I want to start our time together by giving you a brain teaser. Here is the scenario.
You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:
1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.2. An old friend who once saved your life.3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about. Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car? Think before you answer. You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first. Or you could take the old friend because after all he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. But, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
Which person would you take?
Let me tell you what I would do. I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital then I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.
The Bible says, “As a man thinks so is he.” Our minds are powerful. Our minds can solve problems and make problems for us. Our minds can lead us to a place of peace or to a place of stress and anxiety.
We need to be careful with what we feed our minds with. Let me illustrate: A boy and his father are walking in the mountains. Suddenly the son falls, hurts himself, and screams: "aahh!!!" To his surprise, he hears a voice repeating, somewhere on the mountain: "aahh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?" He receives the answer: "Who are YOU?" Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!" He receives the answer: "Coward!" He looks at his dad and asks: "What's going on?"
The dad smiles and says: "My son, pay attention." And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" The voice answers: "I admire you!" Again the man screams: "You are a champion!" The voice comes back: "You are a champion!" The boy is surprised but does not understand so the dad explains. “Son, people call this an ECHO, and what you send out is what you will hear back.”
Makes sense. If you tell yourself I’m no good, I’m useless, I’ll never amount to anything then as a man thinks so you will be. A person who constantly says or listens to these kinds of words will have a hard time developing courage and overcoming obstacles but if you and I think of God's truth we will have confidence and courage.
For the past few weeks we’ve been looking at the armor that God has provided each of us to wear as we enter into the battlefields that we face each and every day. Today we are going to direct our attention to the helmet of salvation. God has given us this helmet to protect us from every evil thought that Satan will throw our way.
Obviously a Roman Soldier’s helmet was very important because all it would take is one blow to the head and then it would be game over. When the Bible talks about putting on your helmet of salvation it is talking about understanding your position as God’s child. The helmet of salvation reminds us of who we are and whose we are.
So, the question is who are you and whose are you? If you have repented of your sin and you trust Jesus and him alone for your salvation than you need to know that,
God loves you
We all long to be loved. We all long to hear someone say, "I love you." We're all looking for an unfailing love – a love that is constant, a love that will not disappoint. We are all looking for a love that is perfect.
Truth be told there are a lot of times I don't feel lovable. So much of the time I don’t act loveable. Honestly, I am a mess but in spite of my sin, in spite of my weakness, in spite of my failure, in spite of my condition Jesus loves me.
I am loved by God. I want you to say that, wherever you are. I am loved by God. Do you understand what that means?
God already likes me. The pressure is off. Some of us are so hungry for a love like this. Those who should have loved you didn't so you were left with a broken heart and a painful question. "Does anybody love me?" Please listen to Romans 8:38
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
God understands you
A storeowner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the storeowner's sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The storeowner said, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."
The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?"
The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came a beautiful dog named Lady, who ran down the aisle of the store followed by five tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?"
The storeowner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always be limp. It would always be lame. The little boy became excited. "That is the puppy I want to buy."
The storeowner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you."
The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the storeowner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."
The storeowner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."
To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the storeowner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands."
Satan doesn’t want you to know that we have a God who understands what we go through. Jesus experienced everything the world could dish out at him. He knows what you are going through and he doesn’t want you to ever go through any of it alone.
The Bible says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
But I’m not done.
God has given you full access to Him
Because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus we now have access to God. God is just a prayer away and when we call out to him, he listens. He listens and turns his attention to you because he cares about you and he cares about what you are going through.
Hebrews 4:6 says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
When I pray I imagine myself entering into the very throne room of God and I bow down before him and he turns to hear my cries.
Whatever concerns you concerns him. Talk to him all day long. Shoot up little sentence prayers to him. Let him know what you are thinking and what you are feeling. Hand over the stress and the anxiety that you have been carrying around for so long and give it to him. I promise you he can handle it for you.
God says you are his child
John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.'
You are his child. When your mom and dad found out they were pregnant with you I bet they counted down the days to your arrival. I bet they got the baby room ready and bought some outfits for you to wear and they probably started buying you toys.
And since the day you were born if you have good parents, they have been there for you. If you have good parents, they are your biggest fan and they want to help you reach your full potential. God feels the same way only about a billion times more.
From the moment you were conceived to this very day God has been excited about you.
The Psalmist says in Psalm 139:13 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
You are not an accident. And if you have asked Jesus into your life, you are a child of God. You are royalty, a prince, a princess; you are not a failure so you don’t have to worry about what everyone else thinks of you or what anyone says about you. You are his kid and he will help you if you will just ask him.
So strap on the helmet of salvation and the next time you have a thought that tells you that you are less than what God’s word says you are, take that thought captive and remember these words.
I am loved by God. God cares about me and He listens to my prayers because I am his kid and remember Romans 8:38-39. Nothing can separate you from the love of God.
In fact I want you to screenshot these two things and this verse.
I am loved by God.God cares about me and I have full access to Him.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Right now, take a piece of paper and write these down. Write them in your journal or on a sticky note or make them your phone wallpaper. Then put it in a place where you will see it every day and be reminded of the great love our God has for you.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
