SCHOOL-OF-DISCIPLES (INTRODUCTION)
I want to welcome you to the School of Disciples (SOD). The SOD as you probably know is where a Christian comes to learn how to be a Disciple. You will be studying three main subjects and each one has a code to identify it, viz:
LESSON A-The Disciple (Know Yourself)
LESSON B-Know Your Enemy
LESSON C-Weapons of Our Warfare
You need to know these codes. You also need to know the anthem for the School of Disciples which is as follows:
🎶We lift you up
Father, we lift you up
We lift you up
Father, we lift you up (repeat)
🎶We love you more
Father, we love you more We love you more
Father, we love you more (repeat)
The important thing for the disciple is that you do whatever you are asked to do. There will be times to sing. Sometimes you may be asked to look at your hands and say something Whatever you are asked to do, do it immediately and God will bless you richly in Jesus Name.
LESSON A-The Disciple (Know Yourself)
LESSON B-Know Your Enemy
LESSON C-Weapons of Our Warfare
You need to know these codes. You also need to know the anthem for the School of Disciples which is as follows:
🎶We lift you up
Father, we lift you up
We lift you up
Father, we lift you up (repeat)
🎶We love you more
Father, we love you more We love you more
Father, we love you more (repeat)
The important thing for the disciple is that you do whatever you are asked to do. There will be times to sing. Sometimes you may be asked to look at your hands and say something Whatever you are asked to do, do it immediately and God will bless you richly in Jesus Name.
GOALS OF THE SCHOOL OF DISCIPLES
Goals of The School of Disciples
Ultimate Goal
To make disciples of the whole world
International Goal
To make the whole of your country members of SOD.
Immediate Goal
To make you become a well-trained
disciple of Jesus Christ.
It is our prayer that by the time you have been in the SOD even for one year, you will know how to follow Jesus correctly, you will know who your enemy is, you will know the weapons of your warfare and then you will know how to deal with the enemy effectively.
Ultimate Goal
To make disciples of the whole world
International Goal
To make the whole of your country members of SOD.
Immediate Goal
To make you become a well-trained
disciple of Jesus Christ.
It is our prayer that by the time you have been in the SOD even for one year, you will know how to follow Jesus correctly, you will know who your enemy is, you will know the weapons of your warfare and then you will know how to deal with the enemy effectively.
KNOW YOURSELF PART 1
The First thing you need to know about yourself is that you are important . You are a very important person. I know you will say, Who? Me? Nobody knows me. The president doesn't even know I exist. We are not talking about being important to the President. We are talking about you being important to God. And if you are important to the one who will be there when all Presidents are gone, then surely you are an important person.Say aloud:"I AM VERY IMPORTANT TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD."You are important to God because without you, the work of God will slow down. If the work of God slows down, there will be some problems. For example, if you backslide today, you will delay the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is how important you are.Here are 10 reasons why you are important to God. Let's look up Psalm 8 (Read)
This is how important you are.
Ten Reasons why you are Important to God (Psalm 8
1. God is mindful of you (verse 4)- others may not be mindful of you. You might be known in your city or not, but God is mindful of you. Say aloud with Joy: "GOD IS MINDFUL OF ...............YOUR NAME..................,"
2. God Visits you (verse 4)- God visits...........Your name........... regularly. I must be important to God for Him to visit me. If the President visits you, everybody in your street will know you are important. You will know you are important yourself. How often does God visit you?
3. God visits you every morning(Job 7:18)- God comes every morning to wake you up. Any morning that God does not visit you, you are dead! The first thing a DISCIPLE does when he wakes up, is to say "Good morning Lord." He has just woken you up and He is waiting for an acknowledgement to know that Je is near. When you wake up as a DISCIPLE, you should say "Good morning Lord. I welcome you into my life. Come and have pre-eminence in al, that I shall do today." Acknowledge Him. Acknowledge His presence, show your gratitude to Him for waking you every morning.
This is how important you are.
Ten Reasons why you are Important to God (Psalm 8
1. God is mindful of you (verse 4)- others may not be mindful of you. You might be known in your city or not, but God is mindful of you. Say aloud with Joy: "GOD IS MINDFUL OF ...............YOUR NAME..................,"
2. God Visits you (verse 4)- God visits...........Your name........... regularly. I must be important to God for Him to visit me. If the President visits you, everybody in your street will know you are important. You will know you are important yourself. How often does God visit you?
3. God visits you every morning(Job 7:18)- God comes every morning to wake you up. Any morning that God does not visit you, you are dead! The first thing a DISCIPLE does when he wakes up, is to say "Good morning Lord." He has just woken you up and He is waiting for an acknowledgement to know that Je is near. When you wake up as a DISCIPLE, you should say "Good morning Lord. I welcome you into my life. Come and have pre-eminence in al, that I shall do today." Acknowledge Him. Acknowledge His presence, show your gratitude to Him for waking you every morning.
4. God magnifies you(Job 7:17a)- The Almighty God magnifies you. You, as bad as you think you are? If God were to write a testimony about you, you would not even believe what He would say.
5. God magnifies you even in the presence of satan. Look at the testimony of God concerning Job.- Job 1:7-8(read). God said Job is a perfect man, wonderful, nobody like him. Compare with Job 30:1. Here Job is an arrogant man and yet God says He wants to magnify His servant. If God can magnify Job, somebody as proud as this, you can be sure if He writes your testimony, you would not believe what He would writ. I am sure if He is going to write about you, He is going to tell the devil, "Have you seen........Your name........ a wonderful man, perfect man of God, he fears the Lord, he hates evil. There is no one like him in the whole world." This is how God magnifies you.
6. God sets His heart on you (Job 7:17)- "What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?" As unreliable as you are, God is still putting His trust in you. He believes that you are not going to let Him down and I believe you are not going to let Him down too. Say aloud: I WILL NOT FAIL GOD! He believes that you are the one who will make Disciples of the whole world. He believes you are going to be a vessel unto honour and that is exactly how it is going to be in Jesus name. Amen
God has crowned you with Glory(Psalm 8:5)- You are a glorious person. The glory of the Almighty God is upon you, particularly once you became born again. Since you gave your life to Jesus Christ, He has crowned you with glory.
God has crowned you with His honour(Psalm 8:5)
5. God magnifies you even in the presence of satan. Look at the testimony of God concerning Job.- Job 1:7-8(read). God said Job is a perfect man, wonderful, nobody like him. Compare with Job 30:1. Here Job is an arrogant man and yet God says He wants to magnify His servant. If God can magnify Job, somebody as proud as this, you can be sure if He writes your testimony, you would not believe what He would writ. I am sure if He is going to write about you, He is going to tell the devil, "Have you seen........Your name........ a wonderful man, perfect man of God, he fears the Lord, he hates evil. There is no one like him in the whole world." This is how God magnifies you.
6. God sets His heart on you (Job 7:17)- "What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?" As unreliable as you are, God is still putting His trust in you. He believes that you are not going to let Him down and I believe you are not going to let Him down too. Say aloud: I WILL NOT FAIL GOD! He believes that you are the one who will make Disciples of the whole world. He believes you are going to be a vessel unto honour and that is exactly how it is going to be in Jesus name. Amen
God has crowned you with Glory(Psalm 8:5)- You are a glorious person. The glory of the Almighty God is upon you, particularly once you became born again. Since you gave your life to Jesus Christ, He has crowned you with glory.
God has crowned you with His honour(Psalm 8:5)
God gave you dominion(Psalm 8:6-8)- Everything God made is under your feet. Animals, birds, fishes, etc are under your control.
God recognises your importance(Psalm 144:3)- He takes knowledge of you.
God takes account of you (Psalm 144:3)- You count to God; nothing happens to you without Him knowing since you are very very important PERSONALITY to God.
GOD NEEDS YOU!Because you count to God, He needs you. God needs you. You must wake up and realize that you are not a nobody.For example;
GOD NEEDS YOUR HANDS- Mark 16:18. Your hands are important hands to carry the healing power of God to those who are sick. Your hands are powerful hands. They are not USELESS hands. Stretch your hands out before you and look at those two hands and say aloud: "HANDS, MY HANDS, YOU ARE NOT USELESS HANDS. YOU ARE POWERFUL HANDS THAT WOULD BRING HEALING TO THIS GENERATION"And it shall be so in Jesus name. Amen.
GOD NEEDS YOUR LEGS- Mark 16:15. God has commanded you to carry His message into all the world. It is your legs that will carey you. Jesus wants you to carry Him into all the world. He wants you to be His vehicle. He needs your legs. Tap your legs and say aloud: "LEGS, YOU ARE NOT USELESS LEGS. YOUNARE WONDERFUL LEGS, POWERFUL LEGS THAT WILL CARRY JESUS TO THE WHOLE WORLD."And it will be so in Jesus name. Amen.
GOD NEEDS YOUR VOICE- Mark 16:15,17.
A. To preach the gospel
B. To command demons to come out
C. To speak with new tongues
You will be hearing more about casting out demons. This is part of what you have come to School of Disciples to learn. You will also learn more about speaking in tongues, how we circumvent and dodge the enemy when we want to talk to our Father. I want you to speak to your voice and say aloud: "VOICE, FROM NOW ON, YOU WILL NO LONGER SAY ANYTHING USELESS. YOU WILL PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU WILL CAST OUT DEMONS, YOU WILL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES. YOU WILL PRAISE GOD. MY VOICE, GOD NEEDS YOU. YOU ARE NO LONGER USELESS."
God recognises your importance(Psalm 144:3)- He takes knowledge of you.
God takes account of you (Psalm 144:3)- You count to God; nothing happens to you without Him knowing since you are very very important PERSONALITY to God.
GOD NEEDS YOU!Because you count to God, He needs you. God needs you. You must wake up and realize that you are not a nobody.For example;
GOD NEEDS YOUR HANDS- Mark 16:18. Your hands are important hands to carry the healing power of God to those who are sick. Your hands are powerful hands. They are not USELESS hands. Stretch your hands out before you and look at those two hands and say aloud: "HANDS, MY HANDS, YOU ARE NOT USELESS HANDS. YOU ARE POWERFUL HANDS THAT WOULD BRING HEALING TO THIS GENERATION"And it shall be so in Jesus name. Amen.
GOD NEEDS YOUR LEGS- Mark 16:15. God has commanded you to carry His message into all the world. It is your legs that will carey you. Jesus wants you to carry Him into all the world. He wants you to be His vehicle. He needs your legs. Tap your legs and say aloud: "LEGS, YOU ARE NOT USELESS LEGS. YOUNARE WONDERFUL LEGS, POWERFUL LEGS THAT WILL CARRY JESUS TO THE WHOLE WORLD."And it will be so in Jesus name. Amen.
GOD NEEDS YOUR VOICE- Mark 16:15,17.
A. To preach the gospel
B. To command demons to come out
C. To speak with new tongues
You will be hearing more about casting out demons. This is part of what you have come to School of Disciples to learn. You will also learn more about speaking in tongues, how we circumvent and dodge the enemy when we want to talk to our Father. I want you to speak to your voice and say aloud: "VOICE, FROM NOW ON, YOU WILL NO LONGER SAY ANYTHING USELESS. YOU WILL PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU WILL CAST OUT DEMONS, YOU WILL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES. YOU WILL PRAISE GOD. MY VOICE, GOD NEEDS YOU. YOU ARE NO LONGER USELESS."
GOD NEEDS YOUR BRAIN- 1 Cor. 1:27. You may wonder at this and ask; My brain? Maybe that can be true of lawyers, the learned gentlemen or professors. My brain? Foolish brain? But God needs your brain to confound the world. I want you to tap your head and say aloud: "BRAIN, MY BRAIN, YOU ARE NO LONGER USELESS. GOD NEEDS YOU TO CONFOUND THE WISE." And it shall be so in Jesus name. Amen.
GOD NEEDS YOUR TIME- 2 Tim. 4:2. God wants you to spend time for Him. He wants you to do His will during your time. He does not want you to say "I am killing time". He does not want you to waste your time anymore. At everytime for the rest of your life, God wants you to be busy for Him. God says when it is convenient for you, He needs your time. When it is not convenient for you, He needs your time. He wants you to use your time for Him.
GOD NEEDS YOUR TOTAL LOVE- Deut. 6:4-5. He wants you to love Him with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength.
You belong to the Almighty God.
You are important to Him.
He needs you.
I want you to bow your head right now and talk to the Lord; say:
"FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT I AM IMPORTANT TO YOU. I AM HAPPY THAT YOU NEED ME. PLEASE HELP ME SO THAT I WILL NOT FAIL YOU"
GOD NEEDS YOUR TIME- 2 Tim. 4:2. God wants you to spend time for Him. He wants you to do His will during your time. He does not want you to say "I am killing time". He does not want you to waste your time anymore. At everytime for the rest of your life, God wants you to be busy for Him. God says when it is convenient for you, He needs your time. When it is not convenient for you, He needs your time. He wants you to use your time for Him.
GOD NEEDS YOUR TOTAL LOVE- Deut. 6:4-5. He wants you to love Him with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength.
You belong to the Almighty God.
You are important to Him.
He needs you.
I want you to bow your head right now and talk to the Lord; say:
"FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT I AM IMPORTANT TO YOU. I AM HAPPY THAT YOU NEED ME. PLEASE HELP ME SO THAT I WILL NOT FAIL YOU"
KNOW YOURSELF PART 2
Hello guys.
This Online Course on School of Disciples is proudly made possible to you by ZeaLed Consulting Ventures. We hope that our previous lesson was superb and educative.
In this lesson, KNOW YOURSELF PART 2, we shall be looking at the question, why does God need you? God needs you because one of you will chase 1,000. But two of you according to His word will chase 10,000 of His enemies. One of you, just one Disciple will chase 1,000 enemies of God, but the moment you are two, then you will be able to chase 10,000.
That means if there are three of you, you can deal with 100,000 of God's enemies. Now, the moment you are four, you can chase 1,000,000 of God's enemies!
So you can see how important you are in the Army of God. As soon as He gets one additional Disciple, God is happy. This is what He says in Joshua 23:10 and Deut 32:29-31. He talks about one of you chasing 1,000 and two of you chasing 10,000. God does not need you just as servant or slave, to be used and then disposed of. You are not a slave of God. You are a child of God. In fact, He loves you. He loves you tenderly, for several reasons. In fact, we can give you twelve (12) reasons to show you that God loves you specially.
This Online Course on School of Disciples is proudly made possible to you by ZeaLed Consulting Ventures. We hope that our previous lesson was superb and educative.
In this lesson, KNOW YOURSELF PART 2, we shall be looking at the question, why does God need you? God needs you because one of you will chase 1,000. But two of you according to His word will chase 10,000 of His enemies. One of you, just one Disciple will chase 1,000 enemies of God, but the moment you are two, then you will be able to chase 10,000.
That means if there are three of you, you can deal with 100,000 of God's enemies. Now, the moment you are four, you can chase 1,000,000 of God's enemies!
So you can see how important you are in the Army of God. As soon as He gets one additional Disciple, God is happy. This is what He says in Joshua 23:10 and Deut 32:29-31. He talks about one of you chasing 1,000 and two of you chasing 10,000. God does not need you just as servant or slave, to be used and then disposed of. You are not a slave of God. You are a child of God. In fact, He loves you. He loves you tenderly, for several reasons. In fact, we can give you twelve (12) reasons to show you that God loves you specially.
1. He calls you son. He doesn't call you a slave or servant, or a creature even though we are creatures of God. The Bible in 1 John 3:1 says I am a child of the living God.
2. You are going to be like Him one day. The Bible says one day, we are going to be exactly like Him at His appearing- 1 John 3:2a. We are going to be like Him when He appears. Oh yes, that is tremendous love. When Jesus appears, we are going to be like Him. That is the word of God based on the Authority of God's word that cannot change. I am going to be like Jesus one day and I believe I will see you at that time.
3. You are going to see God and live. The bible says, one day we are going to see God and live. Remember one time when Moses said " God I want to see you" and God said "No man cam see me and live". But in this 1 John 3 that we have just read, the Word says "We shall see Him as He is". We are going to see God. Allelluiah! One day we are going to see God and we are going to live. In fact, not only are we going to live, we are going to become like Him. So God love you, I am sure
He loves me specially. He calls you son. You are going to see Him, you are going to be like Him!
4. Whenever you suffer, God suffers too! Yes, that's what the Bible says in Isaiah 63:7-9. In all the afflictions of the children of God, God was afflicted too. Whenever, you suffer, God feels the pain. That is a great love.
5. He Redeemed you, that is why you are saved- Isaiah 63:9. Not only does God suffer when you suffer, but verse 9 says He Redeemed you. It is because God loves you that He Redeemed you.
6. He carried you, He bore you all the days of old. He will care for you, He will carry you.
7. He died for you. Jesus Christ said it in John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". God died for you, what greater love can you describe? He calls you son, you are going to be like Him, you are going to see Him and live. When you suffer, He suffers too.
2. You are going to be like Him one day. The Bible says one day, we are going to be exactly like Him at His appearing- 1 John 3:2a. We are going to be like Him when He appears. Oh yes, that is tremendous love. When Jesus appears, we are going to be like Him. That is the word of God based on the Authority of God's word that cannot change. I am going to be like Jesus one day and I believe I will see you at that time.
3. You are going to see God and live. The bible says, one day we are going to see God and live. Remember one time when Moses said " God I want to see you" and God said "No man cam see me and live". But in this 1 John 3 that we have just read, the Word says "We shall see Him as He is". We are going to see God. Allelluiah! One day we are going to see God and we are going to live. In fact, not only are we going to live, we are going to become like Him. So God love you, I am sure
He loves me specially. He calls you son. You are going to see Him, you are going to be like Him!
4. Whenever you suffer, God suffers too! Yes, that's what the Bible says in Isaiah 63:7-9. In all the afflictions of the children of God, God was afflicted too. Whenever, you suffer, God feels the pain. That is a great love.
5. He Redeemed you, that is why you are saved- Isaiah 63:9. Not only does God suffer when you suffer, but verse 9 says He Redeemed you. It is because God loves you that He Redeemed you.
6. He carried you, He bore you all the days of old. He will care for you, He will carry you.
7. He died for you. Jesus Christ said it in John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". God died for you, what greater love can you describe? He calls you son, you are going to be like Him, you are going to see Him and live. When you suffer, He suffers too.
8. He has chosen you- John 15:16. In other words, He says, "I chose you to have a fruitful life not a wasted life. And then He went on to say, "after I chose you and I ordained you and asked you to go and bear fruits and that your fruits may remain". He said "Whatever you ask the Father in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." In other words, He gave you a blank cheque. Anything you want, write it there, my Father in Heaven will give it to you. What love can you compare to this? But He doesn't stop there.
9. He calls you friend- John 15:15. There is a difference between you saying.... "I am a friend of Jesus", and for Jesus to say, "you are my friend" because you may say " I am a friend of Jesus " and He may say He does not know you! Here in John 15:15, He says He is not calling you a servant anymore. ...........Your Name........., you are my friend. He declared it. Isn't that wonderful?
10. He reveals His Father's secrets to you- John 15:15. He reveals the secret of the Father to us, because He love us. He will say "This is what my Father is trying to do, this is what He is planning to do, this is the next thing that is going to happen".
11. He is preparing a place for you in His own home- John 14:2. Can you imagine that? He is going to prepare a place for me. I am special to God. God loves me so much that even though there are many mansions in HEAVEN, He said, my own must be a reserved one, a special one, not just any kind. Even though all the mansions there are very mighty, beautiful and made of pure gold but He said even among these beautiful mansions, there are still some that are better than others. "That is why I am going to reserve one specially for my friend".
12. He is coming back to bring you to His own throne- John 14:3. He said He is coming back to take me home. Not only to take me home but for me to be where He is. To sit down on the same throne with Him. Rev. 3:21.
9. He calls you friend- John 15:15. There is a difference between you saying.... "I am a friend of Jesus", and for Jesus to say, "you are my friend" because you may say " I am a friend of Jesus " and He may say He does not know you! Here in John 15:15, He says He is not calling you a servant anymore. ...........Your Name........., you are my friend. He declared it. Isn't that wonderful?
10. He reveals His Father's secrets to you- John 15:15. He reveals the secret of the Father to us, because He love us. He will say "This is what my Father is trying to do, this is what He is planning to do, this is the next thing that is going to happen".
11. He is preparing a place for you in His own home- John 14:2. Can you imagine that? He is going to prepare a place for me. I am special to God. God loves me so much that even though there are many mansions in HEAVEN, He said, my own must be a reserved one, a special one, not just any kind. Even though all the mansions there are very mighty, beautiful and made of pure gold but He said even among these beautiful mansions, there are still some that are better than others. "That is why I am going to reserve one specially for my friend".
12. He is coming back to bring you to His own throne- John 14:3. He said He is coming back to take me home. Not only to take me home but for me to be where He is. To sit down on the same throne with Him. Rev. 3:21.
The only condition is that you have to be an overcomer. Go and talk to Him and say: "Father because you know me so much, I pray that I will not fail. You will help me and I will be an overcomer so that one day, I will sit with you on your throne and reign with you forever".
KNOW YOURSELF PART 3
Hi, my name is Evangelist Paul Obinna and you are warmly welcome to The School of Disciples Year 1. In today's lesson we shall be looking at KNOW YOURSELF PART 3.
But first, watch and listen attentively to this short clip.
Before now in Know Your Enemy Part 2, we made you to know the followings:
How important you are to God.
God needs you.
Reasons why we know that God loves you.
Now we want to continue from there and say because God loves you so much and because God needs you so earnestly, satan hates you so intensely because you are a friend of God.- John 15:18
Satan hates you and I am happy that satan hates me because I don't love him either. We are not friends. He hates you warmly because God loves you warmly. And because satan hates you he will constantly attempt to do certain things to you. According to John 10:10, he will want to kill you and he will want to destroy you.
But first, watch and listen attentively to this short clip.
Before now in Know Your Enemy Part 2, we made you to know the followings:
How important you are to God.
God needs you.
Reasons why we know that God loves you.
Now we want to continue from there and say because God loves you so much and because God needs you so earnestly, satan hates you so intensely because you are a friend of God.- John 15:18
Satan hates you and I am happy that satan hates me because I don't love him either. We are not friends. He hates you warmly because God loves you warmly. And because satan hates you he will constantly attempt to do certain things to you. According to John 10:10, he will want to kill you and he will want to destroy you.
SATAN WANTS TO STEAL
He will want to steal from you. He wants to steal your possessions. You remember the story of Job, you can read the whole of Job Chapter 1 but if you like you can read from verse 9-11 and 14-17. You will see how satan stole the possession of Job. But he was not satisfied with that, he went on and stole his children, in Job 1:18-19, and not only that, he then went on to steal the health of this man in Job 2:4-7. Satan wants to steal your possessions, your children and your health. Of course it is your duty not to allow him to do so. Not only that, he will want to go ahead and even kill you! In the case of Job, after he had stolen everything, the wife came to him and said, in Job 2:9 'Curse God and die'.
Satan wanted to kill this man but thank God he did not succeed and I know he will not succeed in your life also in Jesus name.
HE WANTS TO DESTROY
Satan will then want to destroy you by destroying your TESTIMONIES. If you read Numbers 25:1-5,9, you will see the various methods that satan can use. When he knows that God is on your side, he will want to do something that will make you collide with God so that God Himself will fight you. This is of course why you must run from sin. So satan will want to destroy you by DESTROYING your TESTIMONIES and if you allow him, he want to bind you. In Luke 13:16 The Bible talks about a daughter of Abraham, a true child of God who had been bound by satan for several years. So satan:
He will want to steal from you. He wants to steal your possessions. You remember the story of Job, you can read the whole of Job Chapter 1 but if you like you can read from verse 9-11 and 14-17. You will see how satan stole the possession of Job. But he was not satisfied with that, he went on and stole his children, in Job 1:18-19, and not only that, he then went on to steal the health of this man in Job 2:4-7. Satan wants to steal your possessions, your children and your health. Of course it is your duty not to allow him to do so. Not only that, he will want to go ahead and even kill you! In the case of Job, after he had stolen everything, the wife came to him and said, in Job 2:9 'Curse God and die'.
