Pastor Mike : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN : A Ministry of CHRIST-LIVES MINISTRIES

Pastor Mike : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN : A Ministry of CHRIST-LIVES MINISTRIES

por Mike Letterman

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Riches of Gods Grace - The Breastplate of Rightousness

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Can you read the last one Annie? 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Riches of Gods Grace - Spiritual Warfare - The Belt of Truth

The verses before us speak about spiritual warfare. They remind us that we are in the fight of our lives. Against a relentless, powerful enemy. We are engaged in battle with a spiritual being who is intent on our destruction. We are fighting against an enemy who hates our God, and who hates us too. He wants to devour our families, destroy our testimonies, devastate our church, and discredit our God. But, this enemy of whom I speak is not all-powerful. The God we serve is, 1 John 4:4. While Satan is intent on our defeat, the Lord is interested in giving us the victory. The Bible tells us very clearly that, in the end, God will have the last word, and Satan will be forever defeated and banished to the Lake of fire, Rev. 20:10-15. In the meantime, God has provided us with everything we need to “stand” for Him against everything the enemy can throw at us. Today, we will begin to consider the resources the Lord has given to us to help us “stand” for Him, and to enjoy victory in the spiritual battles of life.

The Riches of God - Spiritual Warfare

In our modern, relatively peaceful world it is easy to forget that we are a people at war. In verse 12, we are reminded that we have a very powerful and insistent enemy. Our enemy, Satan, is doing everything in his power to defeat, dismantle, and destroy the kingdom of God. We must fight him in God’s power, wearing God’s armor. Unfortunately, many believers do not see the need for the armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18 King James Version 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; We rejoice when we experience small victories here and there. When we make it through the month with enough money, we count that a spiritual victory. When there is no conflict in our lives, we think that is a victory as well. While those things are important in our day to day lives, they are really victories without battles. They are conflicts without enemies. They are moments enjoyed by people who are really not fighting a war. People who think such moments in life represent spiritual victory are not interested in armor, because they don’t recognize this truth: if they are saved, they are at war! There’s far more to spiritual warfare than being able to pay your bills on time.

Riches of Gods Grace - Spirit Filled Homes

Ephesians 6:1-4 SPIRIT-FILLED HOMES Intro: The Holy Spirit wants to control every area of your life. That is the clear teaching of Ephesians 5:18. When are “filled with the Spirit”, He will be in total control of our lives. When He is in control of our lives, we will live lives that please the Lord; we will worship in a manner that glorifies the Lord; and every relationship in our lives will honor Him as well. Ephesians 6:1-4 King James Version 6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. When the Spirit is in control of our lives, He will cause us to place others ahead of self, Eph. 5:21. This will change every relationship in which we are involved. Paul has already written to us about The Spirit-Filled Marriage, Eph. 5:22-32. Now he writes about Spirit-Filled Homes. Here, we will learn a little more about the relationship between children and their parents. This is important teaching that every family needs to hear.

Riches of Gods Grace - A Spirit Filled Marraige

Ephesians 5:22-33 King James Version 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Intro: One of the most neglected aspects of our walk with the Lord is the necessity for every child of God to be filled with the Spirit. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit in verse 18. Being filled with the Spirit is the only way we ever hope to be Christlike in our daily walk. When we are filled with the Spirit, we will display the fruit of the Spirit in our daily walk, Gal. 5:22-23. The characteristics that set Jesus Christ apart from the rest of the world will be fleshed out in our lives. Characteristics like “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance,” will mark us, and they will transform every relationship in our lives. In verse 19-20 teach us that being filled with the Spirit will affect our worship. When we are Spirit-filled, we will see God as He is, and we will give HIm the worship and praise He is due. Being Spirit-filled will transform our relationship with God. Verse 21 teaches us that being filled with the Spirit will transform our way of thinking, so that we do not place ourselves ahead of others, but so that that we walk in humility and mutual submission. Thus, the Holy Spirit, when He controls a life, will not only revolutionize our walk with God, He will also revolutionize every relationship in our lives.

