Sunday, July 29, 2018

sermon, 7/22/18 - Armed and Dangerous..., by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME




July 22, 2018
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
A Sprout In the Desert
Inspired be Marcia McPhee
Tending the New Creation
Ephesians 6:10-20 MSG
“The Armor Of God”


Armed and Dangerous…
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray…   (Pray for the Spirits leading and for God to be heard)

A reading from one of Paul’s Epistle’s…one of his letters…written to the Christians in Ephesus…found in Ephesians 6, verses 10 thru 20…

Desert:
(Noun)

3. an area of the ocean in which it is believed no marine life exists.
4. (formerly) any unsettled area between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains thought to be unsuitable for human habitation.
5. any place lacking in something: The town was a cultural desert.

God morning… Today we begin our journey into the desert together. Last week we pre-journeyed as we prayed and asked for that healing rain to not only heal us but to fill us so that we can take a rainstorm into the desert so that there would be a sprout of life in the desert. But what kind of leader would I be if I didn’t give you some topographical information…some information about where we are headed. Also, I need to share what type of armor…what type of protection you will take with you into the desert. It is a war-torn desert we are entering so I want you to be prepared.

Ok first…topographical…what are we gong to encounter out there…
“a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all”
We are gong into a place that has not seen rain in quite a while. It may have never seen rain. Now the habitants have somehow adjusted to the lack of rain, so they may feel they are all set with that whole rainstorm thing. They have not had any sustaining Bread or Living Water, so it might frighten them a little not remembering how satisfying it is.  But don’t let that stop you. The prince of that area likes to keep the people controlled by fear…Do not FEAR…

any area in which few forms of life can exist because of lack of water, permanent frost, or absence of soil.
People live in this arid area but the don’t exist. Or should I say he exist only but don’t live… They are just going through the motions of life not living it to the full abundance hat our God and King would have them and us live. There is good soil, but it has been without water for so long that it has become dry and desolate. That is why we need to bring the rain…then and only then will here be “A Sprout In the Desert”.


any place lacking in something
This place is lacking a whole lot. It lacks Hope. It lacks Peace. It lacks Joy. It lacks love. It lacks every good thing that God offers. Now it can get a little sticky here. Because of the lack, we can get discouraged ourselves. To see and feel such lack can be heart wrenching… 

This is where or armor comes it…the equipment that given so that we can be protected from the prince of this desolate land… remember that he is the father of all lies and will do whatever it takes to protect his land and cause others to live there…We heard about this armor in the scripture I read from Ephesians this morning…

The Belt of Truth
The first element of our armor is truth. This is easy to understand, since Satan is said to be the “father of lies”. Deception is high on the list of things God considers to be an abomination. A “lying tongue” is one of the things He describes as “detestable to Him”. We are therefore exhorted to put on truth for our own sanctification and deliverance, as well as for the benefit of those to whom we witness. It also hold p the next piece of equipment.

Breastplate of Righteousness…
A breastplate shielded a warrior’s vital organs from blows that would otherwise be fatal. This righteousness is not works of righteousness done by men. Rather, this is the righteousness of Christ, imputed by God and received by faith, which guards our hearts against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks.


Shod feet with the Gospel
In warfare, sometimes an enemy places dangerous obstacles in the path of advancing soldiers. The idea of the preparation of the gospel of peace as footwear suggests what we need to advance into Satan's territory, aware that there will be traps, with the message of grace so essential to winning souls to Christ.
Shield of Faith…
Our faith, of which Christ is “the author and perfecter” is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial. It makes satan's sowing of doubt about the faithfulness of God and His Word ineffective.
Helmet of Salvation…
This is protection for the head, keeping viable a critical part of the body. We could say that our way of thinking needs preservation. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure gospel hope of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine or give way to Satan’s temptations.
The Sword of the Spirit
Verse 17 interprets itself as to the meaning of the sword of the Spirit—it is the Word of God. While all the other pieces of spiritual armor are defensive in nature, the Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. It speaks of the holiness and power of the Word of God. A greater spiritual weapon is not conceivable. In Jesus' temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His overpowering response to Satan. We too have that same weapon.




Now many stop here with the Armor…only these 6 things’, but there is actually a 7th.
Prayer
In verse 18, we are told to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities) in addition to wearing the full armor of God. We cannot neglect prayer, as it is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. The full armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us, but without prayer it is hard to get the others to work as they should…without prayer…it is like nullifying the rest…

Ok… I think that is it. We are now “Armed and Dangerous” to the prince of the world. We are ready to venture out into the desert places to plant, recreate, nurture, and all the other things we will be talking about over the next few weeks. I am praying for you as you venture forth with God. I know you will all will come back with testimonies of God working in and through you to bring a sprout in the desert. May we be victorious as we take back what the prince of this world has stolen and see new life sprout in a once barren place…