Satan wanted to kill this man but thank God he did not succeed and I know he will not succeed in your life also in Jesus name.
HE WANTS TO DESTROY
Satan will then want to destroy you by destroying your TESTIMONIES. If you read Numbers 25:1-5,9, you will see the various methods that satan can use. When he knows that God is on your side, he will want to do something that will make you collide with God so that God Himself will fight you. This is of course why you must run from sin. So satan will want to destroy you by DESTROYING your TESTIMONIES and if you allow him, he want to bind you. In Luke 13:16 The Bible talks about a daughter of Abraham, a true child of God who had been bound by satan for several years. So satan:
hates you,he wants to steal from you,he wants to kill you,he wants to destroy you andhe wants to bind you.
Now to achieve his purpose in your life, he uses some methods and you need to know them. As the elders will say, when God has shown you your enemy, he should not be able to kill you. In order to achieve his purpose in your life, he sets against you the following:
YOUR BODY- The first thing he wants to set against you is your body. He would want your body to wage war against you so that he will be able to get you. That why Paul the Apostle said in 1 Cor. 9:27 I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
And there in James 1:13-15, the Bible says any man who is being tempted should not say that God is the one tempting him because God can not be tempted with evil He does not tempted any man with evil. However, everyman is tempted when he is enticed by his own lust and drawn and then when this lust begins to grow, it will give birth to sin and when sin develops and finishes its work, it brings forth death.
Now to achieve his purpose in your life, he uses some methods and you need to know them. As the elders will say, when God has shown you your enemy, he should not be able to kill you. In order to achieve his purpose in your life, he sets against you the following:
YOUR BODY- The first thing he wants to set against you is your body. He would want your body to wage war against you so that he will be able to get you. That why Paul the Apostle said in 1 Cor. 9:27 I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
And there in James 1:13-15, the Bible says any man who is being tempted should not say that God is the one tempting him because God can not be tempted with evil He does not tempted any man with evil. However, everyman is tempted when he is enticed by his own lust and drawn and then when this lust begins to grow, it will give birth to sin and when sin develops and finishes its work, it brings forth death.
So don't allow the enemy to use your body against you. Also when he knows that your body may not cooperate, then he will bring an array of well organised, highly disciplined soldiers of darkness and want to arrange them against you- Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, we are talking about highly disciplined evil forces- principalities.Powers.Rulers of darkness in high places
This is the plan of the enemy:
To steal
To steal
To kill
To destroy
To bind
To use your flesh and demons against you.
However, you have an assurance of Victory because the One who loves you is greater than the one who hates you.- 1 John 4:4
So, we have nothing to fear. The greater One is dwelling in us. Our Victory is sure. The one who loves you is the truth according to John 14:6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
And then your enemy is a liar- John 8:44
This is the plan of the enemy:
To steal
To steal
To kill
To destroy
To bind
To use your flesh and demons against you.
However, you have an assurance of Victory because the One who loves you is greater than the one who hates you.- 1 John 4:4
So, we have nothing to fear. The greater One is dwelling in us. Our Victory is sure. The one who loves you is the truth according to John 14:6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
And then your enemy is a liar- John 8:44
Everyone knows that the truth will always defeat the lie any day. The One who loves you, who is the truth promised that you will be victorious because He loves you. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
👉🏽Our Victory is certain because Jesus loves us and because we are His Disciples
CONDITION FOR PERMANENT VICTORY
The Truth, that is Jesus Christ, promised us permanent victory subject to one condition only. There is only one condition according to Deuteronomy 28:13-14. The Truth, the One who can never lie said: And the Lord shall make you the head and not the tail and thou shall be above only and thou shall not be beneath, if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God which I thee this day, to observe and to do them, and thou shall not go aside from any of the words. which I command thee this day to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods and to serve them."
In other words, your victory is certain, subject to one condition only and the condition is obedience. So if you will live a life of absolute obedience and rely on the Almighty God, your victory is certain, absolutely certain.
If the enemy hates you, that is very good. He will try to steal from you, he will try to kill you, destroy you, bind you, try to use your flesh against you, he will try to use a host of demons against you but you have the assurance of victory because God loves you. The One who loves you is greater than the one who hates you.
👉🏽Our Victory is certain because Jesus loves us and because we are His Disciples
CONDITION FOR PERMANENT VICTORY
The Truth, that is Jesus Christ, promised us permanent victory subject to one condition only. There is only one condition according to Deuteronomy 28:13-14. The Truth, the One who can never lie said: And the Lord shall make you the head and not the tail and thou shall be above only and thou shall not be beneath, if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God which I thee this day, to observe and to do them, and thou shall not go aside from any of the words. which I command thee this day to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods and to serve them."
In other words, your victory is certain, subject to one condition only and the condition is obedience. So if you will live a life of absolute obedience and rely on the Almighty God, your victory is certain, absolutely certain.
If the enemy hates you, that is very good. He will try to steal from you, he will try to kill you, destroy you, bind you, try to use your flesh against you, he will try to use a host of demons against you but you have the assurance of victory because God loves you. The One who loves you is greater than the one who hates you.
You have the assurance of victory because the One who loves you is the Truth and your enemy is a liar.
You have the assurance of victory because the Truth has promised that you will be more than a conqueror simply because he loves you and He says you will be victorious all the time, if only you will remain obedient. So I want you to bow your head now and talk to the Almighty God and say;
"FATHER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, I WANT TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LOVE ME AND 1 KNOW YOU WANT TO GIVE ME VICTORY AND I WANT TO BE ABSOLUTELY OBEDIENT TO YOU SO THAT MY VICTORY WILL BE PERMANENT."
Talk to the Lord now; He will answer you.
YOUR VICTORY IS SURE.
You have the assurance of victory because the Truth has promised that you will be more than a conqueror simply because he loves you and He says you will be victorious all the time, if only you will remain obedient. So I want you to bow your head now and talk to the Almighty God and say;
"FATHER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, I WANT TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LOVE ME AND 1 KNOW YOU WANT TO GIVE ME VICTORY AND I WANT TO BE ABSOLUTELY OBEDIENT TO YOU SO THAT MY VICTORY WILL BE PERMANENT."
Talk to the Lord now; He will answer you.
YOUR VICTORY IS SURE.
KNOW YOURSELF PART 4
KNOW YOURSELF (Part 4)
NOW you know you are important to God, that you count in His plans, that He needs you, that He loves you. that Satan hates you and will love to destroy you, that Satan will seek the help of your flesh to do you in, but that God promises you victory on a certain condition and that condition is obedience. What will you do now with this knowledge? You know so much about yourself now, what are you going to do with the information you already have?
1. Do not give God a heartache: Since God loves you and He suffers when you do, the first thing you should do is to make up your mind that you will never cause Him any heartache again. In other words, you will live the rest of your life holy. Even if it is only because He loves you, if only because one day YOU are going to see Him, if only because one day you are going to be like Him, that is enough to encourage you to make up your mind, that you will never annoy God again. When you sin, the punishment will come and when you suffer, God suffers too. So in order that God will not suffer because of you, you should make up your mind that you will never sin again.
In 1 John 3:3, the Bible says; "And every man that hath this hope in him purifeth himself; even as he is pure."
NOW you know you are important to God, that you count in His plans, that He needs you, that He loves you. that Satan hates you and will love to destroy you, that Satan will seek the help of your flesh to do you in, but that God promises you victory on a certain condition and that condition is obedience. What will you do now with this knowledge? You know so much about yourself now, what are you going to do with the information you already have?
1. Do not give God a heartache: Since God loves you and He suffers when you do, the first thing you should do is to make up your mind that you will never cause Him any heartache again. In other words, you will live the rest of your life holy. Even if it is only because He loves you, if only because one day YOU are going to see Him, if only because one day you are going to be like Him, that is enough to encourage you to make up your mind, that you will never annoy God again. When you sin, the punishment will come and when you suffer, God suffers too. So in order that God will not suffer because of you, you should make up your mind that you will never sin again.
In 1 John 3:3, the Bible says; "And every man that hath this hope in him purifeth himself; even as he is pure."
Any one who has the hope of seeing God and becoming like God will purify himself even as God is pure.
In 1 John 5:1-3 the Bible says; "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous."
Don't cause him heartache. Don't disobey him.
2. Love God in return: If God loves you so much, you should love him in return. In John 4:19 the Bible says: "We love him because he first loved us." He had already demonstrated his love. Let us love him in return.
3. Love yourself: You are advised to ove yourself. Why? Because whosoever God loves is worthy of the love of anybody else. If God loves you then you should love yourself. I am sure you will say, "Who told you that I don't love myself?" If you love yourself, congratulations but there are some people who hate themselves. They show it in their actions. For example, there are people who smoke: I know such is not among you the disciples. I just want to give an example of people who hate themselves. It is written on the cigarettes, "smoking is injurious to your health" and yet they keep on smoking.
In 1 John 5:1-3 the Bible says; "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous."
Don't cause him heartache. Don't disobey him.
2. Love God in return: If God loves you so much, you should love him in return. In John 4:19 the Bible says: "We love him because he first loved us." He had already demonstrated his love. Let us love him in return.
3. Love yourself: You are advised to ove yourself. Why? Because whosoever God loves is worthy of the love of anybody else. If God loves you then you should love yourself. I am sure you will say, "Who told you that I don't love myself?" If you love yourself, congratulations but there are some people who hate themselves. They show it in their actions. For example, there are people who smoke: I know such is not among you the disciples. I just want to give an example of people who hate themselves. It is written on the cigarettes, "smoking is injurious to your health" and yet they keep on smoking.
I know you will say "oh well they are foolish people." What about you? Many of you eat so much that you cannot pray at night. Do you love yourself? Many of you talk so much that you cannot even keep your mouth shut and yet you know it is written "in the multitude of words there wanted not sin" and yet you keep on talking non-stop. You know the Bible says "pray without ceasing" and you don't pray. You know the Bible says study the word of God, meditate on it day and night then whatever you do will prosper. You don't study the Bible, you don't meditate therein, how can you say you love yourself? When you know what will bring prosperity to you, what will make you succeed and you refuse to do it, how can you claim that you love yourself?
4. Love others as you love yourself. It is only if you love yourself that you can love your neighbour. This is another reason why you must love yourself because the Bible says in Matthew 22:39, you are to love your neighbour like yourself. If you hate yourself, then your neighbour is in trouble. The elders have a saying. They say the one who can step on the hem of his own garment will tear that of his neighbour. So God loves you, and you love yourself so that you have a standard for loving your neighbour. As you love yourself, so you can love your neighbour. If God is truly your Father, then you must love others also because "like father like son." Your Daddy loves the whole world. You too must love the whole world.
Look at 1 John 4:7-8; 20-21, verses 7-8 says: "Beloved let us love one another for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, of God, for God is love."
4. Love others as you love yourself. It is only if you love yourself that you can love your neighbour. This is another reason why you must love yourself because the Bible says in Matthew 22:39, you are to love your neighbour like yourself. If you hate yourself, then your neighbour is in trouble. The elders have a saying. They say the one who can step on the hem of his own garment will tear that of his neighbour. So God loves you, and you love yourself so that you have a standard for loving your neighbour. As you love yourself, so you can love your neighbour. If God is truly your Father, then you must love others also because "like father like son." Your Daddy loves the whole world. You too must love the whole world.
Look at 1 John 4:7-8; 20-21, verses 7-8 says: "Beloved let us love one another for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, of God, for God is love."
So if you want to tell anyone that you are truly a child of God then you must love others.
5. Don't love occasionally: Make love your dwelling place. Make it your way of life. In 1 John 4:16, the Bible says: "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love and he that dwelleth in God dwelleth in love and God is in him."
The Bible says dwell in love, make love your dwelling place everyday. Live inside love, dwell there.
6. Demonstrate your love: Your Father loves actively, He shows his love. The Bible says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Your Father demonstrated his love by actively giving, so you too must also love actively. You must demonstrate that you love by your action.
Look at I John 3:11 and 18, the Bible says: "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning that we should love one another..., my little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but indeed and in truth."
5. Don't love occasionally: Make love your dwelling place. Make it your way of life. In 1 John 4:16, the Bible says: "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love and he that dwelleth in God dwelleth in love and God is in him."
The Bible says dwell in love, make love your dwelling place everyday. Live inside love, dwell there.
6. Demonstrate your love: Your Father loves actively, He shows his love. The Bible says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Your Father demonstrated his love by actively giving, so you too must also love actively. You must demonstrate that you love by your action.
Look at I John 3:11 and 18, the Bible says: "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning that we should love one another..., my little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but indeed and in truth."
Don't just say, "I love." Demonstrate it, learn to give. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, learn to give.
I John 3:16-17 says: "Hereby perceive we the love of God because He laid down his life for us and we ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good and seeth his brother have need and snutteth up his bowels of compassion from, him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
Love actively. Learn to do things the way your Father does it. Learn to give. You know yourself now. You know that you are special to God. You are important to His plans. He needs you and he loves you. Satan hates you, Satan wants to destroy you, he wants to use your flesh to destroy you. God says that He will give you victory all the time provided you obey Him. Then do something with the information you have already. Don't ever cause God heartache again.
1. Don't ever sin again.
2. Love God in return.
3. Love yourself. If God loves you, you should love yourself also.
4. As you love yourself, love your neighbour accordingly.
5. If you are truly your Father's son, you must love others also.
6. Don't love occasionally, dwell in love. Let love be your dwelling place.
I John 3:16-17 says: "Hereby perceive we the love of God because He laid down his life for us and we ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good and seeth his brother have need and snutteth up his bowels of compassion from, him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
Love actively. Learn to do things the way your Father does it. Learn to give. You know yourself now. You know that you are special to God. You are important to His plans. He needs you and he loves you. Satan hates you, Satan wants to destroy you, he wants to use your flesh to destroy you. God says that He will give you victory all the time provided you obey Him. Then do something with the information you have already. Don't ever cause God heartache again.
1. Don't ever sin again.
2. Love God in return.
3. Love yourself. If God loves you, you should love yourself also.
4. As you love yourself, love your neighbour accordingly.
5. If you are truly your Father's son, you must love others also.
6. Don't love occasionally, dwell in love. Let love be your dwelling place.
Your Father loves actively by giving, giving His best. Demonstrate your love also. Begin to open your hands wide by helping others, by giving unto others and God will help you as you do so. Of course it is going to take grace to do so. Ask for that grace now.
"THE GRACE OH LORD TO LOVE YOU, TO LOVE MYSELF, TO LOVE MY NEIGHBOUR AS MYSELF AND TO DEMONSTRATE THIS LOVE; FATHER GIVE UNTO ME."
Talk to the Lord now and He will answer you.
"THE GRACE OH LORD TO LOVE YOU, TO LOVE MYSELF, TO LOVE MY NEIGHBOUR AS MYSELF AND TO DEMONSTRATE THIS LOVE; FATHER GIVE UNTO ME."
Talk to the Lord now and He will answer you.
KNOW YOURSELF PART 5
SINCE God is on your side you must get rid of fear because there is no fear in love. Fear is the weapon that Satan uses to weigh us down.
TYPES OF FEARS
1. Fear of Death: Some people fear death, forgetting that Jesus died for us -1 John 3:14. There is a lot of linkage between love, fear and death. If you love, no one can kill you because love is as strong as death. Jesus has been to hell and He is at God's right hand praying for us so we have a lot of joy waiting for us in heaven. We will not die until God says it is time. Until you get rid of fear of death you can't do much for God, This is the trick of the devil. Learn to say "Satan depart from me." Even if you are killed because of the gospel, you will have a crown in heaven (i.e. a crown of life) Revelation 2:10.
2. Fear of Pain or Suffering: 1 Peter 2:19-21, You have been called to suffer for the Lord. Jesus has laid examples by suffering for us. (Matthew 5:10-12). So rejoice and be glad in persecution because your blessings await you in heaven. The everlasting doors is open for those that have boldness to suffer Galatians 6:17
3. The Fear of Shame: This worries a lot of Christians today. They are ashamed to preach, so as not be called SU (Derogatory language for Born again Christians) So as from now we should take our stand and know that our Jesus is the same forever, Acts 5:40-42.
TYPES OF FEARS
1. Fear of Death: Some people fear death, forgetting that Jesus died for us -1 John 3:14. There is a lot of linkage between love, fear and death. If you love, no one can kill you because love is as strong as death. Jesus has been to hell and He is at God's right hand praying for us so we have a lot of joy waiting for us in heaven. We will not die until God says it is time. Until you get rid of fear of death you can't do much for God, This is the trick of the devil. Learn to say "Satan depart from me." Even if you are killed because of the gospel, you will have a crown in heaven (i.e. a crown of life) Revelation 2:10.
2. Fear of Pain or Suffering: 1 Peter 2:19-21, You have been called to suffer for the Lord. Jesus has laid examples by suffering for us. (Matthew 5:10-12). So rejoice and be glad in persecution because your blessings await you in heaven. The everlasting doors is open for those that have boldness to suffer Galatians 6:17
3. The Fear of Shame: This worries a lot of Christians today. They are ashamed to preach, so as not be called SU (Derogatory language for Born again Christians) So as from now we should take our stand and know that our Jesus is the same forever, Acts 5:40-42.
4. The Fear of Rejection: Don't be afraid of rejection by friends or family because as soon as you are saved, Satan and all his powers will reject you John 15:19. 20. Jesus loves you. He is your friend even if the world hates you, James 4:4.
5. The Fear of Failure: Nobody wants to fail but we should not be afraid. Some are afraid of failure that they never attempt to start. God loves the best and He will give us the best. Pray always for the best, Deuteronomy 33:27.
6. Fear of Change: Some don't want any change e.g. in the orthodox Churches, It shouldn't be so, we should learn to make changes, if you are to make it in this world and the world to come Hebrews 13:5-6. Some people are afraid of transfer in office. The Lord has planned our lives that there must be constant changes or else we will rust and there won't be improvement.
7. The Fear of Success:- Especially in the sight of God. This is because we are afraid of exposure. You can't help it if you are saved, because Jesus is the Lord of success. When you achieve all the success, don't forget to give all glory to the Lord - Matthew 5:14. Stop dreaming little: think big.
5. The Fear of Failure: Nobody wants to fail but we should not be afraid. Some are afraid of failure that they never attempt to start. God loves the best and He will give us the best. Pray always for the best, Deuteronomy 33:27.
6. Fear of Change: Some don't want any change e.g. in the orthodox Churches, It shouldn't be so, we should learn to make changes, if you are to make it in this world and the world to come Hebrews 13:5-6. Some people are afraid of transfer in office. The Lord has planned our lives that there must be constant changes or else we will rust and there won't be improvement.
7. The Fear of Success:- Especially in the sight of God. This is because we are afraid of exposure. You can't help it if you are saved, because Jesus is the Lord of success. When you achieve all the success, don't forget to give all glory to the Lord - Matthew 5:14. Stop dreaming little: think big.
KNOW YOURSELF PART 6
KNOW YOURSELF (Part 6)
YOU must be like your Father Your Father is a Creator. He is the creator of heaven and earth. In John 5:17, Jesus Christ said:
"My father worketh hitherto and I work." Like Father like Son. Your Father is a Creator so you too must create. He created man in his image.
In Genesis 1:26, He said"Come let us make man in our own image." You too must create others like yourself. In other words, you must win souls to Christ and make them disciples like yourself. You must love these people like God loves you. When He was creating man, He gave of Himself. After He formed man out of the dust of the earth, according to Genesis 2:7, He breathed into that mud the breath of life. He gave of Himself, He poured out of Himself into that clay and man became a living soul.
So when you win a soul, in order for that soul to become a disciple like yourself, to serve God like you serve Him, to do things of God the way you are doing them, it will cost you something. You have to give of yourself to that person. You have to follow up the fellow. Many a times you even have to pay for the transportation of that fellow to come to School of Disciples lectures and programmes. When the fellow was to give one excuse or the other you go ahead and meet the need of that person so that he can become like you. In Romans 9:1-3, the Bible says, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. That have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my head for I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
YOU must be like your Father Your Father is a Creator. He is the creator of heaven and earth. In John 5:17, Jesus Christ said:
"My father worketh hitherto and I work." Like Father like Son. Your Father is a Creator so you too must create. He created man in his image.
In Genesis 1:26, He said"Come let us make man in our own image." You too must create others like yourself. In other words, you must win souls to Christ and make them disciples like yourself. You must love these people like God loves you. When He was creating man, He gave of Himself. After He formed man out of the dust of the earth, according to Genesis 2:7, He breathed into that mud the breath of life. He gave of Himself, He poured out of Himself into that clay and man became a living soul.
So when you win a soul, in order for that soul to become a disciple like yourself, to serve God like you serve Him, to do things of God the way you are doing them, it will cost you something. You have to give of yourself to that person. You have to follow up the fellow. Many a times you even have to pay for the transportation of that fellow to come to School of Disciples lectures and programmes. When the fellow was to give one excuse or the other you go ahead and meet the need of that person so that he can become like you. In Romans 9:1-3, the Bible says, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. That have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my head for I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
This is Paul talking. He said "if only my people can be saved only my people can come to Christ. if only my people become disciples of Christ. I can almost say God, you remo my name from the book of life and put their own. Now we not asking you to pray that prayer. We are saying, pray, do everything to make sure that your relatives and your friends become disciples like yourself. By next year for example, there is nothing wrong if you alone come in with 20 people. It will cost you time, energy, money but it will be worth it because your Father is the Creator. He created light, you too should create light around you, and all these souls that are saved through you, all souls that become disciples through you, are also light and they will surround you. Not only that, love yourself. We have already said that because God loves you, you must als love yourself. However do not be satisfied with yourself, you can be better still, you can improve. Paul, the Apostle, this man who has achieved tremendous things for God, said in Philippians3:12-14, "Not as though I had already attained, either wert already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
Paul said:
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul said, I keep pressing on, I forget the things of the past, past failures, past successes, past glories. I move on, I keep on pressing forward. That is what you should do as a disciple, you must always keep on improving yourself. You must never give up. There are no problems without solutions. Remember there is nothing too hard for you to do. Oh, I thought it was God who can do all things, but the Bible says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Paul said:
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul said, I keep pressing on, I forget the things of the past, past failures, past successes, past glories. I move on, I keep on pressing forward. That is what you should do as a disciple, you must always keep on improving yourself. You must never give up. There are no problems without solutions. Remember there is nothing too hard for you to do. Oh, I thought it was God who can do all things, but the Bible says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
As a disciple, somebody that is so loved of God like you, somebody as important to God as you, there is nothing you cannot attain. The only thing is that you must not stop where you are, don't approve of yourself as you are, don't be satisfied with yourself, move on, keep on improving, keep on getting better, closer to God, pray more, study the Bible more, memorise more passages, win more souls, serve God the more, give Him more, praise Him more.
Improve on a daily basis, and then remember, you must never fail God because God is counting on you. You might be the only person God is looking for. He said "I look for a man, just one man who will stand in the edge between me and the nations." You may be that one man, He is counting on you. Maybe God saved your soul for a time like this. May be that is why He gave you all the opportunities you have.
Remember what the Bible says in the book of Esther 4:13. 14, when the nation of Israel was in trouble and Mordecal sent to Esther. He said. Esther, if you keep quiet at this time, God will bring salvation to Israel from another source, but you and your father's house will perish. And he said, who knows, may be it is because of a time like this that you came into the kingdom. Maybe God brought you to salvation because of a time like this so that you can defend this nation against the enemy, so that you can win souls, so that you can rescue this nation from the devil. Remember, the Bible says. "Come now let us reason together."
