Simon Says – Arm Yourselves

Date
September 24, 2021
Speaker
Mike Root
Topic
Simon Says

Watch the sermon online.

Simon Says – Arm Yourselves 9-26-21

Bottom Line: We can’t win our spiritual battles if we are not willing to fight the good fight of faith.

Introduction:

A. Visiting Armories in London and Edinburgh – Pictures

B. Growing up dreaming about being armed w/ a sword!

C. Challenge from Peter: 1 Peter 4:15 – “arm yourselves”

D. What does it mean to arm yourself?

* Prepare; * Get ready (mindset); * Fight!

E. Mental arming! Metaphor for thinking like Jesus!

* MSG = “learn to think like him”

F. What do we need to understand about this challenge?

* Think about a Stoplight w/ all three lights – symbols…

1. GREEN/Go = Can! Can = choice; Arm is metaphor = choice

A. We CAN choose to be “done with sin” – like Jesus, vs.1

B. Sin is always a choice or a default!

C. Consciously choose to think like Jesus!

2. YELLOW/Caution = Should! Have the same attitude as Jesus!

A. Fight vs.3 “enough time in the past” – Enough is enough?

B. Fight – the world is trying to keep us! Vs.4

3. RED/What = we fight with what?

A. Stop and recognize we are in a real fight!

1. 1 Tim.6:11-12 – fight the good fight of faith!

2. Eph.6:10-12, arm yourselves, vs.13-18

B. Stop and recognize that God has taken care of us!

1. 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted us all things…”

2. 2 Tim.3:17 “thoroughly equipped for every good work”

C. Stop and recognize that God has given us tools to use!

1. Prayer, Holy Spirit, Spiritual leaders, the Bible

2. Trials, a church family, Communion, singing

3. All tools to help each other fight = ARMED!

Conclusion:

A. The Hobbit: Gandalf hands Bilbo a sword “Sting” was actually an Elvish dagger. Glows blue when orcs are near.

B. We have help with our enemies. Vs.5 “They will have to give account to him who is ready to judge”

C. Hear the word of the Lord, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.”