Sermon
11.8.17
Text: Philippians 4:4-9
The Present Time
15 The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish their brightness. 16 The Lord also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel. Joel 3
The Lord our Shelter and Strength
The Woman
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Rest of Her Offspring (Rom 8:29)
The Overcomers
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Rev 12
This is the “Now Time” of salvation.
Time of deliverance and the coming forth of the sons of God in the earth. The overcoming people will arise from the church. She is in travail and now she will bring forth. IN that sense you as the bride may have been in a travail time but you are producing the male child!
The Time of Strength is Here!
But…
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4
The Strengthening Process
The reason I put “but” over the scripture that of course is your choice is because it doesn’t say the Lord will be our strength it says the Lord will strengthen me. The process is described in verse 12. God allows us to go through situation that challenges us. Strength comes through exercise. Oh No! Who likes exercise? I need to sometimes accept the challenge of my situation without demanding an escape. Again this is the same God who is our refuge but..sometimes there is something else at work.
Going on to Maturity
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.Heb 5
Senses Exercised
These are not just spiritual senses. God created us Body, soul and spirit and he will exercise every aspect of our being. He doesn’t just want spiritual beings he wants sons like Jesus. The word became “Flesh” and dwelt among us. The trial for Jesus Christ was in the natural life.
Jesus our Example
He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,Heb 5
Was Heard
When we think God has heard our prayers we tend to think he will deliver us from our distress. Jesus was heard and strengthened in His distress.
The Garden
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22
The Strengthening
Remember Jesus said to the disciples the spirit is willing the flesh is weak. This was not a spiritual strengthening and it was not a spiritual struggle. He had to overcome the flesh. This means we have times when we need God to strengthen us emotionally, physically so we can be able to do what He has asked of us.
The Power Comes
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4
Setting Yourself
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
An altar call about getting strength or peace .