Improve on a daily basis, and then remember, you must never fail God because God is counting on you. You might be the only person God is looking for. He said "I look for a man, just one man who will stand in the edge between me and the nations." You may be that one man, He is counting on you. Maybe God saved your soul for a time like this. May be that is why He gave you all the opportunities you have.
Remember what the Bible says in the book of Esther 4:13. 14, when the nation of Israel was in trouble and Mordecal sent to Esther. He said. Esther, if you keep quiet at this time, God will bring salvation to Israel from another source, but you and your father's house will perish. And he said, who knows, may be it is because of a time like this that you came into the kingdom. Maybe God brought you to salvation because of a time like this so that you can defend this nation against the enemy, so that you can win souls, so that you can rescue this nation from the devil. Remember, the Bible says. "Come now let us reason together."
Maybe you want to go to God to discuss with him: Father, how can I create? How can I save more souls so that they become light?
How can I win more souls? How can I press forward?
How can I get more disciples?
How can I improve?
How will I not fail you? Lord what do I do? Please tell me.
God said in Isaiah 1:18;
"Come now let us reason together."
Why don't you accept His invitation? Why don't you spend some minutes now in discussing with the Lord? He said. Come, let us reason together. Say to Him:
LORD, I AM HERE TO ACCEPT YOUR INVITATION. I WANT TO REASON WITH YOU.
He will talk with you. Go ahead and talk to Him.
How can I win more souls? How can I press forward?
How can I get more disciples?
How can I improve?
How will I not fail you? Lord what do I do? Please tell me.
God said in Isaiah 1:18;
"Come now let us reason together."
Why don't you accept His invitation? Why don't you spend some minutes now in discussing with the Lord? He said. Come, let us reason together. Say to Him:
LORD, I AM HERE TO ACCEPT YOUR INVITATION. I WANT TO REASON WITH YOU.
He will talk with you. Go ahead and talk to Him.
KNOW YOURSELF PART 7
KNOW YOURSELF (Part 7)
WHO IS A DISCIPLE?
A DISCIPLE is a disciplined follower. Consequently, if there is no one to follow, then there will be no disciples. According to IPeter 2:21, it talks about Jesus Christ giving us an example so that we can follow in His footsteps, So a disciple of Jesus Christ is some one who FOLLOWS the footsteps of Jesus Christ regimentally.
But then the one to be followed has to:
Be in front.
He must be ahead of the followers.
He has to be higher than them.
He has to be better than them,
He has to be superior to them.
He has to be more advanced than them.
As a matter of fact he must be increasingly so.
In other words, when you take a step nearer the one you are following, you will discover that he is a little further away than you think. In other words you cannot reach him unless he waits for you or until you become exactly like him.
In Matthew 10: 24-25, Jesus Christ said: "a servant cannot be greater than his master. He said, it is enough for a servant to be like his master, not greater. And in 1 John 3:2, the Bible says the only time we are going to be like Jesus exactly, is at His appearing We shall see Him when He appears then we shall be like Him. Until then we will be following. In other words you cannot be exactly like Jesus until His appearing and that is why the School of Disciples is a school from where people never graduate, because you will get better and better. So a disciple must hold up Jesus Christ in front of him constantly, pressing towards that goal. Remember the Bible says in Hebrews 12:2;
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith
WHO IS A DISCIPLE?
A DISCIPLE is a disciplined follower. Consequently, if there is no one to follow, then there will be no disciples. According to IPeter 2:21, it talks about Jesus Christ giving us an example so that we can follow in His footsteps, So a disciple of Jesus Christ is some one who FOLLOWS the footsteps of Jesus Christ regimentally.
But then the one to be followed has to:
Be in front.
He must be ahead of the followers.
He has to be higher than them.
He has to be better than them,
He has to be superior to them.
He has to be more advanced than them.
As a matter of fact he must be increasingly so.
In other words, when you take a step nearer the one you are following, you will discover that he is a little further away than you think. In other words you cannot reach him unless he waits for you or until you become exactly like him.
In Matthew 10: 24-25, Jesus Christ said: "a servant cannot be greater than his master. He said, it is enough for a servant to be like his master, not greater. And in 1 John 3:2, the Bible says the only time we are going to be like Jesus exactly, is at His appearing We shall see Him when He appears then we shall be like Him. Until then we will be following. In other words you cannot be exactly like Jesus until His appearing and that is why the School of Disciples is a school from where people never graduate, because you will get better and better. So a disciple must hold up Jesus Christ in front of him constantly, pressing towards that goal. Remember the Bible says in Hebrews 12:2;
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith
You make Him your target towards which you must aspire everyday pressing forward everyday as Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14; I am forgetting the past, and I am pressing forward."
The cry of the disciples, the motto of the disciples, his words, which herald every new day, something he says when he wakes up or when he has achieved a victory, should be Excelsior - which means I am going upward still, I am getting better still. Like Jesus Christ said in John 14:12, which is our motto, the works that I do, you will do also and greater works than these shall you do. You must be better still, purer still, more fruitful still. Like in John 15:2, as we bear fruits, the Father will purge us that we may bear more fruits. We must keep on getting better and better, trying to become exactly like our Master, and this automatically calls for some constant sacrifices. In Matthew 16:24; look at what Jesus said you must do, in order to be his followers, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, if any man will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me."
Now he said you must deny yourself. There are several implications here. First of all, self denial means you must be willing to fast, you must be willing to persecute the flesh according to Matthew 9:14-15 and also I Corinthians 9:25-27. Paul said anyone who is running a race must be temperate in all things. In fact he said,
"I keep my body under."
In other words, I keep on denying myself. I will not allow the flesh to take over. But then there is another implication, you must have what we call denial of self. In other words, you forget who you are, you make yourself of no reputation. You forget your past achievements and you empty yourself. That is what Paul said he did. He said all things that were gain to him, he set aside. He forgot them, that he might win Christ, that he might know Him, that he might become like the leader he follows.
The cry of the disciples, the motto of the disciples, his words, which herald every new day, something he says when he wakes up or when he has achieved a victory, should be Excelsior - which means I am going upward still, I am getting better still. Like Jesus Christ said in John 14:12, which is our motto, the works that I do, you will do also and greater works than these shall you do. You must be better still, purer still, more fruitful still. Like in John 15:2, as we bear fruits, the Father will purge us that we may bear more fruits. We must keep on getting better and better, trying to become exactly like our Master, and this automatically calls for some constant sacrifices. In Matthew 16:24; look at what Jesus said you must do, in order to be his followers, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, if any man will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me."
Now he said you must deny yourself. There are several implications here. First of all, self denial means you must be willing to fast, you must be willing to persecute the flesh according to Matthew 9:14-15 and also I Corinthians 9:25-27. Paul said anyone who is running a race must be temperate in all things. In fact he said,
"I keep my body under."
In other words, I keep on denying myself. I will not allow the flesh to take over. But then there is another implication, you must have what we call denial of self. In other words, you forget who you are, you make yourself of no reputation. You forget your past achievements and you empty yourself. That is what Paul said he did. He said all things that were gain to him, he set aside. He forgot them, that he might win Christ, that he might know Him, that he might become like the leader he follows.
And then there is a second definition of a disciple. It means an Imitator of leader, and this once again opens two ways of becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ; by imitating the LORD Himself directly or by imitating the imitators of Christ. If you can imitate Jesus Christ directly, that is wonderful. Unfortunately many a times we cannot see In fact many of us have never seen him before and how can we imitate what we have not seen? That is why Paul said in I Thessalonians 1:6, "And ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost."
You become followers of us. You are following those who are Christ. You are imitating the imitators of Christ. Why must we do so? Can we do so? Is it easier to copy what you see than what you cannot see.
When God told Moses to build the Tabernacle in the book of Exodus 25, He showed him a picture of what the thing was to look like and when Moses finished, he compared what he had done with what he saw and the scripture says so. He said you are to follow those who are following Christ. He said so in I Corinthians 4:16, and also in Philippians 4:9. How are we to do it?
Hebrews 13:7,17 says, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Follow their faith, follow those who are the leaders in the Lord and then in verse 17 he says. "Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your soul as they that must give account that they may do it with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you'
You become followers of us. You are following those who are Christ. You are imitating the imitators of Christ. Why must we do so? Can we do so? Is it easier to copy what you see than what you cannot see.
When God told Moses to build the Tabernacle in the book of Exodus 25, He showed him a picture of what the thing was to look like and when Moses finished, he compared what he had done with what he saw and the scripture says so. He said you are to follow those who are following Christ. He said so in I Corinthians 4:16, and also in Philippians 4:9. How are we to do it?
Hebrews 13:7,17 says, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Follow their faith, follow those who are the leaders in the Lord and then in verse 17 he says. "Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your soul as they that must give account that they may do it with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you'
As you follow your leaders, submit to them, listen to their instructions, obey them. They know better than you and they know what is coming. They know how to guide you Concerning some of the things that you are passing through, they have already passed through them and they know how they overcame and will share that with you However, we are not saying follow just any leader. The leader you will follow is the one that will lead you to heaven Remember in I Corinthians 11:1 Paul said clearly the condition that the leader must satisfy before you can follow him, he said, "Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ."
When the leader is following Christ, without any doubt you can follow him because he will finally lead you to Christ. If the leader deviates and he is no longer following Christ, please don't follow him anymore Keep Christ
Now I want you to talk to the LORD and say
FATHER, NO MATTER THE METHOD YOU WANT TO USE, I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR DISCIPLE ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE. PLEASE HELP ME TO DO SO.
Talk to him now and I am sure He will answer you. It is either by appointing for you a leader that you can follow so that you will never miss the road or He will use another method. But if you call on him. He will answer you.
Call on Him now.
When the leader is following Christ, without any doubt you can follow him because he will finally lead you to Christ. If the leader deviates and he is no longer following Christ, please don't follow him anymore Keep Christ
Now I want you to talk to the LORD and say
FATHER, NO MATTER THE METHOD YOU WANT TO USE, I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR DISCIPLE ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE. PLEASE HELP ME TO DO SO.
Talk to him now and I am sure He will answer you. It is either by appointing for you a leader that you can follow so that you will never miss the road or He will use another method. But if you call on him. He will answer you.
Call on Him now.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY PART 1
KNOW YOUR ENEMY (Part 1)
HERE are two basic passages that tell the story of your enemy in a nutshell.
The first one is Ezekiel 28:12-19, which says. Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealeth up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in covering, the sardius, topaz, the diamond, the beryl, the onyz, and the jasper the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: The workmanship of the tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: Therefore, I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquites, by the iniquity of the traffic; therefore, will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shall be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more."
This is one passage that talks about your enemy
The second passage is Isaiah 14: 12-14 and it says: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifier son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the
HERE are two basic passages that tell the story of your enemy in a nutshell.
The first one is Ezekiel 28:12-19, which says. Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealeth up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in covering, the sardius, topaz, the diamond, the beryl, the onyz, and the jasper the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: The workmanship of the tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: Therefore, I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquites, by the iniquity of the traffic; therefore, will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shall be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more."
This is one passage that talks about your enemy
The second passage is Isaiah 14: 12-14 and it says: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifier son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High."
From these two passages, we want to bring some points to your notice. Your enemy we are talking about is Satan
(1) The first thing about the devil is that he is worldly wise and cunning.
In Ephesians 6:11, the Bible says we are not unaware of the wiles of the devil. Satan is very cunning. Therefore, anything that is worldly wise is dangerous. Whenever you see somebody who has all these tricks, all these cunning ways of doing things, you know he is of the devil.
Pay attention to what God says in 1 Corinthians 1:19-28. It is a long passage but I want you to read it. Take note of it Satan is wise. You can say anything you like about Satan. You can call him a liar, you can call him thief, you can call him a killer, a murderer These are his names and attributes, but you must never say that Satan is a fool, because he is not a fool. The Bible says he is full of wisdom.
(2) Satan was Beautiful: The second thing you need to know about this enemy of yours is that he was beautiful. In fact, the Bible says he was perfectly beautiful. Note that not all that is beautiful is necessarily holy or good. The Bible tells us in Proverb 31:30; "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."
From these two passages, we want to bring some points to your notice. Your enemy we are talking about is Satan
(1) The first thing about the devil is that he is worldly wise and cunning.
In Ephesians 6:11, the Bible says we are not unaware of the wiles of the devil. Satan is very cunning. Therefore, anything that is worldly wise is dangerous. Whenever you see somebody who has all these tricks, all these cunning ways of doing things, you know he is of the devil.
Pay attention to what God says in 1 Corinthians 1:19-28. It is a long passage but I want you to read it. Take note of it Satan is wise. You can say anything you like about Satan. You can call him a liar, you can call him thief, you can call him a killer, a murderer These are his names and attributes, but you must never say that Satan is a fool, because he is not a fool. The Bible says he is full of wisdom.
(2) Satan was Beautiful: The second thing you need to know about this enemy of yours is that he was beautiful. In fact, the Bible says he was perfectly beautiful. Note that not all that is beautiful is necessarily holy or good. The Bible tells us in Proverb 31:30; "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."
This is an important point particularly to those disciples who are yet to be married Pray before you choose your partner. Do not let beauty be the one that will lead you Beauty is vain. If you look at snakes very well, many of them are very beautiful and yet very poisonous. A lot of other things are very beautiful and not necessarily of God. In fact, the Bible tells us that Satan can change himself into an angel of light, looking very beautiful. So be careful of beauty. Of course you know there are things that are beautiful that are holy and good but you need to be aware that not all that glitters is gold.
(3) Satan loves Jewellery: Satan loves jewels, stones of fire, diamonds, emerald, sapphire, gold. And the devil is surrounded by them. The Bible says that he dwells in them There are some people who will say my lucky stone is diamond, some will say my lucky stone is sapphire or emerald, better be careful
The devil may be dwelling in that stone you call lucky stone. If there is any lucky stone that I have at all, it is JESUS CHRIST, the Rock of Ages himself. Lucky stones might not be so lucky after all because the devil dwells in stones of fire
(4) Satan was the Choir Master of God. God created him with a pipe organ built into his body: Why? Because he was the original choir master of heaven. It was because he fell that he was removed from his position and then today, he is still using all kinds of music to take many souls to hell
If you listen very well, you will hear some music that you know definitely are music of hell. Don't allow such in your home. Don't let Satan take your children away from you with devilish music.
(3) Satan loves Jewellery: Satan loves jewels, stones of fire, diamonds, emerald, sapphire, gold. And the devil is surrounded by them. The Bible says that he dwells in them There are some people who will say my lucky stone is diamond, some will say my lucky stone is sapphire or emerald, better be careful
The devil may be dwelling in that stone you call lucky stone. If there is any lucky stone that I have at all, it is JESUS CHRIST, the Rock of Ages himself. Lucky stones might not be so lucky after all because the devil dwells in stones of fire
(4) Satan was the Choir Master of God. God created him with a pipe organ built into his body: Why? Because he was the original choir master of heaven. It was because he fell that he was removed from his position and then today, he is still using all kinds of music to take many souls to hell
If you listen very well, you will hear some music that you know definitely are music of hell. Don't allow such in your home. Don't let Satan take your children away from you with devilish music.
The kind of music that you should bring into your home are those that praise the Almighty God. Satan hates those who sing praises to God. The more you sing praises to God. the more Satan is irritated because each time you sing and praise God:
(a) You remind him of his glorious past- He used to be the one leading the praise and worship of God
(b) You remind him of his lost opportunity. He can never again become the choir master of God.
(c) He is enraged that you are pleasing God because he knows that God loves music, so when you are singing and you are praising God. God is happy, and ANYTHING THAT MAKES GOD HAPPY MAKES SATAN MAD
1 Peter 2:9 the Bible says: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
WHY HAS GOD CHOSEN YOU?
So that you can praise Him, so that you can glorify Him. He loves it. He enjoys music.
(d) Satan knows that when you are praising God, God will draw near to you. He will move close to you because the Bible already says in Psalm 22:3 "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."
God inhabits the praises of His people. Can you imagine the frustration of Satan when Paul and Silas were singing in prison? He thought he already had them. Tomorrow, we are going to get rid of these two troublesome people." But at midnight, Paul and Silas began to praise the Almighty God.
(a) You remind him of his glorious past- He used to be the one leading the praise and worship of God
(b) You remind him of his lost opportunity. He can never again become the choir master of God.
(c) He is enraged that you are pleasing God because he knows that God loves music, so when you are singing and you are praising God. God is happy, and ANYTHING THAT MAKES GOD HAPPY MAKES SATAN MAD
1 Peter 2:9 the Bible says: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
WHY HAS GOD CHOSEN YOU?
So that you can praise Him, so that you can glorify Him. He loves it. He enjoys music.
(d) Satan knows that when you are praising God, God will draw near to you. He will move close to you because the Bible already says in Psalm 22:3 "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."
God inhabits the praises of His people. Can you imagine the frustration of Satan when Paul and Silas were singing in prison? He thought he already had them. Tomorrow, we are going to get rid of these two troublesome people." But at midnight, Paul and Silas began to praise the Almighty God.
They began to say! "Lord, we worship you. Lord you are good. Lord, you are excellent. Oh, forever Oh Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven."
As soon as they started. Satan knew that trouble would come. He said "Oh, instead of these people murmuring instead of them grumbling, look at them praising God. It looks as if I am going to lose these ones." Of course he lost them. As Paul and Silas kept on praising God, very soon, the Almighty God said. "I am going to visit these ones. "And when He came, there was an earthquake and the yokes of everyone was broken.
The important lesson you as a disciple must learn from now on, is that you must learn to praise God non-stop. This will be one good indication that you are now a disciple. Take sometime now to praise God. Sing to the Almighty God.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Every yoke will be broken today. The name of the Lord will be glorified and your enemy will be angry. Begin to sing unto the Lord.
As soon as they started. Satan knew that trouble would come. He said "Oh, instead of these people murmuring instead of them grumbling, look at them praising God. It looks as if I am going to lose these ones." Of course he lost them. As Paul and Silas kept on praising God, very soon, the Almighty God said. "I am going to visit these ones. "And when He came, there was an earthquake and the yokes of everyone was broken.
The important lesson you as a disciple must learn from now on, is that you must learn to praise God non-stop. This will be one good indication that you are now a disciple. Take sometime now to praise God. Sing to the Almighty God.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Every yoke will be broken today. The name of the Lord will be glorified and your enemy will be angry. Begin to sing unto the Lord.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY PART 2
KNOW YOUR ENEMY (Part 2)
WE have already discovered that our enemy is Satan and that he has certain characteristics:
1. He is wise, worldly-wise.
2. He is beautiful, perfectly so, and as a result, all that is beautiful is not necessarily holy or good.
3. He dwells in stones of fire, which means that some of these so called lucky stones might not be lucky after all.
4. He was formerly the choirmaster of God and so whenever you sing praises unto God, you remind him of his glorious past. You remind him of his lost opportunities. He is also aware that when you are praising God, you are pleasing God and that God will draw near to you.
Now we want to continue from there and look at other characteristics of this enemy.
5. The devil is greedy:
The greedy person is going to end up a killer, according to Proverbs 1:18-19. Anyone who is greedy will ultimately end up a killer because Satan himself is a killer and a robber too according to John 10:10, "The thief commeth not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy;"
WE have already discovered that our enemy is Satan and that he has certain characteristics:
1. He is wise, worldly-wise.
2. He is beautiful, perfectly so, and as a result, all that is beautiful is not necessarily holy or good.
3. He dwells in stones of fire, which means that some of these so called lucky stones might not be lucky after all.
4. He was formerly the choirmaster of God and so whenever you sing praises unto God, you remind him of his glorious past. You remind him of his lost opportunities. He is also aware that when you are praising God, you are pleasing God and that God will draw near to you.
Now we want to continue from there and look at other characteristics of this enemy.
5. The devil is greedy:
The greedy person is going to end up a killer, according to Proverbs 1:18-19. Anyone who is greedy will ultimately end up a killer because Satan himself is a killer and a robber too according to John 10:10, "The thief commeth not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy;"
The Bible says that anyone who is greedy will not have a settled home because Satan will fellowship there constantly.
The Bible says in Proverbs 15:27 that when you are greedy, you bring problems to your own home.
Because Satan is greedy, when he finds someone who is greedy, he will fellowship with that fellow because birds of the same feather, flock together. And wherever Satan fellowships, you can be sure there will be trouble there.
(6). The Devil is violent: In Ezekiel 28:16, the Bible says Satan is violent and that brings us to one important point that THE ONLY LANGUAGE SATAN UNDERSTANDS IS THE LANGUAGE OF VIOLENCE. If you are begging him, he will keep on troubling you. If you are appealing to him "Satan please leave me alone, please go somewhere else" He will say: "No, I like it where I am." But when you get violent with the devil, and say: "I command you in the name of Jesus, get out of here" then he will say: "Ah take it easy. I will look for somewhere else."The Bible says in James4:7; "...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
And in I Peter 5:8-9; "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; Whom resist steadfast in the faith,"
You are to resist the devil, and not just resist him but resist him steadfastly. There is only one language Satan understands, that is the language of violence.
The Bible says in Proverbs 15:27 that when you are greedy, you bring problems to your own home.
Because Satan is greedy, when he finds someone who is greedy, he will fellowship with that fellow because birds of the same feather, flock together. And wherever Satan fellowships, you can be sure there will be trouble there.
(6). The Devil is violent: In Ezekiel 28:16, the Bible says Satan is violent and that brings us to one important point that THE ONLY LANGUAGE SATAN UNDERSTANDS IS THE LANGUAGE OF VIOLENCE. If you are begging him, he will keep on troubling you. If you are appealing to him "Satan please leave me alone, please go somewhere else" He will say: "No, I like it where I am." But when you get violent with the devil, and say: "I command you in the name of Jesus, get out of here" then he will say: "Ah take it easy. I will look for somewhere else."The Bible says in James4:7; "...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
And in I Peter 5:8-9; "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; Whom resist steadfast in the faith,"
You are to resist the devil, and not just resist him but resist him steadfastly. There is only one language Satan understands, that is the language of violence.
However, it is only the devil that we should be violent with, you are the violent type, note that we mean if you are violent against other people rather than against Satan, then Satan will keep you company. Also he will always be wherever you are.
The Bible says in Psalm 140:11; "Evil shall hunt the violent man to destroy him."
If you are the violent type, Satan will be following you wherever you go, and of course the ultimate result will be destruction. Not only that, if you love violence, Satan will love you and God will hate you because the Bible tells us in Psalm 11:5 that: "The Lord trieth the righteous; but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth."
God hates those who are violent. There is only one violence which God will tolerate, and that is violence that is directed against Satan himself. But for violent against other human beings, God hates such people. Of course God must hate whosoever the devil loves.
7. The Devil is full of Pride: The Bible tells us that Satan fell as a result of pride. His heart became lifted up because of his beauty. Because of his wisdom, he became swollen- headed. And then he fell as a result of pride. Now there are some lessons to learn from this:
1. Anyone who is proud is a disciple or a son of Satan, because Satan was the first one to bring the sin of pride into the world. When you see someone who is arrogant and proud you can be sure straight away that he is a disciple of Satan.
The Bible says in Psalm 140:11; "Evil shall hunt the violent man to destroy him."
If you are the violent type, Satan will be following you wherever you go, and of course the ultimate result will be destruction. Not only that, if you love violence, Satan will love you and God will hate you because the Bible tells us in Psalm 11:5 that: "The Lord trieth the righteous; but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth."
God hates those who are violent. There is only one violence which God will tolerate, and that is violence that is directed against Satan himself. But for violent against other human beings, God hates such people. Of course God must hate whosoever the devil loves.
