Battle Ready, Pastor Emery B. Barber
We continue our study about angels and demons as we reflect again on Jesus's wilderness experience. Any good warrior knows that one must be prepared for battle at all times. How one prepares for battle is often affected by who the enemy is, as well as where the battle is to be fought.
Last week we focused on the Rules of Engagement that the enemy tried to set and maintain in contrast to the ROE that Jesus established and ultimately used to win the battle. We take a step back this week as we redirect our focus to what happens before the fight after the Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Noting that many see Jesus as hungry, weak, and vulnerable at the time the enemy engaged him with a barrage of temptations. However a fuller context of Jesus' journey on earth reveals that Jesus engaged a level of preparation that we can model to be truly Battle Ready.
Summary:
1. Know the type of battle you are fighting.
2. Prepare yourself accordingly.
Read 2 Cor. 10:3-5
A lawyer prepares differently than a boxer, as they engage different forms of battles with a different set of tools and rules. As Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights, he prepared for a spiritual battle. Read Matt. 17:21 Thus the enemy's attacks were designed to divert Jesus toward the flesh (the devil's domain - 1 John 2:16), and away from the spirit.
3. As the seat of your thoughts, will, and emotions, the mind is a spiritual battlefield territory that the enemy wants to occupy and control. 2 Cor. 4:4, James 1:14, Rom. 8:7
4. To be battle ready, the mind must be properly focused and guarded. Col. 3:1-25, Rom. 12:2, Phil. 4:18, Phil. 2:5, 2 Cor. 10:5, Eph. 6:10-18, James 4:7
May Jesus' witness, and the fuller context of the word of God, serve as our standard to be Battle Ready, and thus victorious for God's glory and our good!
For His Glory,
Pastor Emery
shobc.org/brooklyn
We continue our study about angels and demons as we reflect again on Jesus's wilderness experience. Any good warrior knows that one must be prepared for battle at all times. How one prepares for battle is often affected by who the enemy is, as well as where the battle is to be fought.
Last week we focused on the Rules of Engagement that the enemy tried to set and maintain in contrast to the ROE that Jesus established and ultimately used to win the battle. We take a step back this week as we redirect our focus to what happens before the fight after the Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Noting that many see Jesus as hungry, weak, and vulnerable at the time the enemy engaged him with a barrage of temptations. However a fuller context of Jesus' journey on earth reveals that Jesus engaged a level of preparation that we can model to be truly Battle Ready.
Summary:
1. Know the type of battle you are fighting.
2. Prepare yourself accordingly.
Read 2 Cor. 10:3-5
A lawyer prepares differently than a boxer, as they engage different forms of battles with a different set of tools and rules. As Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights, he prepared for a spiritual battle. Read Matt. 17:21 Thus the enemy's attacks were designed to divert Jesus toward the flesh (the devil's domain - 1 John 2:16), and away from the spirit.
3. As the seat of your thoughts, will, and emotions, the mind is a spiritual battlefield territory that the enemy wants to occupy and control. 2 Cor. 4:4, James 1:14, Rom. 8:7
4. To be battle ready, the mind must be properly focused and guarded. Col. 3:1-25, Rom. 12:2, Phil. 4:18, Phil. 2:5, 2 Cor. 10:5, Eph. 6:10-18, James 4:7
May Jesus' witness, and the fuller context of the word of God, serve as our standard to be Battle Ready, and thus victorious for God's glory and our good!
For His Glory,
Pastor Emery
shobc.org/brooklyn
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