES.
SLIDE
2. THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER, MUST PRAY "IN THE SPIRIT,"
THE SPIRIT, THAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT, IS;
THE HOLY SPIRIT, OF GOD HIMSELF.
PRAYER TO ANY OTHER GOD
OR PRAYER TO YOUR OWN THOUGHTS
OR TO SOME OTHER MAN-MADE GOD
IS EMPTY AND USELESS.
SLIDE
3. THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MUST BE
SLEEPLESS IN PRAYER.
THIS MEANS THAT WE PERSEVERE IN PRAYER.
SOMETIMES EVEN GOING TO THE POINT OF BEING SLEEPLESS IN PRAYER—
THERE NEEDS TO BE TIMES
WHEN WE ARE SO INTENSELY INVOLVED IN PRAYER
THAT WE ACTUALLY GO WITHOUT SLEEP
SO WE CAN POUR OUT OUR HEARTS TO GOD IN PRAYER.
SLIDE
4. THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MUST PRAY UNSELFISHLY.
WE'RE NOT IN THIS BATTLE ALONE;
THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE SAME WARFARE THAT WE ARE.
THE OUTCOME OF THE BATTLE IS DETERMINED
BY THE WELFARE OF EVERYONE INVOLVED.
WE MUST PRAY FOR THOSE WHO FIGHT WITH US.
WE MUST PRAY FOR OUR FELLOW SOLDIERS
AS MUCH AND AS INTENSELY AS WE PRAY FOR OURSELVES.
SLIDE
5. THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MUST PRAY FOR THEIR LEADERS.
THE LEADERS EXAMPLE AND THE LEADERS DECISIONS,
OFTEN DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF THE BATTLE.
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER HAS
LEADERS WHO TEACH
LEADERS WHO PREACH
LEADERS WHO ADMINISTER THE CHURCH
AND LEADERS WHO WORK ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
OUR LEADERS NEED
BOLDNESS AND DECISIVENESS
THEY NEED PURITY
SO THEY CAN LEAD US INTO THE BATTLE
AND PUT THE ENEMY TO FLIGHT
AND TO CAPTURE SOULS FOR THE GOSPEL (ACTS 28:20).
SLIDE
KATHY HAD BEEN A VETERAN SURGICAL NURSE FOR OVER 25 YEARS,
AND NOW SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB.
AN AGENCY THAT STAFFS NURSING POSITIONS OFFERED HER A JOB AT A PRISON.
KATHY DIDN'T EVEN HESITATE
WORK IN A PRISON. NO WAY!
THEN, A FEW DAYS LATER IN HER CAR,
SHE WAS LISTENING TO A KEITH GREEN CD.
SHE WAS STARTLED BY THE LYRICS SHE HEARD:
"I WAS IN PRISON, AND I ROTTED THERE;
I'D PRAYED THAT YOU'D COME."
FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS SHE WAS BOMBARDED WITH PRISON REFERENCES EVERYWHERE SHE TURNED.
ON THE TV, ON THE RADIO—
HER DEVOTION BOOK HAD REFERENCES TO PRISON.
FINALLY KATHY SAID: "OKAY, GOD, I GET IT!"
SO SHE CALLED THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY, TO TELL THEM THAT SHE WOULD TAKE THE JOB,
BUT THE JOB HAD ALREADY BEEN FILLED.
_________________________________________________________
SO KATHY CONTINUED TO LOOK
FOR A JOB IN THE SAME FIELD.
SHE VISITED A LOCAL YOUTH DETENTION FACILITY
TO SEE IF THEY NEEDED A NURSE,
BUT THERE WAS A HIRING FREEZE ON.
FOR FOUR MONTHS SHE KEPT LOOKING.
AND WHILE SHE LOOKED, SHE CONTINUED TO PRAY.
ONE NIGHT, KATHY AND HER DAUGHTER JESSICA
WERE DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE.
AND THEY DROVE BY THE PRISON AT EXACTLY 9:00 P.M.,
KATHY AND HER DAUGHTER PRAYED,
AND ASKED GOD TO OPEN THE DOOR TO THAT JOB,
IF IT WAS STILL WHERE HE WANTED KATHY TO WORK.