7. The Devil is full of Pride: The Bible tells us that Satan fell as a result of pride. His heart became lifted up because of his beauty. Because of his wisdom, he became swollen- headed. And then he fell as a result of pride. Now there are some lessons to learn from this:
1. Anyone who is proud is a disciple or a son of Satan, because Satan was the first one to bring the sin of pride into the world. When you see someone who is arrogant and proud you can be sure straight away that he is a disciple of Satan.
2. Satan hates those who are humble and he doesn't fellowship with them, which is a very good news. If you are a humble person, Satan is not going to come to your house to fellowship. I like this very much, because | don't want him in my house. Satan doesn't like humble people, he stays away from them. He looks for those who are proud, those who are arrogant, then he wants to stay with them.
3. Pride is a destroyer. Proverbs 15:25 says: "The Lord will destroy the house of the proud." If God says he is going to destroy the house of someone, that fellow should be afraid, because there will be nothing left when God has finished His work. The Word of God which is forever settled says the Lord will destroy the house of the proud.
In Proverbs 16:18 the Bible says: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
When someone becomes proud, destruction is around the corner. Why is this? Why would God destroy the house of the proud? Why is it that it is pride that will go before destruction? It is because God considers pride as an abomination, since Satan himself is now an abomination to God. The reason Satan fell was because of pride and anyone who is proud is a disciple of Satan, and should get ready for trouble.
4. Pride is an abomination to God just as Satan is an abomination to God. Proverbs 16:5 says: "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."
3. Pride is a destroyer. Proverbs 15:25 says: "The Lord will destroy the house of the proud." If God says he is going to destroy the house of someone, that fellow should be afraid, because there will be nothing left when God has finished His work. The Word of God which is forever settled says the Lord will destroy the house of the proud.
In Proverbs 16:18 the Bible says: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
When someone becomes proud, destruction is around the corner. Why is this? Why would God destroy the house of the proud? Why is it that it is pride that will go before destruction? It is because God considers pride as an abomination, since Satan himself is now an abomination to God. The reason Satan fell was because of pride and anyone who is proud is a disciple of Satan, and should get ready for trouble.
4. Pride is an abomination to God just as Satan is an abomination to God. Proverbs 16:5 says: "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."
But the beauty of it is this; when you are humble, God loves you and He will begin to fellowship with you. You see wherever you cannot find the devil, you will meet God there. In a house where the devil will not come, God will come there and I want God to come to my house. I want Him to fellowship with me, I don't want Satan to come near me at all. That is why humility must be a watchword for the disciple.
5. God loves the humble and He fellowships with them. Isaiah 57:15 says:
"For thus saith the High and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, and to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.' I want God to dwell with me.
6. God enables the humble to put Satan to flight. James 4:6-7 says:
"But he giveth more grace wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
If you will submit yourselves to God, the One who gives grace to the humble, He will give you the necessary backing. Also when you resist the devil, he will flee from you.
7. The humble makes speedy progress. When you humble yourself, your progress will be rapid whether in the spiritual or in the secular. Whenever you humble yourself, promotion will come.
The Bible says in Matthew 23:12, "And he that shall humble himself shall be exalted"
5. God loves the humble and He fellowships with them. Isaiah 57:15 says:
"For thus saith the High and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, and to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.' I want God to dwell with me.
6. God enables the humble to put Satan to flight. James 4:6-7 says:
"But he giveth more grace wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
If you will submit yourselves to God, the One who gives grace to the humble, He will give you the necessary backing. Also when you resist the devil, he will flee from you.
7. The humble makes speedy progress. When you humble yourself, your progress will be rapid whether in the spiritual or in the secular. Whenever you humble yourself, promotion will come.
The Bible says in Matthew 23:12, "And he that shall humble himself shall be exalted"
And in James 4:10, the Bible says, "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He
shall lift you up." Now if God is the One lifting you up, even the sky is not your limit, because the Hands of the Almighty God are everlasting.
When He picks you up and lifts you up, you will just keep on going. I Peter 5:6 says; "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
God has a time for the promotion of the humble and that time will never fail.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:4, "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life."
When you humble yourself, look at all the things God will give you; riches, honour, and life. There are some people who are rich and have no honour. When people see them coming, they will say "here comes the thief." But there are some people who are wealthy and honourable. Some people are rich and they die early so they cannot enjoy what they have. But when you humble yourself under the mighty hand of the Almighty God, He will give you riches and honour and you will live long so that you can enjoy what He has given to you.
8. Finally, Satan is still important, even among archangels because he was anointed. The Bible says he is "the anointed cherub that covereth."
And because of that anointing even the archangels cannot really be rude to him.
shall lift you up." Now if God is the One lifting you up, even the sky is not your limit, because the Hands of the Almighty God are everlasting.
When He picks you up and lifts you up, you will just keep on going. I Peter 5:6 says; "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
God has a time for the promotion of the humble and that time will never fail.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:4, "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life."
When you humble yourself, look at all the things God will give you; riches, honour, and life. There are some people who are rich and have no honour. When people see them coming, they will say "here comes the thief." But there are some people who are wealthy and honourable. Some people are rich and they die early so they cannot enjoy what they have. But when you humble yourself under the mighty hand of the Almighty God, He will give you riches and honour and you will live long so that you can enjoy what He has given to you.
8. Finally, Satan is still important, even among archangels because he was anointed. The Bible says he is "the anointed cherub that covereth."
And because of that anointing even the archangels cannot really be rude to him.
Remember in Jude verse 9, when God sent Angel Michael to bring the body of Moses and Satan said 'no you cannot take it, the Archangel Michael did not say to Satan "you stupid fellow," No, he said The Lord rebuke you.'
In other words, I have nothing to say to you. The One who sent me will deal with you. So, Satan is important, even among the angels because of his anointing. But the good news is this; we the children of the Most High God are not angels. We are greater than angels. Satan is nothing to us. We can kick him, we can smash his head because the Bible says in Hebrews 1:13-14, "But to which of the angels said he at any time, sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
Angels are our servants. The highest Angel is a servant to the children of God. So if Satan is anointed, and the other angels cannot rebuke him, there is no reason why we cannot rebuke him. We are not angels. We can deal with Satan anyhow provided of course we have the backing of our Allies. We want you to spend some minutes now and do exactly as we tell you. We want you to stand up now and come against the devil and tell him.
"SATAN YOU ARE UNDER MY FEET, BECAUSE MY CAPTAIN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN ME VICTORY OVER YOU. DEVIL, I COMMAND YOU NOW TO GET OUT OF MY LIFE."
I am telling you now that if you resist the devil, he will flee from you. So go ahead, resist him now. Do it right away. don't postpone it.
In other words, I have nothing to say to you. The One who sent me will deal with you. So, Satan is important, even among the angels because of his anointing. But the good news is this; we the children of the Most High God are not angels. We are greater than angels. Satan is nothing to us. We can kick him, we can smash his head because the Bible says in Hebrews 1:13-14, "But to which of the angels said he at any time, sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
Angels are our servants. The highest Angel is a servant to the children of God. So if Satan is anointed, and the other angels cannot rebuke him, there is no reason why we cannot rebuke him. We are not angels. We can deal with Satan anyhow provided of course we have the backing of our Allies. We want you to spend some minutes now and do exactly as we tell you. We want you to stand up now and come against the devil and tell him.
"SATAN YOU ARE UNDER MY FEET, BECAUSE MY CAPTAIN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN ME VICTORY OVER YOU. DEVIL, I COMMAND YOU NOW TO GET OUT OF MY LIFE."
I am telling you now that if you resist the devil, he will flee from you. So go ahead, resist him now. Do it right away. don't postpone it.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY PART 3
KNOW YOUR ENEMY (Part 3)
THERE are three forces operative on the earth.
1. There is the positive one; good and benevolent
2. There is the negative one; bad and malevolent, and
3. There is the neutral one.
(1) In other words, these forces are; God, who is totally good, pure, benevolent. According to James 1:17, the Bible says:
"All good and perfect gifts come down from above from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning." Our God is totally good.
In Matthew 19:16-17 the Bible says: There is none good except our God."
(2) The second force is Satan. He is totally bad, he is evil, he is the father of lies, he is a murderer, he is a thief, he is a destroyer, he is an accuser of the brethren, he is an oppressor, all his names are bad. John 8:44 calls him father of lies, John 10:10 calls him the thief that comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. Revelation 12:10 calls him the accuser of the brethren.
(3) Then the third force is man, who is supposed to be neutral, but he has the free will to cooperate either with God or Satan. So, when he joins with God, the good force will work through him, when he joins with the devil, then the evil force will begin to work through him. According to Romans 6:16, the Bible says:
THERE are three forces operative on the earth.
1. There is the positive one; good and benevolent
2. There is the negative one; bad and malevolent, and
3. There is the neutral one.
(1) In other words, these forces are; God, who is totally good, pure, benevolent. According to James 1:17, the Bible says:
"All good and perfect gifts come down from above from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning." Our God is totally good.
In Matthew 19:16-17 the Bible says: There is none good except our God."
(2) The second force is Satan. He is totally bad, he is evil, he is the father of lies, he is a murderer, he is a thief, he is a destroyer, he is an accuser of the brethren, he is an oppressor, all his names are bad. John 8:44 calls him father of lies, John 10:10 calls him the thief that comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. Revelation 12:10 calls him the accuser of the brethren.
(3) Then the third force is man, who is supposed to be neutral, but he has the free will to cooperate either with God or Satan. So, when he joins with God, the good force will work through him, when he joins with the devil, then the evil force will begin to work through him. According to Romans 6:16, the Bible says:
to whom ye yield yourself servant to obey; his servants ye are to whom ye obey"
This lesson will focus on force number two, that is Satan. Satan is a gangster, he is the number one thug of the universe. He works through four principal agents,
1. The first agent comprises demons or fallen angels.
Revelation 12:3-4.
2. He also works through the cosmic forces of nature, according to Job 1:18-19. Mark 4:37-38, shows us he can cause a storm on the ocean to try and drown the disciples with the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. He also works through animals like serpents, in Genesis 3:1 or Acts 28:1-6 or Revelation 20:2. He can work with serpents or lions like in Judges 14:5-6. The lion that attacked Samson was inspired by Satan and in I Samuel 17:34- 36, the lion that attacked David was inspired by Satan.
4. In 1 Peter 5:8, Satan himself was even compared to a lion! Satan can also operate through human beings like Job's wife in Job 2:3-9, like Noah's children in Genesis 9:20-25 and Lot's children in Genesis 19:30-38 or Abraham's wife in Genesis 16:1-6 or Ananias and Sapphirah in Acts 5:1-3 or Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12:1-5 and of course the biggest of them all is Judas Iscariot in John 13:26-27.
In other words Satan is a thug, he is the number one thug of the universe but he does not move or operate alone. He works with demons, he works with the forces of nature, he works with animals like serpents, like lions, at times like cats but he can not use dogs and then of course he can use human beings; all kinds of human beings; people's children, people's wives, people's brothers and sisters like Aaron and Miriam and of course he can use the so called disciples.
This lesson will focus on force number two, that is Satan. Satan is a gangster, he is the number one thug of the universe. He works through four principal agents,
1. The first agent comprises demons or fallen angels.
Revelation 12:3-4.
2. He also works through the cosmic forces of nature, according to Job 1:18-19. Mark 4:37-38, shows us he can cause a storm on the ocean to try and drown the disciples with the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. He also works through animals like serpents, in Genesis 3:1 or Acts 28:1-6 or Revelation 20:2. He can work with serpents or lions like in Judges 14:5-6. The lion that attacked Samson was inspired by Satan and in I Samuel 17:34- 36, the lion that attacked David was inspired by Satan.
4. In 1 Peter 5:8, Satan himself was even compared to a lion! Satan can also operate through human beings like Job's wife in Job 2:3-9, like Noah's children in Genesis 9:20-25 and Lot's children in Genesis 19:30-38 or Abraham's wife in Genesis 16:1-6 or Ananias and Sapphirah in Acts 5:1-3 or Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12:1-5 and of course the biggest of them all is Judas Iscariot in John 13:26-27.
In other words Satan is a thug, he is the number one thug of the universe but he does not move or operate alone. He works with demons, he works with the forces of nature, he works with animals like serpents, like lions, at times like cats but he can not use dogs and then of course he can use human beings; all kinds of human beings; people's children, people's wives, people's brothers and sisters like Aaron and Miriam and of course he can use the so called disciples.
WHY SATAN USES MEDIUMS
Why does Satan use mediums? Why does he use other people? Why does he not come out directly? He hates exposure. If you believe that he does not exist, he likes it. If you ignore him and say "oh there is no Satan or if Satan is there I don't care" that makes him very happy, It is like somebody coming home and then he suddenly sees somebody under his bed. "Ah! who is this fellow? Oh! well, he has no guns, no cutlasses. He is no problem," Then he shuts the door and go to bed without getting rid of that man under the bed. When he wakes up in the morrow, there will be nothing left in his house.
And there are some people who say Satan is already defeated, which is true. Our Lord has defeated him at Calvary but that is no reason why we should ignore him. We must deal with him. When he knows that you have recognised him and that you are about to do something about it, he can begin to change colours. He can become like an angel of light, according to 2 Corinthians 11:44. As a disciple, you must WATCH OUT. You must know you are dealing with a very clever enemy.
WHEN DOES SATAN ATTACK?
(1) He will attack when you are weakest. He will not want to attack you when you are very strong. Take note of this.
(2) He also will want to attack when you are relaxed, for instance when you are relaxing after fasting and praying.
(3) He will also attack immediately after victory, when you have just won a victory. He knows that at that time you are not expecting him to attack, so he will want to come in He attacks when your guards are down.
Why does Satan use mediums? Why does he use other people? Why does he not come out directly? He hates exposure. If you believe that he does not exist, he likes it. If you ignore him and say "oh there is no Satan or if Satan is there I don't care" that makes him very happy, It is like somebody coming home and then he suddenly sees somebody under his bed. "Ah! who is this fellow? Oh! well, he has no guns, no cutlasses. He is no problem," Then he shuts the door and go to bed without getting rid of that man under the bed. When he wakes up in the morrow, there will be nothing left in his house.
And there are some people who say Satan is already defeated, which is true. Our Lord has defeated him at Calvary but that is no reason why we should ignore him. We must deal with him. When he knows that you have recognised him and that you are about to do something about it, he can begin to change colours. He can become like an angel of light, according to 2 Corinthians 11:44. As a disciple, you must WATCH OUT. You must know you are dealing with a very clever enemy.
WHEN DOES SATAN ATTACK?
(1) He will attack when you are weakest. He will not want to attack you when you are very strong. Take note of this.
(2) He also will want to attack when you are relaxed, for instance when you are relaxing after fasting and praying.
(3) He will also attack immediately after victory, when you have just won a victory. He knows that at that time you are not expecting him to attack, so he will want to come in He attacks when your guards are down.
Examples
(1) When the Lord had been fasting for forty days and forty nights, when he knew Jesus was very tired and hungry that was when he Came in Matthew 4:1-3. Unfortunately he miscalculated He thought that physical weakness means weakness with the spirit. He did not know that our Lord was razor sharp after forty days of fasting.
(2) You will remember that we talked about him attacking after a victory. In the story of David after he had killed Goliath and he was rejoicing, "Oh, I have won. I am a victor, something happened in I Samuel 18:6-9. The Bible says that when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistines, the daughters of Israel began to sing, Satan taught them a song and they sang "Saul has killed his thousands, David has killed his ten thousands. The Bible says when Saul heard it, he said is that so, so they want to take the crown from me and give it to this boy, and that day David got the biggest enemy of his life; immediately after a great victory.
(3) You know the story of Joshua: the wall of Jencho had just fallen and the Isrealites were all rejoicing "Oh! we won by just shouting halleluyah. The greater One is on our side While they were rejoicing the devil moved again and got a man to go and steal from one of the things God said they should not touch. Just a few days later the children of Israel were running from their enemies (see Joshua7)
(1) When the Lord had been fasting for forty days and forty nights, when he knew Jesus was very tired and hungry that was when he Came in Matthew 4:1-3. Unfortunately he miscalculated He thought that physical weakness means weakness with the spirit. He did not know that our Lord was razor sharp after forty days of fasting.
(2) You will remember that we talked about him attacking after a victory. In the story of David after he had killed Goliath and he was rejoicing, "Oh, I have won. I am a victor, something happened in I Samuel 18:6-9. The Bible says that when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistines, the daughters of Israel began to sing, Satan taught them a song and they sang "Saul has killed his thousands, David has killed his ten thousands. The Bible says when Saul heard it, he said is that so, so they want to take the crown from me and give it to this boy, and that day David got the biggest enemy of his life; immediately after a great victory.
(3) You know the story of Joshua: the wall of Jencho had just fallen and the Isrealites were all rejoicing "Oh! we won by just shouting halleluyah. The greater One is on our side While they were rejoicing the devil moved again and got a man to go and steal from one of the things God said they should not touch. Just a few days later the children of Israel were running from their enemies (see Joshua7)
WHAT GOD EXPECTS FROM YOU
So what do we do? What does God expect from us as the disciples of Jesus Christ so that the enemy can never overcome us? God expects action from us against the enemy every time. For example when Peter came face to face with Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:9-28, the Disciples had gone from Jerusalem to Samaria and as Peter was laying hands on the new converts, they were receiving the power of the Holy Spint The sorcerer came and said "take money, give me power so that when I lay my hand on people they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Peter said, "your money perish with you." That is not a language of a gentleman. But as I told you before, the only language the devil understands is the language of violence. Peter did not say "Oh my weak brother Simon why should you be saying this now." No, he said "your money perish with you because he knew he was dealing with the Satan in that Simon. God expects actions from us, His disciples, against the devil. We must never give Satan an inch. We must not praise him. We must not honour him, we must not fear him and we must not give him breathing space because the Bible says in Ephesians 4:27 "Don't give place to the devil."
Don't give him an inch. If you give him an inch, he will take a mile. You must resist him steadfastly. You must fight a sustained unending battle with him. That is what the Bible says in I Peter 5:8-9. Resist him steadfastly, fight him everyday, morning, afternoon, evening and even in the night time. Any where you see him, fight him.
In fact, the Bible says you are to carry the battle to his gates In other words even when he is not attacking you, attack him because when he is not attacking you, he is planning something. Don't give hum room at all. Jesus had promised that the gate of bell shall not prel. In Matthew 16:18, he said you should go to the gate of the enemy and attack his gates and the gates will crumble.
So what do we do? What does God expect from us as the disciples of Jesus Christ so that the enemy can never overcome us? God expects action from us against the enemy every time. For example when Peter came face to face with Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:9-28, the Disciples had gone from Jerusalem to Samaria and as Peter was laying hands on the new converts, they were receiving the power of the Holy Spint The sorcerer came and said "take money, give me power so that when I lay my hand on people they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Peter said, "your money perish with you." That is not a language of a gentleman. But as I told you before, the only language the devil understands is the language of violence. Peter did not say "Oh my weak brother Simon why should you be saying this now." No, he said "your money perish with you because he knew he was dealing with the Satan in that Simon. God expects actions from us, His disciples, against the devil. We must never give Satan an inch. We must not praise him. We must not honour him, we must not fear him and we must not give him breathing space because the Bible says in Ephesians 4:27 "Don't give place to the devil."
Don't give him an inch. If you give him an inch, he will take a mile. You must resist him steadfastly. You must fight a sustained unending battle with him. That is what the Bible says in I Peter 5:8-9. Resist him steadfastly, fight him everyday, morning, afternoon, evening and even in the night time. Any where you see him, fight him.
In fact, the Bible says you are to carry the battle to his gates In other words even when he is not attacking you, attack him because when he is not attacking you, he is planning something. Don't give hum room at all. Jesus had promised that the gate of bell shall not prel. In Matthew 16:18, he said you should go to the gate of the enemy and attack his gates and the gates will crumble.
Remember God is counting on you The Bible says in Revelation 12:10-11,
They overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."
They overcame him. The disciples overcame him The witnesses of the Lord overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, not even counting their lives unto death. God is counting on you for victory against all the forces of darkness
Right now! Stand up and say:
"SATAN, IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS, I COME AGAINST YOU AND I DECREE THAT FROM TODAY ONWARDS YOU WILL HAVE NO PART, NO PORTION IN MY LIFE, IN THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN AND IN MY HOME. I DECREE, SATAN, YOU WILL HAVE NO REST, YOU WILL HAVE NO PLACE, YOU WILL HAVE NO PORTION IN ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ME."
Resist him and he will flee from you.
They overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."
They overcame him. The disciples overcame him The witnesses of the Lord overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, not even counting their lives unto death. God is counting on you for victory against all the forces of darkness
Right now! Stand up and say:
"SATAN, IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS, I COME AGAINST YOU AND I DECREE THAT FROM TODAY ONWARDS YOU WILL HAVE NO PART, NO PORTION IN MY LIFE, IN THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN AND IN MY HOME. I DECREE, SATAN, YOU WILL HAVE NO REST, YOU WILL HAVE NO PLACE, YOU WILL HAVE NO PORTION IN ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ME."
Resist him and he will flee from you.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY PART 4
KNOW YOUR ENEMY (Part 4)
NOW we want to discuss DEMONS. We have talked about the devil, their captain and now we want to talk about the demons- his assistants. Now the word demon is not in the Bible. It comes from the Greek word "Diabolous which means an adversary, or false accuser or slanderer. This is how we got the English word "diabolical" which means devilish or very evil.
ORIGIN OF DEMONS
Now concerning the origin of demons, there are many opinions. Some say they are the pre-adamic ghosts. There are some that say they are the ghosts of offsprings of angels and daughters of men of Noah's day.
But it seems most likely that these are former angels who fell with Lucifer because in the Book of Revelation 12:4 when Satan fell he took one third of the stars of heaven with him and you will remember in Job 38:6-7, angels were referred to as stars. So if Satan took one third of the stars of heavens with him and stars were called angels in book of Job, it sounds reasonable that demons are these fallen angels. In fact in Mark 16:17, the Bible calls demons 'devils' because the devil himself was once an angel, his angels are called devils.
NOW we want to discuss DEMONS. We have talked about the devil, their captain and now we want to talk about the demons- his assistants. Now the word demon is not in the Bible. It comes from the Greek word "Diabolous which means an adversary, or false accuser or slanderer. This is how we got the English word "diabolical" which means devilish or very evil.
ORIGIN OF DEMONS
Now concerning the origin of demons, there are many opinions. Some say they are the pre-adamic ghosts. There are some that say they are the ghosts of offsprings of angels and daughters of men of Noah's day.
But it seems most likely that these are former angels who fell with Lucifer because in the Book of Revelation 12:4 when Satan fell he took one third of the stars of heaven with him and you will remember in Job 38:6-7, angels were referred to as stars. So if Satan took one third of the stars of heavens with him and stars were called angels in book of Job, it sounds reasonable that demons are these fallen angels. In fact in Mark 16:17, the Bible calls demons 'devils' because the devil himself was once an angel, his angels are called devils.
In Matthew 25:41, the Bible says, "Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels."
So we can see clearly that these demons must be the angels that fell with Satan. That is why they are called the devil's angels. What about their nature?
The Nature of Demons
Their nature varies as it is suggested by their names and we will be talking about this in details later.
Demons have certain things in common:
1. They don't have bodies, unlike human beings. They are personalities without corporate bodies to live in. As a result of that. they are constantly seeking for bodies to inhabit so that they can manifest and express their personalities through these bodies.
2. They cannot be seen with the physical eyes because they are spirits. Now when they are looking for places to inhabit, they prefer human beings. If they can find human beings to inhabit they love that. Certainly, they will not come and inhabit me, I am not going to allow them to come in. But when they cannot find human beings, they manage with animals.
