Sermon Notes | Sunday, March 19th 2023

The Fruit of the Gospel: VICTORY
Pastor Chris Pletcher

Luke 22:28-32
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

"I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a KINGDOM."
- Jesus

SATAN // Many Names, One Goal
Satan means "adversary", one who opposes another in purpose or in act. He is the prince of evil spirits, and his sole purpose is to stand in opposition to God's Kingdom, God's purposes and God's people.

Colossians 1:11-14
Let us give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

When we were rescued from the domain of darkness,
did it just go away and cease to exist?

Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ignorance of Satan's designs does not position you for victory;
understanding his designs does.

1 Timothy 6:11-12
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

4 Weapons of War
1. The Shield of Faith
2. The Sword of the Spirit
3. The Testimony of the Saints
4. Communion (The Blood of the Lamb)

"I have prayed for you, that YOUR FAITH would not fail."
- Jesus

Weapon 1 // The Shield of Faith

1 John 5:1-4
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Romans 4:19-21
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Weapon 2 // The Sword of the Spirit

Matthew 4:3-11
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ʻMan shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.ʼ”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ʻHe will command his angels concerning you,ʼ and “ʻOn their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.ʼ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ʻYou shall not put the Lord your God to the test.ʼ”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

We cannot live on bread alone. We must be daily consuming God's word, meditating on God's word, memorizing God's word, declaring God's word and letting God's word defend us.

Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.

Weapon 3 // The Testimony of the Saints

Revelation 12:7-11
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Psalm 18:33-38
He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed.
I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.

"THE STRENGTH IS HIS. BUT THE FIGHT OF FAITH IS OURS."

Weapon 4 // Communion

Colossians 2:13-15
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.