Amen…

July 29, 2018
Sermon Series - “A Sprout in the Desert”
Week 3
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 145:10-18
John 20:19-23
and sermon: “Share and Share Alike…”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
VBS Sunday - Children’s Message
Part 1 – video
Part 2 – stills – You Are My King
Part 3 – stills – I Will Worship
Part 4 – stills – The Everlasting God
Part 5 - video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Patten, ME
July 29, 2018
&
July 29, 2018
May we see a sprout
July 29, 2018
Testimonies of Power
July 29, 2018
the enemy will fail
July 29, 2018
we will see new life
July 29, 2018
May a sprout grow in the desert
July 29, 2018
May we sow, may we plant seeds
July 29, 2018
May we be victorious
July 29, 2018
we are now ready
July 29, 2018
Armed and Dangerous
July 29, 2018
we need them all
July 29, 2018
the full armor of God
July 29, 2018
without prayer
July 28, 2018
We cannot neglect prayer
July 28, 2018
pray in the Spirit - 2
edited July 28, 2018
the battle raging – v2
July 28, 2018
the battle raging
edited July 28, 2018
for the attack – v2
July 28, 2018
for the attack
July 28, 2018
It Is Written
July 28, 2018
Use God’s Sword
July 28, 2018
The Word of God - 2
July 28, 2018
The Sword of the Spirit - 2
July 28, 2018
we won’t believe the lies
edited July 28, 2018
unmasked, authentic – v2
July 28, 2018
take off your mask, put on the armor
edited July 28, 2018
not wearing a mask – v3
edited July 28, 2018
not wearing a mask – v2
July 28, 2018
not wearing a mask
edited July 28, 2018
flawed, weak, broken – v2
July 28, 2018
flawed, weak, broken
July 28, 2018
unmasked, authentic
Pastor Ruth Foss
8AM Live
July 28, 2018
&
July 28, 2018
wearing the gospel
July 27, 2018
a helmet of salvation
July 27, 2018
a shield of faith
July 27, 2018
there will be traps
July 27, 2018
guarding our hearts
edited July 26, 2018
defeating the lies – v2
July 26, 2018
righteousness received by faith
July 26, 2018
the righteousness of Christ
July 26, 2018
the breastplate of righteousness
July 26, 2018
the belt of truth
July 26, 2018
walk in truth
July 26, 2018
defeating the lies
July 26, 2018
put on truth
July 25, 2018
Lacking so much
July 25, 2018
sapping our own hope
July 25, 2018
sapping our strength
July 25, 2018
This place lacks Peace
July 25, 2018
Because it is so dry
July 25, 2018
This place lacks Love
July 25, 2018
This place lacks Joy
July 25, 2018
This place lacks Hope
edited July 25, 2018
we battle with the forces of darkness – v2
July 24, 2018
we are in a battle with evil
edited July 24, 2018
we battle with evil – v2
edited July 24, 2018
we bring the rain – v2
edited July 24, 2018
we battle darkness – v2
edited July 23, 2018
we bring the good news – v2
edited July 23, 2018
a war with their demons – v2
July 23, 2018
a war with their demons
edited July 23, 2018
our battle is not with mortals – v2
edited July 23, 2018
we bring the good news
July 23, 2018
we bring the rain
July 23, 2018
they don’t live
July 23, 2018
a place of desolation - 2
July 23, 2018
a war-torn desert
edited July 23, 2018
fill us with water – v2
July 23, 2018
fill us with the water
July 22, 2018
we walk into the desert
July 22, 2018
our battle is not with mortals
July 22, 2018
we battle with the forces of darkness
July 22, 2018
we battle darkness
July 22, 2018
we battle with evil
July 22, 2018
held in the grip of Satan
July 22, 2018
a wasteland, a desert
edited July 22, 2018
Stalked by Mercy – v2
July 22, 2018
Stalked by Mercy
July 22, 2018
Sermon Series - “A Sprout in the Desert”
Week 2
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Hymn – Here I Am Lord
Psalm 23
Ephesians 6:10-20
and sermon: “Armed and Dangerous…”
video
text
(in the bulletin the scripture was Hebrews 4:1011
and the sermon title had been “Light Shine Bright”
Pastor Ruth was called to change it all late Saturday afternoon)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
(a rainbow whoopee pie in the mystery box)
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 22, 2018
&
edited July 20, 2018
Come and Drink – v2
(adding all)
edited July 20, 2018
a waste land, a desert – v2
edited July 20, 2018
a sprout in the desert – v2
edited July 19, 2018
a new creation in the world – v2
July 19, 2018
a new creation in the world
July 19, 2018
a sprout in the desert
July 19, 2018
a waste land, a desert
July 19, 2018
Come and Drink
July 15, 2018
Tears of Heaven
July 15, 2018
last of current sermon series and intro to next series –
“A Sprout in the Desert”
Week 1
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 85:8-13
John 7:37-39
Isaiah 41:17-18
Isaiah 43:19-21
Psalm 107:35
Psalm 97:1-6
Isaiah 55:10-11
Leviticus 26:3-5
and sermon: “Healing Rain In the Desert…”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Julie Hill Stites
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 15, 2018

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 47,340 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Faith, Family, Father, Son, Advocate, healer, God, grace, love, Pastor Ruth Foss, sacrifice, Spirit, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, prayer, hope, healing, desert, water, sprout,

#sent #Worship #StetsonMemorialUnitedMethodistChursh #Methodist #Church #God #Spirit #Christ #faith #love #grace #Patten #Maine #UMC #commissioned #called #disciples #servants #hope #share #witness #testify #desert #water #sprout

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Christ, Faith, Family, healer, God, grace, love, Pastor Ruth Foss, Spirit, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, prayer, hope, healing, desert, water, sprout, Psalm 23, armor, armor of God, Ephesians 6,

#God #Spirit #Christ #faith #love #grace #Patten #UMC #called #servants #hope #witness #testify #desert #water #sprout #armor #armorofGod #Ephesians6 #Psalm23 #shield #sword #breastplate #helmet #belt #sandals #prayer #pray

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Christ, Faith, Family, Father, Son, Advocate, healer, God, grace, love, Pastor Ruth Foss, sacrifice, Spirit, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, prayer, hope, desert, water, sprout, John 20, Psalm 145,

#sent #Worship #Methodist #Church #God #Spirit #Christ #faith #love #grace #Patten #Maine #UMC #commissioned #called #disciples #servants #hope #share #witness #testify #desert #water #sprout #John20 #Psalm145

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