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In moments of despair and confusion, when it feels like life is spiraling out of control, it's time to arm yourself with clarity and understanding. Discover a deeper spiritual connection and unlock the true purpose of your existence with insightful reflections and empowering messages. Embrace the call to awaken your soul and stand strong in the battle of life, knowing that you are not alone in the journey towards a more fulfilled life. Dive into biblical teachings, enrich your faith, and find the courage to confront the invisible warfare that surrounds you.
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Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! 1) In desperate need of clarity a) Is your life clear to you? b) Do you know where you are headed? c) Why do things have to be so hard?
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! • 2) Shell shock • Do you ever feel shell-shock? • Something happens and suddenly you are taken away by despair, discouragement, thinking God has abandoned you – or maybe you didn’t pray enough, weren’t spiritual enough. You are knocked down. And then you start to climb out. But some never climb out. • LIFE HAPPENS! Garbage continue in our lives. We come to think that God has abandoned us. It reduces us to a survivalist mindset. There’s no life and no creativity. • We reduce life to one of two options: • We are blowing it • God is holding out
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! • 3) Eyes to see • We need to ask the BIG question: • What is really going on here? • What is really happening? • More is going on than we can imagine. There must be more than the dimensions I am living in.
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! 4) The offer is life So, maybe we have missed out on what Jesus was really offering. Let’s read: Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! • Irenaeus (Bishop of the second century) said “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Look at what John says in three passages: • John 10:10 • The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. • John 6:48 • Yes, I am the bread of life! • John 7:38 • Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! Now let’s look at what else He says in Scripture: Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Psalm 16:11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. John 1:4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. Acts 5:17-20 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20“Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!” It’s not just forgiveness He is offering. It’s not just your past that He deals with. He wants LIFE for you.
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! • Romans 6:4 • For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. • The glory of God is man fully alive. • Are you fully alive??
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! • We are at war • John 10:10 • The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. • Why did Jesus marry these two statements? • We are in a war whether we agree or not. • It is a clash of Kingdoms. It is Satan and Jesus.
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! In the Garden it was perfection. But something was lurking. Man did not escape without being fundamentally changed. Satan was there to tempt and deceive and lie. Genesis 3:15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! The SEED of the woman is Jesus. Hostility will always exist until God puts things in order. You therefore are at war. Look at what Paul says: Ephesians 6:10-13 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! • You may not be able to see it with your physical eyes, but it is happening. War is a part of our lives. The battle in Egypt, the Red Sea, Joshua taking the promise land, Deborah, Gideon, David, Elijah. • Jesus said: • Matthew 10:34 • Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. • The birth of Jesus was not a visitation by God, • it was an INVASION! • You can not understand life without seeing • that it is a BATTLE!
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! • 6) You must fight for your life • Awful things happen – planes crash, kids die, disease rips through families. Does God produce this? He allows it. But who invited all of this into the world? Man!! • One day we will beat our swords into plowshares – but that ain’t today! • One day the lion will lay down by the lamb – but that ain’t today! • One day the battle will be over – but that ain’t today!
Waking the Dead - Arm Yourself! • It’s time to wake up from the slumber of your ignorance. • It’s time to get up out the pity party that your life has become. • It’s time be fed up with garbage of guilt and shame that the Enemy of our souls is laying on our doorstep. • It’s time to stand up to the battle that raging around you. • It’s time to rise up and meet the enemy on your terms not his. • It’s time build up the army that is around you. • It’s time to start preparing to go up to meet the Lord! • ARM YOURSELF! THE BATTLE IS ALREADY HERE