THRU THE BIBLE “Spiritual Breakthrough” (Matthew 9:1-38)
Matthew 9:1 NKJV
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
Joshua 3:3-4 NKJV
“…When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”
Matthew 9:2 NKJV
Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
1. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through paralysis
Psalm 32:1 NKJV
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.”
James 5:16 NKJV
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
2. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through confession of sin
Matthew 9:3-8 NKJV
And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.”
3. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through physical obedience
Matthew 9:9 NKJV
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.”
Luke 5:27-28 NKJV
“…He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.”
4. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through letting go
Matthew 9:10 NKJV
“Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.”
5. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through exposure to light
Matthew 9:11-13 NKJV
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
6. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through loving mercy
Romans 2:4 NLT
“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”
Matthew 9:14-17 NKJV
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
7. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through Grace
Matthew 9:18-22 NKJV
While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.”
8. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through Faith
Luke 8:47 NKJV
“Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.”
James 4:8 NKJV
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”
Matthew 9:23-26 NKJV
“When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.”
9. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through ridicule
Matthew 9:27-31 NKJV
“When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.”
10. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through crying out!
Matthew 9:32-34 NKJV
“As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
11. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through submission to the Holy Spirit
Matthew 9:35-38 NKJV
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
12. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through sharing your faith
🔥SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH 🔥
1. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through paralysis
2. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through confession of sin
3. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through physical obedience
4. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through letting go
5. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through exposure to light
6. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through loving mercy
7. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through Grace
8. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through Faith
9. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through ridicule
(Make room…)
10. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through crying out!
11. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through submission
12. SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH comes through sharing your faith
THE KINGDOM MIND IN A FALLEN WORLD
Philippians 2:5 NKJV
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…”
WWJD 1990 PIC
“MIND”-FIELDS IN THE CHURCH TODAY
THE BIPOLAR CLUB
1. Grace & Law
2. Salvation
3. Spiritual gifts
4. Spiritual Warfare
5. End-time events
“MIND”-FIELDS IN THE WORLD TODAY
RELIGION -RACE- POLITICS -SEX
“If a Christian is not having tribulation in the world, there's something wrong!"
Brother Yun
Matthew 22:15
“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.”
Matthew 22:20-21
And Jesus asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
THE BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW
1. CREATION
2. REBELLION
3. REDEMPTION
4. RESTORATION
(SLIDE)
“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law”
Alistair Crowley
(SLIDE)
PICS OF PRINCESS DIANA
Joshua 5:13-15
“Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Philippians 2:5 NKJV
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…”
1 Corinthians 2:11-12
“…no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
1 Corinthians 2:13
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:15
The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
Romans 12:1-2
“…I beseech you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
OUR PRAYER TODAY
Psalm 139:23-24 KJV
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
THE KINGDOM MIND OF CHRIST
Philippians 2:5-7 NKJV
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”
Philippians 2:1-4 NIV
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
"It is not great men who change the world, but weak men in the hands of a great God. When we arrive at the end of our own strength it is not defeat, but the start of tapping into God's boundless resources”
Brother Yun
Philippians 2:8 KJV
“and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
Philippians 2:9-11 KJV
“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.”
Hebrews 12:25-29 NKJV
“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
Iran and the last days
Torah Reading
Deuteronomy 25:17–19 (ESV)
17 “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, 18 how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.
The Haftarah (Prophetic Reading)
1 Samuel 15:2–3 (ESV)
2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
Saul failed to execute Agag, the Amalekite king.
An Amalekite ended up killing Saul
500 years later, 16 generations later, an Amalekite by the name of Haman was born.
Haman was a govt official living in the kingdom of Persia.
Haman, King’s right hand man, everyone to bow before him, Mordecai, a Jew, wouldn’t bow. Haman infuriated and wanted to destroy all Jews. Asked the Persian king to make the law
Esther 3:13 (ESV)
13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
Haman ends up being executed on the same gallows he had created to execute Mordecai
TIMING OF THIS WAR -DIRECTLY COINCIDES WITH READING OF BOOK OF ESTHER AND COMMAND TO EXECUTE AMALAKITES, AGAG AND HAMAN
PURIM
Haman – descendent of Agag – (aka, amalakite)
War began (Ayatollah assassinated) on Saturday – Shabbat Zachor – “sabbath of remembrance” – word for the day about Amalek – wiping out the mention of his name
Also read that day – God’s word for Saul to wipe out Amalek
Haman sought the annihilation of Jewish people – just like Ayatollah
Haman builds gallows to execute Mordecai but same gallows used to execute Haman
Nuclear reactors built by Ayatollah (to kill Israel) – reason for Trump’s war on him.
Ayatollah slogan – Death to America, Death to Israel
Jeremiah 49:34–39 (ESV)
34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. 35 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. 36 And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. 37 I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, declares the Lord. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, 38 and I will set my throne in Elam and destroy their king and officials, declares the Lord. 39 “But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the Lord.”
1979 only 500 Muslim background Believers living in Iran (Christians)
Millions of Shia Muslims have left and become Christians – more than any other Middle Eastern nation – “GOD SET HIS THRONE THERE”
IRAN Eschatology – 12th Imam
Sunnis constitute approximately 85–90% of the Muslim population (about 1.7–1.8 billion), while Shia Muslims make up about 10–15% (200–300 million). Sunni Islam is the dominant branch worldwide, with majorities in most countries, while Shia populations are concentrated in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan
IRAN against Saudis
2 targets – Israel and US (Great Satan, Little Satan)
Iran has attacked:
Turkey
Lebanon
Cyprus
Qatar
Iraq
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Oman
Bahrain
Azerbaijan
Iran – Persia/Elam in the Bible
Multiple prophecies – Jer 49:34-39
Ezekiel 38-39
Iran’s theology – Muslim – Shia, opposed to Sunni unless working together to overthrow Israel
Looking for the 12th Imam, the Mahdi (their Christ figure)
They believe the Mahdi will appear when the world is burning, being destroyed
They feel they may be called to blow up the place to usher in the Mahdi
View US as the Great Satan and Iran as the Little Satan
Ezekiel 38:1–6 (ESV)
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. 5 Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.
