Author: Tim

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2024-08-18: Spiritual Armor — The Shield That Covers

Sermon Audio: The Shield That Covers
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts Ephesians 6:15-16
Duration: 26:25
Size: 15.0 MB

Spiritual Armor
The Shield That Covers
Ephesians 6:15-16

Paul related the shoes to the peace of God. We are assured of our firm footing when battling the forces sent against us.

These shields carried into battle were the size of doors. And like a door covers you when you are behind it, so did these shields.

Paul relates this shield to our faith. It is our faith that protects us.

So where does faith begin?

How do I know if my faith is big enough?

Each soldier would be equipped with a shield to fit him. God does the same with faith.

So how do I take care of this faith?

If the only time you soak your faith in the cleansing water of God’s truth is on the occasions that you come to church, your shield of faith is dry.

What about those times when my faith feels so weak?

We should be able to call on each other for prayer support when we are in a spiritual battle.

God’s promise to us.

Once again, we see the joint effort between us and God. He will protect us by his power not ours.

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2024-08-11: Spiritual Armor — Let It Shine

Sermon Audio: Let It Shine
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts Ephesians 6:14
Duration: 23:16
Size: 12.6 MB

Spiritual Armor
Let It Shine
Ephesians 6:14

Although the belt was the only part of the armor not made of metal, and although it seemed to be the least significant, the belt actually played an important role.

Righteousness. Is the act of doing what is in agreement with God’s standards, which leads to the state of being in the proper relationship with God.

God has provided a way for us to be in right standing with him no matter what we do.

So, Jesus willingly went to the cross and offered his blood to cover man’s sin forever

When we are wearing our armor of righteousness, we can pray with confidence.

This is the result of understanding righteousness. It gives us a confidence to follow God’s lead through the Holy Spirit.

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2024-08-04: Spiritual Armor — Tighten Up Your Belt

Sermon Audio: Tighten Up Your Belt
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts Ephesians 6:14-18
Duration: 28:25
Size: 16.0 MB

Spiritual Armor
Tighten Up Your Belt
Ephesians 6:14-18

As Paul analyzed the soldier that stood before him, he observed his body armor.

With all of this glorious shining metal, notice the Holy Spirit points Paul to what seems to be the most unimportant part of the armor, the belt.

Think about this. The belt of truth is the only part of our spiritual armor that can be held in our hand.

Righteousness
If your body armor is full of holes, the only way you can patch them is by putting on the belt of truth and making the written word a top priority.

Peace
The only way you can quit stumbling in your shoes of peace is by putting on your belt of truth and let the word fill your life.

Faith
If Satan has slapped your shield of faith from your hand, the only way to retrieve it is by putting on your belt of truth and allowing the Holy Spirit to renew your faith by the word of God.

Salvation
If Satan has crushed your helmet of salvation, the only way to restore it is by putting on the belt of truth and allowing the Word of God to give you the assurance of your salvation.

Spirit
If Satan has broken your sword of the Spirit, the only way to repair it is to put on the belt of truth and hang it from your side.

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2024-07-28: Thinking Outside the Walls — The Power of the Presence

Sermon Audio: The Power of the Presence
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 4:5-31
Duration: 20:34
Size: 11.7 MB

Thinking Outside the Walls
The Power of the Presence
Acts 4:5-31

We are not called to defend the walls of our church building, but instead we are to storm the very gates of Hell.

But the Bible wants us to understand that the reason Peter was so bold was because God was right there with him.

I’m more of the school of thought that the Spirit is an active and vibrant force in the life of the believer.

While the Spirit may help you and I to occasionally to say something that speaks to a person’s heart–it helps to be prepared.

And I’m convinced that–if you pray about it beforehand–the Spirit can begin to tinker with the hearts of those you’d like to talk to.

In other words–you’ll know you’ve been walking by the Spirit when your life is filled with love, joy, peace, etc.

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2024-07-21: Thinking Outside the Walls — We Must Obey

Sermon Audio: We Must Obey
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 5:17-32
Duration: 29:13
Size: 17.3 MB

Thinking Outside the Walls
We Must Obey
Acts 5:17-32

“If the Bible and I don’t agree, I must be wrong.”

People in places like Turkey, China, and India have to decide if their love for Jesus is more important than their love for life.

What makes one qualified to speak about salvation?

We should be praying about all things; it only makes sense that we would pray to prepare for the coming persecution.

We also are empowered by the Holy Spirit, so we need to constantly be in prayer. As we do so, we need to trust in God.

You’ll have the strength to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of God’s love–it’s immense.

The Sanhedrin reminds them that they had been warned about preaching Jesus, but the apostles declared, “We must obey God rather than men!”

Let’s live our lives in such a way that people see us and give glory to God.