The Riches of Gods Grace - Let's Talk

Ephesians 4:25-5:2 King James Version 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Intro: Let me describe for you a typical scene of family conversation. The father and his favorite son are having a private meeting. The other family members are not included. They are talking about some things that they are intending to do and some plans they are making between one another. The mother is eavesdropping on the conversation. What she hears is not satisfactory to her at all. So she gathers in her favorite son, the other one, and tells him what's going on between dad and the other boy. They devise a plot so that they can override what the father and that son are doing. In the course of the affair, the mother’s favorite son deceives the father’s favorite son and steals his inheritance. The one son finds that his inheritance has been stolen. He is filled with anger and outrage about the matter; and he has made the threat that just as soon as the old man dies, he's going to kill his brother. The mother realizes they have a serious situation on their hands and so she sends her boy away. She says, “When this thing calms down a little bit, I'll send for you.” The truth of the matter is that she never saw that boy again. Am I describing a family conversation that may have taken place in Lenoir? The truth of the matter is I am not. Actually I am describing to you a scene which took place 3,000 years ago, and it is recorded for us in the Bible. The family is the family of Isaac and Rebekah and their twin sons, Esau and Jacob. But it is an illustration of a typical family conversation. I want to talk to you about how to improve communications within your family. Communication is the sharing or exchanging of information, along with the emotions which accompany the information shared between individuals or groups of individuals. When you communicate you not only share what you think about a matter, but you also share how you feel about that matter.

JESUS - The Resurrected Redeemer

John 20:1-18 JESUS: THE RESURRECTED REDEEMER Intro: Today, we celebrate the greatest day in the history of the world. Today we celebrate the great truth that Jesus Christ, who was crucified on a Roman cross and died, arose from the dead just three days later! This one truth is what sets Christianity apart from every other system of belief in the world! All other religious leaders have died. Buddha died! Mohammed died! Confucius died! Every founder of every religion that has ever existed has died. However, only One has risen again from the dead! If we were to strip Christianity of the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, then our faith would be no more than just another religious system condemning the souls of men to an eternity in Hell! If Jesus did not arise from the dead and is not alive today, then everything He did was in vain, His death was a waste of a life, and all of His teachings are simply the ravings of a madman! If Jesus Christ is not alive, then you have no salvation, there is no hope for the world, and we are all headed to Hell! Now, that having been said, I want to say that HE LIVES! I praise the Lord for this 20th chapter of John's Gospel, for in its verses we are given a portrait of Jesus: The Resurrected Redeemer! We can see in these verses that Jesus is very much alive and well this morning! As we celebrate the truth that Jesus lives this morning, I would like us to take a few minutes to look into these verses and catch a fresh glimpse of the resurrection and what it means to each of us today. Thank God, because we serve a resurrected Redeemer, we have hope in this life, beyond this life, and on into eternity. Let's look together today at Jesus: The Resurrected Redeemer.

Riches of Gods Grace - A New Walk for a New Grace

Ephesians 4:17-24 A NEW WALK FOR A NEW LIFE Ephesians 4:17-24 King James Version 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Intro: In the first phrase of verse 17, there is a word that beckons to focus our attention backward. It is the word “therefore.” Anytime you see “therefore” in the Bible, you should stop and see what it is “there for.” This word calls our minds back to what Paul has been teaching us about our high calling in Christ Jesus. Because we have been given all the benefits mentioned in verses 1-16, we are not to be like the lost, pagan Gentiles who live around us. What benefits is Paul talking about? • Our calling to “salvation by grace” through faith, vv. 1-3. • Our unity in the body of Christ, vv. 3-6. • Our unique gifting by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord and His church for His glory, vv. 7-10. • Our being built up through the ministries of gifted individuals in the church, vv. 11-16. Because we have been given all these advantages, and made the partaker of such gifts from God, we are to walk in a manner that is different from the world around us. In the verses that are before us today, we are called to A New Walk For A New LIfe. Paul issues some very specific challenges for all those who are saved. These challenges teach us how we are to walk, and how we are to be different from those who have not been saved. Let’s take some time to talk about these challenges as we think about A New Walk For A New LIfe.

Riches of Gods Grace Pauls Challenge To The Church

Ephesians 4:1 PAUL’S CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH Ephesians 4:1 King James Version 4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Intro: The fourth chapter of Ephesians introduces a change of direction for the book. The word “therefore” in verse 1, signals this change. Paul is saying, “because of what I have said, this is what I want you to do.” To me, the first there chapters of this book are among the most thrilling and most profound in the Bible. Over the course of just 66 chapters, Paul lays out a wonderful catalogue of divine truth. I do not want to re-preach the verses we have a already studied, but I do want to refresh your minds briefly about the glorious truths we have already studied. In the first three chapters of this book, Paul’s focus has been on doctrine. He has been telling us about the doctrinal truths we believe. He has also been teaching us about our positional standing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The RIches of Gods Grace - Pauls Pattern of Prayer

Ephesians 3:7-13 PAUL THE PREACHER Ephesians 3:7-13 King James Version 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Intro: So far, Ephesians 3 has given us some insight into the man we know as Paul. In verse 1, Paul tells us that he is “the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Paul was imprisoned by the Roman beaded on charges made by the Jews. Yet, Paul did not see himself as the prisoner of either Rome or of Judaism; Paul understood that he was where he was by the will of God. Paul was the prisoner of Christ. He was in prison by the will of God, for the glory of God, for the good of the church, the body of Christ.

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