SHE PROMISED GOD THAT NO MATTER WHERE HE WANTED HER TO WORK
SHE WOULD NEVER STOP PRAYING FOR THOSE GIRLS.
AND THEN EXACTLY 12 HOURS LATER,
AT EXACTLY 9:00 OCLOCK IN THE MORNING,
THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY CALLED
AND OFFERED HER THAT EXACT JOB. …
YOU SEE,
THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN (OR WOMAN)
AVAILS MUCH.
WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT KATHY'S STORY
A LITTLE BIT LATER.
SLIDE
NOW,
THE NEXT PIECE OF THE ARMOR IS:
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
THE WORD "SHIELD"
DOESN'T MEAN THAT LITTLE ROUND SHIELD
THAT THE SOLDIER HELD IN HIS HAND
WHEN FIGHTING OFF THE WEAPONS OF THE ENEMY.
IT WAS THE LARGE OBLONG SHIELD
WORN BY THE SOLDIER
TO PROTECT HIS WHOLE BODY FROM THE FIERY ARROWS
THAT WERE LAUNCHED BY THE ENEMY.
THOSE ARROWS WERE DIPPED IN PITCH
AND SET ON FIRE.
WHEN THEY STRUCK SOMETHING,
THEY WERE LIKE LITTLE INCENDIARY BOMBS
THAT CONTINUED TO BURN AND CATCH YOU ON FIRE.
SATAN HAS HIS OWN KIND OF FIERY ARROWS.
HE USES ARROWS THAT CAN CAUSE THE BELIEVER...
· TO QUESTION HIS SALVATION
· TO QUESTION HIS CALL
· TO QUESTION IF HE IS WORTHY
· TO QUESTION IF HE CAN REALLY SERVE
· TO QUESTION IF THE PROJECT CAN REALLY BE DONE
· TO QUESTION, DOUBT, AND WONDER
SATAN'S ARROWS CAN CAUSE US...
· TO BECOME DISCOURAGED,
DEPRESSED, AND DEFEATED
HIS ARROWS CAN CAUSE US...
· TO BURN WITH PASSION AND DESIRE
SATAN'S ARROWS ASSAULT THE MIND—
HE SENDS...
ONE DOUBTING, EVIL THOUGHT AFTER ANOTHER—
THEY FIGHT AGAINST YOUR WILL—
THEY STRUGGLE TO GET HOLD OF YOUR MIND
AND SUBJECT IT TO DOUBTS AND EVIL THOUGHTS.
BUT, GOD HAS GIVEN US THE SHIELD OF FAITH,
AND WE CAN TRUST GOD
TO QUENCH THOSE ARROWS OF DOUBT AND EVIL
THAT ARE COMING AGAINST US.
GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT WILL HELP US CONTROL OUR MIND
AND CONQUER SATAN'S DOUBTING, EVIL ARROWS.
WHEN WE'VE PRAYED ON THE SHIELD OF FAITH,
WE HAVE A CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD'S PRESENCE.
HIS VERY PRESENCE BECOMES OUR SHIELD
AND OUR DEFENDER.
SLIDE
THE NEXT PIECE OF THE ARMOR OF GOD IS
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD
THE SWORD IS A WEAPON THAT'S USED FOR BOTH DEFENSE AND OFFENSE.
THE SWORD IS USED TO PARRY AND BLOCK
THE SWORD THRUSTS OF THE ENEMY.
AND THE SWORD IS ALSO USED TO ATTACK
AND FIGHT OFF THE ENEMY.
THE SWORD THAT WE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS USE
IS THE WORD OF GOD.
THE BIBLE,
BY LIVING WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES,
WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE ATTACK OF THE ENEMY WITH GOD'S WORD;
WE MAY FIGHT THE BATTLE AGAIN AND AGAIN.
BUT WITH GODS HELP
WE WIN BATTLE AFTER BATTLE AFTER BATTLE.
WE WIN, DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.