Gog – title/king;
MAP – includes Persia (Iran)
Ezekiel 38:4 (ESV)
4 And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords.
Hooks in the jaws (v. 4) God forcing Russia into the battle
Great host (army)
Ezekiel 38:7–9 (ESV)
7 “Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. 9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.
v. 8 – regathered – land had been continual waste
VERSES PREDICTING ISRAEL BEING REGATHERED AS A NATION
Isaiah 11:11–12 (ESV)
11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. 12 He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Jeremiah 31:7-9, 31-33, 35-38; Ezekiel 36-37
ISRAEL – will remain as long as sun and moon
Amos 9:14–15 (ESV)
14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God.
Jeremiah 31:35–36 (ESV)
35 Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord of hosts is his name: 36 “If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the Lord, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.”
Isaiah 66:8 (ESV)
8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?
May 14, 1948
Ezekiel 38:10-13 (ESV)
10 “Thus says the Lord God: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme 11 and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ 12 to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’
Coming for spoil –
MAP OF ALLIANCES
MAP – of invaders compare with
Map of Diplomatic ties post Abraham Accords
Ezekiel 38:14-16 (ESV)
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. 16 You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
Dwelling securely –
Israel – dealt with Gaza, dealing with Iran, also bombing Lebanon/ Hezbollah
Great army – “like a cloud covering the land”
God deliver Israel – God get the credit
Ezekiel 38:17-23 (ESV)
17 “Thus says the Lord God: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? 18 But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord God, my wrath will be roused in my anger. 19 For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. 21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. 23 So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Iron Dome? Something more – torrential rains, hailstones, fire and sulfur
Ezekiel 39:1–6 (ESV)
1 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 2 And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand. 4 You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 You shall fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God. 6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
God dealing – fire upon Magog and “those who dwell securely in the coastlands”
Ezekiel 39:7–8 (ESV)
7 “And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, declares the Lord God. That is the day of which I have spoken.
Ezekiel 39:9–10 (ESV)
9 “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, 10 so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God.
Make fires with the weapons and burn them – for 7 years? Nuclear?
Ezekiel 39:11–16 (ESV)
11 “On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. 12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory, declares the Lord God. 14 They will set apart men to travel through the land regularly and bury those travelers remaining on the face of the land, so as to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make their search. 15 And when these travel through the land and anyone sees a human bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. 16 (Hamonah is also the name of the city.) Thus shall they cleanse the land.
v. 14 – select professionals to clean up the waste (nuclear radioactive)
Ezekiel 39:21–22 (ESV)
21 “And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. 22 The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward.
Open the eyes of Israel
144,000 Jews saved during the Tribulation – is this what God uses?
SKIP?
Ezekiel 39:25–29 (ESV)
25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
Ezekiel 38 – Israel dwelling securely in the land, unwalled villages
2 Main End Times Views
Pre-Tribulation Rapture – believe things are going to get worse, Christians raptured (caught up to heaven), nothing else needs happen before the Rapture.
Pre-Wrath or Post Tribulation Rapture View – things are going to get worse, we are going to go through at least part of the Tribulation, then after temple desecrated – rapture
LESSER VIEWS
Dominionist – Christians going to gain more and more influence and Christianize the world prior to Christ coming back
No rapture -
WHAT ABOUT THE UNITED STATES IN PROPHECY?
OPTIONS
1. Not listed (therefore disabled prior or tied up so as not to support Israel)
2. Referred to as the “coastlands” in Ezekiel 38 – and receive “fire down upon”
3. Referred to as Babylon or Daughter of Babylon (Revelation 17-18, Jeremiah 50-51)
SO WHAT?
Are you ready to meet Jesus?
1 John 3:1–3 (NIV84)
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Are you prepared for difficult times?
War could be over quickly – and non-event for us in the US
OR
Cyber attack
Power outage/EMP (nuclear bomb detonated couple hundred miles in atmosphere)
Societal chaos
Proverbs 27:12 (NLT)
12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
PREPARED ROUND TABLE GROUP – THIS SATURDAY, 8AM AT THE J-HOUSE
John 14:1–3 (NIV84)
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Luke 21:25–32 (ESV)
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “What God Is Saying Right Now”
Matthew 24:3 NKJV
“…the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ ”
Revelation 3:22 NKJV
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Matthew 24:4-5 NKJV
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
WHAT GOD IS SAYING RIGHT NOW
Take Heed! (Pay close attention to)
1. THE DECEPTION OF FOLLOWING MAN AS GOD
II Thessalonians 2:3-4 NKJV
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
I John 4:1-3 NKJV
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”
I Corinthians 14:29 NKJV
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.”
Matthew 24:6-7 NKJV
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
WHAT GOD IS SAYING RIGHT NOW
Take Heed! (Pay close attention to)
2. THE DECEPTION OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 3:10-12
As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
Isaiah 64:6
“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.”
II Corinthians 5:20-21 NKJV
“…we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
WHAT GOD IS SAYING RIGHT NOW
Take Heed! (Pay close attention to)
1. THE DECEPTION OF FOLLOWING MAN AS GOD
2. THE DECEPTION OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
TAKE HEED (play close attention to)
THE SNARE OF SATAN
TAKE HEED TO (play close attention to)
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
II Chronicles 7:10-15 NKJV
“On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the Lord had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel. Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”
WHAT GOD IS SAYING RIGHT NOW
1. HUMBLE YOURSELF
2. PRAY
3. SEEK MY FACE
4. TURN FROM YOUR SIN
THIS IS WHY GOD IS SPEAKING TO US
1. GOD DESIRES TO HEAR US
2. GOD DESIRES TO FORGIVE US
3. GOD DESIRES TO HEAL US (Our Land)
THRU THE BIBLE:“BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS!” Matthew 7:15-29
Matthew 7:15 NKJV
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong; it is knowing the difference between right and almost right."
