Adequate & Equipped

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

1. BUILD YOUR FOUNDATION ON THE WORD. God has given us His Word to provide substance to our spirits so that we can be “adequate and equipped for every good work.” Jesus describes a person who acts on His words as a wise person who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27). When we build our lives on God’s Word, then—when the storms of life hit—there is a solid foundation.

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Designed for Durability

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 28:7

1. LET GOD LIFT YOU. When King David had to strengthen himself in the Lord after a hard battle, it wasn’t easy. He wasn’t well rested; he wasn’t feeling spiritual; he didn’t have anyone else to encourage him. But still he got into God’s presence and received direction and encouragement (1 Samuel 30:6). Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, however depleted you may feel, seek the Lord—He has answers and strength for your every need!

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How to Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10

1. ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE. God has strength corresponding to everything we need and everything we are called to do—both for today and for our entire lives. Prayer is not just a discipline or duty; it’s a delight designed as a bridge to help us enter into God’s presence. When we get in the presence of the Lord and start praising Him and thanking Him, joy and strength will come into our situations (Psalm 16:11; Nehemiah 8:10).

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God Is For You!

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. Philippians 2:12b-15

1. BRIDLE YOUR TONGUE. The tongue is a powerful part of our lives. No human being can tame it alone—that’s why it’s so wonderful that God is at work in us, helping us. Grumbling and complaining can be habit-forming. But when we bridle the tongue, we will protect our own souls. When we can do all things without grumbling or disputing, we will see greater results.

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God Is at Work

It is God himself whose power creates in you both the desire and the power to execute His gracious will. Philippians 2:13 Weymouth

YOUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD. Any Christian who has taken on any kind of responsibility knows that we can’t do it alone—our help comes from God (Psalm 121:2). God never gets weary. When you hang out with Him, His likeness rubs off on you, His strength gets into you. That’s why we must take time to connect with the power source.

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Hope for the New Year

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

1. LAY DOWN YOUR BAGGAGE. Before David conquered Goliath, he first left his baggage in the care of the keeper (1 Samuel 17:22). As we prepare to enter into some breakthrough seasons, we need to lay down the weights and sins that hold us back and run with endurance the race that’s set before us. (Hebrews 12:1).

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Three Reasons to Rejoice This Christmas

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good. Psalm 73:28a

1. GOD IS WITH YOU. God’s presence changes everything. In the Bible Gideon was called to lead his people out of oppression, but he was a reluctant warrior who was in a rough place. When God sent an angel, Gideon argued with him asking, “Why has all this happened to us?” (Judges 6:13). God responded: “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel . . . Have I not sent you? . . . Surely I will be with you” (Judges 6:14, 16a).

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The Ripple Effect

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. 2 Chronicles 16:9a

1. STEP OUT. Your life can precipitate all kinds of repercussive effects. We can be inspired by people who have gone before us and changed the limits of what was possible—Chuck Yeager, who broke the sound barrier; Roger Bannister, who ran a mile in just under four minutes though experts thought it couldn’t be done; Abraham and Sarah who were called by God to bear a baby in their old age (Hebrews 11:12); the Apostle Paul, who was assigned to take the Gospel to the Gentile world. God has called us both as a church and as individuals to set precedents, to pioneer new things that will have ripple effects into eternity.

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God’s Plans. God’s Timing.

The people who know their God will display strength and take action. Daniel 11:32b

1. RESPOND TO GOD. The champions of the Bible are not unattainable superheroes. They are men and women who simply responded to God, believed the word that He had given them, and acted on the mission. That’s where they found the strength and that’s where we too will find the strength to complete our course.

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Run Your Race

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

1. LAY IT DOWN. Every day, minute by minute, we can cast our cares on the Lord. If stuff has happened to discourage you, then enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving and watch Him lift your heart and head as you praise Him and lay down every weight.

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Get Activated

From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16

1. CALLED TO EFFECTIVENESS. St. Louis Family Church was established in 1988 with the goal to honor God and help people. Jesus, the Head of the Church, is doing great things worldwide, and we are part of it. Together and as individuals we have a mandate on our lives to carry light and fire to the next generation.