You remember the story of the Gadarene demoniac when Jesus said the demons in this mad man should come out, they begged him. "If you are sending us out. let us go into those pigs. If we can not have a human being we will manage with pigs. Of course Jesus allowed them because he knew what he was going to do. When the demons entered into the pigs, the pigs were so angry that these dirty things came to live in them. The pigs said they would rather die. Can you imagine that? What pigs cannot tolerate, what dirty pigs cannot tolerate, some human beings rejoice in. The Bible says pigs ran violently into the sea and died there. They said they would rather die than have demons living in us. As far as am concerned demons will never live in me. I will not allow them.
So we can see clearly that these demons must be the angels that fell with Satan. That is why they are called the devil's angels. What about their nature?
The Nature of Demons
Their nature varies as it is suggested by their names and we will be talking about this in details later.
Demons have certain things in common:
1. They don't have bodies, unlike human beings. They are personalities without corporate bodies to live in. As a result of that. they are constantly seeking for bodies to inhabit so that they can manifest and express their personalities through these bodies.
2. They cannot be seen with the physical eyes because they are spirits. Now when they are looking for places to inhabit, they prefer human beings. If they can find human beings to inhabit they love that. Certainly, they will not come and inhabit me, I am not going to allow them to come in. But when they cannot find human beings, they manage with animals.
You remember the story of the Gadarene demoniac when Jesus said the demons in this mad man should come out, they begged him. "If you are sending us out. let us go into those pigs. If we can not have a human being we will manage with pigs. Of course Jesus allowed them because he knew what he was going to do. When the demons entered into the pigs, the pigs were so angry that these dirty things came to live in them. The pigs said they would rather die. Can you imagine that? What pigs cannot tolerate, what dirty pigs cannot tolerate, some human beings rejoice in. The Bible says pigs ran violently into the sea and died there. They said they would rather die than have demons living in us. As far as am concerned demons will never live in me. I will not allow them.
3. They have freewill: Like human beings, demons have free will they can decide what they want to do. In the book of Matthew 12:44, the Bible talks about what happens when you drive a demon out of a man and he goes about looking for a place to dwell and he cannot find one. He then say, I will go back to my former house. You can hear what he says; "I will". Demons have free will like human beings. They can decide what they want to do and that is why they even decided to follow Satan in rebellion against God. They are free to choose and they chose to follow Satan. Thank God I have chosen to follow Jesus.
4. They have faith and believe, In James 2:19, The Bible says: "You believe there is God, you have done well but the demons also believe and they tremble,"
You know demons have faith. They believe God's word than some Christians. They know that the word of God is forever settled. For example, when you read from Matthew 4-3-11 whenever Jesus Christ said 'It is written the devil never challenged him. He knew that the word of God is forever settled. In fact what he did was he tried to quote the word of God too. When he said to Jesus, change this stone to bread, Jesus Christ said: "It is written that thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God, thou shall not live by bread alone."
Satan did not deny that. He knew the word of God is settled. Another time when he was going to tempt again, he now decides to quote, "come down for it is written, he will give charge to his angels concerning you to carry you in their hands so you will not dash your foot against the stone.
He knows that the word of God is forever settled. Demons believe the word of God more than many Christians,
4. They have faith and believe, In James 2:19, The Bible says: "You believe there is God, you have done well but the demons also believe and they tremble,"
You know demons have faith. They believe God's word than some Christians. They know that the word of God is forever settled. For example, when you read from Matthew 4-3-11 whenever Jesus Christ said 'It is written the devil never challenged him. He knew that the word of God is forever settled. In fact what he did was he tried to quote the word of God too. When he said to Jesus, change this stone to bread, Jesus Christ said: "It is written that thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God, thou shall not live by bread alone."
Satan did not deny that. He knew the word of God is settled. Another time when he was going to tempt again, he now decides to quote, "come down for it is written, he will give charge to his angels concerning you to carry you in their hands so you will not dash your foot against the stone.
He knows that the word of God is forever settled. Demons believe the word of God more than many Christians,
5. Demons have intelligence too, they are wise. Remember Satan, their number one captain, is full of wisdom; and these demons can recognise people supernaturally by name. They probably recognize those people whose names are already in the Book of life by name. In Acts 19:15, the demon said: "Jesus I know, Paul I know also." Of course by now they know me too, I am happy they know me too, that we are not friends. Mark1:22-24 shows that they have the ability to recognise people supernaturally.
6. They know their rights and they will claim them. In Matthew 8:28-29, they even challenged Jesus Christ. They said: "Have you come to torment us before our time? We know the time of our torment is coming but the time has not come so you cannot come and torment us before our time."
7. They know they are defeated, but they try to make the best out of bad situations. In Mark 5:2-13 the demons said "I know you want us to go; but can we go into the swine?" They know how to negotiate.
They are expert liars. Remember their father the devil is called the father of lies, so if the father is father of lies, you can be sure his children too are liars. This is why you must not listen to demons when they are talking to you and you must not talk to them at all. You're must know that it takes more intelligence to lie than to tell the truth. If you are telling the truth don't have to worry yourself but when you told a lie yesterday you want to tell a new one today. The new one today must cover the one of yesterday and you must keep on scheming so your brain must be working extra hard for you to keep on lying. Jesus Christ said in Luke 16:8 that the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. Those who are demons or those who work with demons need more intelligence to survive than those of us who are children of light.
6. They know their rights and they will claim them. In Matthew 8:28-29, they even challenged Jesus Christ. They said: "Have you come to torment us before our time? We know the time of our torment is coming but the time has not come so you cannot come and torment us before our time."
7. They know they are defeated, but they try to make the best out of bad situations. In Mark 5:2-13 the demons said "I know you want us to go; but can we go into the swine?" They know how to negotiate.
They are expert liars. Remember their father the devil is called the father of lies, so if the father is father of lies, you can be sure his children too are liars. This is why you must not listen to demons when they are talking to you and you must not talk to them at all. You're must know that it takes more intelligence to lie than to tell the truth. If you are telling the truth don't have to worry yourself but when you told a lie yesterday you want to tell a new one today. The new one today must cover the one of yesterday and you must keep on scheming so your brain must be working extra hard for you to keep on lying. Jesus Christ said in Luke 16:8 that the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. Those who are demons or those who work with demons need more intelligence to survive than those of us who are children of light.
9. Demons are incurably evil. They can never repent.
10. They are wicked according to their ranks. Some of them are more wicked than others. Matthew 12:43-45 tells us that when you drive out a demon, he searches and if he cannot find accommodation and he come back to his house and finds it empty and very clean, the Bible says he will go and look for demons far more wicked than himself and then he will say come, come to my house, come and live with me.
11. Demons vary in wickedness, some are more wicked than others and they also vary in strength and importance Some are very strong, they have categories and hierarchies. In Mark 9:29, when the disciples tried to cast out a-demon and it would not go out, they came to the Lord to ask why they could not cast it out.
The Lord said "because of your unbelief and then He now finally said "but this type does not go out normally. It requires special prayers and special fasting. In other words, there are some that go easily but there some that are strong and you need to fast and pray to get rid of them.
12. Demons are also highly organised, everybody knows his own position; principalities, the powers, rulers of darkness in high places. They have their degrees, they have their captains, they have their majors, they have their colonels. They are highly organised. Their principal assignment is to oppose the saints. They also have their own doctrines. In I Timothy 4:1 the Bible says that in the latter times there will be some people who will listen to the doctrines of the devils.
13. Demons have their own doctrines. They have their own teachings.
10. They are wicked according to their ranks. Some of them are more wicked than others. Matthew 12:43-45 tells us that when you drive out a demon, he searches and if he cannot find accommodation and he come back to his house and finds it empty and very clean, the Bible says he will go and look for demons far more wicked than himself and then he will say come, come to my house, come and live with me.
11. Demons vary in wickedness, some are more wicked than others and they also vary in strength and importance Some are very strong, they have categories and hierarchies. In Mark 9:29, when the disciples tried to cast out a-demon and it would not go out, they came to the Lord to ask why they could not cast it out.
The Lord said "because of your unbelief and then He now finally said "but this type does not go out normally. It requires special prayers and special fasting. In other words, there are some that go easily but there some that are strong and you need to fast and pray to get rid of them.
12. Demons are also highly organised, everybody knows his own position; principalities, the powers, rulers of darkness in high places. They have their degrees, they have their captains, they have their majors, they have their colonels. They are highly organised. Their principal assignment is to oppose the saints. They also have their own doctrines. In I Timothy 4:1 the Bible says that in the latter times there will be some people who will listen to the doctrines of the devils.
13. Demons have their own doctrines. They have their own teachings.
14. They fear God: Demons are afraid of God. James 2:19 tells us that whenever they think about God, they tremble and I am happy about that.
15 They are subject to Christ. In I Peter 3:22, the Bible says all principalities and powers are subject to Jesus Christ. They are subject to us too through Christ because the Bible says in Mark 16:17 that these signs shall follow them that believe, we will cast out demons, we will cast them out and in Luke 9:1 Jesus says; He has given us power over all the powers of the enemy and He said, nothing by any means will hurt us and in Matthew 10:1 and 8, He tells us the same thing.
We have the power over all these evil forces, through Jesus Christ, so whatever may be their whatever may be their origin, our duty is to get d them. Just command them to get out and they will in the mighty name of Jesus.
This is exactly what we want you to do Command them to get out of your life. Let them know tha you know who you are now.
Let them know that you have discovered by the special grace of God that demons are subject to you and that they must obey your commands.
Go ahead now, Command them.
Put into action what you have learnt
Be a doer not a hearer. You will be amazed that as the disciples of old said
"Lord, even the devils are subject to us through your Name", they will be subject to you too. Command them to leave you alone, in the name of Jesus and they will obey.
Go ahead now and do that.
Thank you Jesus.
15 They are subject to Christ. In I Peter 3:22, the Bible says all principalities and powers are subject to Jesus Christ. They are subject to us too through Christ because the Bible says in Mark 16:17 that these signs shall follow them that believe, we will cast out demons, we will cast them out and in Luke 9:1 Jesus says; He has given us power over all the powers of the enemy and He said, nothing by any means will hurt us and in Matthew 10:1 and 8, He tells us the same thing.
We have the power over all these evil forces, through Jesus Christ, so whatever may be their whatever may be their origin, our duty is to get d them. Just command them to get out and they will in the mighty name of Jesus.
This is exactly what we want you to do Command them to get out of your life. Let them know tha you know who you are now.
Let them know that you have discovered by the special grace of God that demons are subject to you and that they must obey your commands.
Go ahead now, Command them.
Put into action what you have learnt
Be a doer not a hearer. You will be amazed that as the disciples of old said
"Lord, even the devils are subject to us through your Name", they will be subject to you too. Command them to leave you alone, in the name of Jesus and they will obey.
Go ahead now and do that.
Thank you Jesus.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY (Part 5)
KNOW YOUR ENEMY (Part 5)
CATEGORIES OF DEMONS
There are many of them:
1. The Unclean Spirits: All demons are unclean but there are some that specialise in uncleanness, Luke 4:33-34 Demons can be generous, they can work false miracles. God's miracle worker must be humble and holy. The unclean spirits cause people to sin and they seduce, always tear and throw down their victim
2. The Deaf and Dumb Spirit: They enter into people and cause them to be deaf and dumb. If they are taken to the hospital, the doctor finds nothing wrong in them.
3. Spirit of Infirmity or Binding Spirits: they work with muscles and bones. They cause deformity. Luke 13:11-15. They can't be treated with x-ray or injection; only by the word of God.
4. Lying Spirits: All demons are liars and cause Prophets to lie- 2 King 22 20-22, 1 Chicles 18.
5. Familiar Spirit: Revelation 20:6; Leitious 19:31; 1 Samuel 30 7
6. Foul Spirit: Deals with dirty things Revelation 18:2
7. The Spirit of Jealousy: Deals mostly with women. It is a sin to be jealous. Numbers 5:14:30.
8. Seducing Spirit: Causes problems in men and women, boys and girls. They cause sexual sins.
CATEGORIES OF DEMONS
There are many of them:
1. The Unclean Spirits: All demons are unclean but there are some that specialise in uncleanness, Luke 4:33-34 Demons can be generous, they can work false miracles. God's miracle worker must be humble and holy. The unclean spirits cause people to sin and they seduce, always tear and throw down their victim
2. The Deaf and Dumb Spirit: They enter into people and cause them to be deaf and dumb. If they are taken to the hospital, the doctor finds nothing wrong in them.
3. Spirit of Infirmity or Binding Spirits: they work with muscles and bones. They cause deformity. Luke 13:11-15. They can't be treated with x-ray or injection; only by the word of God.
4. Lying Spirits: All demons are liars and cause Prophets to lie- 2 King 22 20-22, 1 Chicles 18.
5. Familiar Spirit: Revelation 20:6; Leitious 19:31; 1 Samuel 30 7
6. Foul Spirit: Deals with dirty things Revelation 18:2
7. The Spirit of Jealousy: Deals mostly with women. It is a sin to be jealous. Numbers 5:14:30.
8. Seducing Spirit: Causes problems in men and women, boys and girls. They cause sexual sins.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY PART 6
KNOW YOUR ENEMY (Part 6)
DEMONS ON ASSIGNMENT (Part 1)
NOW the Great Commission in Mark 16:15-18 made it abundantly clear that you cannot successfully and truly carry out the Great Commission without casting out demons because when He asked you to go forward into all the world and preach the Gospel to all nations. He said these signs shall follow them that believe. The first thing that He said you will do, is that you will cast out demons. You cannot deal successfully with demons, unless you are fully aware of their strategies
Demons on Assignment
In 2 Corinthians 2:11, the Bible says, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us. For we are not ignorant of his devices."
We need to know his devices, we must not be ignorant of his devices. When we are well informed, the devil will not be able to cheat us. So you need to know that the devil has demons on assignment in almost every sphere of life.
He cannot be everywhere at all times so he puts demons everywhere. Even though he moves pretty fast according to Luke 10:18 but he cannot be everywhere at all times. Now we are going to look at these demons on assignment in various forms.
Demons on assignment in religion. You see, the devil has always had a doctrine to preach. According to I Timothy 4:1 the Bible talks about the doctrines of devils. The devil has his own doctrines, and the first time he preached was in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3:4-5, when he told Eve. "don't listen to God. You won't die any death at all, in fact God doesn't want you to become like Him which is why He asked you not to eat the forbidden fruit. Now the devil is still preaching the same sermon today.
DEMONS ON ASSIGNMENT (Part 1)
NOW the Great Commission in Mark 16:15-18 made it abundantly clear that you cannot successfully and truly carry out the Great Commission without casting out demons because when He asked you to go forward into all the world and preach the Gospel to all nations. He said these signs shall follow them that believe. The first thing that He said you will do, is that you will cast out demons. You cannot deal successfully with demons, unless you are fully aware of their strategies
Demons on Assignment
In 2 Corinthians 2:11, the Bible says, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us. For we are not ignorant of his devices."
We need to know his devices, we must not be ignorant of his devices. When we are well informed, the devil will not be able to cheat us. So you need to know that the devil has demons on assignment in almost every sphere of life.
He cannot be everywhere at all times so he puts demons everywhere. Even though he moves pretty fast according to Luke 10:18 but he cannot be everywhere at all times. Now we are going to look at these demons on assignment in various forms.
Demons on assignment in religion. You see, the devil has always had a doctrine to preach. According to I Timothy 4:1 the Bible talks about the doctrines of devils. The devil has his own doctrines, and the first time he preached was in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3:4-5, when he told Eve. "don't listen to God. You won't die any death at all, in fact God doesn't want you to become like Him which is why He asked you not to eat the forbidden fruit. Now the devil is still preaching the same sermon today.
In 2 Corinthians 11:3, the Bible says; "But I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlity, so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
The doctrine of Jesus Christ is very simple but Satan can add to it and subtract from it. Now the devil knows what people want to hear. He knows what will make them feel happy, so when he is preparing his doctrines, he would prepare it in such a way that some people will say "Oh! That makes sense. "But remember the Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death."
You must take note of that. Any way that seems to look good but is not according to the Word of God, will surely lead to death.
The devil also knows how to perform lying wonders. He is a magician The Bible talks about him in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 concerning his lying wonders, the Bible says:
"Even him (that is talking about the devil) whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders."
He also knows about variety being the spice of life. When he wants to establish his doctrines, he prepares a variety, so that the world would be able to take which ever one they want and then he puts special demons in charge of particular doctrines. In Ephesians 4:14, the Bible warned us that: 'We henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness where by they lie in wait to deceive."
Now he has all kinds of doctrines, every wind of doctrines As a master counterfeiter, he copies the original very closely. In fact, the Bible says that if we are not careful we might even be deceived.
In 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, the Bible made it abundantly clear that the devil you are dealing with is very cunning. It says: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is t
The doctrine of Jesus Christ is very simple but Satan can add to it and subtract from it. Now the devil knows what people want to hear. He knows what will make them feel happy, so when he is preparing his doctrines, he would prepare it in such a way that some people will say "Oh! That makes sense. "But remember the Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death."
You must take note of that. Any way that seems to look good but is not according to the Word of God, will surely lead to death.
The devil also knows how to perform lying wonders. He is a magician The Bible talks about him in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 concerning his lying wonders, the Bible says:
"Even him (that is talking about the devil) whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders."
He also knows about variety being the spice of life. When he wants to establish his doctrines, he prepares a variety, so that the world would be able to take which ever one they want and then he puts special demons in charge of particular doctrines. In Ephesians 4:14, the Bible warned us that: 'We henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness where by they lie in wait to deceive."
Now he has all kinds of doctrines, every wind of doctrines As a master counterfeiter, he copies the original very closely. In fact, the Bible says that if we are not careful we might even be deceived.
In 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, the Bible made it abundantly clear that the devil you are dealing with is very cunning. It says: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is t
So there are false apostles who will pretend to be apostles of Christ, just as the devil their father can transform himself into an angel of light. Now occasionally, he does not send demons when the fellow that he wants to deal with is a spiritual giant. In such instances, he will come himself.
For example he preached to Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:5-6, He said
"It is written, he would give charge concerning you to his angels that they will carry you upon their hands so that you will not dash your foot against a stone."
He preached to Jesus Christ and he was trying to quote Psalm 91:11 but he quoted it wrongly He even told Jesus Christ: "Listen, look at the whole world, look at the glory of You bow to me and I give it to you And you know the trap there, if Jesus had bowed to him, then Satan would become the owner of Jesus and whatever the slave owns belongs to the owner. He said, I will give the whole world to you and the you belong to me. Automatically, if Jesus belongs to him then he would own the whole world as well.
Demons on assignment in religion are well organised and obedient. They preach a variety of false doctrines, and there is a demon in charge of each doctrine
HOW TO KNOW CHURCHES (RELIGIONS) THAT THE DEVIL CONTROLS
How do we know religions and churches that are demon controlled? Any organization, that adds to or subtracts from the Bible, is demonic irrespective of the name they cal themselves. In Revelations 22:18-19, God warned us against adding to or subtracting from the Bible. I am sorry to say, but even the Roman Catholics subtracted from the Bible. The book of Revelations is not in their Bible and they have several other books that they have added. The Jehovah Witnesses subtracted from the Bible. Those people who called themselves Christian Scientists, subtracted from the Bible. The Mormons, who always say God is Love and that God will never judge anybody, have subtracted from the Bible.
There are several others like (I am sorry to say) the Celestial Church who add to the
For example he preached to Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:5-6, He said
"It is written, he would give charge concerning you to his angels that they will carry you upon their hands so that you will not dash your foot against a stone."
He preached to Jesus Christ and he was trying to quote Psalm 91:11 but he quoted it wrongly He even told Jesus Christ: "Listen, look at the whole world, look at the glory of You bow to me and I give it to you And you know the trap there, if Jesus had bowed to him, then Satan would become the owner of Jesus and whatever the slave owns belongs to the owner. He said, I will give the whole world to you and the you belong to me. Automatically, if Jesus belongs to him then he would own the whole world as well.
Demons on assignment in religion are well organised and obedient. They preach a variety of false doctrines, and there is a demon in charge of each doctrine
HOW TO KNOW CHURCHES (RELIGIONS) THAT THE DEVIL CONTROLS
How do we know religions and churches that are demon controlled? Any organization, that adds to or subtracts from the Bible, is demonic irrespective of the name they cal themselves. In Revelations 22:18-19, God warned us against adding to or subtracting from the Bible. I am sorry to say, but even the Roman Catholics subtracted from the Bible. The book of Revelations is not in their Bible and they have several other books that they have added. The Jehovah Witnesses subtracted from the Bible. Those people who called themselves Christian Scientists, subtracted from the Bible. The Mormons, who always say God is Love and that God will never judge anybody, have subtracted from the Bible.
There are several others like (I am sorry to say) the Celestial Church who add to the
Bible. And anyone that contradicts any bit of the Word of God, is demonic because the Bible says let all men be liars and let God be true.
The Grail Message for example, say that Jesus Christ was not born by a virgin. They contradict the Bible and any organisation that brings frustrations to its members is demonic. It does not matter what scientific wisdom their teachings may contain. According to Isaiah 44:24-25, any organisation that brings frustration to its followers is not of God. Take the Rosicrucians for example. Whenever you find any doctrine in any organisation that contains evident lies, sorry to say, that organisation is demonic. Take Islam for example, they believe that by putting water into your ears, you have cleaned whatever evil that you have heard, when you put some water in your mouth and you throw it out, every evil that you have spoken had already been washed away. Even when there is no water and you take some sand and you do the same thing with sand, you are cleansed from your sins. That is a lie and that is a doctrine of the devil. In 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, the Bible makes it clear that:
"For this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
The truth is clear, Jesus is the Son of God.
The truth is clear, Jesus had come to save the world.
The truth is clear, no one can come to the Father except he or she does so through Jesus Christ.
Any other doctrine, any other addition or subtraction, is of demons and what are you to do as a disciple?
You see, many of our relations who refuse the Gospel are being influenced by these demons and if we can move the mountains of demons out of their lives, it will be easy to get them converted.
The Grail Message for example, say that Jesus Christ was not born by a virgin. They contradict the Bible and any organisation that brings frustrations to its members is demonic. It does not matter what scientific wisdom their teachings may contain. According to Isaiah 44:24-25, any organisation that brings frustration to its followers is not of God. Take the Rosicrucians for example. Whenever you find any doctrine in any organisation that contains evident lies, sorry to say, that organisation is demonic. Take Islam for example, they believe that by putting water into your ears, you have cleaned whatever evil that you have heard, when you put some water in your mouth and you throw it out, every evil that you have spoken had already been washed away. Even when there is no water and you take some sand and you do the same thing with sand, you are cleansed from your sins. That is a lie and that is a doctrine of the devil. In 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, the Bible makes it clear that:
"For this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
The truth is clear, Jesus is the Son of God.
The truth is clear, Jesus had come to save the world.
The truth is clear, no one can come to the Father except he or she does so through Jesus Christ.
Any other doctrine, any other addition or subtraction, is of demons and what are you to do as a disciple?
You see, many of our relations who refuse the Gospel are being influenced by these demons and if we can move the mountains of demons out of their lives, it will be easy to get them converted.
You will remember the story in Acts 13:6-12, when Paul was peaching to a governor and there was this sorcerer who was hindering the message. Paul commanded that the man be made blind so that he could be removed from the way. As soon as he moved out of the way, the Governor believed. It is your duty to deal with every demon that in blocking your relatives, to move them out of the way Remember Mary Magdalene. She was a witch, a cheat among them, with seven evil birds in her alone. When the demons were cleared out of her, she became a strong disciple of Jesus. Remember the Gadarene demonic, that he was living in a tomb. As soon as he met with Jesus he was set free, the Bible said he began to follow Jesus.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW?
(1) You must thank God for diverting the attention of those demons the day you got saved. The demons did not want you to be saved. Somehow, may be as a result of the prayer of somebody, God turned the attention of all demons away from you. You heard the Gospel and before the demons knew what was happening, you were born again.
