Church (26/08/12)

[fardell24]

Mark 8: 34 - 38

Dangerous Household Items
- Excercise Equipment
- Bedding
- Kitchen utensils
- Medicines

For a Christian
- A couch
May go to sleep
Symbolic
The Problem is a matter of the heart
- You may not be ready to leap into action to do what God wants you to do.

As Christians we can become comfortable in life
- Focus on Job security
- Focus on Money
- Focus on Church activities
- Each are not bad things
- They can take your focus off Jesus.
- Jesus says that we need to take up His mission

If you focus on your comfort your focus is on yourself.
You cannot save yourself
Only God can

The Enemy is Satan - the Father of Lies
We are under the grace of God.
- We have the power to defeat the Enemy
--Follow the Word.

Ephesians 6: 10 - 18
The Armour of God
If we are on the chair, we are not in the battle.
We need to put on the Armour of God of God day by day.

We need to have our heart pumping
- (Like Paintball!)

Eph 6:15
Mark 8: 35
We are called to preach the Gospel
- The Enemy doesn't like that.

VIM
- Vision
- Intent
- Means

Vision
Sets your motivation
We need to be focused on the Kingdom of God
- Where God Reigns

Matthew 14: 22 - 36
Peter sank because he took his focus off Jesus.

God is Stronger
- He is bigger than the problems of the world

Intent
The intent to follow God

John 3:16

We need to believe in Him

Christian life is a paradox
It's contary to what the world teaches
- The world teaches to gratify ourselves
- The Bible teaches us to deny ourselves

The hard choice is to give up control
- Handing over control leads to discomfort
-- We need to trust God
There is a difference between Intent and Intentions
- "The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions"
- Decide to follow God.

Means
Action
Get out of the chair and into the battle

Romans 12, 1,2

Are you stuck in the chair?

Acts 20:24

We need to be out there, spreading the Good News