Charles Spurgeon
CONTEXT
Matthew 7:13-15
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
BEWARE!!!
A command from The Good Shepherd
1. AWARENESS (see)
2. APPEARANCE (recognize)
3. AGENDA (define)
4. ASSESSMENT (judge)
5. ACCOUNT (know)
1. AWARENESS (see)
II Timothy 4:3-5 NKJV
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
I Timothy 4:1 NKJV
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,”
I Timothy 4:16 NKJV
“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
Jeremiah 14:14-16
Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.”
2. APPEARANCE (recognize)
Matthew 7:15 NKJV
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
3. AGENDA (define)
“they are ravenous wolves.”
Acts 20:29 NKJV
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”
John 10:10 NKJV
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
II Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,”
II Thessalonians 2:11-12 NKJV
“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
4. ASSESSMENT (Judge)
Matthew 7:16-18 NKJV
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”
Throwing the word, “Grace” at a thistle will not make it a grape.
Jude 1:3-4
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
I Corinthians 5:12-13 NKJV
“For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
5. ACCOUNT (Know)
Matthew 7:19-20 NKJV
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Matthew 21:18-19 NKJV
“Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.”
Galatians 1:8-9
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
Matthew 7:21 NKJV
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Matthew 7:22-23 NKJV
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
THE SUMMARY OF THE SERMON OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.””
Matthew 7:28-29 NKJV
“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
A TRUE PROPHET
1. SPEAKS THE WHOLE TRUTH
2. POINTS TO JESUS
3. PRACTICES WHAT HE PROPHESIES
4. BEARS FRUIT THAT LASTS
Acts 20:17-19 NKJV
“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials…”
Acts 20:27 NKJV
“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
Jeremiah 3:15 NKJV
I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “How to be Hated for Jesus’ Sake”
Matthew 10:22 NKJV
“…you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.”
Matthew 10:16-22 NKJV
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
SAVED: Greek - Sozo-which means to save, heal, deliver, or make whole.
Matthew 27:46 NKJV
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Philippians 3:10-11 NLT
“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”
REMEMBER PETER: “Healer” to “Convict”
Acts 3:6-8 NKJV
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.”
Acts 4:1-3 NKJV
“Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.”
THE GREAT FIRE OF ROME
July 18-19, AD 64
POPE LEO
“Someone who says they’re pro-life but are supportive of the death penalty is not pro-life. Someone who supports pro-life and supports inhuman treatment of illegal immigrants is not pro-life”
Luke 6:26 NKJV
“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
CHOOSE:
Accepted by the world and rejected by God
OR
ACCEPTED BY GOD AND REJECTED BY THE WORLD
REMEMBER STEPHEN: “Deacon” to “Heretic”
PREPARE TO MEET
HATE-THEIST
Acts 7:54-60 NKJV
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Matthew 10:22 NKJV
“…you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
REMEMBER JESUS: “Hosanna” to “Crucify!”
Matthew 21:9-11 NKJV
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Matthew 21:12-13 NKJV
“Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Matthew 27:22 NKJV
Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
HOW TO BE HATED FOR JESUS’ SAKE
1. REMEMBER THE WORD
John 15:20 NKJV
“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”
2. REMEMBER THE VERDICT
John 3:19-21
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
3. REMEMBER THE LOVE OF GOD
I John 3:1-3 NKJV
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
4. REMEMBER THE JOY OF CALVARY
Hebrews 12:2-3
“Fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Luke 23:33-34 NKJV
“And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
5. REMEMBER THE HOLY SPIRIT
Luke 23:46 NKJV
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
John 20:21-22 NKJV
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 10:19-20 NKJV
“But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “Dealing with demons”part 7 - How to cast out demons
Matthew 10:1 NKJV
“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out…”
Mark 16:17 NKJV
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons…”
Matthew 12:28 NKJV
“… if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
DELIVERANCE 101 IS SELF DELIVERANCE
1. Repent
2. Renounce
3. Rebuke
REMOVE LEGAL RIGHTS
1. REPENT
James 4:7 NKJV
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
James 4:8-10 NKJV
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
2. RENOUNCE
II Corinthians 6:16-18 NKJV
“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.””
3. REBUKE
Luke 4:35 NKJV
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
THE DOMINION DECLARATION
PSALM 18:3
I WILL CALL UPON THE LORD, WHO IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED; SO SHALL I BE SAVED FROM MY ALL MY ENEMIES
Joshua 1:3
“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you…”
CASTING OUT DEMONS
1. AUTHORITY
&
2. POWER
AUTHORITY comes from being under authority
POWER comes from recognizing you are powerless
Luke 10:18-19 NKJV
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
CASTING OUT DEMONS
1. AUTHORITY
&
2. POWER
Isaiah 59:19-20 NKJV
“So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in, like a flood The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the Lord.”
I Samuel 17:45 NKJV
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
I John 1:6-7 NKJV
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
AUTHORITY & POWER
Mark 1:21-27 NKJV
“…they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
Luke 8:26-27 NKJV
“Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.”
Luke 8:28 NKJV
“When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”
Luke 8:29 NKJV
“For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.”
Acts 16:18 NKJV
“And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.”
Luke 8:30 NKJV
Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.”
Luke 8:31 NKJV
“And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.”
Luke 8:32-33 NKJV
“Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.”
Luke 11:24-26 NKJV
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
Luke 8:34-37 NKJV
“When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.”
Colossians 2:13-15 NKJV
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
Matthew 17:19-21 NKJV
“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.””
Joshua 5:13-14 NKJV
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”
Joshua 5:15 NKJV
Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
Joshua 6:1-5 NKJV
“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat.
Pastor Dave Praying with a guide in Jericho
Joshua 6:14 NKJV
“And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.”
I John 2:6 NKJV
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
Joshua 6:15-16, 20-21 NKJV
“But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.”
Luke 10:18-19 NKJV
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Luke 10:20 NKJV
“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV
“… we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Undivided Life: Matthew 6:25-34
What is causing you anxiety?
What is keeping you up at night?
