FIRM FOUNDATION!
What’s at Stake!
DESIRING A SPIRIT OF REVELATION - EPH. 1:17
Ephesians 1:15-17
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all
God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I
keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
As we get closer to the end of this age we need the spirit of wisdom and revelation more than
ever before.
1. Faithless age
Pew projects that in 2070, Christians will likely make up less than half the US population.
50 years ago that number was 90%
We are entering the faithless age
Here’s the problem with that statement……
the human species was created to worship.
Isaiah 43:7
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43:21
21 the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.
We don’t stop worshipping we just change who we worship.
Satan Tempts Jesus - Matthew 4:1-11
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And
when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the
tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become
bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said
to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’
and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the
kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if
You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship
the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
- If the devil can’t take your faith he’ll try to change who you worship. -
2. Information Age
“The Information Age is the idea that access to and the control of information is the defining
characteristic of this current era in human civilization.” Linda Tucci, Industry Editor -- CIO
- Approximately 328.77 million terabytes of data are created each day
For context 500 movies = one Terabyte.
Which equals 164,385,000,000 billion movies per day. As a data equivalent
- By 2025 that's believed to increase to 463 exabytes of data, which is an increase of 1,000,000
times that of today.
Now among all of that content there is a prevalence of doctrines and different faiths.
On a scale never seen before people are questioning the validity of our faith, and coming up
with their own.
Paganism is on the rise:
“Why paganism and witchcraft are making a comeback” - NBC News
"Could neo-paganism be the new ‘religion’ of America?” - Big Think
“The pagan boom – why young people are turning to non-traditional religions” - Dazed
The pagan population in the us has grown by 341% in 6 years.
According to a Trinity College survey from 2008 and a pew research study from 2014
If that percentage growth continues that number would have surpassed 6,615,000 3 years ago,
and be at 9 million now.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their
own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching
ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.
Colossians 1:15
[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (preeminent in rank Psalm
89:27). For by him all things were created…
3. The Need
There are 2 reasons why the attacks on the legitimacy of Christ and the legitimacy and
inherency of scripture is the most pressing issue facing the globe right now.
Reason 1. It is making its way into the church.
Reason 2. Its In your home.
Reason 1.
As believers we are to pray for Unity in Christ!
Ephesians 4:11-15
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and
become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here
and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their
deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in
every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
We have to be on one accord in the Gospel and in the inherency of its pages, holding Jesus
Christ the risen savior as he is found in these pages.
WE MUST PRAY FOR THE CHURCH AND WE CAN NOT ABIDE THOSE WHO DISTORT ITS
TEACHINGS.
Reason 2.
Its in your house!
ALL other ministry is SECONDARY.
To stewarding Godly homes, and offspring.
4. The Answer
What is our response……
The spirit of wisdom and revelation be given to us.
The “wisdom” is a better understanding of the doctrines of God, and the “revelation” is a clearer
picture of the divine character and will.
ITS TIME TO GROW UP!
We are at war!
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of
truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having
put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of
faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the
Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance,
making supplication for all the saints,
We can’t share it if we don’t understand it.
That’s why we need the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
What are the things that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation teach us:
Ephesians 1:18-19
The hope to which he has called you. (How the story ends)
The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. (Us as his reward)
And his incomparably great power for us who believe. (His unmatched power and glory)
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