Possessing an acquired and keen sense of “Purpose,”
“If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free… If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31,32,36)
There is a Spiritual War going on; Every person who has professed Jesus Christ as their Savior has automatically been inducted into God’s Army, whether you are aware of it or not, you will either be an “Over comer” or a casualty of war; Each believer within the Body of Christ has been “predestined” to fulfill an individual purpose, and “called” to perform a vital, specific function within the ranks of God’s Army; Knowledge of the Spiritual Weaponry that’s available, and an understanding of its proper use are essential for being a victorious soldier; For too long the church has stopped at the point of blessing and have not entered into the spiritual relationship that God has intended for it. I love to see people get blessed, baptized in the HS, dance in the spirit, worship God and clap their hands but that is not the spiritual relationship I’m talking about. We have to move beyond the point of blessing and receive Power.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost comes upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
The word says you will be able to do greater works. Are signs following your Christian experience? Since man’s fall in the Garden of Eden, satan has been placing obstructions between God and man. You have to realize that this is a crucial time in your life. Become aware of how the Holy Spirit moves in your life and become involved. Take steps of faith as you lay hands on the sick and witness.
Stir up the gifts that are within you. (II Tim 1:6)
John 10:37-38 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Why did the people follow Jesus? Because they saw the miracles He performed. They have to see those same miracles being performed by us.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
That is our purpose today. We have to take our position as overcomers. Tradition teaches us that we need to protect ourselves from the enemy. No, we have to invade satan’s territory. We haven’t progressed in defeating the enemy because when he comes, we put up our hands and try to defend ourselves. We need to see his backside when he is running away from us. Every believer’s destiny is leadership. My passion is to raise up leaders who will acquire the graces necessary to train up other and together acquire the ongoing responsibility to make disciples of all nations.
Emanating Spiritual Maturity and Authority”.
This program is designed to enable an individual to become an effective Disciple with emphasis on the spiritual and practical aspects of Personal Development and to progressively arrive at Christian Maturity in the combined areas of Spirit, Soul and Body.
Believers have an ongoing responsibility to make others aware of the fact that:
- There is a Spiritual War going on;
- Every person who has professed Jesus Christ as their Savior has automatically been inducted into God’s Army, whether they are aware of it or not. They will either be an “Over comer” or a casualty of war.
- Each believer within the Body of Christ has been “predestined” to fulfill an individual purpose and “called” to perform a vital, specific function within the ranks of God’s Army;
- Knowledge of the Spiritual Weaponry available and understanding of its proper use is essential for being a victorious soldier;
- Each Believer has a duty to share what they have learned with other inactive [AWOL] soldiers in the Body of Christ and thereby “ignite” them into action.
Jesus has given us power and authority we must learn to submit to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to train us in the ways of the Lord.
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. (John 15:26)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8)
You have been given power (the Holy Spirit) and authority (the name of Jesus) now, let’s go into battle knowing the enemy is already defeated.
Training up Leaders that excels in skills of Spiritual Warfare
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Jesus never told us to hold the fort. The Lord has already conquered the enemy and gained the victory. It’s time for us to seize what He has conquered. We need that spirit of boldness.
A key to a victorious life is knowing and understanding the strategies of your enemy. A war will never be won by fighting a defensive battle. To defeat satan, we need an offensive strategy and learn to recognize his strategies, understand how he is operating and stop him:
Strategy #1 Lies = satan is feeding Christians lies about himself to keep them from knowing the truth about him.
Our counterattack is to expose his lies about himself. Satan is not in control of the earth, his power is limited, and he has no power over us but what we allow.
Strategy #2 – Disobedience – This is one of satan’s major strategies to weaken, divert and gain control of your will, ever since the garden satan has been lying, deceiving and tempting to cause us to use our will to disobey God.
Our counterattack is to see that our entire relationship with God is based on obedience. No obedience, no relationship.
Strategy #3-Rebellion = It cuts off communication and separates us from God. When we fail to act upon the Word we are rebelling against God.
Our counterattack is the Holy Spirit within you. Sin no longer has power over you. Satan can’t make you rebel, disobey, yield to temptation nor do anything. (Rom. 8:3-4) You have to choose to obey the Lord.
Strategy #4- Deception = Satan is an impostor. An impostor is one who assumes an identity or title not his own for the purpose of deception.
Our counterattack is early detection, recognizing satan as an impostor.
Strategy #5 -Temptation = Satan is the tempter. There is no trail too great-no temptation too strong that satan can use that will destroy you. Satan has the ability to place temptation before you. He can seduce, entice, lure, and deceive you, but, he cannot make you sin.
Our counterattack is having a confident faith firmly fixed in God and His Word.
Strategy #6-Apathy = (without feeling, lack of interest or concern, impassive).
Satan wants to keep you so busy that you are too exhausted to pray or read the Word.
Our counterattack is to be awake and on guard and take authority over satan. Don’t allow yourself to fall into a state of spiritual sleep.
Strategy #7-Stress = is a word used to refer to outside forces that place a demand upon us; (e.g., jobs, illness, people). This is one of satan’s deadliest strategies that will keep you in a cycle of defeat. Stress’s root is fear and fear keeps us from releasing faith.
Our counterattack is to recognize stress for what it is-a strategy of satan to destroy you physically, mentally and spiritually. Refuse to believe satan’s lie that you must learn to live with stress. Learn to recognize the areas in your life where satan is attacking with stress.
God can turn your life around. You must look beyond your weaknesses, shortcomings and tradition until all you can see is God’s strength, power, will and revelation knowledge operating in your life.
Learn more about the strategies of your enemy and the weapons of warfare that God has given you.