2) You have a duty, to take authority over all the demons that are influencing your friends and relations, and are preventing them from receiving the Gospel. Command in the name of Jesus that they will loose their hold this very day. In God's own supernatural way, all your relatives and friends might become children of God Go ahead now; take authority over all the demons, cast them out in the name of Jesus and they will flee.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW?
(1) You must thank God for diverting the attention of those demons the day you got saved. The demons did not want you to be saved. Somehow, may be as a result of the prayer of somebody, God turned the attention of all demons away from you. You heard the Gospel and before the demons knew what was happening, you were born again.
2) You have a duty, to take authority over all the demons that are influencing your friends and relations, and are preventing them from receiving the Gospel. Command in the name of Jesus that they will loose their hold this very day. In God's own supernatural way, all your relatives and friends might become children of God Go ahead now; take authority over all the demons, cast them out in the name of Jesus and they will flee.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY PART 7
KNOW YOUR ENEMY (Part 7)
DEMONS ON ASSIGNMENT (Part 2)
We have talked about demons who are in charge of religion but now we want to talk about another assignment that demons could have. Every family has atleast one demon assigned to it by the devil and above this, there is a demon in charge of a compound and a demen in charge of a town and another demon in charge of a state. There is a demon in charge of a whole country and so on and so forth.
For example, there was a Prince of Persia in Daniel's time That was a demon in charge of Persia and if you read the Bible you will remember it was Satan that withstood David to conduct a census that caused a lot of trouble for Israel. It was Satan that motivated Pharaoh against the sons of Israel, when he ordered the midwives to begin to kill the sons of larael. It is the same Satan that motivated the massacre during the birth of Jesus Christ. The worship of Baal during Ahab's reign which led to no rain for three and a half years is the handiwork of Satan. When Nebuchadnezzar set up his idol and asked everybody to begin to bow, it was not inspired by the Holy Spirit It was the devil that inspired him.
It was the demon in charge of Babylon that was responsible for the work. The spirit of the anti-Christ has already manifested several times in people like Napoleon Bonaparte or people like Adolf Hitler.
HOW DO THESE DEMONS OPERATE?
DEMONS ON ASSIGNMENT (Part 2)
We have talked about demons who are in charge of religion but now we want to talk about another assignment that demons could have. Every family has atleast one demon assigned to it by the devil and above this, there is a demon in charge of a compound and a demen in charge of a town and another demon in charge of a state. There is a demon in charge of a whole country and so on and so forth.
For example, there was a Prince of Persia in Daniel's time That was a demon in charge of Persia and if you read the Bible you will remember it was Satan that withstood David to conduct a census that caused a lot of trouble for Israel. It was Satan that motivated Pharaoh against the sons of Israel, when he ordered the midwives to begin to kill the sons of larael. It is the same Satan that motivated the massacre during the birth of Jesus Christ. The worship of Baal during Ahab's reign which led to no rain for three and a half years is the handiwork of Satan. When Nebuchadnezzar set up his idol and asked everybody to begin to bow, it was not inspired by the Holy Spirit It was the devil that inspired him.
It was the demon in charge of Babylon that was responsible for the work. The spirit of the anti-Christ has already manifested several times in people like Napoleon Bonaparte or people like Adolf Hitler.
HOW DO THESE DEMONS OPERATE?
These demons know the laws of God and the consequences of breaking them. So they cause the leaders to break these laws with resultant negative effects over their people. When David counted the people of Israel, it was not David that died, it was the children of Israel that suffered. In fact nobody died in David's house. This is one of the reasons why you must be praying for your leaders that the devil will not be able to influence them.
Not only that, demons introduced religions that cause the people to have other gods than God Himself, as a result of which God will punish the people, as was the case with Ahab mentioned earlier. In the past, demons were very crude in their approach. They never hid their intentions. Like Baal worshippers, they brought it in openly or like Solomon who started marrying several strange wives and each wife came with her strange god, it was done openly. But now, as people become more enlightened, the demons become more refined in their approach. They have to present the religion that will sound like the true one.
For example Islam also says they recognise one God but which God do they recognise? Is it the Living God? The Bible says any God that says Jesus Christ is not his Son is not the real God.
And then they also provide alternatives, for example in Free mansonry, they call the name of their God "Jahbulhon" and they say that it is a trinity. They say Jah is for Jehovah and "bul" for Baal and "hon" for Hosiris, god of the sun.
So they put the three together and they call it Jahbulhor They say it is the combination of Jehovah, Baal and Hosiris. Look at the Celestial Church, sorry to say, but this is what they say. They combined Jesus with Mohammed and Holy Michael, so you see the Cross and one funny eye looking at you.
Not only that, demons introduced religions that cause the people to have other gods than God Himself, as a result of which God will punish the people, as was the case with Ahab mentioned earlier. In the past, demons were very crude in their approach. They never hid their intentions. Like Baal worshippers, they brought it in openly or like Solomon who started marrying several strange wives and each wife came with her strange god, it was done openly. But now, as people become more enlightened, the demons become more refined in their approach. They have to present the religion that will sound like the true one.
For example Islam also says they recognise one God but which God do they recognise? Is it the Living God? The Bible says any God that says Jesus Christ is not his Son is not the real God.
And then they also provide alternatives, for example in Free mansonry, they call the name of their God "Jahbulhon" and they say that it is a trinity. They say Jah is for Jehovah and "bul" for Baal and "hon" for Hosiris, god of the sun.
So they put the three together and they call it Jahbulhor They say it is the combination of Jehovah, Baal and Hosiris. Look at the Celestial Church, sorry to say, but this is what they say. They combined Jesus with Mohammed and Holy Michael, so you see the Cross and one funny eye looking at you.
When he knows that there are some people now who love philosophy, he introduced the Grail message. They say they know Jesus, He is the Beginning but He is not the End. They say He is the Alpha but is not the Omega. They say He is the Author but not the Finisher of our faith. But thank God we know better.
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THESE DEMONS ON ASSIGNMENT?
We must use modern dogs to hunt modern animals. The Bible says angels are ministering spirits and we have not been making use of them enough. When Daniel was praying, God sent an angel to come and give him his answer and then a demon stopped that angel. The Lord of hosts sent a second angel that dealt with the first demon so that the first angel was able to bring the message to Daniel. The Lord of hosts knows which angel to send to go and help us to deal with all the demons that are on assignments in our lives. Our duty is to request for them and say,
LORD, SEND YOUR ANGEL TO COME AND PERFORM A MIRACLE IN MY LIFE RIGHT AWAY.
And He will do so.
From time to time remember these angels are at your disposal. They are your servants. Call on the Lord of hosts and He will send them. Talk to Him now and He will answer you.
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THESE DEMONS ON ASSIGNMENT?
We must use modern dogs to hunt modern animals. The Bible says angels are ministering spirits and we have not been making use of them enough. When Daniel was praying, God sent an angel to come and give him his answer and then a demon stopped that angel. The Lord of hosts sent a second angel that dealt with the first demon so that the first angel was able to bring the message to Daniel. The Lord of hosts knows which angel to send to go and help us to deal with all the demons that are on assignments in our lives. Our duty is to request for them and say,
LORD, SEND YOUR ANGEL TO COME AND PERFORM A MIRACLE IN MY LIFE RIGHT AWAY.
And He will do so.
From time to time remember these angels are at your disposal. They are your servants. Call on the Lord of hosts and He will send them. Talk to Him now and He will answer you.
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE PART 1
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE (Part 1)
The Bible says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal In Crithians 10:3-4, it says: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)"
We are fighting a battle. Our enemy is Satan. We cannot see this enemy with the physical eyes. We cannot hold this enemy physically.
So the weapons that we need to fight with are no weapons that we can see or hold either.
Some of these weapons are:
(1) PRAYER - Prayer is invisible, unholdable, and unstoppable. It is indestructible. It is extremely powerful, invincible. We can't destroy it and it is very powerful. So you can see that prayer is a wonderful weapon of warfare. And when you pray in tongues, the enemy cannot understand what you are saying.
(2) FAITH-Two of the greatest weapons of our enemy are doubt and unbelief. The devil uses these two weapons very well. Fortunately faith is the weapon that will neutralize the two. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Hebrews 10: 38-39, also says; "Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
The Bible says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal In Crithians 10:3-4, it says: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)"
We are fighting a battle. Our enemy is Satan. We cannot see this enemy with the physical eyes. We cannot hold this enemy physically.
So the weapons that we need to fight with are no weapons that we can see or hold either.
Some of these weapons are:
(1) PRAYER - Prayer is invisible, unholdable, and unstoppable. It is indestructible. It is extremely powerful, invincible. We can't destroy it and it is very powerful. So you can see that prayer is a wonderful weapon of warfare. And when you pray in tongues, the enemy cannot understand what you are saying.
(2) FAITH-Two of the greatest weapons of our enemy are doubt and unbelief. The devil uses these two weapons very well. Fortunately faith is the weapon that will neutralize the two. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Hebrews 10: 38-39, also says; "Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
Faith is what will please God and as disciples, we want to please God. Faith is what we should live by, because it deals with doubts and unbelief.
(3) HOLINESS - Holiness can be a defensive weapon, weapon that the enemy cannot penetrate. Jesus Christ said in John 14:30, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
In other words if there is no crack in the wall, the serpent will not be able to enter. If you are living a life of holiness, no sin in your life, the devil will not be able to penetrate your defence. Read Job 11:14-20
The Almighty God said that if you are living a life of holiness, you will lie down in peace, nobody will be able to frighten you. The enemy will never be able to come near you, because holiness will form a wall of defence around you.
Holiness can be an offensive weapon. It is a weapon you can use against the enemy In Proverbs 28:1, the Bible says ...the righteous is as bold as a lion. "When there is no sin in your life, you have nothing to be afraid of. You are bold. Boldness can really give you victory against the enemy. If you are afraid, you have already failed.
In Job 17:9, the Bible tells us what will happen to those who live a life of holiness. It says, "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger."
Since you are likely to fight several battles, it is a great advantage if you grow stronger as you fight on.
(3) HOLINESS - Holiness can be a defensive weapon, weapon that the enemy cannot penetrate. Jesus Christ said in John 14:30, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
In other words if there is no crack in the wall, the serpent will not be able to enter. If you are living a life of holiness, no sin in your life, the devil will not be able to penetrate your defence. Read Job 11:14-20
The Almighty God said that if you are living a life of holiness, you will lie down in peace, nobody will be able to frighten you. The enemy will never be able to come near you, because holiness will form a wall of defence around you.
Holiness can be an offensive weapon. It is a weapon you can use against the enemy In Proverbs 28:1, the Bible says ...the righteous is as bold as a lion. "When there is no sin in your life, you have nothing to be afraid of. You are bold. Boldness can really give you victory against the enemy. If you are afraid, you have already failed.
In Job 17:9, the Bible tells us what will happen to those who live a life of holiness. It says, "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger."
Since you are likely to fight several battles, it is a great advantage if you grow stronger as you fight on.
And now sin which is the opposite of holiness is the greatest thing that can cut off the line of supply between you and your greater Ally. Your greatest supporter is the Almighty God. When you go to war if you want victory, you must have constant support from your Ally. When help is coming from Him, nothing must stop the help. But if there is sin, He will want to send help to you but sin will block the way. Sin will break the bridge over which the supplies will travel to reach you.
Look at Isaiah 59:1-2, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have hid His face from you, that He will not hear."
So when there is sin, the line of supply between you and your greatest Ally will be broken. But if there is no sin and you are living a life of holiness, the line will be kept open between you and your Ally and then you will have victory all the time.
Read Deuteronomy 28: 1-8. Here the Bible makes it clear that when you are doing the will of God, when, you hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, to do everything that He commands you, if the enemies come against you in one way, they will flee seven ways.
This is victory. Holiness is a weapon. It can be for defence so that the enemy cannot penetrate. It can be an offence, because you will be as bold as a lion and then, you get stronger and stronger everyday. And then, the line of communication between you and your Ally will be open. So if you are living a life of holiness, let the enemies come. They will scatter.
There are other weapons of our warfare.
(4) These are The Gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT
Look at Isaiah 59:1-2, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have hid His face from you, that He will not hear."
So when there is sin, the line of supply between you and your greatest Ally will be broken. But if there is no sin and you are living a life of holiness, the line will be kept open between you and your Ally and then you will have victory all the time.
Read Deuteronomy 28: 1-8. Here the Bible makes it clear that when you are doing the will of God, when, you hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, to do everything that He commands you, if the enemies come against you in one way, they will flee seven ways.
This is victory. Holiness is a weapon. It can be for defence so that the enemy cannot penetrate. It can be an offence, because you will be as bold as a lion and then, you get stronger and stronger everyday. And then, the line of communication between you and your Ally will be open. So if you are living a life of holiness, let the enemies come. They will scatter.
There are other weapons of our warfare.
(4) These are The Gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT
1 Corinthians 12:4-7, the Bible says; "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh in all. But the manifestation Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
The gifts of the Holy Spirit include the following.
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracle
6. Prophecy
7. Discerning of spirits
8. Divers kind of tongues
9. Interpretation of tongues
In talking about these gifts of the Holy Spirit, there are certain words that were used. In verse 6, "And there are diversities of operations." Operation is a military term, used when soldiers want to go and do something special. They say they want to do an operation. They want to fight the enemy. God gives us the gifts of the Holy Spirit to fight against the enemy.
We have mentioned four main weapons of our warfare:
1. Prayer
2. Faith
3. Holiness
4. Gifts of Holy Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit include the following.
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracle
6. Prophecy
7. Discerning of spirits
8. Divers kind of tongues
9. Interpretation of tongues
In talking about these gifts of the Holy Spirit, there are certain words that were used. In verse 6, "And there are diversities of operations." Operation is a military term, used when soldiers want to go and do something special. They say they want to do an operation. They want to fight the enemy. God gives us the gifts of the Holy Spirit to fight against the enemy.
We have mentioned four main weapons of our warfare:
1. Prayer
2. Faith
3. Holiness
4. Gifts of Holy Spirit
PRAYER IN DETAIL
Let us look at PRAYER closely and see how it can be used as a weapon of warfare. When you pray, you call in your Allies. When you say 'My heavenly Father'. You draw the attention of God the Father to yourself. When you go down on your knees and say "My Father which art in heaven," your Father in heaven will pay attention. And when you go on to say "In Jesus Name "Oh as soon as you say "In Jesus Name", you draw the attention of God the Son, because He has already promised in John 14:14, "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it."
So when He hears "In Jesus Name" He wants to know what it is you want to ask so that He can get ready to fulfill it. But not only that, when you say "In Jesus Name;' you draw the attention of all things in heaven to you.
What are all the things in heaven?
1. The four Living Beings
2. The twenty-four Elders
3. The Archangels
4. The Cherubim
5. The Seraphim
6. The Saints in Glory.
Anytime they hear "In Jesus Name", they look in that direction. Not only that, all the things on earth begin to pay attention. What are all these things on the earth? Divine Police on patrol.
When they hear "In the Name of Jesus", all those angels. that are near where you are calling turn their attention to you. Not only that, all things under the earth also pay attention when you say, "In the Name of Jesus." How do I know this? The Bible say in Philipians 2:9-11: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Let us look at PRAYER closely and see how it can be used as a weapon of warfare. When you pray, you call in your Allies. When you say 'My heavenly Father'. You draw the attention of God the Father to yourself. When you go down on your knees and say "My Father which art in heaven," your Father in heaven will pay attention. And when you go on to say "In Jesus Name "Oh as soon as you say "In Jesus Name", you draw the attention of God the Son, because He has already promised in John 14:14, "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it."
So when He hears "In Jesus Name" He wants to know what it is you want to ask so that He can get ready to fulfill it. But not only that, when you say "In Jesus Name;' you draw the attention of all things in heaven to you.
What are all the things in heaven?
1. The four Living Beings
2. The twenty-four Elders
3. The Archangels
4. The Cherubim
5. The Seraphim
6. The Saints in Glory.
Anytime they hear "In Jesus Name", they look in that direction. Not only that, all the things on earth begin to pay attention. What are all these things on the earth? Divine Police on patrol.
When they hear "In the Name of Jesus", all those angels. that are near where you are calling turn their attention to you. Not only that, all things under the earth also pay attention when you say, "In the Name of Jesus." How do I know this? The Bible say in Philipians 2:9-11: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As soon as you say "My Father in Heaven" you draw the attention of God the Son, the things in heaven, the things on the earth, the things underneath the earth, and immediately the Holy Spirit moves in to help you.
Because the Holy Spirit knows when you say "My Father in heaven, "In the Name of Jesus", He knows that what you want to do is to pray.
In Romans 8:26, the Bible says: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
The Holy Spirt knows you don't know how to pray and you are a disciple of Jesus. When He hears, ""My Father in heaven, In the name of Jesus", He knows that this disciple wants to pray and he doesn't know how to pray. Before he makes mistakes, let me help him.
So whenever you start to pray, you bring in all the allies
God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit.
The four living Beings. The twenty-four Elders.
The Archangels.
The Cherubims.
The Seraphims.
The Saints in glory.
All things on earth. The Angle on patrol.
All things underneath the earth.
You bring all their attention to you. Now can you imagine that. You focus the attention of the universe unto yourself.
Because the Holy Spirit knows when you say "My Father in heaven, "In the Name of Jesus", He knows that what you want to do is to pray.
In Romans 8:26, the Bible says: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
The Holy Spirt knows you don't know how to pray and you are a disciple of Jesus. When He hears, ""My Father in heaven, In the name of Jesus", He knows that this disciple wants to pray and he doesn't know how to pray. Before he makes mistakes, let me help him.
So whenever you start to pray, you bring in all the allies
God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit.
The four living Beings. The twenty-four Elders.
The Archangels.
The Cherubims.
The Seraphims.
The Saints in glory.
All things on earth. The Angle on patrol.
All things underneath the earth.
You bring all their attention to you. Now can you imagine that. You focus the attention of the universe unto yourself.
Whenever you pray, they know precisely who is praying. They know where you come from. They know your name and your address.
So when I am praying and you are not praying, don't expect that they will bring the answer to you instead of me. You may say: "we are many", and we are all not supposed to be praying and you keep quiet. When the miracle comes, it will go to the one who prayed.
Look at Acts 9: 10-11, "And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, "Ananias," and he said, "Behold I am here Lord." And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in that house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus; for behold he prayeth."
Look at that information. Who was praying? The Bible says Saul, not James, not Peter. God knows your name too. Then which Saul? He said Saul of Tarsus, God knows where you were born. He did not say Saul of Jerusalem although he came from Jerusalem. He did not say Saul of Damascus, although at that time, he was living in Damascus. He said the one who is praying, his name is Saul, and the village where he was born is called Tarsus.
Today, God may see me praying and he would say behold... (name)... from... (country)... is praying. He is not going to make a mistake. Then He gives the address. In those days, they didn't have house number but at least the streets had names.
It said this man, this Saul of Tarsus, is praying in a street called Straight. Now there are many streets in Damascus but there is only one called Straight. Ask for the house of Judas, not the house of Thomas. Ask for the house of Judas. In other words, God is telling the angel that is bringing your miracle to you, as soon as you begin to pray, He would say " Angel, I want you to go to this particular country. When you get there, look for this town. When you get to the town, look for this street. When you get to this street, look for this number When
So when I am praying and you are not praying, don't expect that they will bring the answer to you instead of me. You may say: "we are many", and we are all not supposed to be praying and you keep quiet. When the miracle comes, it will go to the one who prayed.
Look at Acts 9: 10-11, "And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, "Ananias," and he said, "Behold I am here Lord." And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in that house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus; for behold he prayeth."
Look at that information. Who was praying? The Bible says Saul, not James, not Peter. God knows your name too. Then which Saul? He said Saul of Tarsus, God knows where you were born. He did not say Saul of Jerusalem although he came from Jerusalem. He did not say Saul of Damascus, although at that time, he was living in Damascus. He said the one who is praying, his name is Saul, and the village where he was born is called Tarsus.
Today, God may see me praying and he would say behold... (name)... from... (country)... is praying. He is not going to make a mistake. Then He gives the address. In those days, they didn't have house number but at least the streets had names.
It said this man, this Saul of Tarsus, is praying in a street called Straight. Now there are many streets in Damascus but there is only one called Straight. Ask for the house of Judas, not the house of Thomas. Ask for the house of Judas. In other words, God is telling the angel that is bringing your miracle to you, as soon as you begin to pray, He would say " Angel, I want you to go to this particular country. When you get there, look for this town. When you get to the town, look for this street. When you get to this street, look for this number When
you get to that house, look for someone whose name is so and so, who was born at such and such a place. There is no way your miracle can be lost in transit. When you call the Name of the Father and say "My Father in Heaven, in the Name of Jesus" Oh immediately all the universe will focus its attention on you, accurately.
Now you know yourself that when the whole universe is focusing its attention on one spot, there will be an earthquake. It might not be a physical earthquake, it may be a spiritual one. Anyway we need an earthquake so that our yokes will be broken.
Now you know yourself that when the whole universe is focusing its attention on one spot, there will be an earthquake. It might not be a physical earthquake, it may be a spiritual one. Anyway we need an earthquake so that our yokes will be broken.
WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE PART 2 (How to Enter into the Upper Spiritual Realm)
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE (Part 2) How to Enter into the Upper Spiritual Realm
In part 1, we discussed some of these weapons:
Prayer, Faith, Holiness and the Gifts of the Spirit.
We talked about prayer, about how we call in the allies. When we call our heavenly Father, we are drawing the attention of God the Father to ourselves, and then "In Jesus Name" we call the attention of God the Son, things in 'heaven, things on earth, things underneath the earth."
And then we also said that when we pray and our allies focus attention on us, they do it accurately because God knows your name, He knows where you were born, He knows your address, and there is no way your miracle can miss the way.
We also said that if the whole universe should focus its attention on you, then automatically there will be an earthquake, whether physical or spiritual.
Now we want to go to The Weapons of our Warfare (part 2). We are still talking about PRAYER, but one thing we want to focus on now is what will happen when we pray sufficiently hard.
There is an upper spiritual realm and a lower spiritual realm, and there is a boundary between the two which is physical. This upper spiritual realm and the lower spiritul realm are separated by the physical realm. When you are sleeping, and you dream, you are in the lower spiritual realm. And when you pray through and you fall into a trance, we say you are in the upper spiritual realm.
Now, when you pray and you break the barrier between the physical and the upper spiritual realm, certain things begin to happen. You are transferred into the spiritual realm, completely enveloped by the Spirit. This is what John the beloved was saying in the Island of Patmos in Revelation 1:10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.
In part 1, we discussed some of these weapons:
Prayer, Faith, Holiness and the Gifts of the Spirit.
We talked about prayer, about how we call in the allies. When we call our heavenly Father, we are drawing the attention of God the Father to ourselves, and then "In Jesus Name" we call the attention of God the Son, things in 'heaven, things on earth, things underneath the earth."
And then we also said that when we pray and our allies focus attention on us, they do it accurately because God knows your name, He knows where you were born, He knows your address, and there is no way your miracle can miss the way.
We also said that if the whole universe should focus its attention on you, then automatically there will be an earthquake, whether physical or spiritual.
Now we want to go to The Weapons of our Warfare (part 2). We are still talking about PRAYER, but one thing we want to focus on now is what will happen when we pray sufficiently hard.
There is an upper spiritual realm and a lower spiritual realm, and there is a boundary between the two which is physical. This upper spiritual realm and the lower spiritul realm are separated by the physical realm. When you are sleeping, and you dream, you are in the lower spiritual realm. And when you pray through and you fall into a trance, we say you are in the upper spiritual realm.
Now, when you pray and you break the barrier between the physical and the upper spiritual realm, certain things begin to happen. You are transferred into the spiritual realm, completely enveloped by the Spirit. This is what John the beloved was saying in the Island of Patmos in Revelation 1:10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.
