Messages
The Church in Action - Part 2 (Spiritual Warfare) - Pastor Stuart Price.
We live in an age of tremendous pressures and sickness and oppression
around the world. Our enemy wages a great war against us from the unseen
realm, to gain control of our soul. If we are to make it to the finish line
in our personal Christian life, then we must be effective Christians, like
a sharpened axe, “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand. ” Ephesians 6:13.
We need God’s intervention and working in our lives by living His ways.
Just as; it was Heaven’s desire for the birth of Spirit Life Christian
Church, so too God has drawn you to Himself, to be part of His plan for the
true church.
Always remember who Jesus has made you to be through the power of His blood
and sacrifice! The cross, the great exchange, our weakness, sin and lack
exchanged for His power, love and sound mind. So that you will “be strong
in the Lord and the power of His might” Not your might!
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood” Ephesians 6:12 not against
humans but there is a whole hierarchy of fallen angels and demons in the
heavenly places. The fallen angels being the ones who fell with Lucifer and
demons being the wicked people and giants who died through the great floods
but whilst their bodies died, there spirit lives and hence why they desire
to have a body to inhabit again. Even a born-again Christians body.
Next v13, having “done all” – we must do the things that God has prepared
for us to live in. Having done all to “stand” – to stand is a military
term. You are well able to stand against the hordes of hell if you are in
the power of His might!
Meditate on that you have been endued with power from on High Acts 1:8 –
great and effective power James 5:16 is already in you and that you already
have all you need to stand Ephesians 1:3 through the power of the Holy
Spirit working in you.
Galatians' 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has
made us free {a process of time involved here}, and do not be entangled
again with a yolk of bandage.”
Paul instructs us to “Watch {pray}, stand fast in the faith, be brave and
strong.”Ephesians 6:13 And that through Jesus victory that we can “be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing
that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Ephesians 15:58
As temples of the Holy Spirit, we must clean out our house and be
responsible for guarding our lives and keeping ourselves free from
bondages. Judging ourselves and dealing with destructive things like anger,
fear, bitterness, doubts, rejections, addictions and other fleshly
bondages. Should we fall, our good Father helps us back up, forgives us and
forgets it, setting us back squarely on our feet to stand again in our
blood bought freedoms.
When Jesus was so weaken by hunger and thirst in the wilderness, He used
His best weapon against the devil…”It is written..” Baaammmm the devil had
no come back against that weapon. We must do likewise. How important and
powerful is the written Word of God.
Our battle plan set down by God is to :
1.Get armed His word in our mouth and minds.
2. holding up our shield of faith.
3. head protected by His helmet of salvation knowing in our mind what the
cross has personally done for me.
4.vital organs protected by the breastplate of righteousness where our
heart is secure in who we are in Christ.
5. Belt of truth that we know THE Truth and shoed up ready to move forward.
We are called to continue the work which Jesus started – spreading the
gospel, healing the sick, releasing those held captive by the devil and
even raising the dead. All things are possible to those who believe, Jesus
told us. The Lord encourages us today, just like he did Joshua before they
went into the promised land, to be strong and of good courage, for I am
with you.
Written by Ray Price.
Have a great week
Pastor Stuart and Colleen