Fight The Battle!- Part #1

This is Rodney from the masculine journey podcast.

We explored manhood within Jesus Christ your chosen Truth Network podcast starting in just a few seconds.

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Do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill. Do you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that.

Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God. If you do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today. Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose, glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living.

For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net or connect with us on Facebook.

Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious or certain automotive fog known as the focus man. They walked we walked around the world to Rothwell about the spiritual battle and would motivate within us about the moment we were born intensive. The moment you say, there will be an to attack her last breath. Paul says in Ephesians 6 verses 10 through 14.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle, man is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you done everything, to stand.

Stand firm, then we can make some connections to the spiritual battle man we find ourselves in everyday as men of God is nothing to one whole world knows by now coach Hubert Davis is truly a follower of Jesus Christ makes no apologies about it in the postgame press conference here. Some of what he said coach Davis was asked by reporters this way and provide a sense of validation for the no not all he said. I told you gas on the twitter on the message boards on the chat rooms and not on any of that.

I just not do this job because I feel like Jesus has given me the opportunity to be in these kids lives and to help them to coach him to be the best they can be on the court in the classroom and in the community. It's a place that I'm very humble and thankful to be this will affect. He was also asked how do you feel the team responded to the bright lights of the game and all that you all who blood taken away around you or someone like Coach K was certainly one of the greatest coaches of all time benefiting Smith is. I responded one of the things that we always talk about is to focus on the things that we can control we were part of all the festivities. We want part of game day. Our focus is on our preparation and our product in our practice to put us in a position to play our best. I Given them.

Proverbs 425 keep your ass straight ahead ignore all sideshow distractions every day of the practice plan put in. He wrote on the board. Proverbs 425 everyday everyday of the week and I said you guys just focus on the things that we need to focus on now that sideshow stuck alone in this focus on what we need to do to put ourselves in a position to be successful.

Guesses velocity owners. The field sideshow out there and I want us to do the things here are that we can be successful, not in the war as the world and as of God. We leave this place.

He went on to say this is what I'll miss what I want you guys to do. These are the three things that he's given us is Hubert I'm speaking these are the three things that I wrote on the board in the locker room that said, I see plant your feet stand your ground and fight back. That's exactly what we needed to. We here to prepare for game day game day is the moment you walk through that door and into that dark evil world is the moment you get up in the morning and you stand up and you walk out your door and you had to work so what you do when you walk out the door of your house every morning and had to work this what you go to do. Start now tell you think about this every morning when you walk out, plant your feet up on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ stand your ground upon the word of God and fight back by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in you is because that's what I want us to do stand plan our feet stand our ground and fight back but you don't fight back in your own strength. You fight back and the strength of the Holy Spirit in you and you use this the sword of the Spirit which is the word of the God. That's what this is sort of the spirit is the only office of weapon. If you get rid of patients six that you have an honest arsenal.

All the other was a defensive weapons to protect you from the flaming arrows of the enemy and I want you to remember this guys every time you walk out the door fact every time you get in bed, your mind begins to wander maybe to some thought. You should be thinking about.

Okay you're talking about. First Peter 5896. Be self-controlled and alert.

Your your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. You know he's looking for Christians is got everybody else you want to devour you and assist resist him, standing firm in the faith. That's why we need each other.

You see me in Satan is out to get us in here, using every weapon in his arsenal to come after you and most often as weapons comes dressed in a beautiful package rate giftwrapped is got bomb and it is taking is often of an image on the computer or you know something that you notice something you see on television or thought.

You see something you won't more than you think are the monitor for is trying to tempt you guys to do something you shouldn't have sent you don't need to go somewhere you shouldn't go our enemy, Satan, he operates just like Putin say producing that his mighty army against little con were not a little country but a country.

It was not as big as him and he see what he says for settlor destroy the people of Ukraine were desperately trying to stand their ground and his website marketing. He will send out his mighty forces of evil and you know what he wants to he wants to destroy us to catch this in three areas mind body and soul.

One of the names that put a seed of Satan or one of his chief demons. By the way, when I read that list of unite spiritual forces of evil in rulers and authorities and powers there. The different ranks that site have in an army he's got some follow Angel sees the archangels that Satan was probably an archangel like Gabriel and Michael say these mighty evil warriors we have no chance against him. Without God, and one of the names for specific site in one of his chief demons is a bad or a polygon member that Abaddon probably on your mother's ninth Revelation 11… As they had as king over them is how much these demonic forces. They had as king over them the angel of the this, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon in Greek polygon in Hebrew, the name Abaddon means place of destruction, while the great title polygon remains the destroyer. What he think the color shifts other destroyers because they can do what destroy Satan is the destroyer for the moment your morning particular moment you place your trust in Jesus that your born-again Satan come after you with every weapon he possesses. So what was plant our feet stand our ground and fight back with us or the spirit. This brings us to Luke chapter 8 verses 19 to 39 and from this chapter, I want you to get out and show you from this chapter.