What are you worried about?
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more
than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?7 28 And why are
you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor
spin,
29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 But if God
so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will
he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying,
‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows
that you need them all.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Main point: Jesus provides “All these things”
●Do not worry about the cares of this life.
●God is a good Father and Provider.
●Trust God: Seek HIS kingdom…. And all these things will be added!
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or
you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Why don’t we trust him?Matthew 13:22: As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the
cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Why don’t we trust him?
○ We don't see him as a good father.
○ We don't think he cares, is able, or will provide.
○ We think we can do it ourselves.
Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what
you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body
more than clothing?
Anxious: Worried, to be troubled with cares, divided and distracted.
John 4:13: “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again.”
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will
change them like a robe, and they will pass away.
Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses..
Matthew 6:26 “ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Deuteronomy 8:18: You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to
get wealth,
A.W. Tozer: “God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful that he can, without anything other than Himself, meet and overflow the deepest demands of our total nature.”
Matthew 6:27: “ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Matthew 6: 28-30: “ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how
they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was notarrayed like one of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
Romans 14:23: For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Matthew 6: 31-32: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying,
‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we
drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”
1 Peter 5:7: Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Matthew 6:33-34: 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
John 15:4: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in
the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Luke 10:42: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is
necessary.Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
”
Hebrews 12:1-2: Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter
of our faith.
We desire ___, but Jesus is___.
○ Life- Jesus gives us eternal life
■ John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
○ Bread- Bread of Life
■ John 6:35 “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
○ Drink- spring of water
■ John 4:14 But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
We desire ___, but Jesus is___.
○ Body/health- redeemed body, part of body of Christ, temple of the Holy Spirit
■ Philippians 3: 20-21:”will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body… ”
○ Shelter- He is our shelter
■ Psalm 27:5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
○ Put on/clothing- Clothed in Christ
■ Galatians 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
A.W. Tozer: “The man who has God for his treasure has all things on One… Whatever he may lose, he has actually lost nothing, for he now has all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately,
and forever.”
Psalm 145:16: You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.Application
In what areas is your mind divided?
In what ways can I further seek his Kingdom?
How can I remember God’s faithfulness?
Luke 12: 32: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not
grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no
moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting
for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at
once when he comes and knocks.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you,
he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve
them.
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “Dealing with demons” part 6
SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY Begins with the spiritual birth
John 3:5-6 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
JESUS
SPIRITUAL BIRTHRIGHT
1. IDENTITY
2. PURPOSE
3. AUTHORITY
John 1:12-13 NKJV
“…as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH
A New Identity
A Divine Purpose
A Royal Authority
THE MOMENT OF BIRTH
- YOUR NEW IDENTITY
- YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE
- YOUR ROYAL AUTHORITY
THE CONCEPTION OF CONFESSION
Matthew 16:13-19 NKJV
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
WHEN DEALING WITH DEMONS
1. YOUR NEW IDENTITY
2. YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE
3. YOUR ROYAL AUTHORITY
THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Revelation 3:20-22 NKJV
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Zechariah 3:6-7 NKJV
Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.”
I Corinthians 6:2-3 NKJV
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”
BINDING & LOOSING
John 20:21-23
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
THE CONFESSION
&
THE MISSION
Joshua 1:1-2 NKJV
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.”
Joshua 1:3 NKJV
“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.”
Joshua 1:4 NKJV
“From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.”
Matthew 16:18 NKJV
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Jude 1:22-23
“Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Joshua 1:5 NKJV
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:6 NKJV
“Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”
Joshua 1:7 NKJV
“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:10-11 NKJV
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’ ”
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, 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.”
BEWARE OF THE SPIRIT OF CONDEMNATION & MOCKERY
Jeremiah 31:29-34 NKJV
“In those days they shall say no more: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
🔥The child of light that displaces the darkness of demons is fueled with the forgiveness of God
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “Dealing with demons” pt5
Exodus 20:4-6 NKJV
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
EXODUS 20?
GENERATIONAL CURSES?
OR
GENERATIONAL INFLUENCE?
I Samuel 16:14 NKJV
“But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.”
II Corinthians 12:7 NKJV
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”
Revelation 2:20-23 NKJV
“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”
EXODUS 20:4-6?
-GENERATIONAL CURSES?
-GENERATIONAL INFLUENCE?
-GENERATIONAL BAGGAGE?
Ephesians 4:27 NIV
“… do not give the devil a foothold.”
I Timothy 4:16 NKJV
“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
Psalms 14:1 NKJV
“…There is no God…”
Psalms 14:1 NKJV
“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God…”
RULE OF FIRST MENTION
Genesis 3:14 NKJV
So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.”
Genesis 3:17-18 NKJV
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you
EXODUS 20:4-6 CONTEXT
V1-17 GIVING OF THE LAW
Exodus 20:18 NKJV
“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.”
PENTECOST: CONTRAST OF LAW VS GRACE
3K
THE GIVING OF THE LAW
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 28:2, 15 NKJV
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:”
Ezekiel 18:2-4 NKJV
“What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge’? “As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.”
Nehemiah 1:5-7 NKJV
“And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded..”
John 9:2-3 NKJV
And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
Mark 9:20-22 NKJV
“Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Matthew 27:25 NKJV
And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
Ezekiel 18:19-20 NKJV
“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
LAW VS GRACE
Acts 19:13-17 NKJV
“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Exodus 20:5-6
I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Zechariah 3:1-5 NKJV
“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.”
Galatians 3:1-3 NKJV
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
Zechariah 3:7 NKJV
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.”
Joshua 1:1-3 NKJV
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you..”
John 8:31-32, 36 NKJV
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
“…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “Dealing with demons” pt4
I Timothy 4:1 NKJV
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,”
1. THE FALLING AWAY
2. DECEIVING SPIRITS
3. DOCTRINES OF DEMONS
4. OUR DEFENSE (The Righteous Repellent)
1. THE FALLING AWAY
II Thessalonians 2:1-3 NKJV
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first..”
