Suit Up!: Standing Firm in the Battle

Text: Ephesians 6:10-13

Sooner or later, every Christian discovers that the Christian life is a battleground. God made us in His image, sent His Son to save us, drew us to Himself, and has an incredible future for us. However, our fierce adversary, Satan, does all that he can to hinder and defeat us from walking forward in victory. We don’t have to be afraid or anxious about this struggle because God has given us all that we need and even instructs us how to stand firm in the battle. There are three practical but pertinent foundational actions in this message that we need to apply if we are to stand firm. We hope you will listen today, be encouraged, and be committed to unpacking God’s armor with us over the next several weeks.

Striving to Rest

Text: Hebrews 4:1-11

Sabbath rest is available for the people of God. The Israelites of the past failed to receive it, but we can learn from their example and choose a different way. Sabbath rest is about trusting God, walking in obedience, and embracing the Gospel.

The Cost to Follow

Text: Genesis 22:1-14

What would you be willing to give up for the cause of Christ? Following the Lord is costly and in Genesis 22 we see that God puts Abraham to the test. God calls him to give up his most precious possession - his son Isaac. Through Abraham’s example, we can learn that following the Lord is a call to surrender all that we are and all that we have to Him, and that we must obey Him in all things. There are also many parallels between the sacrifice of Isaac and the cross of Christ, and this passage of Scripture gives us a glimpse into God’s heart and how much it cost the Lord to give up His one and only Son for us.

I Will Magnify the Lord

Text: Psalm 145:1-21

The greatness, bigness, and fullness of God cannot be adequately explained. Neither the breadth of the heavens nor the ocean depths can contain Him. We would naturally think that such an extraordinary, Almighty, all-powerful God would want nothing to do with us, but we discover in the Bible that God is intimately aware of our lives and is deeply concerned for us. When we consider who God is, what He has done, and how He has shown His care for us, it brings us to a place where we cannot help but want to “magnify” the Lord, which is fully explained in Psalm 145. We encourage you to listen to this message today to help you grow in understanding of what it means to magnify the Lord, why it is so important, why God is worthy of it, and why it must be a personal priority in each of our lives.