The three secular going to look at the site is out to get you all of you holding mind, body and soul. I might have a lot of time to focus on the family and I like have a lot attempted to focus on the demon possessed man will hit you a little each. But I will focus primarily on the storm that these disciples went through in the sea of Galilee, and I want to show you men. The three storms that raged against us day and night is the firstborn we see this with Jesus family and so show that the first all we face in life. I call it the storm of unbelief that rages against our mind we see the battle for souls begins in our mind. That's where the battle against it. In Revelation mine. You've always got a Melanie Mangano. Look at verse 19 Jesus mother and brothers came to see him but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd and someone told Jesus hate Jesus, your mother and brothers are standing outside the front door. They want to see the one they come to see Jesus on the Shabbat marriage is doubly very believe that our faith is still growing us along was to go she doesn't fully understand exactly Jesus in the next few days is a special child and she noted that God has great plans for him, but she doesn't have it all yet. I think she came along to observe report her for other signs will save that her elder son Jesus inside but the but I do know this.

Those four brothers thought Jesus was what crazy lunatic.

How do we know this because of Mark 321. The comparable passage in the other gospel is, is when his family heard about this. They want to take charge him. They said he's out of his mouth and yell screw missing. So, what was their problem. Unbelief for Jesus to dig a run to the door to a cash family. Come on in negative at any to say no remotely and nobody to he best ignore them. This nemesis physical earthly family, but he want to address people who want to be a spiritual family. The family will last forever is a look at everyone around him to teach them than that this most important lesson man is the most important lesson about the verse 21 he replied my mother and brothers really like them. They of those who hear God's word and do what put it into practice. In other words, they trust and what they trust and obey. For this, what no other way to be happy. Jesus but to trust and obey said listening if you want to know that you belong to God's family running the fan base will be in heaven.

You better believe what he says and you show that you believe what he says about obeying what he tells you to do this is that you love me do what keep my commandments there baby. You see, were not born God's children were born, God's enemy port. Romans 58 and will wear under his wrath accorded James 336 to how we come out from under his wrath. We come to Jesus by faith. John 112 says your drawl received him say to Jesus to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to what they, Jonah, God, if you become something that made you were not before. So next time you hear somebody stand up. There were CHILDREN. I would challenge you to San Jose, a minister can you tell door says that the Bible and because your body will you be that you embarrass his foot unite that that you be doing the right thing is the second storm. This storm includes all the storms rage against our physical bodies, our families and our possessions, such as financial storms like the 1987 stock market crash which I lived through supper.

Three of the real estate debacle that you love the rustic developers went through back in 2011, 2007 will could refer to a financial storm personally in your life. We have the business you did make it and you have to file Chapter 11. That's a financial storm is a real storm. It happens to believers all the time because we live in a fallen world natural storm such as hurricanes, tornadoes and floods destroy the come out of nowhere the middle of the night destroy property physical storms cancer cover 19 families have been happening since the since the fall back in Genesis 3 and famines that are there said that your runners will have shortages of food, as Was Taking Pl. in Ukraine.

We could have shortages of food here, but stock up. See, these are all the result of the fall that occurred back in Genesis 3 and Satan is often about politics. What he wants to do. He wants to destroy everything God created.

He wants us destroy the physical world that God created said it was what good and he wants to destroy you and me, because we are image bearers. We bear the image of God, and he wants to make sure that if you have any of that image left in you. By the time you die and what you do, that this is got to get your mind the visual get your body in the future so say here in Luke we found these disciples out in the midst of storm in the middle of the sea of Galilee, right where is Jesus. He's asleep in the back of the boat have probably sweet dreams but what about thing.

Look at verse 22.

One day Jesus sent his disciples, let us go over to the other side of the lake so they got into a boat and set out as they sailed he fell asleep a squall nearly a mini hurricane came down on the legs suddenly so that the boat was being swamped and they were in great danger. Literally, they were great danger, but not really disciples went and woke him up. Send master master. We're going to try out the got up and rebuked the storm and the raging waters. The storm subsided and all was calm.

If senior ocean after storm passes through this like glass. If yes swales the best time to go surfing. Where is your faith.

