Pod Prep: 3-29-19
Successfully Winning Spiritual Warfare - Part Three
FULFILL OUR CHRIST GIVEN MISSION TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
Satan wants to prevent the spread of the gospel message. During ancient battles, messages of victory or defeat were often carried by a messenger who was a swift runner. It was a happy moment to see the feet of one delivering a positive message of victory and thereby peace on your terms.
Ephesians 6:15 NKJV 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
One of Satan's devices is to obscure the truth. He wishes to stop the work of God in spreading the gospel of peace. Jesus commissioned His church before His ascension to heaven to preach the gospel to all the world.
Luke 24:47-48 NKJV 47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 "And you are witnesses of these things.
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Jesus had given His church a sacred mission which is to share the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, the future paradise, and the solutions to all mankind's problems as a witness. Sharing is the unselfish action of Jesus. All congregations should be in support of an international outreach. We are the armored shoes and feet of the messengers sharing the good news of Christ.
Isaiah 52:7-8 NKJV 7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" 8 Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the LORD brings back Zion.
Christ wants us to be the people who help spread the good news. We are able to resist the Devil's wiles if we have a mission. We are not just drifting nor focused only on local issues, we have a mission to achieve. We are to help spread the message of good news to the world.
IS THE INTERNET THE 'DOOR' THAT CANNOT BE CLOSED ?
Will God's Church, in the end time need a special doorway to help spread the message globally? Could the internet be that doorway to the world for a small church? The Bible implies that a church with little power will have a large impact.
Revelation 3:7-9 NKJV 7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": 8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
God is very pleased with an end time church that is doing his will to spread the gospel. They have a little strength. Is the internet the door that cannot be shut with regard to spreading the good news?
WE MUST HAVE THE SHIELD OF FAITH TO WITHSTAND EVIL INFLUENCES
History reinforces the resurrection of Jesus overwhelmingly. It is the primary focus of our faith. Jesus ascended to the Father and rules at the God's right hand. Further a true belief in a creator God is essential, and that is why evolution is Satan's accomplice and poison of choice, to mislead this world. True science does not undermine belief in a creator, it supports it. Science has overwhelming evidence of the complexity of the single cell organism. Yet, they still want us to believe its existence is a series accidents. Wow!
Romans 1:18-20 NKJV 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
The world has no excuse for not believing in a creator God. Yet, they do not want to really believe in a God. Our belief will protect us like a shield from spiritual pressures.
Ephesians 6:16 NKJV 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is rock solid conviction that whatever God has promised He will perform. The belief that He is real and on our side even though we cannot see Him. Science also supports this truth. Our world is made of things we cannot see with the natural eye. Our world is made of atoms, and they now know that atoms are merely energy compacted in various complex forms. This explains the power of the A-bomb ( the sudden release of the energy). Our world is made of unseen energy. Our faith in the Bible can be strengthened by reality of fulfilled prophecy as well. Daniel predicted many events, centuries before they happened with unerring accuracy. Even the current efforts to unite Europe are fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies from 2500 years ago. He predicted that the kingdom would be half clay and half iron. Europe today is clearly divided between the strong nations and weak, clay nations.
We need to learn to live out our faith. If we believe in the Bible then we will keep the Seventh Day Sabbath. Our actions will reinforce our belief system and vice versa.
James 2:16-19 NKJV 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
We all need to learn to trust God. A believer should relax when in a trial and know that God is with us. Show our faith by our behavior. When we do this we have a big, thick shield in place against Satan's evil influences.
PUT ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION
This piece of spiritual Armour is related to faith. We should repent and get baptized and then trust that we are saved. We do not earn salvation and no one is worthy of it. It is the free gift of God provided by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Believe it! Know it ! Thereby act accordingly and this confidence will make us stronger Christians.
Ephesians 6:17 NKJV 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
So do not let ourselves get discouraged when we fall into sin, just keep repenting as needed and do better knowing that our salvation is sure. Satan works best in people who are depressed and discouraged.
Romans 8:15-16 NKJV 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
WIELD THE SWORD WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD
Spiritual winners learn to use the only offensive weapon which is the Bible. All believers need to become very knowledgeable with regard to the Bible. Our Bible knowledge IQ should be high and getting higher.
2 Timothy 2:15-16 NKJV 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
Believers who are very knowledgeable with regard to the Bible are dangerous to the Devil's schemes. They see the truth of unbalanced doctrinal fairy tales taken out of context. They are the strong ones. Viewing the program 'Line Upon Line' will help us all become spiritually stronger. Use the program to sharpen our sword every weekend. We all must remember the advice that the Apostle Paul gave to one his evangelists.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 NKJV 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