Revelation 3:1 NKJV
And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”
The Church of Laodicea
Revelation 3:15-16 NKJV
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
2. DECEIVING SPIRITS
II Corinthians 11:12-15 NKJV
“But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
DECEIVING SPIRITS DIVIDE
Titus 3:9-11
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.”
WARPED: to be turned inside out," "twisted," or "distorted".
Romans 16:17-18 NKJV
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Jude 1:3-4
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
Jude 1:8, 11-13, 16-19 NKJV
“Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.”
John MacArthur’s books
Charismatic Chaos and Strange fire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH05S53QlY0
1 Timothy 5:19-20
“Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.”
I Corinthians 5:1-5 NKJV
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
I Timothy 1:18-20 NKJV
“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
I Peter 4:17 NKJV
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God…”
3. DOCTRINES OF DEMONS
I Timothy 4:16 NKJV
“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
Ephesians 4:27 NIV
“… do not give the devil a foothold.”
Korean Flight 007 from NY to Seoul, in 1983
DOCTRINES OF DEMONS
-HEBREW ROOTS GOSPEL
-GOD ALWAYS HEALS GOSPEL
-UNIVERSALISM GOSPEL
- 12 STEP GOSPEL
- THE SIGNS & WONDERS GOSPEL
- PROSPERITY GOSPEL
Galatians 3:1-3 NKJV
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
III John 1:2 NKJV
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
🔥DOCTRINE OF DEMONS ARE CREATED FOR THIS LIE: “God is not giving you what He should”
Eve fell for it
Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 3:2-3 NKJV
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’
John 10:10 NKJV
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 9:40-41 NKJV
“Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
John 10:1 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
OUR DEFENSE
II Timothy 2:15-19 NKJV
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Psalm 119:104 NKJV
“Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.”
Psalm 119:105 NKJV
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
1 John 2:26–27 (NKJV)
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
John 15:7-8 NKJV
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “Dealing with demons” pt3
Ephesians 4:27 NIV
“… do not give the devil a foothold.”
FOOTHOLD: TOPOS - “room”
Where we get the English word, topography
Alice of Troy
Daniel 10:12, 20 NKJV
“… the prince of the kingdom of Persia (Iran) withstood me twenty-one days…”
“..now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia…”(Iran)
WARS & RUMORS OF WARS
MATTHEW 24 IS RIPENING BEFORE OUR VERY EYES
PIC OF PUTIN
2 Corinthians 2:11
“.. we are not ignorant of the schemes of Satan “.
LUST OF THE FLESH
LUST OF THE EYES
PRIDE OF LIFE
I John 2:15-17 NKJV
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
1.THE DESIRE TO BE GOD
Genesis 3:1-7 NKJV
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.”
2.THE DESIRE TO BE ADMIRED (fame)
Ananias and Sapphira
Acts 5:1-2 NKJV
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
Acts 5:3 NKJV
“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?”
“Hypocrisy is a petri dish for demons”
3.THE DESIRE FOR POWER WITHOUT PURITY
Acts 19:11-20 NKJV
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
The Trojan horse
4.THE DESIRE TO BE RIGHT (control)
Ephesians 4:26 -27
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Ephesians 4:28 SERVE
“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”
Ephesians 4:29 SPEAK LIFE
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:30
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Ephesians 4:31
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
HOW DO I GET RID OF THESE BITTER ROOTS?
Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
I John 5:21 NKJV
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
2 Corinthians 3:17
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
James 4:7-8 NIV
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
John 14:15-16
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 7:5-9 NKJV
But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire. “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments
THE NEW LIFE
Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
James 4:6
He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
James 4:7-10
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
“Humility before God will produce peace with your past and hope with your future”
1 Timothy 1:12-17
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.”
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Romans 6:3-4
“…have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “Dealing with demons” part 2
Matthew 10:1 NKJV
“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out…”
Job 1:1 NKJV
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.”
Job 1:6-12 NKJV
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
II Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Acts 16:16-18 NKJV
“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.”
Leviticus 19:31 NKJV
“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”
II Corinthians 11:14 NKJV
“… Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
Acts 16:17 NKJV
“This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ ”
Luke 4:41 NKJV
“And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.”
Acts 16:18a NKJV
“And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed….”
VIDEO CLIP
Acts 16:18b NKJV
“(Paul) turned and said to the spirit,”
Acts 16:18c NKJV
“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
Acts 19:13-20 NKJV
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Job 38:1-3 NKJV
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.”
Job 38:1-7 NKJV
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
Job 38:18 NKJV
“Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.”
Job 38:19 NKJV
“Where is the way to the dwelling of light?”
Job 42:1-6, 10 NKJV
Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
Acts 8:5-8 NKJV
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.
Luke 10:17-20 NKJV
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
THE END (SERMON)
COMMUNION
I Corinthians 11:23-25 NKJV
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ ”
I Corinthians 11:27-31 NKJV
“Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”
John 13:27 NKJV
Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered (Judas) him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
Exodus 12:7-8 NKJV
“And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “The Holy War”
Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…”
1. How to stand against the schemes of Satan
2. How to be strong in the power of the Lord’s might
3. How to walk victoriously in the evil day (no fear)
Daniel 10:12-14 NKJV
Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
THIS PRESENT DARKNESS
"I'm here, Satan... by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit I intend to be a thorn in your side until one of us has had enough!"
Matthew 16:3 NKJV
You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
Matthew 24:3, 6, 9, 12 NKJV
“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” “…you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
1. VIOLENCE
2. LAWLESSNESS
3. ISRAEL
ISRAEL THE PROPHETIC MAGNET
Matthew 24:32-33 NKJV
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that IT is near—at the doors!”
Ezekiel 5:5
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.”
II Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV
“…exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
Revelation 21:2 NKJV
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
1. VIOLENCE
2. LAWLESSNESS
3. ISRAEL
Revelation 12:1-5 NKJV
“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”
Deuteronomy 28:43-48 NKJV
The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. “Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.”
