KJV Sermon Outlines

Guarded By The Power Of God

INTRODUCTION
1. A Christian...
a. Is "a person reborn", living in newness of life
b. Now "belongs to the Lord", God's special child sojourning in this world as a pilgrim
c. Is "living by faith", trusting in the Lord and desiring to be a trustworthy servant
d. Is "consecrated to God", set apart by the Spirit to pursue holiness
 
2. This does not mean being a Christian is easy...
a. The world in which we sojourn does not encourage godly living
b. There are powerful forces that are bent on our spiritual destruction
-- Of course, this is true whether we are Christians or not
 
3. But the significance of being a Christian includes help that others do not have...
a. From our Father in heaven, who is concerned for the child that now belongs to Him
b. His own special protection, available to those who remain faithful to Him
 
4. Peter writes of this protection in 1 Peter 1:5...
a. He refers to how we are "kept by the power of God through
faith..."
b. He employs a military term meaning "to mount guard as a sentinel;
figuratively, to hem in, protect" (Strongs)
-- Therefore we can rightly say that a Christian is "Guarded By The
    Power Of God"!
To appreciate the need for such protection, the nature of it, and how
we may ensure it in our lives will be the subject of our study. We begin by noting...
 

I. SATAN'S GOAL: OUR DESTRUCTION
 
A. OUR ADVERSARY...
1. Satan is like a roaring lion - 1 Pe 5:8
a. On the prowl
b. Seeking whom he may devour
2. He often appears as an angel of light - 2 Cor. 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
 
a. Working through his ministers - 2 Cor. 11:15
b. Misleading through false doctrines - 1 Tim. 4:1-3 1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
 
B. THE CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO BEWARE...
1. Some say there is no need to be concerned
a. E.g., "once saved, always saved"
b. E.g., "the impossibility of apostasy"
-- But this would make all the warnings in the Bible pointless
2. The Bible warns about the danger of becoming hardened – Heb. 3:12-14 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
a. Hardened by "the deceitfulness of sin"
b. Who better equipped to harden us than he "who deceives the
whole world"? - Re 12:9
 
[Because the danger is real, the need to "resist him" (1 Pe 5:9) who seeks our destruction is very real! But we are not alone in our resistance; "the God of all grace" (1 Pe 5:10) stands ready to assist us.
 

II. GOD'S PROVISION: OUR SAFEKEEPING
 
A. GOD IS OUR HELPER...
1. He provides Jesus Christ:
a. As our Mediator - 1 Tim. 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
b. As our Advocate - 1 John 2:1,2 1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
c. As our merciful and faithful High Priest – Heb. 2:17-18
d. Whose blood cleanses us from our sins - 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
 
2. He provides other blessings designed to keep us safe:
a. Our public assemblies and mutual edification - He 10:24-25
b. Our daily mutual edification - He 3:12-13
c. The Scriptures - 2 Ti 3:16-17
d. Prayer - Ph 4:6-7
3. He therefore provides a way of escape:
a. In some cases, to avoid temptation altogether – Mat. 6:13; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat. 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
 
B. GOD IS OUR VICTORY...
1. Our confidence comes from God's power, not our own - Ph 4:13
2. He provides power that is greater than Satan - Ep 3:16,20;
1 Jn 2:13-14; 4:4
 
[Yes, it is God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ (1 Co
15:57)! By His grace we are "Guarded By The Power Of God". But that
such grace might not be received in vain (cf. 2 Co 6:1), we need to
remember...]

III. OUR RESPONSIBILITY: REMAIN FAITHFUL
 
A. THE CHRISTIAN'S SECURITY...
1. The Bible teaches the security of the believer
a. No one can snatch a believer out of the hand of God - Jn
10:28-29
b. Nothing can separate a believer from the love of Christ
- Ro 8:35-39
-- But note carefully: these promises are for one who is a
believer!
2. The Bible also teaches a believer may become an unbeliever
- He 3:12
a. A believer can develop "an evil heart of unbeliever"
b. In so doing, such a person "departs from the living God"
-- When a believer becomes an unbeliever, the promises of
security for the believer are no longer applicable!
3. This explains the many warnings in the Scriptures to remain
faithful - e.g., Re 2:10
 
B. THE CHRISTIAN'S RESPONSIBILITY...
1. Take to heart the many admonitions in Scripture:
a. To take heed - 1 Co 10:12
b. Gird up the loins of your mind - 1 Pe 1:13
c. Discipline yourself - 1 Co 9:27
d. Root yourself in Christ and His love - Ep 3:17; Co 2:7
e. Put on the armor of God, that you might stand - Ep 6:10-18
f. Be strong in the grace of the Lord - 2 Ti 2:1
g. Stand fast in the faith - 1 Co 16:13
h. Resist the devil - Ja 4:7; 1 Pe 5:8-9
2. Take advantage of activities conducive to remaining faithful:
a. Daily prayer
b. Daily Bible study
c. Frequent association with fellow Christians
d. Attendance at the congregational assemblies
e. Development of personal usefulness to the Lord
f. Involvement in the work of the Lord
g. Acceptance of correction, and repentance as necessary
 

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