This is also what happened to Peter in Acts 10:9-10. He was up on top of the house, praying and he fell into trance. He was transferred into the upper spiritual realm. Now when you get to this upper spiritual realm, you begin to see spiritual things and spiritual beings. This happened in Acts 10:1-3 when Cornelius was praying Suddenly, he saw an angel, he saw a spiritual being.
Also in Acts 9:11-12, the Bible says, Saul of Tarsus was praying and in a vision, he already saw Ananias coming to lay hands on him. He had already seen it happen in the spiritual. Also, when you are in this upper spiritual realm, you begin to hear spiritual conversations. God will be speaking to you. You can hear things that ordinary ears cannot hear. So when John said, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, he said I heard behind me a voice like of a trumpet.
He heard what ordinary ears could not hear. And to Acts 9:10, there was a disciple called Ananias. God spoke to him. He called him. Ananias, and he said behold, I am here, Lord. God began to give him instructions. God was talking to him on the spiritual realm. He has moved out of the physical into the spiritual.
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
If you can pray until you break through to the upper spiritual realm, not only will you be seeing spiritual things, not only will you be hearing spiritual conversations, you will then be able to hear about classified divine information: things that God has hidden. Information that is hidden from other people become available to you.
For example in Acts 9:15 and 16, God told Ananias, "Saul of Tarsus that you think is a persecutor of the Church," God said is a chosen vessel" unto Him. "He came to carry My Name before the Gentiles."
Nobody knew that: everybody saw Saul as a persecutor of the Church. But God said he is a vessel unto honour in His hand.
Also in Acts 9:11-12, the Bible says, Saul of Tarsus was praying and in a vision, he already saw Ananias coming to lay hands on him. He had already seen it happen in the spiritual. Also, when you are in this upper spiritual realm, you begin to hear spiritual conversations. God will be speaking to you. You can hear things that ordinary ears cannot hear. So when John said, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, he said I heard behind me a voice like of a trumpet.
He heard what ordinary ears could not hear. And to Acts 9:10, there was a disciple called Ananias. God spoke to him. He called him. Ananias, and he said behold, I am here, Lord. God began to give him instructions. God was talking to him on the spiritual realm. He has moved out of the physical into the spiritual.
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
If you can pray until you break through to the upper spiritual realm, not only will you be seeing spiritual things, not only will you be hearing spiritual conversations, you will then be able to hear about classified divine information: things that God has hidden. Information that is hidden from other people become available to you.
For example in Acts 9:15 and 16, God told Ananias, "Saul of Tarsus that you think is a persecutor of the Church," God said is a chosen vessel" unto Him. "He came to carry My Name before the Gentiles."
Nobody knew that: everybody saw Saul as a persecutor of the Church. But God said he is a vessel unto honour in His hand.
The first fellow to hear it was Ananias. He heard it in the Spirit. He heard it when he was in the upper spiritual realm. If you want to hear what God wants to do, the secret things of God, you must get to that upper spiritual realm where Ananias was. But God told him in a vision, "Go to Joppa, you will meet a certain man there. He is in such and such a house, call him, he will tell you what you should do."
As a result of this, even when the enemy, the devil and his angels are making some plans, as they are talking among themselves you will be hearing in the Spirit. Therefore, you will know what the enemy is planning and then you will know how to frustrate his plans.
Remember the story in 1 Kings 6:8 12. There was a king that was waging war against the king of Israel and in his secret room, he would call his people together, and say, "My warriors, this is what we should do against the king of Israel. He is always passing by this way. Let us go and lay ambush for him and capture him
As they were discussing this in their war room, Elisha was hearing everything in his own room. He was hearing every detail. So Elisha sent to the King of Israel. "Don't go through that way this time. The enemy is waiting there." The king of Israel said "How can that be? He does not know would be passing there, but let me find out." So he sent messengers and they found the king of Syria waiting there. Not one time, not two times. The king of Syria became angry and he called his council together and he said. "Which of you is a spy?" They said, "No We are not the spy. It is that prophet, Elisha. He knows everything you are doing in your bedroom."
When you can get to the upper spiritual realm, you will know the enemies' plans in advance. And that gives you boldness to fight the enemy because you know his plans and you know what he wants to do. You know what to do to frustrate his plans.
As a result of this, even when the enemy, the devil and his angels are making some plans, as they are talking among themselves you will be hearing in the Spirit. Therefore, you will know what the enemy is planning and then you will know how to frustrate his plans.
Remember the story in 1 Kings 6:8 12. There was a king that was waging war against the king of Israel and in his secret room, he would call his people together, and say, "My warriors, this is what we should do against the king of Israel. He is always passing by this way. Let us go and lay ambush for him and capture him
As they were discussing this in their war room, Elisha was hearing everything in his own room. He was hearing every detail. So Elisha sent to the King of Israel. "Don't go through that way this time. The enemy is waiting there." The king of Israel said "How can that be? He does not know would be passing there, but let me find out." So he sent messengers and they found the king of Syria waiting there. Not one time, not two times. The king of Syria became angry and he called his council together and he said. "Which of you is a spy?" They said, "No We are not the spy. It is that prophet, Elisha. He knows everything you are doing in your bedroom."
When you can get to the upper spiritual realm, you will know the enemies' plans in advance. And that gives you boldness to fight the enemy because you know his plans and you know what he wants to do. You know what to do to frustrate his plans.
In Acts 4:31, the disciples prayed and there was an earthquake. This kind of prayer takes you to the upper spiritual realm and as a result, boldness will come. They became very bold.
Read Acts 5:29-32.
The kind of prayer that takes you to the upper spiritual realm gives you boldness to fight the enemies. As a result of this, you become irresistible. The enemy cannot stop you. Anywhere you go, the enemy must run.
And if you read Acts 6:8 and 10; "And Stephen full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake."
When you can pray until you break through and you are enveloped by the Holy Spirit, nobody can resist you.
Read Acts 13:8-11. You will see another man who loved to pray; Saul of Tarsus, and because he could always pray and enter the upper spiritual realm, any mountains that crossed his path, he moved them quickly.
As a result of this, if you can pray this kind of prayer, you can then begin to set prisoners free, physically or spiritually, and there are so many examples of that in the Bible. Acts 12:5, Acts 16:16-18. Acts 19:11-12, 13-17. This one tells us about Paul. The Bible says God performed special miracles by the hands of Paul so that from his body, handkerchiefs and aprons were taken to people who were sick. Whenever demons saw this handkerchief, they ran.
You see when you can pray this type of prayer, (not the prayer where you will kneel down and fall asleep. We are talking of the type of prayer you will pray and you will be taken out of the physical body, and you will move into spiritual realm, surrounded by the Spirit of God), then anything can happen.
Read Acts 5:29-32.
The kind of prayer that takes you to the upper spiritual realm gives you boldness to fight the enemies. As a result of this, you become irresistible. The enemy cannot stop you. Anywhere you go, the enemy must run.
And if you read Acts 6:8 and 10; "And Stephen full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake."
When you can pray until you break through and you are enveloped by the Holy Spirit, nobody can resist you.
Read Acts 13:8-11. You will see another man who loved to pray; Saul of Tarsus, and because he could always pray and enter the upper spiritual realm, any mountains that crossed his path, he moved them quickly.
As a result of this, if you can pray this kind of prayer, you can then begin to set prisoners free, physically or spiritually, and there are so many examples of that in the Bible. Acts 12:5, Acts 16:16-18. Acts 19:11-12, 13-17. This one tells us about Paul. The Bible says God performed special miracles by the hands of Paul so that from his body, handkerchiefs and aprons were taken to people who were sick. Whenever demons saw this handkerchief, they ran.
You see when you can pray this type of prayer, (not the prayer where you will kneel down and fall asleep. We are talking of the type of prayer you will pray and you will be taken out of the physical body, and you will move into spiritual realm, surrounded by the Spirit of God), then anything can happen.
You will begin to hear classified information, see things, you will know when the enemy is making some plans, you will know how to frustrate the plans of the enemy and you will have the boldness to deal with the enemy.
When the enemy sees you coming and begins to run, then you are in the position to set the captives free. I want you to pray now.
I want you to spend some time praying with all your energy, with all your body, your soul and your spirit. Who knows, today might be the first day you will break through to that upper spiritual realm. When you do it, you too will know that it is an experience that a child of God, a disciple of God, should be having everyday so that he can be what God wants him to be.
Go ahead now and pray.
When the enemy sees you coming and begins to run, then you are in the position to set the captives free. I want you to pray now.
I want you to spend some time praying with all your energy, with all your body, your soul and your spirit. Who knows, today might be the first day you will break through to that upper spiritual realm. When you do it, you too will know that it is an experience that a child of God, a disciple of God, should be having everyday so that he can be what God wants him to be.
Go ahead now and pray.
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE PART 3- (Prayer that takes you to the Upper Spiritual Realm)
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE (Part 3) Prayer That Takes You To The Upper Spiritual Realm
WHEN you are in the upper spiritual realm, you are surrounded by the Holy Spirit. You hear spiritual things, you see spiritual things, you have access to hidden classified divine information, you know the enemy's plans in advance and you know how to frustrate them. You will then receive the boldness to deal with the enemy and you become irresistible and you can set the prisoners free If you are constantly in this upper spiritual realm, you will come into a close personal relationship with God. According to Act 18:9-10; "The Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision. Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city."
Paul is one of those people who constantly got into the upper spiritual realm. He was always having visions and in these visions God would talk to him closely. He was afraid that some people in the city where he was preaching might attack him. He was thinking of running away and then the Lord came to him in that upper spiritual realm.
He said "my friend, don't be afraid, speak up, press on, nobody will be able to hurt you, because I will be by your side."
You know that kind of close relationship between a man and God is only possible for those who are constantly in the upper spiritual realm; that is, those who can pray until they breakthrough to the upper spiritual realm. They enjoy that kind of fellowship. Also the longer you stay in this kind of prayer, the longer you fellowship with the Holy Spirit, the greater the power you soak in like a sponge that is staying close to water will soak in a lot of water. A human being that stays long in the upper spiritual realm will soak in power. Remember in Acts 1:8, He said: "You will receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you."
WHEN you are in the upper spiritual realm, you are surrounded by the Holy Spirit. You hear spiritual things, you see spiritual things, you have access to hidden classified divine information, you know the enemy's plans in advance and you know how to frustrate them. You will then receive the boldness to deal with the enemy and you become irresistible and you can set the prisoners free If you are constantly in this upper spiritual realm, you will come into a close personal relationship with God. According to Act 18:9-10; "The Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision. Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city."
Paul is one of those people who constantly got into the upper spiritual realm. He was always having visions and in these visions God would talk to him closely. He was afraid that some people in the city where he was preaching might attack him. He was thinking of running away and then the Lord came to him in that upper spiritual realm.
He said "my friend, don't be afraid, speak up, press on, nobody will be able to hurt you, because I will be by your side."
You know that kind of close relationship between a man and God is only possible for those who are constantly in the upper spiritual realm; that is, those who can pray until they breakthrough to the upper spiritual realm. They enjoy that kind of fellowship. Also the longer you stay in this kind of prayer, the longer you fellowship with the Holy Spirit, the greater the power you soak in like a sponge that is staying close to water will soak in a lot of water. A human being that stays long in the upper spiritual realm will soak in power. Remember in Acts 1:8, He said: "You will receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you."
So you can imagine the power you will get if you are surrounded by the Holy Spirit.
In Isaiah 40:31, the Bible says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."
When you stay in that upper spiritual realm, surrounded by the Spirit, I am telling you, you will begin to soak in the power of the Almighty God. In fact the Bible says that they shall renew their strength. Actually in the original, it says they shall exchange their strength. In other words, they give their weakness to God and they take the power of God in exchange. The longer you stay in that upper spiritual realm, the more powerful you become and the purer you get because the Holy Spirit is fire. The longer you stay in that fire, the more thorough, the more complete, the more absolute your refining will be.
When you stay in that Holy Spirit realm, surrounded by the fire of the Holy Spirit, you will be made purer and purer and purer. The Bible tells us in Matthew 3:11-12 that when Christ is going to baptize you, it is not just with the Holy Spirit, but with the Holy Spirit and with fire and that fire is going to do something. Matthew 3:11-12, John the Baptist was speaking here, He said: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn off the chaff with unquenchanble fire."
When you stay in that fire it will consume every chaff that may be in your life, every impurity, physical and spiritual, and you will become purer.
In Malachi 3:1-3, the Bible says "The Almighty God will sit as a refiner of silver and gold and He will purify the sons of Levi."
In Isaiah 40:31, the Bible says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."
When you stay in that upper spiritual realm, surrounded by the Spirit, I am telling you, you will begin to soak in the power of the Almighty God. In fact the Bible says that they shall renew their strength. Actually in the original, it says they shall exchange their strength. In other words, they give their weakness to God and they take the power of God in exchange. The longer you stay in that upper spiritual realm, the more powerful you become and the purer you get because the Holy Spirit is fire. The longer you stay in that fire, the more thorough, the more complete, the more absolute your refining will be.
When you stay in that Holy Spirit realm, surrounded by the fire of the Holy Spirit, you will be made purer and purer and purer. The Bible tells us in Matthew 3:11-12 that when Christ is going to baptize you, it is not just with the Holy Spirit, but with the Holy Spirit and with fire and that fire is going to do something. Matthew 3:11-12, John the Baptist was speaking here, He said: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn off the chaff with unquenchanble fire."
When you stay in that fire it will consume every chaff that may be in your life, every impurity, physical and spiritual, and you will become purer.
In Malachi 3:1-3, the Bible says "The Almighty God will sit as a refiner of silver and gold and He will purify the sons of Levi."
He will purify them so that they will be able to present an offering in righteousness. Every one that is going to be used of God must be purified. The purer you are, the easier it will be for the flow of the Holy Spirit through you. The anointing of God wants to flow through you but when you are impure, he cannot flow like he wants to flow. If you have ever done any science at all, you will know that electricity flows best in a wire (conductor) that is pure, and when a wire is not pure, current will not be able to flow the way it should flow. When you are pure, you are the conductor of the power of God, the power of God will flow through you smoothly.
In Hebrews 1:9, the Bible says: "Because you love righteousness and hate iniquity therefore God, even thy God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."
The anointing of God will flow more freely through you if you are pure and the purification comes by your staying in the fire of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:2, the Almighty God said: "I am the Vine, you are the branches, every branch in me that bears fruit my Father will purge it so that it can bear more fruit"
The longer you stay in the fire of the Holy Spirit, the longer you stay in that upper spiritual realm, the purer you become so that you can bear more fruits. Now that makes you a more effective warrior against the enemy. When the anointing is flowing like a river in you, even the enemy will know that you are somebody to be feared. In Jeremiah 51:20-21, the Bible says: "Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war, for with thee will I break in pieces the nations and with thee will I destroy kingdoms. And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and its rider and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and its rider."
Now what is God saying here? God is looking for people that He could use against the forces of darkness of this world, against the forces of darkness holding nations away from God, against principalities
In Hebrews 1:9, the Bible says: "Because you love righteousness and hate iniquity therefore God, even thy God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."
The anointing of God will flow more freely through you if you are pure and the purification comes by your staying in the fire of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:2, the Almighty God said: "I am the Vine, you are the branches, every branch in me that bears fruit my Father will purge it so that it can bear more fruit"
The longer you stay in the fire of the Holy Spirit, the longer you stay in that upper spiritual realm, the purer you become so that you can bear more fruits. Now that makes you a more effective warrior against the enemy. When the anointing is flowing like a river in you, even the enemy will know that you are somebody to be feared. In Jeremiah 51:20-21, the Bible says: "Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war, for with thee will I break in pieces the nations and with thee will I destroy kingdoms. And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and its rider and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and its rider."
Now what is God saying here? God is looking for people that He could use against the forces of darkness of this world, against the forces of darkness holding nations away from God, against principalities
and powers that are taking whole nations away from Christendom. God is looking for battle axes, that He could use to destroy those evil forces so that all nations can come back to the Almighty God.
God says in Isaiah 61:1-3, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified."
God is looking for people who will:
Open prison doors so that captives can be free,
People who can cast out demons so that those who are held captive by Satan can be free.
He wants someone who can bring comfort to the sorrowful.
He is looking for disciples who will heal the sick, who will set the captives free,
Who will win souls into the kingdom and win all nations to the Almighty God.
And how can we do this? Simply by:
Staying in the upper spiritual realm,
Waiting upon the Lord,
Renewing our strength so we can mount with wings like eagles, so that we can fly for hours for the lord the Almighty God. But you don't get there by little prayers. It is the kind of prayer that will break barriers that you should be praying. PRAY NOW, even if it is only for five minutes.
Pray with all your strength. Pray and forget yourself. Pray and forget where you are so that you can get to that upper spiritual realm and the miracles will begin to happen.
Go ahead now. Talk to the Almighty God. He will surprise you. Yes I know he will.
God says in Isaiah 61:1-3, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified."
God is looking for people who will:
Open prison doors so that captives can be free,
People who can cast out demons so that those who are held captive by Satan can be free.
He wants someone who can bring comfort to the sorrowful.
He is looking for disciples who will heal the sick, who will set the captives free,
Who will win souls into the kingdom and win all nations to the Almighty God.
And how can we do this? Simply by:
Staying in the upper spiritual realm,
Waiting upon the Lord,
Renewing our strength so we can mount with wings like eagles, so that we can fly for hours for the lord the Almighty God. But you don't get there by little prayers. It is the kind of prayer that will break barriers that you should be praying. PRAY NOW, even if it is only for five minutes.
Pray with all your strength. Pray and forget yourself. Pray and forget where you are so that you can get to that upper spiritual realm and the miracles will begin to happen.
Go ahead now. Talk to the Almighty God. He will surprise you. Yes I know he will.
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE PART 4
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE (Part 4)
PRAYER AS A WEAPON OF WARFARE
This is one of the greatest weapons with which to fight Satan. Satan obviously does not want us to pray. He therefore finds any means to disturb us from praying.
INGREDIENTS OF DEVASTATING PRAYERS.
There are five basic ingredients.
1. TOTAL SURRENDER
When you want to pray the kind of prayer that will be devastating, it must be a prayer of total surrender and this is signified by the posture that you take when you are praying. For example when you bow down, you are surrendering to the one you are bowing to. You can find the examples of this in Genesis 24:26; Exodus 4:31; Exodus 12:27; Exodus 34:8.
One posture is bowing. When you bow, you are saying! surrender. Another posture is kneeling. When you kneel, you are admitting that the one to whom you are kneeling is superior to you and we have examples in Daniel 6:10; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36, Acts 21:5.
But the greatest posture that will show total surrender is when you lie prostrate on your face like we find in Numbers 20:6; Deuteronomy 9:25; I Kings 18:42; 2 Chronicles 20:18; Matthew 26:39.
In Matthew 26:39, we saw the Lord himself giving us
PRAYER AS A WEAPON OF WARFARE
This is one of the greatest weapons with which to fight Satan. Satan obviously does not want us to pray. He therefore finds any means to disturb us from praying.
INGREDIENTS OF DEVASTATING PRAYERS.
There are five basic ingredients.
1. TOTAL SURRENDER
When you want to pray the kind of prayer that will be devastating, it must be a prayer of total surrender and this is signified by the posture that you take when you are praying. For example when you bow down, you are surrendering to the one you are bowing to. You can find the examples of this in Genesis 24:26; Exodus 4:31; Exodus 12:27; Exodus 34:8.
One posture is bowing. When you bow, you are saying! surrender. Another posture is kneeling. When you kneel, you are admitting that the one to whom you are kneeling is superior to you and we have examples in Daniel 6:10; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36, Acts 21:5.
But the greatest posture that will show total surrender is when you lie prostrate on your face like we find in Numbers 20:6; Deuteronomy 9:25; I Kings 18:42; 2 Chronicles 20:18; Matthew 26:39.
In Matthew 26:39, we saw the Lord himself giving us
this example in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Bible says he went a little distance from his disciples and he fell on his face and prayed that fantastic prayer, that prayer where he had to say "Lord, my Father, I know with you all things are possible. Why don't you take this cup from me." And then the idea of total surrender came, He said "not my will but Thine will be done."
When you want to pray the kind of prayer that will cause earthquakes you must be willing to surrender completely. The posture will show it either by bowing or kneeling or by lying prostrate.
2. PRIVACY
You don't want to pray that kind of prayer as show business. You want to pray that kind of prayer secretly, away from the crowd and we find several examples in Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46-47; Luke 5:15- 16 and Matthew 6:6.
In Matthew 6:6, the Lord said clearly that when you want to pray, enter into your closet, go away from where people will see you. He said, there pray to your Father, your Father that sees in secret will reward you openly. Of course there is another example in Acts 10:9, the prayer that Peter prayed that took him to the upper spiritual realm. He left the crowd in the house and went to the rooftop to pray.
He was alone there, when he broke through into that upper spiritual realm and had that revelation from 1 the Lord.
3. HEART CRY
When you are praying the prayer that will cause earthquakes, it is not formality prayer, not when you begin to construct sentences very well, when you POV pronounce it very well "Oh Lord our God, King of kings, we come before you today," No. You cry out to God, "Oh God help me." You will cry out. The Bible Daf says in 1 Samuel 15:11 when the Lord said to Samuel, I have rejected Saul and I am sad that I chose Saul as king. The Bible says this grieved Samuel and he cried unto the Lord all night. In 1 Kings 17:19-20 when the son of the widow that Elijah was living with died and the widow came to Elijah and said "thank
When you want to pray the kind of prayer that will cause earthquakes you must be willing to surrender completely. The posture will show it either by bowing or kneeling or by lying prostrate.
2. PRIVACY
You don't want to pray that kind of prayer as show business. You want to pray that kind of prayer secretly, away from the crowd and we find several examples in Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46-47; Luke 5:15- 16 and Matthew 6:6.
In Matthew 6:6, the Lord said clearly that when you want to pray, enter into your closet, go away from where people will see you. He said, there pray to your Father, your Father that sees in secret will reward you openly. Of course there is another example in Acts 10:9, the prayer that Peter prayed that took him to the upper spiritual realm. He left the crowd in the house and went to the rooftop to pray.
He was alone there, when he broke through into that upper spiritual realm and had that revelation from 1 the Lord.
3. HEART CRY
When you are praying the prayer that will cause earthquakes, it is not formality prayer, not when you begin to construct sentences very well, when you POV pronounce it very well "Oh Lord our God, King of kings, we come before you today," No. You cry out to God, "Oh God help me." You will cry out. The Bible Daf says in 1 Samuel 15:11 when the Lord said to Samuel, I have rejected Saul and I am sad that I chose Saul as king. The Bible says this grieved Samuel and he cried unto the Lord all night. In 1 Kings 17:19-20 when the son of the widow that Elijah was living with died and the widow came to Elijah and said "thank
you very much, this is what you have rewarded me with, I kept you in my house, I have been feeding you all these days, I have been hiding you from your enemies. This is the reward I got, by killing my son."
The Bible said Elijah cried unto the Lord. When you find yourself in that kind of situation you don't pray well pronounced sentences. You can find other examples in 2 Chronicles 18:31 where some kings went to war and Jehoshaphat was among them and when the enemies saw that there is the king of Israel, they said "let us surround him, let us destroy him." The Bible said Jehoshaphat cried unto the Lord. Suddenly in a supernatural way, those who came to kill him left him alone.
These are the kinds of prayer we are talking about. HEART CRY, the kind of prayer that Peter prayed when he was walking on water, when he suddenly found he was sinking. He did not begin to say, "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come." If he had done that he would have drunk a couple of gallons of water but he cried unto God, "Lord help," a Heart cry, that is one of the ingredients.
Whenever a group of prayer warriors gather together, when disciples gather together to pray as we find in Acts 4:24-31, and they cry unto the Lord, there will be earthquakes.