Zechariah 13:7-9 NKJV
“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one–third shall be left in it: I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’
Galatians 4:22-24 NKJV
It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar
Genesis 25:17-18
“Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years…”
“…His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.”
Genesis 6:11 NKJV
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”
VIOLENCE: Hamas
Matthew 16:3
“…You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”
The amount of Jews, compared to other religions is a small minority, compared to every other religion. Yet 70% of the hate crimes are towards Jews?
There’s only about 15 million Jews in the world
2 ESDRAS 15:29
"Where the nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots, and the multitude of them shall be carried as the wind upon earth, that all they which hear them may fear and tremble."
King James Version (KJV)1611)
Ephesians 6:12-13 NKJV
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day
Revelation 12:7-11 NKJV
“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
1. How do I stand against the schemes of Satan
2. How do I stay strong in the power of the Lord’s might
3. How do I walk victoriously in the evil day (no fear)
🔥PLEAD THE BLOOD (appeal for position)
Exodus 12:3, 5, 7-8 NKJV
“Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”
John 6:54-56 NKJV
“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”
I Corinthians 11:26 NKJV
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
🔥LIVE THE WORD
Acts 7:54-60 NKJV
“When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
“In a world filled with darkness, love shines the brightest.” - CORRIE TEN BOOM
Matthew 5:16 KJV
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
STANDING IN THE HOLY WAR
🔥PLEAD THE BLOOD
🔥LIVE THE WORD (OUT LOUD)!
ABIDING DISCIPLESHIP: “Sheep among wolves”
Matthew 10:16 NKJV
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
4 AREAS OF REJECTION
Matthew 10:17 NKJV
“But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
1. Religious
Quran Sura 8:12
"I Will cast terror into the hearts of the disbe-lievers; strike above their necks and strike all their fingertips."
Revelation 20:4 NKJV
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands
Quran 2:171
The example of those who disbelieve is like that of one who shouts at what hears nothing but calls and cries cattle or sheep - deaf, dumb and blind, so they do not understand.
Quran 8:22
Verily! The worst of (moving) living creatures with Allah are the deaf and the dumb, those who understand not (i.e. the disbelievers).
Matthew 10:18 NKJV
“You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.”
2. Political
Deuteronomy 28:43-48 NKJV
The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. “Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.”
Matthew 10:19-20 NKJV
“But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
Matthew 10:21 NKJV
“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.”
3. FAMILY
Matthew 10:22 NKJV
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
4. ALL
Matthew 10:23 NKJV
“When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
Matthew 10:24-25 NKJV
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!”
Matthew 10:26 NKJV
“Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”
II Thessalonians 2:7-8 NKJV
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”
Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
THRU THE BIBLE - MATTHEW 5:17-20 - “Forgiven & Free to Obey”
John 14:15-16 NKJV
If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 6:28-29 NKJV
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.
Revelation 12:17 NKJV
“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Matthew 5:17-20 NKJV
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is the law and the prophets?
What does it mean for them to be fulfilled?
Will heaven & earth have to pass away first?
What does the warning mean?(V19)
What about the “unless”? V20)
Matthew 5:17 NKJV
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
MATTHEW 2:17
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah
MATTHEW 2:23
...so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled...
MATTHEW 4:14
so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled
MATTHEW 13:14
...the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled.
MATTHEW 26:56
...all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
MATTHEW 27:9
Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah...
Matthew 5:18 NKJV
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
THE LAW & THE GOSPEL
1. THE PRIESTHOOD
THE LAW
Exodus 40:15
Deuteronomy 18:5
THE GOSPEL
I Peter 2:5 NKJV
“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Romans 12:1 NKJV
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
2. THE TEMPLE
THE LAW
Exodus 23:14-17
THE GOSPEL
I Corinthians 3:16-17 NKJV
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
3. THE VEIL
THE LAW
Exodus 26:33 NKJV
“And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.”
THE GOSPEL
Matthew 27:51 NKJV
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,”
Hebrews 10:19-23 NKJV
“…brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
4. THE SACRIFICES
THE LAW
Exodus 26:31-35
Leviticus 16
THE GOSPEL
Hebrews 10:3-5 NKJV
“But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.”
Hebrews 9:24-26 NKJV
“For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
5. THE CIRCUMCISION
THE LAW
Leviticus 12:1-3
THE GOSPEL
Romans 2:26-29 NKJV
“Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”
Philippians 3:2-3
“Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—”
Galatians 5:11-12 NIV
“Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!”
Galatians 5:1-6 NKJV
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”
Romans 3:20 NIV
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”
Hebrews 8:13 NKJV
“In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”
THE LAW TODAY
1. It witness against us
2. It points to Jesus
3. It teaches us the nature of God
4. It gives us wisdom
5. It challenges us to love God & love our neighbor
Galatians 3:24-25 NKJV
“Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
John 1:17 NKJV
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 5:39-40 NKJV
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
Matthew 17:1-9 NKJV
“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.
Luke 9:30-31 NKJV
“And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”
IT IS FINISHED (fulfilled)
1. The righteous requirements needed to satisfy the just nature of God were fulfilled.
2. The Provision for man to be restored to relationship with a holy God were fulfilled
John 19:28-30
“…knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.”
Learning To Have The Faith To Wait
I. Live every day as though it is the day Jesus may return.
35 "Be dressed in readiness, and [keep] your lamps lit. 36 "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open [the door] to him when he comes and knocks. 37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself [to serve,] and have them recline [at the table,] and will come up and wait on them. 38 "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds [them] so, blessed are those [slaves.] 39 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." [Luk 12:35-40 NASB95]
II. Wait to do God’s will in God’s way relying on God’s power
We are to wait to do God’s will in God’s power. Wait to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then act by doing what God wills
49 "Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high." [Luk 24:49 AMP] 31 But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired. [Isa 40:31 AMP]
Active Trust and Hope (Qavah): The primary Hebrew word for "wait" in key verses like Isaiah 40:31 is qavah, which is related to the word for "cord" or "rope". This implies a tight, stretched-out feeling of anticipation and expectation, or "twisting" oneself to the Lord, in which a person binds themselves to God in reliance on His promises and character. It is an active posture of faith, not passive resignation.
