Sunday January 20th, 2008 Series: the Fight part three
Scripture: Mark 9:23 (AMP)
Sermon: Take On faith Speaker: pastor Michael, River of Life
In spite of worldwide conflicts, the Holy Spirit is at work and is continuing to guide the true Church into her greatest season of transformation. This means that we, as a part of that true Church, must not look at the pressures of the times as some sort of great obstacle set in place to restrict us. Because, in God’s hands these are the very tools He will use to help perfect us.
One problem in interpreting end-time events is our tendency to focus on one set of conditions or circumstances in front of us or what “might be” up ahead. If we look at the fact Satan is raging war against us, or see how many earthquakes, famines and freak weather there is these days, we just might conclude that difficulty and darkness is going to grow stronger and happen more often as we approach the day of the rapture of the Church. We know that. We have been taught that. We see it. Life, growing more evil as the days are coming to a close.
But, the fact is, the very same Spirit that predicted these perilous times at the end of the age, also forecasts that, in spite of the difficulties and battles, the Gospel of Christ’s love will be proclaimed worldwide…
Matthew 24:14 (AMP)
And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
The Lord also said that the “crop” of the last days Christians will reach full stature…
Mark 4:28-29 (AMP)
28 The earth produces [acting] by itself—first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe and permits, immediately he sends forth [the reapers] and puts in the sickle, because the harvest stands ready.
And that those who know their God will be strong, do exploits, shine like stars and lead multitudes to righteousness...
Daniel 11:32 (AMP)
32 And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].
Daniel 12:3 (AMP)
3 And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.
In every age God’s plan for His people has never changed, He has always required that we walk as overcomers. Our call is to prayer, to stand in spiritual warfare, to intercede for our leaders and soldiers, and not to surrender our vision of a world in revival regardless of whatever temporary setbacks we may face. The very fact that there are distant nations having revivals on a large scale reminds us that there is still time for our nation, our state, where we live today!
Our focus must remain riveted on becoming like Jesus, in all things.
We might feel overwhelmed by the evil flood of evil storming against us as Christians and against our land called America, yet the promises of God are stronger and more real than the breath you breathe, the promise like, when the enemy comes—in like a flood, He shall raise up a standard against him...
Isaiah 59:19 (AMP)
19 So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].
So we must ask ourselves: Is our focus on the enemy’s flood? Or God’s flood? What the enemy raises? Or the standard God raises that will counter the onslaught, tear down so we can overcome the devil’s evil?
Let’s not ever forget that when darkness comes and comes upon the people, the promise of God is that His glory shall rise upon us and His presence shall be visibly seen through us!
Darkness seems to be never ending, the Lord promises at the end of the war between light and dark...
Isaiah 60:1-3 (AMP)
1 ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
God’s Word reveals that, unfolding within the panorama of the ginormous events before our very eyes in these end times, there will be an on-going “period of restoration…”
Acts 3:20-21 (AMP)
20 And that He may send [to you] the Christ (the Messiah), Who before was designated and appointed for you—even Jesus, 21 Whom heaven must receive [and retain] until the time for the complete restoration of all that God spoke by the mouth of all His holy prophets for ages past [from the most ancient time in the memory of man].
This does not mean that the world will be subdued by the Church, but that the true Church itself will be glorious, subdued and transformed by Christ Jesus! Amen! This final display of grace will be consummated in a Christ like Church, whose spiritual maturity shall manifest on earth the person and passions of Jesus Christ Himself. Are you passionate for Jesus? Do you desire to display His passion for this world?
Story about the suicide boy…
Our fight is the fight of faith: Do we believe what God has promised?
Our war is against principalities and powers: Do we believe the report—that Christ shall “sprinkle, cleanse, many nations?
Isaiah 52:15 (AMP)
15 So shall He startle and sprinkle many nations, and kings shall shut their mouths because of Him; for that which has not been told them shall they see, and that which they have not heard shall they consider and understand.
In my trials and struggles, the very reason I am still here, is because I believe what He said. I believe in you and trust you all.
I believe His Word is not just comfort to me and for me, but a sword I wield in times of spiritual war, when I proclaim the reality of God’s love for my family and church, for my city, state and this nation God blessed me with! Consider His proclamation:
Isaiah 55:11 (AMP)
11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
And let’s not forget God’s commitment:
Jeremiah 1:12 (AMP)
12 Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
And forget His accessibility:
Romans 10:6-8 (AMP)
6 But the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down; 7 Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we could be saved by our own efforts]. 8 But what does it say? The Word (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach,
We are not mere mortals stumbling blindly on earth, separated from God and isolated from His response from our needs. No! we are new creatures, born again from above, and resident within us is the Holy Spirit of Almighty God—give Him PRAISE!
Yes, we labor to intercede; we repent of our sins and the sins of our nation, but the weight of our victory doesn’t rest upon how much we labor and groan, but upon how, listen, how sincerely we believe what God has promised.
The Lord doesn’t want us worrying about the future; He wants us to create it through the knowledge of His will, through the proclamation of His Word which is the sword of the Spirit...
Ephesians 6:17 (AMP)
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
And through our yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit of God...then we can see His promise...Romans 10:11 (AMP)
11 The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.
Listen, the sword of the Word that God has put into our hearts is nothing less than the echo of His voice in us. Let’s not whine about negative conditions in the world or sigh in our prayers with muttering and disbelief. Let’s embrace the mustard seed of faith He gave us and nurture to full strength and fight the fight of faith! Allow Christ’s love for mankind to compel us into be a motivated people of God.
Pick any verse, quote it out loud. Get your Bibles out and speak it’s God breathed Words aloud so hell can hear you this time. I can guarantee you the, the Master of all doesn’t fall away from His Word, it will happen as He said if you will believe in His will for you.
Speak His Word by faith and believe, believe in your mind, heart, soul, deep into your spirit that no power on earth can quench the promises of God. You may quench His Spirit in your life, but nothing is stronger than His Word! Nothing is higher than the name of Jesus!
All things are possible...Mark 9:23 (AMP)
23 And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes! Let’s break the bondages of a passive, unbelieving spirit. Take up the Sword of the Spirit and embrace the fight of faith.
