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T.I.M.E.

November 14, 2021

Pastor Lucas takes the reins today! Here are his notes from the sermon.

T.I.M.E. = Training. Identity. Mission. Engagement.

The Stockdale Paradox

“You must not confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to loose – with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be” … Admiral James B. Stockdale

How do we apply the Stockdale Paradox? How do we become an overcomer? We put in the T.I.M.E.

Jesus in the desert Luke 4:1-13

Training

Luke 2:49-52
Stockdale was an officer and officers are well trained.
Jesus as a boy grew in wisdom and stature. He had a season of training in his life.
All the disciples went through 3 years of training.
Paul was highly trained before his conversion.
How about YOU? How are you training your spirit man in times of peace to prepare for times of war. Meditate on and practice the word of God on a regular basis so it becomes not just second nature but your first response to everything.

Identity

Matt 3:13-17
Stockdale was a military officer and he was determined to behave like one.
Jesus knew who he was. The enemy in the desert went straight to “if you are the Son of God”.
The word of God was the sword in his hand but it was knowing that he was the son of God that gave him the strength to fight. The fight in his belly was not the “eye of the tiger” it was his father’s voice saying you are my son.

Instilling identity. Your Identity. What is your identity
John 14:20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
What is true of Jesus is true of you.
You overcome the enemy by knowing your identity in Christ.

Mission

John 14:14

Stockdale’s mission wasn’t to escape, it was to win the whole war. His mission was bigger than himself.
Part of Jesus’ mission is to bring his bride home.
Our mission: To make it home and bring as many people with us as possible.
Westsides’ mission statement “To see all people become part of God’s family”.
The mission Jesus was on was bigger than himself. It was to glorify God and bring mankind home. That’s the mission.

Engagement

Stockdale engaged the enemy on the battlefield and in prison. Taking every opportunity to fight. Even after a loss. He kept his eye on the mission while relying on his training and identity to become an overcomer.

Jesus engaged the enemy in the desert. He was well trained, knew who he was, and relied on God’s truth, not his feelings. He beat the devil in the wilderness then spent the rest of his life on mission engaging everyone he met with the message of Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near

God wants us all to come home. So much he sent his son to die for us.

Even more than that he has sent us the Holy Spirit john 14:15-18,23

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” 23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

What do we do?

We do what Jesus did. We train in times of peace. We remind ourselves constantly of who we are in Christ and where we are headed. And we fight back all the lies of the enemy with the truth.

And we walk this journey home. And as we are going we tell as many people as we can of the goodness of the king, the home he has prepared for us and that he wants to make his home with you/us right now. All we need to do is repent, which is to change our minds about how we live and start living the way God wants us to.

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