Patience and Endurance: Waiting involves enduring difficult seasons and not trying to force things to happen in one's own strength or timing. It means aligning one's will with God's perfect plan, even when it is a test of faith.
Renewal of Strength: The scripture promises that this active waiting results in renewed spiritual, emotional, and even physical strength, enabling believers to rise above life's challenges.
Deepening Relationship: The period of waiting is an opportunity to seek God more diligently through prayer and His Word, which deepens trust and reliance on Him.
III. Be humble to wait for God’s power in Christ to give you victory rather than try to do it on your own
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, 7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack--rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.] 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]. 11 To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen. [1Pe 5:6-11 AMP]
Application
9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a [mighty and thunderous] roar, and the [material] elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be [in the meantime] in holy behavior [that is, in a pattern of daily life that sets you apart as a believer] and in godliness [displaying profound reverence toward our awesome God], 12 [while you earnestly] look for, hasten, and await the coming of the day of God. For on this day the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the [material] elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But in accordance with His promise we expectantly await new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 So, beloved, since you are looking forward to these things, be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him [at His return] spotless and blameless, in peace [that is, inwardly calm with a sense of spiritual well-being and confidence, having lived a life of obedience to Him]. 15 And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him [by God] [2Pe 3:9-15 AMP]
In what area of your life is God asking you to wait on him to bring his solution?
What do you do in your personal private worship that shows your waiting on the Lord?
When are you tempted to just act and not wait on the Lord?
Abiding Discipleship: Dead to Sin
How do you overcome temptation? How do you get set free of habitual sin?
Review
Abiding Discipleship Series
Abiding in Jesus
Abide in His Life
Abide in His Death
Abide in His Resurrection
“Romans 1 through 5 tells us we are dead in sin. Chapters 6 through 8 tell us we are dead to sin. Chapters 1 through 5 tell us we are free from the penalty of sin. Chapters 6 through 8 tell us we are free from the power of sin.” - Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 920.
“All too often, Christians try to fight sin by preaching, “No, no, no.” Paul’s method was to teach, “Know, know, know.” He said, “Know you have a new identification with Jesus Christ (verses 3–5); know you have liberation through Jesus’ Cross (verses 6–15); and know some things about Jesus’ cause” (verses 16–23).” - Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 920.
Romans 6:1–4 (ESV)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans is like an amazing steak dinner, yet most Christians don’t have the tools or utensils to cut it up and chew it.
1. Now that we have been saved by grace, can we continue to sin so that we receive more grace? NO WAY!
1 John 3:4-6; 9 (ESV)
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him… 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Practice sin – we practice to get better; get better at being bad. IF A BELIEVER, WE CAN’T!
SEED ILLUSTRATION - v. 9
If born of God, then God’s seed has been planted and will continue to grow until it takes over.
VIRUS ILLUSTRATION: We are all infected with the sin sickness; the GOSPEL is God’s antibiotic. Initially taking the antibiotic, the sickness is still in control of the body; but over time, the antibiotic begins to kill the infection until the sickness is gone.
1 John 3:9 (ESV)
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
“There is therefore simply no such thing as justification without sanctification. There is no such thing as divine life without divine living.”– John F. MacArthur Jr., Romans, vol. 1, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991), 318.
Romans 6:1–4 (ESV)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Dead to Sin; Alive to God
1. A believer can’t live in sin.
2. We were buried with Christ in baptism - Buried means dead! (not buried alive)
3. We are dead to sin
Dead to sin.
If sin comes knocking, no one is home. I don’t answer the door – in fact, I don’t hear sin knocking because dead people can’t hear, can’t respond
Romans 6:5-7 (ESV)
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Dead to Sin; Alive to God
1. A believer can’t live in sin.
2. We were buried with Christ in baptism
3. We are dead to sin
4. We are no longer slaves to sin.
Romans 6:6 (CSB)
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
ESV – brought to nothing; NKJV done away with
“the old man” – the “old you” still has a desire to sin, but it is no longer in control.
PICTURE – woman enslaved with painted gold chains
The chains have been unlocked, but we are comfortable in them and choose to stay in them (or think that we can’t get out of them).
We have come to identify with our chains.
Sometimes we think we can’t live without them.
Yet in Christ we have a new identity.
Romans 6:8-10 (ESV)
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
Dead to Sin; Alive to God
1. A believer can’t live in sin.
2. We were buried with Christ in baptism
3. We are dead to sin
4. We are no longer slaves to sin.
5. We will be resurrected with Christ (we have resurrection power through the Spirit)
Romans 6:5,8 (ESV)
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his… 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Romans 8:11 (ESV)
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 6:11 (ESV)
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER!
A. consider yourselves dead to sin
B. consider yourselves alive to God in Christ Jesus
“consider” – reckon, count, accounting
What does it mean to “consider yourselves dead to sin”????
As child, told not to put my toy into the power outlet. I remember playing with my toy and looking at the outlet. After a few moments of looking at the outlet, I finally stuck my toy into the outlet and… I BECAME A BELIEVER!
I NO LONGER WAS TEMPTED TO STICK ANYTHING IN THE OUTLET. I WAS DEAD TO THAT TEMPTATION/SIN.
Sadly, when in middle school, lived on a ranch and had an electric fence. Eventually, you know what happened.
We “struggle with sin” because we don’t REALLY believe it will bring death. We know it is bad, but not that bad.
Lori’s gluten allergy – the pain and discomfort from gluten made her say no to wheat.
IF WE BELIEVE GOD’S WORD ABOUT SIN (FAITH), THEN WE WON’T GIVE IN.
We sin to win.
Romans 6:11 (ESV)
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
APPLICATION: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER YOURSELF DEAD TO?
Struggle with lust – see it as death, pain, suffering
Greed
Food
Drugs/Alcohol/Cigarettes – DEATH
Anger? – anger is a secondary emotion. Need to go beneath to find what is really going on.
