Message Recap – 8/20/10 – Fight!: Part 5

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

If you're just joining us, we are in the middle of a series called Fight! We've been talking about fighting with the wrong weapons or the wrong war. You can check out previous messages in the series here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4






The theme verse for this series is found in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Tonight we are talking about a very powerful weapon: the Word of God!

Pastor Dan tends to think about things a lot, and to have an opinion about stuff. And, like most of us, he tends to trust in his own ideas and opinions. He trusts in his own knowledge to win the day. He often uses his words as weapons. For example, “I'm right! Why won't you listen to me?!?” Or have you ever heard someone say, “I've been thinking about it and I think...” Usually nothing good follows that phrase.

The truth is an opinion is not powerful. Why? Because everyone has an opinion, and no two people have the same one. Or maybe you're one of the few people who doesn't really have an opinion on most subjects. Maybe you don't know what to say to preach the Gospel.

Both things are powerless because they both rely on your own words, opinions and ideas. Your opinion is not God's Word, it's your words! If you don't have an opinion, you still need to get God's Word!

In this country, people fight with words all the time. Tune in to CNN for proof of this. People will argue over anything. But our words are not powerful when they come from us. Disclaimer: Our words are powerful when we are speaking over our lives in faith or in doubt. We're talking about arguments here.

Take a look at what Hebrews 4:12 says about the Word of God:

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God's word penetrates! It cuts through attitudes, doubts, arguments intentions, thoughts; you name it! God's Word is a powerful weapon!

Here are some examples from Jesus' life of God's Word in action:

Matthew 4:1-11 - Satan was challenging Jesus on important things, but God's Word cut right through his attempts to twist Scripture.

John 8:1-9 - This was supposed to be a trap for Jesus, so that whatever He said they would find it wrong.

Matthew 22:15-46 - Here are several times when people tried to trick Jesus with a tough question. In all of those cases, Jesus saw right through their question to the intended trap, and answered to the real issue.

Now check out John 14:9-10. God was speaking through Jesus – it was God's Word that cut through the traps and arguments that were trying to catch Him.

God's Word can help you, too! When you are in a situation where no matter which answer you choose it's going to bring trouble, God's Word will speak the truth.

Ephesians 6:17 is where the armor of God is described. It says, Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The Word is a weapon!

God has given us two kinds of Word. There's the written Word; the Bible. Just just like any other weapon, you have to practice with it and train with it! You need to learn how to use it or it is powerless. Memorize it, speak it, follow it, live it.

The second kind is spoken Word. This is what God speaks to you; in a specific verse, through a prophecy, or while you're worshiping – when God speaks to you, He's giving you a weapon.

But so often when God speaks we say, “Oh, that's cool!” And we stick the weapon up on the shelf. We don't use it, we don't practice with it, we don't fight with it! It's time to put that weapon to use – dust it off and start firing that weapon! When facing temptation, when struggling with anger, depression, or whatever you're fighting!

The great evangelist Reinhard Bonnke said, “God's word in your mouth is just as powerful as God's word in God's mouth.” The same Word that created the whole universe is just as powerful in your mouth as in God's!

God's word is effective; it heals us, rescues us, overcomes evil! When you're in a situation that you don't know how to get out of or what to say, your words will not be enough. But God's Word is living, active, sharper than a sword. It cuts through arguments, tricks and traps. It brings hope, it sets the captives free, brings forgiveness, life, and peace.

Stop using your own opinions and start using the Word of God as a weapon!

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