I'm Still Standing
My Own Little OZ • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 33 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Intro
Intro
Unecessary Conflict / Success without Progress
When we look back on history as nation, one war stands out distinct for all that it didn’t accomplish—our conflict in Vietnam. We were actively engaged for over a decade before finally signing peace accords, and in that time the US saw over 2M soldiers in uniform deployed in country. teh casualty rate was about the same as other wars, but the number of those seriously wounded- 300% of what had been! Those who study the war say that it was the helicopter that made the difference—the average soldier who was seriously wounded was at the hospital within an hour of receiving that wound, so that many lived who wouldn’t have in earlier wars.
The other thing helicopters did was make it possible to get soldiers into battle zones more quickly and more frequently. In fact, whereas i WWII, average infantryman saw 40 days of actual battle in 4 years, in Vietnam, average soldier shoot and be shot at 240 days each year. 20 days a month—more than teh average year for other wars!
And we won almost every battle. Superior firepower and technological capabilities gave us clear advantage. In Jan 1968… 5 major battle grounds, over 100 smaller villages, and US Embassy in Saigon...
US troops saw 1500 KIA— N Viet lost 45000—30 times the casualty rate
Whole war—we lost 47,000; their KIA- 1.1M BUt as historian K Burns points out—if geurilla army is still standing at the end, they win.
tet offensive sealed American… Westmoreland wanted 200K, lost 30K, and it wouldnt be too long before W Kronkite declare—destined for stalemate
Finally 1965… back to Communist control
long term—other nations…, but in that war...
Illustrates 2 thinsg--
1-
2- it’s hard to take ground that someone else won’t give up
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
“Stand” 4 times. WHY? simply will not fall-
Satan knows—you’re hard to beat when on your feet
*** WIthstand… Principle of the Boot—The Enemy Can’t Have an inch of ground that you won’t quit standing on
this whole book—what marvelous impact
new hope, reches, power
show off Christ against devil and rebellious angels
Immense giftedness of church, and force created for changing the world and givinhg it back to God in the end
*** the Devil can’t stand it—so his design is to undo it at every possible point
*** This entire book kind of a user’s manual for your new spiritual life—interestingly, much is letting you know what is true and provided—like plank abc and screws ef and g. It’s a primer about what God has made true in a new way about you, and how things really work. It’s like you just became part of the US Army and now you’re getting the scoop on how this all really works—army life, weapons training, and authority structure.
One thing forceful—Jesus is in charge and enemy doesn’t like it b/c easy for people who know to tell!
*** Cultural confusion is spiritual deception— this week, every persistent problem is ultimately a spiritual condition! BUt that’s not final reality, just current state. And God has put you in the game to do something about it!
But that means you must GROW INTO IT!—Training manual in spiritual growth!!
3 things--
the reality of a spiritual war
the goal of your spiritual battle (stand) (last man woman standing)
the equipment you have as a spiritual soldier
SO THIS IDEA—WITHSTAND—resist—Cf James also...
*** SO much power—3 different Gk words—about total force superiority—image—Hercules—god-size strength—realize here—GOD-sized--
but about your power whsn tapped into His--
Right now, wife and 2 kids… phone has battery… plug into… that battery taps into 1almost 15 Amps… 189 Hp @ 12V system—almost 12,000 Amp--capable of p[owering 20,000 phones for the drive from here to mid-FL—POWER he taps into!
It’s a live wire!!!!
Some of you may ask, “what if I don’t want to fight the cosmic
You are hard to beat when on your feet, and Satan can’t take the ground that you won’t quit standing on. BUT SOME may be asking, “what if I don’t want to battle… cosmic…etc” I just thought I’d raise a family, do a good job, vut my grass and maybe go fishing now and then...
*** Issue isn’t IF you will battle, but if you’re aware and how well you fight
***Satan can’t take on God head to head—but can’t do nothing—you represent everything that he can’t stand—the power, goodness, love, forgiveness, holiness, and vistory of our Savior and King—to create humans… image… and even when they fall into mud so deep and thick...
So what does he do?
2 primary approaches--
1- distract you from the actual battle
2- drain you of best fight
Distractioj from the actual battle--
Distractioj from the actual battle--
“we wrestle
Remember ahab last week—social turmoil in battle with neighboring nation, but real problem traces back… demonic spirit—willing vessel—chief ionfluencer, broad population—real enemy hidden!!!
“SCHEME”…multi-part strategy designed to accomplish a victory while hiding the fight
subterfuge
6-6-44, knew coming, Patton… ghost army...
Diversionary foreign policy—
Russo-Japanese war—worker strikes;
Franco-Prussian—unite german clans
100 years war—3rd part—Henry V…IV usurped from Richard II
*** AS LONG AS YOU’RE BUSY WHERE THE BATTLE ISN’T. SATAN HAS NO WORRIES THAT YOU WILL DEFEAT HIM WHERE THE BATTLE IS
*** Don’t even realize battle is happening
“EVil DAY—just a bad day… (two extremes hid the actual normal)
*** Manic Monday
Davod llen Coe
His other tactic—
Divert your efforts
Divert your efforts
** teaching spiritual armament
—look at parts… practical parts w/ spiritual aspect (hard to see)
Paul imagines soldier (been beside them so much)
look at each--
truth—essential—in inner being—reality as God says—foundation for all else—holds all together
righteousness (shining)—protect from shame—raise aspirations
gospel of peace—conditioning… (what you want for them, what you have—freely received… beyond either of your agendas—propel to purpose)
faith—wall of shield—cancel—NO PANIC— what He said, Who He is (—impossible to please…)
helmet—Cf —attacks aimed at “hearts and minds—Cf Vietnam
Sowrd—WORDS… discerning—not against people, but lies
PRAYING—hard to beat when on feet—time on knees makes difference—but just beyond borders of “prayers—deeper in you, guided by Spirit
**** Goal in all—STAND--
Goal not to become experts in enemy, but Familiar with Spirit
*** More about Spirit than other NT books. Why? Natural people not used to spiritual ways—but iss where battle is
*** Answer Q—why do I have success without progress?
Why can I win battles but make little progress in war?
not real fight
not real power
*** Power of standing!!!