Secondary emotion meaning –
Sadness
Shame
Fear – of losing control? Of being exposed?
Temperature check – what emotion am I experiencing? Why am I experiencing it?
Resolve in your heart; purpose in your
“I’m never going to do that again.” – WRONG! Considering yourself dead to sin, means believing the Gospel, that you can’t do anything on your own; Christ does it for you!
Romans 6:11 (ESV)
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Consider yourselves alive to God in Christ Jesus!
NEW MASTER – before, I did what I wanted, but didn’t realize I was a slave to sin, so the enemy made me think that I was in control, but instead I was ruled by my selfish desires.
James 1:14–15 (NLT)
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
ALIVE TO GOD – new master, Lord what do you want?
Open communication with God.
Phone on silent? Vibration? Or in sleep mode – silencing notifications?
Chime on every hour – to remind to connect with God.
Romans 6:12-14
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Sin used to be your master and reign in your body.
NO LONGER! But you must choose.
Who are you presenting your body to? Sin or God?
Present body to sin? Am I giving myself to sin? Am I feeding the flesh or the Spirit?
Whatever you feed grows.
Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 7:1–6 (ESV)
1 Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Romans 7:7–11 (ESV)
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.
Romans 7:13–20 (NLT)
13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
Romans 7:21–25 (NLT)
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
ILLUSTRATION FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
Israel was in slavery in Egypt. God delivered them out of Egypt, yet it took 40 years for the Egypt to get out of them. Then they underwent a 2nd baptism, crossing the Jordan with Joshua (similar to Spirit baptism), and entered the promised land. Were they done fighting? No! Now they had to take possession of their inheritance. When they relied on their own strength (against a little town called Ai) they lost. So we must continually rely upon the Lord in our battle with sin and the old man.
1 Corinthians 10:1–4 (ESV)
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:5–6 (ESV)
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
1 Corinthians 10:7–13 (ESV)
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
1 Corinthians 10:12–13 (ESV)
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
CONCLUSION
Crucified with Christ
Galatians 2:19–20 (ESV)
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We are in a battle to the death. The one who dies to self wins!
Luke 22:14–19 (ESV)
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
CUP FIRST – REPRESENTING His blood and death
Bread, representing his body –
John 6:51 (ESV)
51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
“When Jesus Christ was crucified on the Cross two thousand years ago, not only was His blood shed for your salvation, but His body was broken for your liberation. Thus, there are two elements in Communion. His blood brings about forgiveness of our sin, while His broken body provides freedom from our sin.” - Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 924.
Matthew 4:12-25 - The Cost to follow
Review
Baptized by John, led by the Spirit into the Wilderness for testing/temptation,
Matthew 4:12–25 (NKJV)
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles:
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”
Fascinating start to Jesus ministry.
His cousin, John the Baptist, is arrested so instead of going to Jerusalem to begin his ministry he goes to Galilee – the region of Herod
Led by the Spirit
Grew up in Nazareth, but leaves Nazareth – Luke tells us, but Matthew doesn’t – “Prophet is without honor in his home town” – they try to kill him.
INSTEAD goes to Capernaum – basically Jesus’ headquarters for most of his 3.5 years of ministry.
Matthew 4:14–16 (CSB)
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles.
16 The people who live in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.
Quoting Isaiah 9:1-2 – Matthew wants to show at every opportunity that Jesus is the promised Messiah and he is fulfilling prophecy.
“The people who live in darkness” – speaking of the Gentiles – seeing Jesus works and hearing his message.
“land of the shadow of death” – like “valley of the shadow of death”
Some people live in that constant shadow of death, haunted, depressed, discouraged, fearful.
A LIGHT HAS DAWNED –
APPLICATION: Many people today still walk in darkness even though the Light of Christ has come. True also for Christians, walking in fear, walking in the past, not walking in faith.
“WE DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH”
“WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH” IS DIFFERENT.
Matthew 4:17 NKJV
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This is the same message John the Baptist was preaching (God’s Word is consistent and doesn’t contradict itself)
“KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” is the primary phrase used by Matthew to describe God’s kingdom order (32x). Mark and Luke prefer “Kingdom of God” and John only uses “Kingdom of God” once – in John 3:3 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Kingdom of Heaven a metonymy for God’s Kingdom (metonymy is substituting an attribute of something for the thing itself – use the “White House said…” for “the President said…”
Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (near, coming)
We need to constantly be repenting.
Matthew 4:18-22 NKJV
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
Matthew tells the summary story – gets right to the point and gives you the relevant information.
In Gospel of John we read that John the Baptist introduces one of his disciples (Andrew) to Jesus
John 1:35–42 (NKJV)
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”
They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Luke 5:1–11 (NKJV)
1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Jesus had spent time with them and they were getting to know him. Then comes a point:
Jesus approaches, says, “Come, follow me” and they leave everything to follow Jesus.
Matthew 19:16–30 (CSB)
16 Just then someone came up and asked him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” he said to him. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he asked him.
Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself.
20 “I have kept all these,” the young man told him. “What do I still lack?”
21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
TO FOLLOW JESUS, WE NEED TO RELEASE WHAT WE ARE HOLDING ON TO.
What are you holding on to? What dreams? What identity? What hurts? What offenses?
Matthew 4:19
19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
What does it mean to fish for men? Luke 10 – looking for a person of peace
Matthew 4:23 NKJV
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Jesus ministry was teaching, preaching and healing. People tend to focus on the healing
v24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
LOTS OF FOLLOWERS – but how many disciples?
Luke 14:25–28 (NLT)
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
WHAT TYPE OF FOLLOWER ARE YOU?
We have diluted what it means to be a follower; so, we have many deluded followers.
What is getting in the way of following Jesus?
Nicodemus – secret follower
Nets are easy to get caught in.
Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB)
1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Despise: kataphroneo (καταφρονέω, 2706), lit., “to think down upon or against anyone” (kata, “down,” phren, “the mind”), hence signifies “to think slightly of, to despise,”[1]
[1] W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 163.