REMEMBER: JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF
OVERCAME THE ATTACK OF THE DEVIL
BY USING SCRIPTURE
JESUS TELLS US IN (MATTHEW 4:4, 7, 10).
THAT THE WRITTEN WORD IS THE ONE WEAPON
THAT ASSURES US VICTORY, BECAUSE THE...
"WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE
AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD."
_________________________________________
NOT ONLY DOES THE WORD OF GOD
PROTECT US FROM THE ATTACK OF THE ENEMY.
NOT ONLY DOES IT GIVE US A WAY
TO ATTACK THE ENEMY.
BUT IT'S A GUIDING LIGHT
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE BY.
REMEMBER KATHY... THE NURSE.
[AS KATHY WORKED AS A NURSE IN THAT PRISON CLINIC,]
SHE THOUGHT ABOUT GIVING EVERY THERE GIRL THERE
A BIBLE.
BUT WHICH VERSION SHOULD SHE CHOOSE?
SOME OF THE GIRLS COULD BARELY READ.
AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED
THE EASY-TO-READ VERSION (ERV) OF THE BIBLE
IT'S WRITTEN AT A THIRD-GRADE LEVEL
AND IT STILL HAS CROSS-REFERENCES AND BIBLE HELPS.
KATHY WAS ABLE TO GET A FEW HUNDRED COPIES THROUGH A SMALL GRANT,
FOR JUST THE COST OF SHIPPING. …
AT THE END OF EACH APPOINTMENT THAT KATHY HAD WITH A FEMALE PRISONER,
SHE WOULD OFFER THE GIRL AN ERV BIBLE,
BRIEFLY EXPLAINING HOW TO USE IT.
THEIR RESPONSES WERE MIXED
BETWEEN JOY AND OUTRIGHT REFUSAL.
KATHY'S HEART CONTINUED TO ACHE FOR THESE GIRLS,
MOST OF THEM WERE FROM DIFFICULT BACKGROUNDS WITH LITTLE HOPE FOR CHANGE.
SOME HAD LIVED ON THE STREETS FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE BEING INCARCERATED.
SOMETIMES WHEN KATHY WOULD BE WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY,
GIRLS WOULD CALL OUT FROM THEIR ROOMS AND ASK:
"MA'AM, WHAT CHAPTER SHOULD I READ TODAY?"
KATHY WOULD REPLY, "PICK A NUMBER BETWEEN
1 AND 150."
WHATEVER NUMBER THAT GIRL CHOSE
IS THE PSALM SHE WOULD RECOMMEND. …
KATHY HAS NOW PLACED MORE THAN 6,000 BIBLES
IN FOUR YEARS. …
HER GOAL IS TO SEE A BIBLE IN THE HAND
OF EVERY PRISONER.
AND SHE HAS KEPT HER PROMISE TO GOD—SHE NEVER STOPS PRAYING FOR THEM.
KATHY'S VERSE FOR HER MISSION IS ...
ISAIAH 9:2
"THE PEOPLE WALKING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN
A GREAT LIGHT;
ON THOSE LIVING IN THE LAND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH
A LIGHT HAS DAWNED."
HEBREWS 4:12 (NKJV)
12 THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL,
AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD,
PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVISION OF SOUL AND SPIRIT,
AND OF JOINTS AND MARROW,
AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS
AND INTENTS OF THE HEART.
KATHY PUTS US TO SHAME.
SHE REACHES HER HAND ACROSS SATANS BORDER
RIGHT INTO SATAN'S COUNTRY
AND SHE PULLS PEOPLE OUT OF HIS CLUTCHES.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO SAVE THOSE CAUGHT IN HIS WEB?
SLIDE
WE NEED TO BE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
1. WE NEED TO PRAY ON SALVATION -- THE HELMET
2. WE NEED TO BE RIGHTEOUS -- THE BREASTPLATE
3. WE NEED TO LIVE TRUTHFUL LIVES-- THE BELT
4. WE NEED TO BE READY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL -- SHOES
5. WE NEED TO USE OUR FAITH -- THE SHIELD
6. WE NEED TO READ OUR BIBLES -- THE SWORD
7. AND WE NEED TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT -- PRAYER