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The Value of Gratitude

As He [Jesus] entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. Luke 17:12-16a

1. THANK GOD FOR WHAT HE’S DONE. Ten men were healed, but only one turned back to give thanks while the others were so excited they took off to re-enter society. We don’t want to be part of the group that forgets to be thankful. Thanksgiving week is a moment for us to pause, shake off an ungrateful heart, and start to celebrate and count our blessings.

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Get Equipped

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

1. WALK IN GOD’S POWER. God has called us to go out and change the world but only when we are clothed with His power (Luke 24:49). Though we live an earthly life, we do not fight an earthly war (2 Corinthians 10:3). God has made available spiritual weapons to believers—like the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, and the Word of God.

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A Different Way of Thinking

The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to him, “O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” Judges: 12-13a

1. GOD USES RELUCTANT WARRIORS. When God called Gideon to step up and rescue the people of Israel, Gideon responded with excuses: God’s abandoned us; I’m the least important and the youngest; if this is You, God, prove it. He was expressing attitudes that had been formed by years of oppression and disappointment. But God was introducing Gideon to a new way of thinking.

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Empowered for Effectiveness

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

1. CLOTHED WITH GOD’S POWER. These famous last words of Jesus before He ascended to heaven show that He did not leave us powerless. We can go out into the ridiculousness of a challenging world with confidence, knowing that He has clothed us with “power from on high” (Luke 24:49), and that it’s as available for us in the twenty-first century as it was for the Early Church.

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The Winning Life

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 1 Corinthians 9:19

1. BE FREE. The apostle Paul is communicating that being free from fear of other people enables him to truly serve those people. “The fear of man brings a snare” (Proverbs 29:25a). God wants to set us free to be more influential than we ever could be if we stay tripped up by what others think.

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Power for Life

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

God has given us spiritual power tools that take us from a hand saw to a power saw; from a shovel to a front-end loader; from a mediocre situation to supernatural strength. If you feel stuck in a pit or depressed, it’s time to utilize some of these powerful tools from your toolbox.

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Hold Fast to Your Confession

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

1. MAINTAIN THE GOOD REPORT. What we speak will determine success or failure in our lives. God is calling us to embrace and maintain the good report through the powerful profession of our faith. Our faith isn’t based in human optimism but in the eternal truths of God’s promises.

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How to Avoid Compassion Fatigue

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2

1. MAINTAIN AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE. The best part of life is Jesus. Everything we do is for an audience of One. Life here on earth has too many needs for us to ever keep track of and take care of, and that’s why we must keep seeking the eternal things of Jesus and trust Him with this life.

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The Assurance of Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of [those] . . . who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises. . . Hebrews 11:1, 32-33

1. CONQUER KINGDOMS. Our place in life is to be more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). It’s not an earthly battle we’re fighting but a spiritual one against forces of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus has given us delegated authority and we can pray from a position of victory, using Scripture to believe for great things to take place in our city, our region, and our nation.

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Restoring the Soul

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

REST. Rest is not a luxury; it’s a requirement. When we approach life from a position of rest, we will make better decisions and won’t be as susceptible to sin. That’s why we must take time to quiet ourselves before the Lord, to let His peace come in and replace the commotion.

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New Beginnings

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

GO FORWARD. Jesus came on the scene not to condemn or reinforce failure, but to become a sin substitute for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Don’t let the past hold you back. If there is an area of self-inflicted misery in your life, repent and move on. When vision gets disrupted, when momentum gets crippled by challenges, it is God who is at work urging and helping us to put off the old person and keep putting on the new (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 4:22-24).

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Security in God

Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:1-4

1. DO NOT FRET. Jesus wants us to be birdwatchers. Next time you go outside, look at the birds as a cure for anxiety. God supplies seeds, worms, and water for them, and you are worth much more to Him than they are. He will take care of all your needs as you walk out this life of faith (Philippians 4:19).

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Heart Life

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38 NKJV

1. A PROTECTED HEART. Tending to the hidden person of the heart is very important in this hour. The devil will try to discourage you; so take control of what you allow to influence you. Shake off bitterness, unforgiveness, and strife and diligently guard your heart.

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How to Live In Harmony

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

1. RUN FROM STRIFE. “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out” (Proverbs 17:14). God has designed us for unity and harmony, but as you go through life, opportunities for strife will come up (Matthew 18:7). Strife is seductive in the moment, but yielding to it will hinder your effectiveness and progress. As much as it depends on you, pursue peace (Romans 12:18).

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