4. GROANINGS
It is not you that will groan. There are some people now who teach that when you want to pray you must practice groaning. They say that you must say "Ah, Oh." The pastor will be leading and his congregation will be following. When the pastor says Eh, the congregation will be saying Eh, but that is rubbish. When you are praying this devastating prayer, it is the Holy Spirit that will help you pray. In Romans 8:26, the Bible says:
"Similarly the Holy Spirit helpeth our infirmities because we don't know how to pray as we ought to but the Spirit himself maketh intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
The groaning will not even
The Bible said Elijah cried unto the Lord. When you find yourself in that kind of situation you don't pray well pronounced sentences. You can find other examples in 2 Chronicles 18:31 where some kings went to war and Jehoshaphat was among them and when the enemies saw that there is the king of Israel, they said "let us surround him, let us destroy him." The Bible said Jehoshaphat cried unto the Lord. Suddenly in a supernatural way, those who came to kill him left him alone.
These are the kinds of prayer we are talking about. HEART CRY, the kind of prayer that Peter prayed when he was walking on water, when he suddenly found he was sinking. He did not begin to say, "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come." If he had done that he would have drunk a couple of gallons of water but he cried unto God, "Lord help," a Heart cry, that is one of the ingredients.
Whenever a group of prayer warriors gather together, when disciples gather together to pray as we find in Acts 4:24-31, and they cry unto the Lord, there will be earthquakes.
4. GROANINGS
It is not you that will groan. There are some people now who teach that when you want to pray you must practice groaning. They say that you must say "Ah, Oh." The pastor will be leading and his congregation will be following. When the pastor says Eh, the congregation will be saying Eh, but that is rubbish. When you are praying this devastating prayer, it is the Holy Spirit that will help you pray. In Romans 8:26, the Bible says:
"Similarly the Holy Spirit helpeth our infirmities because we don't know how to pray as we ought to but the Spirit himself maketh intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
The groaning will not even
come out, it cannot be uttered. People cannot hear it. It is a groaning from the Spirit, it is not uttered but the Holy Spirit does it in His own way and it is the kind of groaning that only the Holy Spirit Himself can do. So when you say, "Oh I am groaning, I am saying Eh, Oh", something must be wrong with you.
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE PART 5
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE (Part 5)
HOLINESS A DEFENSIVE WEAPON
The Bible says in Proverbs 21:31, "The horse is prepared against the day of battle of safety is of the LORD."
There is no doubt that, safety is of the LORD which means that we cannot defeat Satan and his hosts by our strength or by our own wisdom or by our own numbers.
The Bible says in Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the living God."
And in Proverbs 28:26, the Bible says, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."
How then are we going to be able to overcome the enemy? This is where holiness comes in. Once you know that safety is of the LORD and it is only God who can protect you, then you must live your life in such a way that God can abide with you all the time. If you have God by your side all the time then you have nothing to fear. I John 1:5-7 (Read).
If you want to have fellowship with God, you want Him to be by your side all the time. You better walk in light because He is light. You better live holy because He is holy. The Bible tells us in Psalm 27:1-6 (Read), that if you are living holy, God will hide you in His secret tabernacle where no enemy will be able to reach you until all problems are over. He will take care of you.
Now once your lifestyle is such that you can have Him by your side for twenty four hours a day, then you have nothing to fear. He will be by your side and He will protect you, provided your lifestyle is such that He can be by your side. In Psalm 118:6, the Bible says, "The LORD is on my side, I will not fear: what can man do unto me?"
If the LORD is on your side, you have nothing to fear, whether by day or by night. You should read Proverbs 3:1- 2, and 21-26. If you delight yourself in obeying Him then you will be secure eternally. You will be secured forever. Psalm 112:1, 6-8 (Read). You can also read Hebrews 13:5- 6. That is why God says you have nothing to worry about because He said, "I wi
HOLINESS A DEFENSIVE WEAPON
The Bible says in Proverbs 21:31, "The horse is prepared against the day of battle of safety is of the LORD."
There is no doubt that, safety is of the LORD which means that we cannot defeat Satan and his hosts by our strength or by our own wisdom or by our own numbers.
The Bible says in Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the living God."
And in Proverbs 28:26, the Bible says, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."
How then are we going to be able to overcome the enemy? This is where holiness comes in. Once you know that safety is of the LORD and it is only God who can protect you, then you must live your life in such a way that God can abide with you all the time. If you have God by your side all the time then you have nothing to fear. I John 1:5-7 (Read).
If you want to have fellowship with God, you want Him to be by your side all the time. You better walk in light because He is light. You better live holy because He is holy. The Bible tells us in Psalm 27:1-6 (Read), that if you are living holy, God will hide you in His secret tabernacle where no enemy will be able to reach you until all problems are over. He will take care of you.
Now once your lifestyle is such that you can have Him by your side for twenty four hours a day, then you have nothing to fear. He will be by your side and He will protect you, provided your lifestyle is such that He can be by your side. In Psalm 118:6, the Bible says, "The LORD is on my side, I will not fear: what can man do unto me?"
If the LORD is on your side, you have nothing to fear, whether by day or by night. You should read Proverbs 3:1- 2, and 21-26. If you delight yourself in obeying Him then you will be secure eternally. You will be secured forever. Psalm 112:1, 6-8 (Read). You can also read Hebrews 13:5- 6. That is why God says you have nothing to worry about because He said, "I wi
I will never forsake you."
But then, the question is this. Who will ever harm you if you don't leave a loophole for the enemy? Nobody.
Jesus Christ said in John 14:30, "The prince of this world cometh unto me and he found nothing in me." If the devil comes and he looks to the right and the left and there is nothing he can lay hold upon in your life then there is nothing he can do to attack you.
You can also read I Peter 3:13 and Proverbs 1:32-33. Proverbs 12:21 says:
"There shall no evil happen to the just but the wicked shall be filled with mischief."
That is a summary of it all. You live a life of holiness, no evil shall happen to you. You go into mischief, you begin to do wickedness, the Bible says then problems will come.
If you sin then you must fear because trouble will come. You can read several Bible passages that have something to say about that. Make sure you read all of them: Psalm 53:4-5; Isaiah 33:14; Isaiah 66:4; Leviticus 26:14-17,36-37; Proverbs 1:24-28..
And now I will read to you Hebrews 10:26-27, it says: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin. But a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."
But then, the question is this. Who will ever harm you if you don't leave a loophole for the enemy? Nobody.
Jesus Christ said in John 14:30, "The prince of this world cometh unto me and he found nothing in me." If the devil comes and he looks to the right and the left and there is nothing he can lay hold upon in your life then there is nothing he can do to attack you.
You can also read I Peter 3:13 and Proverbs 1:32-33. Proverbs 12:21 says:
"There shall no evil happen to the just but the wicked shall be filled with mischief."
That is a summary of it all. You live a life of holiness, no evil shall happen to you. You go into mischief, you begin to do wickedness, the Bible says then problems will come.
If you sin then you must fear because trouble will come. You can read several Bible passages that have something to say about that. Make sure you read all of them: Psalm 53:4-5; Isaiah 33:14; Isaiah 66:4; Leviticus 26:14-17,36-37; Proverbs 1:24-28..
And now I will read to you Hebrews 10:26-27, it says: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin. But a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."
What is the Bible saying here? It says before you were born again, you were free to sin as much as you wanted because then you were a sinner anyway and a sinner does nothing other than sin. But after you knew the truth, after you were saved, if you now went back into sin, the Bible says you better look out for judgement, look for the anger of God, look for something terrible that is on the way.
So if you sin, you must be afraid because the very method that God used in protecting you when you were living holy, is the method He uses for monitoring your activities by providing you with a bodyguard, a bodyguard that no doors and no walls can keep out. His is a bodyguard that sees all, hears all, records all and reports all. Everywhere you go, God gives you a bodyguard. When you shut the door, he goes through the door. You can't shut him out. Everything that is happening, he sees, including those you do behind closed doors. He hears everything you say. He records it all and he will report everything to God. So if you are living holy, no problem, that bodyguard is by your side. No demon can come near you and he will protect you. But if you sin, he will also record everything without addition, without subtraction and he will report everything to your Father in heaven.
I will give some Bible passages to support that: Psalm 34:7; Daniel 6:22; Psalm 91:4; Psalm 125:2; Zechariah 2:5; 2 Kings 6:17; Luke 21:18; Genesis 35:5.
What we are saying is this, God wants to protect you from evil so He gives you a bodyguard; Wherever you go the bodyguard follows. He sees all, he hears all, he records all, he reports all. If you are living holy, that bodyguard will be a good friend. The moment you go into sin, the bodyguard becomes an enemy.
So if you sin, you must be afraid because the very method that God used in protecting you when you were living holy, is the method He uses for monitoring your activities by providing you with a bodyguard, a bodyguard that no doors and no walls can keep out. His is a bodyguard that sees all, hears all, records all and reports all. Everywhere you go, God gives you a bodyguard. When you shut the door, he goes through the door. You can't shut him out. Everything that is happening, he sees, including those you do behind closed doors. He hears everything you say. He records it all and he will report everything to God. So if you are living holy, no problem, that bodyguard is by your side. No demon can come near you and he will protect you. But if you sin, he will also record everything without addition, without subtraction and he will report everything to your Father in heaven.
I will give some Bible passages to support that: Psalm 34:7; Daniel 6:22; Psalm 91:4; Psalm 125:2; Zechariah 2:5; 2 Kings 6:17; Luke 21:18; Genesis 35:5.
What we are saying is this, God wants to protect you from evil so He gives you a bodyguard; Wherever you go the bodyguard follows. He sees all, he hears all, he records all, he reports all. If you are living holy, that bodyguard will be a good friend. The moment you go into sin, the bodyguard becomes an enemy.
So what shall we say? Shall we tell God, please withdraw Your bodyguard so that I can sin? If He does, who will be protecting you? The best thing is, forsake sin and retain your bodyguard. In other words, the fruit of holiness is eternal security.
If you will live holy, you will be secure forever. Isaiah 32:17
says: "And the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever."
Read Isaiah 33:15-16.
Anyone who is living holy will have a kind of security that nobody can destroy. He will have peace like a river. Like the Bible says in Isaiah 48:18, peace like a river is yours if only you will do the will of God and live a holy life.
Why don't you talk to God now and say:
"FATHER, PLEASE GIVE ME THE GRACE TO DO YOUR WILL SO THAT I CAN HAVE PEACE LIKE A RIVER, SO THAT I CAN BE SECURE FOREVER."
Talk to the Almighty God now. He will answer you and He will glorify His name in your life. Talk to Him.
If you will live holy, you will be secure forever. Isaiah 32:17
says: "And the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever."
Read Isaiah 33:15-16.
Anyone who is living holy will have a kind of security that nobody can destroy. He will have peace like a river. Like the Bible says in Isaiah 48:18, peace like a river is yours if only you will do the will of God and live a holy life.
Why don't you talk to God now and say:
"FATHER, PLEASE GIVE ME THE GRACE TO DO YOUR WILL SO THAT I CAN HAVE PEACE LIKE A RIVER, SO THAT I CAN BE SECURE FOREVER."
Talk to the Almighty God now. He will answer you and He will glorify His name in your life. Talk to Him.
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE PART 6
THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE (Part 6)
JOY AS A WEAPON OF WARFARE
WE learnt earlier how the devil uses the demon of sorrow to open its assault on a Christian warrior. Now we want to see how to stop this attack even at stage number one, using JOY as a weapon of defence and counter offensive. If sorrow cannot enter, discouragement cannot follow, fear cannot follow, suicide cannot come, so if you have JOY, you can use it as a defence, you can use it as a counter offence to the devil.
There are seven things to know about the joyful.
1. Joy gives strength. Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The joy of the LORD is your strength."
When you have Joy, you are strong. The joyful are always strong.
2. The joyful forgives easily when people offend him. He throws away hurt as a rock throws off water. For example, your wife have just given birth to a set of twins and then you are about to enter a bus and somebody accidentally steps on your feet, and he says: "I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry, sir." You will say "oh never mind, never mind," Why? The reason is because there is Joy within you.
Now because the one who is joyful is always forgiving, it becomes very easy for him also to receive forgiveness. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus while teaching his disciples, said you must forgive others or else your Father in heaven will not forgive you. If your Father in heaven does not forgive you, then what will you do? Your prayers will not be answered. In Isaiah 59:1-2, sin will block the ears of God so that He will not hear your prayers and if He does not hear your prayers, how will He answer. But if you forgive others because you are happy and joyful, God will forgive you too and then the way will be clear for you to receive the answer to your prayers.
JOY AS A WEAPON OF WARFARE
WE learnt earlier how the devil uses the demon of sorrow to open its assault on a Christian warrior. Now we want to see how to stop this attack even at stage number one, using JOY as a weapon of defence and counter offensive. If sorrow cannot enter, discouragement cannot follow, fear cannot follow, suicide cannot come, so if you have JOY, you can use it as a defence, you can use it as a counter offence to the devil.
There are seven things to know about the joyful.
1. Joy gives strength. Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The joy of the LORD is your strength."
When you have Joy, you are strong. The joyful are always strong.
2. The joyful forgives easily when people offend him. He throws away hurt as a rock throws off water. For example, your wife have just given birth to a set of twins and then you are about to enter a bus and somebody accidentally steps on your feet, and he says: "I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry, sir." You will say "oh never mind, never mind," Why? The reason is because there is Joy within you.
Now because the one who is joyful is always forgiving, it becomes very easy for him also to receive forgiveness. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus while teaching his disciples, said you must forgive others or else your Father in heaven will not forgive you. If your Father in heaven does not forgive you, then what will you do? Your prayers will not be answered. In Isaiah 59:1-2, sin will block the ears of God so that He will not hear your prayers and if He does not hear your prayers, how will He answer. But if you forgive others because you are happy and joyful, God will forgive you too and then the way will be clear for you to receive the answer to your prayers.
3. The joyful is always generous. As we were saying, if your wife have just given birth to a set of twins, you will want to entertain everybody. If any one says congratulations, you want to entertain them.
The joyful is always generous. As a result, they lack nothing. In Luke 6:38, the Bible says give and you shall be given. Those who are generous never lack anything. Like Dorcas, for example, when she died, the people said "no, death, you cannot take this woman because this is what she gave me," another one came and said "she gave us this," another one came and said "she did this for me." When you are generous, even death will not be able to overcome you.
4. The joyful always finds it easy to show mercy if only to get rid of anything that can cause sorrow. He is happy, he is full of joy, if he sees somebody in sorrow and he does not want that to spoil his own joy, he will show mercy to the sorrowful so that sorrow can be removed far from him. As a result the one who is always joyful is also obtaining mercy. In Matthew 5:7, the Bible says: "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."
5. Sorrow dims vision according to Job 17:7, but the vision of the joyful is always clear. He is always looking upwards. The sad fellow is always looking down. The joyful one is always looking up and when you look up, you see Jesus; according to Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith."
You remember what David said in Psalm 121:1-2, "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD who made heaven and earth."
The joyful is always generous. As a result, they lack nothing. In Luke 6:38, the Bible says give and you shall be given. Those who are generous never lack anything. Like Dorcas, for example, when she died, the people said "no, death, you cannot take this woman because this is what she gave me," another one came and said "she gave us this," another one came and said "she did this for me." When you are generous, even death will not be able to overcome you.
4. The joyful always finds it easy to show mercy if only to get rid of anything that can cause sorrow. He is happy, he is full of joy, if he sees somebody in sorrow and he does not want that to spoil his own joy, he will show mercy to the sorrowful so that sorrow can be removed far from him. As a result the one who is always joyful is also obtaining mercy. In Matthew 5:7, the Bible says: "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."
5. Sorrow dims vision according to Job 17:7, but the vision of the joyful is always clear. He is always looking upwards. The sad fellow is always looking down. The joyful one is always looking up and when you look up, you see Jesus; according to Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith."
You remember what David said in Psalm 121:1-2, "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD who made heaven and earth."
When you are always looking upwards, looking at Jesus, you will never sink. Remember Peter, when he was walking on water. As long as he looked unto Jesus he walked on water supernaturally but the moment he began to look at the storm, he began to look at the water. "Eh, where am I walking?" Then he began to sink. The sad one will look down while the joyful one will look up. When you look up, you will always float.
6. The joyful is never down for long either physically or spiritually. Anyone who is joyful even if he hits the ground will bounce up again.
In Proverbs 17:22, the Bible says: "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." When you are joyful, even the joy will be acting like medicine to you and you will find yourself getting stronger and stronger.
7. The joyful is always giving thanks. He is obeying God, giving thanks in all things, according to I Thessalonians 5:18. The Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people in Psalm 22:3. The joyful is always praising God and as he is praising God, God comes near him.
Also in Psalm 68:1-3, the Bible says, "Let God arise and His enemies be scattered,.." All His enemies will just vanish before Him. While the joyful is praising God, glorifying His name, what happens? All of a sudden, the LORD will begin to move towards him and as He is coming near him, his enemies will scatter.
6. The joyful is never down for long either physically or spiritually. Anyone who is joyful even if he hits the ground will bounce up again.
In Proverbs 17:22, the Bible says: "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." When you are joyful, even the joy will be acting like medicine to you and you will find yourself getting stronger and stronger.
7. The joyful is always giving thanks. He is obeying God, giving thanks in all things, according to I Thessalonians 5:18. The Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people in Psalm 22:3. The joyful is always praising God and as he is praising God, God comes near him.
Also in Psalm 68:1-3, the Bible says, "Let God arise and His enemies be scattered,.." All His enemies will just vanish before Him. While the joyful is praising God, glorifying His name, what happens? All of a sudden, the LORD will begin to move towards him and as He is coming near him, his enemies will scatter.
So we have seven things to know about the joyful.
Joy gives strength.
The joyful forgives easily, so he also is forgiven and his prayer is never hindered.
The joyful is generous therefore he never lacks anything.
The joyful finds it easy to show mercy, he too is always obtaining mercy.
Sorrow makes the eyes dim but joy make the eyes clear.
The joyful is never down for long because joy acts like medicine.
The joyful is always giving thanks, so God is always near him and by that the enemy is away.
WHY MUST WE REJOICE ALWAYS?
1. God commands it. Philippians 4:4 says: "Rejoice in the LORD always and again I say rejoice." It is a command.
2. The second reason why we should rejoice is because we are saved. Isaiah 12:1-3, says: "You must with joy draw water from the well of salvation."
Even if there is nothing else you can thank God for, at least you can thank God for your salvation.
3. It is a sign that we have found wisdom and retain it. In Proverbs 3:13,18, the Bible says: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding." And then verse 18: "She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is everyone that retaineth her." The man who has found wisdom and retains it must always be joyful. When you are joyful, it is a sign that you have found wisdom and that you are retaining it.
Joy gives strength.
The joyful forgives easily, so he also is forgiven and his prayer is never hindered.
The joyful is generous therefore he never lacks anything.
The joyful finds it easy to show mercy, he too is always obtaining mercy.
Sorrow makes the eyes dim but joy make the eyes clear.
The joyful is never down for long because joy acts like medicine.
The joyful is always giving thanks, so God is always near him and by that the enemy is away.
WHY MUST WE REJOICE ALWAYS?
1. God commands it. Philippians 4:4 says: "Rejoice in the LORD always and again I say rejoice." It is a command.
2. The second reason why we should rejoice is because we are saved. Isaiah 12:1-3, says: "You must with joy draw water from the well of salvation."
Even if there is nothing else you can thank God for, at least you can thank God for your salvation.
3. It is a sign that we have found wisdom and retain it. In Proverbs 3:13,18, the Bible says: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding." And then verse 18: "She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is everyone that retaineth her." The man who has found wisdom and retains it must always be joyful. When you are joyful, it is a sign that you have found wisdom and that you are retaining it.
4. It is a sign that you also trust the LORD. Whatever may be happening when you are rejoicing even when people think that you should not be rejoicing, it is a sign that you are trusting the LORD, that your tomorrow will be alright. Proverbs 16:20 says: "He handleth a matter wisely shall find good and whoso trusted in the LORD happy is he." Anyone who trusts in the LORD is a happy man. When you trust your joy will be there forever.
FOR HOW LONG SHOULD I REJOICE?
Every Sunday, during Christmas period, during our Convention, or during the Holy Ghost Service?
The Bible says in I Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice for evermore."
I want you to tell the brother or sister next to you "Rejoice forevermore. "This is what God said. "Rejoice forevermore."
You must make a determination now as a disciple and
say: "FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE I SHALL BE ???????????????? WHATEVER HAPPENS. ENOUGH OF SORROW, I WILL REJOICE FOREVERMORE, EVEN IF IT IS IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND OF GOD."
Now start the rejoicing and keep rejoicing forevermore. Go ahead now and praise the LORD.
FOR HOW LONG SHOULD I REJOICE?
Every Sunday, during Christmas period, during our Convention, or during the Holy Ghost Service?
The Bible says in I Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice for evermore."
I want you to tell the brother or sister next to you "Rejoice forevermore. "This is what God said. "Rejoice forevermore."
You must make a determination now as a disciple and
say: "FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE I SHALL BE ???????????????? WHATEVER HAPPENS. ENOUGH OF SORROW, I WILL REJOICE FOREVERMORE, EVEN IF IT IS IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND OF GOD."
Now start the rejoicing and keep rejoicing forevermore. Go ahead now and praise the LORD.
THE DISCIPLES MODE OF PRAYER PART 1
THE DISCIPLES MODE OF PRAYER (Part 1)
THE disciple is a spirit - John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of spirit is spirit."
When you are baptised in the Holy Spirit, you are born of spirit and you are spirit and led by the Spirit. We have to walk with God and hence be prayerful. The staff of the disciple is prayer - Galatians 5:25. To walk with God, we must pray in the spirit most of the time.
Why we must pray in the spirit?
1. We (disciples) don't know how to pray. So we should allow the Holy Spirit to pray for us, Romans 8:26.
2. The best way to learn how to pray is to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us John 14:26. Copy all things your teacher does all the time so as to learn. Let the Holy Spirit who knows it do it for you.
THE disciple is a spirit - John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of spirit is spirit."
When you are baptised in the Holy Spirit, you are born of spirit and you are spirit and led by the Spirit. We have to walk with God and hence be prayerful. The staff of the disciple is prayer - Galatians 5:25. To walk with God, we must pray in the spirit most of the time.
Why we must pray in the spirit?
1. We (disciples) don't know how to pray. So we should allow the Holy Spirit to pray for us, Romans 8:26.
2. The best way to learn how to pray is to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us John 14:26. Copy all things your teacher does all the time so as to learn. Let the Holy Spirit who knows it do it for you.
3. No prayer will be answered except that which brings glory of God-John 16:14
4. If you want an answer, pray according to God's will James 4: 3. If we pray in the spirit, it is according to the will of God - I Corinthians 2:11. Every disciple is two in one; you and the Holy Spirit. Treat Him as the landlord - do this when witnessing, II Kings 6:1-7; a disciple is a soldier and the battle is spiritual - Ephesians 6:11-12,18.
If you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, the tactics of the devil will not get you. John 16:13. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.
This is the end of your lesson for Year One. You have finished the theory for Year One. In other words, in spite of what the devil had tried, you have finished the syllabus for Year One. This should be enough to rejoice about. God bless you.
4. If you want an answer, pray according to God's will James 4: 3. If we pray in the spirit, it is according to the will of God - I Corinthians 2:11. Every disciple is two in one; you and the Holy Spirit. Treat Him as the landlord - do this when witnessing, II Kings 6:1-7; a disciple is a soldier and the battle is spiritual - Ephesians 6:11-12,18.
If you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, the tactics of the devil will not get you. John 16:13. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.
This is the end of your lesson for Year One. You have finished the theory for Year One. In other words, in spite of what the devil had tried, you have finished the syllabus for Year One. This should be enough to rejoice about. God bless you.