FOTFD - February 10, 2008
February 10, 2008
I don’t know about you, but I really enjoyed watching the Super Bowl this year. Yes, it was a great game, but the most fascinating story line to me was the Giants pull off one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history. They came together to defeat a Patriots team that was being considered among the greatest teams of all time. New York was led to victory by their defense, which attacked Tom Brady and the Patriot offense all night.
That game reminded me that we defend ourselves against Satan on a daily basis. I can defend against him in 2 different ways. I can be passive, staying back, hoping that I can endure him and that he does not beat me too badly, or I can attack him first, putting the pressure on before he can ever get set to unleash his offensive attack against me.
Like the Giants, my desire is to defend by attacking. I have my ways to do that, teaming with God daily to prepare myself for battle. Today, I want to ask you how you battle against Satan. What things do you do to attack the enemy? Drop me a quick thought and let me know what things you do by commenting at the bottom of the page.
Perhaps something that you do will help someone else in their battle and we can all win our “Super Bowl.”
You may find the FOTFD online here.
I pray that this new feature will provide a place of blessing where we may gather together and share ourselves. Now join me as we “Focus on the First Day.”
God bless,
Mike
Walk on, walk on
What you got they can’t steal it
No they can’t even feel it
Walk on, walk on…
- Walk On – U2
Communion
As we focus on Sunday about protecting our families, remember that God send Jesus right in to the fray, taking His protection away, to allow Jesus to die for you. How much love God must have for me to not only step away from His son, but to also have an intentional plan to send Jesus into a world that would attack Him and kill Him. Let’s thank God for that love as we share the Supper.
Sermon
“We Must Protect This House” (Gary Cochran)
Philippians 4:6-7
“We must protect this house.” It is more than wearing the right shirt to enhance your athletic performance. It is about guarding our most important things. Your heart and mind is the key to your entire being. How do I protect not only my being, but my families as well? Gary is going to talk about how we do this. Be there Sunday to learn how to defend your most critical turf.
Prayer Time
Paul reminds us to pray continually. One of the ways we keep pray in our lives is to join together as a church during Prayertime. This Sunday, take a moment to go to someone else at church and spend a moment together in prayer. Share with that person something that is going on in your life and ask to hear something about theirs. Bring both of those to God during Prayertime, turning control over to the Father, keeping your life continually in prayer.
Sunday Night
“Our House” (Matt Mazza)
Mark 3:33-35
On Sunday night, Matt will lead a discussion with some families in our church who are “protecting their house.” Come and listen as they share the ways that they defend their family as a team against the attacks from the outside.
We are encouraged to be a family of believers that choose to come together each week in worship. Come this Sunday with a desire to not just come to church, but come to truly be the church.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:34 am
One of the ways I prepare to attack Satan is to get to know God better. I do that by spending time every morning with Him in His word. Reading the Bible daily helps to focus my mind at the beginning of the day. It really helps to get me thinking about pleasing God that day and makes it much easier to resist the temptations that Satan throws at me.
Let me know what things you do or your family does to prepare to defend itself against Satan’s attacks.
Mike
February 8th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
The Best Defense
The first thing one must understand to use an offensive defense in the enemy. We battle an enemy that is eons old, talented beyond our conception yet highly venerable. The whole world lies in sin and every person taken in sin and held captive there is under the control of the devil. The only advantage we have in our war against the devil is our personal knowledge of the Word of God. We look to Jesus; He used the Word of God to answer Satan each time He was tempted by him. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God and that is our defense against the devil. Unless we have a very good and clear understanding of the Word of God we are defenseless against Satan and all evil and sin. With a good foundation in the Word of God we are able to wear the Armor of God and have a good defense against evil and the devil. The Giants won against the Patriots because they attacked Brady every play and confused him in all ways making him a mediocre leader. When we attack the devil and evil with our knowledge of the Word of God and His Armor we overcome the devil and his devices because we recognize his offense and defeat him by our defense which is the Word of God. We must ever remember that the Word of God is the only defense against evil. Armed with this defense we will not fail.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
My defense:
1. Realize that there is a “roaring lion” outside my door each morning that I will have to face. So I need the full armor of God to prepare for the attack.
2. The Bible is full of admonitions to “be still and know I am God.” I have a book “Solitude & Silence” that is wonderful in helping to attain a mind-set where I can spend time in absolute solitude and silence (before the world wakes each morning or after everyone is asleep) to listen to God. Prayer is great and I certainly use that blessing, but I have found that God really prepares me when I listen to Him. (This is not an easy thing to do and takes discipline and patience to “be still” before Him).