Friday, Apr 25, 2008

TWG - April 25, 2008

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TWG - April 25, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Genesis 38; Ezekiel 43; Matthew 5:1-20

Today is April 25, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. TWG is a complete turn of events, it is a 180 degree turn around. God is changing us and turning us around as a community. This is not business as usual, this is transforming, this is spiritual, this is essential.

How busy are you? Are you booked from morning till evening? I think we could all do more for the cause of Christ. Being that busy every day isn’t a good idea, but that was my day yesterday. The ladies were at Bible Study yesterday. One of the last of the year. Susan came in to put the bulletin together. I worked on Sunday’s message series called “A ministry you can believe in,” on the book of 1 Timothy. Love the title. That took me most of the day! Dale and Claude stopped in to ask some very deep spiritual questions on how to use a miter saw to cut ceiling molding. I went next door to demonstrate. I put a picture of Claude at the saw on the blog at www.timewithgod.mypodcast.com. After a busy day at work it was off to Myrtle Creek to teach Evangelism Explosion. We did some review and went out visiting. We had a wonderful night. One young mother named Stephanie received Jesus Christ as Savior, and a middle aged grandmother was glad for the visit because she is looking for a church to attend.
This week’s theme verse is Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

How do you do battle against something you can’t see? I’m reminded of the story of the giant and the firefly. The giant was, well, giant. He was the meanest of mean. But the firefly challenged him to a duel one day. The giant hefted his club and swung it violently, but the firefly was so small and so fast that the giant couldn’t hit him. That big, bad giant looked pretty foolish swinging his club through the air at nothing! His weapon was useless against an enemy he couldn’t see. We need to take up arms against the unseen enemy if we are to win the spiritual battle. We don’t want to look like the foolish giant so we need to put down the great big clubs that we have been using in our earthly battles and find some that will work in the spiritual realm. There are several words that stick out to me in these verses; “rulers… authorities… powers… forces.” The first thing I realize is that Satan and his motley crew are not going to be easy to defeat. They are powerful. Their strength is that they can manipulate the world system to their advantage. They possess covert authority to influence important people to do their bidding. But their weakness is that they have limited power and delegated authority. They are underling who do the bidding of the higher ups. And who is the highest authority of all? Jesus is above every name that is named. He is the Lord of All! Even Satan couldn’t touch Job without permission from God! There is a clear line of authority we must understand. The demons obey Lucifer. Lucifer is helpless to do anything without the permission of God. God answers prayer. When we bring the name and authority of Jesus into battle with the enemy, he has no choice but to bow in submission and skulk away until a more opportune time. So when Satan comes knocking at your door, just send Jesus to answer it! If you can’t fight the bully you can’t see, you need to recruit someone bigger who can. In the name of Jesus I charge you, leave me alone!

In the name of Jesus, I charge you, depart from me! Leave this place and stop harassing me! Thank you Lord for the authority over the unseen world. Not that it is mine, but that it is yours. Thank you that you hear me and answer me every time I call upon you. I know I am safe in your powerful arms. I will flee to you like a mountain hideaway when trouble comes calling. I will remember that In Jesus name, and by Jesus power and authority I can gain the victory over the unseen enemy. I will claim it. I will trust you to defeat the foe. Thank you Lord Jesus!

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