The “L” of Life

1) The REAL Battle Front - WFD 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

“Many do not recognize the fact as they ought, that Satan has got men fast asleep in sin, and that it is his great device to keep them so. He does not care what we do if he can do that. We may sing songs about the sweet by and by, preach sermons and say prayers until doomsday, and he will never concern himself about us, if we don't wake anybody up. But, if we awake the sleeping sinner, he will gnash on us with his teeth. This is our work - to wake people up.” Catherine Booth

“Spiritual warfare is not about naming territorial spirits, claiming the ground, or binding demons. It is all about the gospel. It is to live a gospel life, to preserve gospel unity, and to proclaim gospel truth. It is to do this in the face of a hostile world, a deceptive enemy, and our sinful natures. And it is to pray to a sovereign God for gospel opportunities. Advance comes through godliness, unity, proclamation, and prayer.” Timothy Chester

2) The Starting Point

“At Waterloo, the English troops obeying orders fell on their faces for a time and let the hot fire of the French artillery pass over them. Then they sprang to their feet and rushed to the thickest of the fight and beat back their foes. The Lord wants His people flat on their faces, before they attempt to meet the great crises of life.”

3) Part 2…

Ephesians 6:11-12

“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.”

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."   Karl Barth

“The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.”   Augustine

God SAID it… THAT settles it... “Don't fall into the trap of studying the Bible without doing what it says.”   Francis Chan

Let God handle the judgement

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.”

“For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

“The world needs to see Christians burning, not with self-righteous fury at the sliding morals in our country, but with passion for God.” 

Kevin DeYoung

God and the Gospel

Saturation Shepherding

God's Missionary Strategy - Church

"Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all their confidence in God."   Thomas a Kempis

Where does BOLDNESS come from?  What does it look like?

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it... But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods..."   Daniel 3:17–18 

"The Christian life is a process of better understanding what Jesus taught, learning to apply that teaching in our everyday lives, and then teaching others—people directly around us and people on the other side of the globe—to do the same."   Francis Chan

Where does BOLDNESS come from?  What does it look like?

Never "only" for you... COMMUNICATED to hearers around you

"Nominal Christianity does not have a long future."   Keith Getty

Continuing Love

Role Models

"Everywhere we go, people want to know..."

"Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."   C.S. Lewis

"Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for 30 years. His mind, wit, and work earned him the unofficial title of 'the greatest justice since John Marshall.' At one point in his life, Justice Holmes explained his choice of a career by saying: 'I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.'"

"Joy is a byproduct of obedience."

Make... Serve... Come

"I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart... where?"

Bend Your Knee

Let Your Balloon Go

Psalm 93

The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”   Isaiah 61:1 (Luke 4:18)

Identify the Need

“Jesus saw himself as coming with good news for the world’s troubled people.”   Leon Morris

Identify the Need

A Different Response

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”   Hebrews 10:24

Identify the Need

A Different Response

A Simple Application

John Wesley said: “If I had 300 men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and determined to know nothing among men but Christ, and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.”

God is GREAT and the ONLY Refuge

Real Rest Comes FULLY in His Strength

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;  but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”