He asked his disciples. This is inferior and amazing place that they asked for another who is this he commands even the winds and the water and they obey him at this from from this one story. I want to show you for truths about the storms in life that we all have encountered letting Karen right now you message right now deal with a horrible storm and you don't know what you're doing right now you're lost in turmoil and this did you not it had in face of storm and then wonders what storms are coming follows restrictive on the storms often come suddenly and with little warning about the way the sea of Galilee is actually known for sudden and violent storms that the come out of nowhere and so that's what sailors they always check is like we did on the beach. Check see what wins no one with the forecast is, and we yet have a warty, always looking to see where the clouds are any thunderstorms coming up and you see when you come to keep an eye out you move your butt away from it actually you get trapped out there. The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater in the lake is only about 12 miles long and about 6 miles wide and the river Jordan flows through it from north to south in it and it is itself into the Dead Sea that the thing is so unique about the Sea of Galilee is it is almost 700 feet below sea level.

Therefore, in the summer months. He can get asked Dworkin to almost too hot even what you're doing. One of the so you have got the warm water and you have these cool layer succumb blowing it over the hills and Lily, I would.

I stood right there on the Sea of Galilee for about two or three days are back in 2019 is glorious. We never saw a storms but their heels across please call the Golan Heights. On the other side in this coup we as witches come rushing down and if they're forceful, they can cost your headset warm air and also you got us when ripping through their well me with hurricane force and huge waves and those in the list. All it takes is one way a good way to break up about talking to Mike about that you, but as noted in the end that what that can be swamped in a minute. This is so much volume of water in one wife and that's what happened here. They got swamped by at least but probably multiple wives and they will feel about that, but was probably on the verge of sinking what was Jesus doing all this. He's asleep in the back of the boat District number two, but he was in the district. Number two, four believers, I have to emphasize four believers. Storms are coming your life are divine storms and is always a purpose in the storm said nothing. This this is so true. Nothing can come into a believer's life that doesn't first pass through the hands of God and he says it's okay. Let it be a purpose and that storm you may not like that but December is you discipline your children try to make and what good sense and dollars. I want you to notice that Jesus he didn't say maybe we should go. They said what, let's go to Lisette. Ella was he sent them into the storm and he knew full well procedure take place.

Verse 22 says one day Jesus said to his disciples. Let's go over to the other satellite so they got into a boat and they set off for the other side of the lake like a beautiful day probably made some storm clouds in the distance.

The advance is a question why this is the question that leads many people astray.

Why does God allow storms difficult storms into the lives of his children.

Those whom he loved, I thought he was out shooting a refuge.

I thought he was gonna protect us about when you come to Jesus like Josie said in an everyday's a Friday.

This was this was another Friday list okay probably Monday morning will worn was because about the best answer you can give faith must be tested before can be trusted and you know the notice needs to trust your faith.

You do an event is investment tested.

That's what is best wanting to get the great practice is a test to see how good they are against the pizza place on the same tumor.

Maybe an All-American defensive players and you if you can go to Hartigan sure your teammate is try to stop you.

When they back and when that test. When I go there to Cameron. That's why you work hard in practice, you test yourself and if it is investment tested. That's what is best wanting to get the great practice is a test to see how good they are against the defensive plays on the same tumor may be an All-American defensive players in need. If you can go to Hartigan sure your teammate is try to stop you.

When they back and when that test. When I go there to Cameron. That's why you work hard in practice, you test yourselves.

You put your 50 rigorous workouts. This is from an anonymous source. The diamond cannot be polished without friction nor the man perfected without trials.

Johnny Erickson taught a man who is one of my heroes. She's been through so much suffering that is ridiculous.

She was 17 she diverged. She dived into the Chesapeake Bay, thinking that was about 10 feet. David is about 3 feet deep and she snapped her neck and she was floating upside down all the Savior was her sister Dorothy was walking out upon the beach shore and she stepped like a crab and she turned her. Hey, watch out for the craft she saw sister back to floating nothing With that crap there but you could say what what and he just stop her from jumping on a line so I got worked on my God is wiser hard and always we cannot understand God for some other one, we would have heard of John Erickson taught if she hadn't broken her neck. She might not be a believers and broken her neck. John Erickson taught a quadriplegic man for 50 years and the race not long ago, she had breast cancer. She says that God uses suffering to refine perfect strengthening strengthen you and to keep her from falling yet to keep you from falling.

Later when you have a worse test. Hebrews 210 says that listed this carefully in bringing many sons to glory your name. It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation whose you talking about who's the author of our salvation.

Jesus, that God the father should make God the son off of the salvation perfect through suffering. This is above my pay grade.

But apparently Jesus had to go through suffering to be made perfect. The audit was. He did it was already perfect. This is why you take a automobile and you test it. So therefore can tell you is perfect. The test was not for automobile. There are numerous profit. The test is for you to think perfect. That's what Jesus was tested so that we would nice for he stood test the onslaught of site said that he was he was to attest that you and I were those perfect being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more@findingpurpose.net. This is the Truth Network