EVIL STRONGHOLDS IGNORED WILL STRANGLE YOU TO DEATH!

Num 33:50-56  And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,  (51)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;  (52)  Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:  (53)  And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.  (54)  And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.  (55)  But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.  (56)  Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

The children of Israel have arrived at the plains of Moab overlooking the promised land and have finally come to the point in their long travels where they were  actually about to begin their conquest and possession of the land God promised to their fathers. Yahweh instructed Moses to speak to the people concerning their actions towards the inhabitants of the land.

Let me note that Israel never completely drove out all the inhabitants and what Yahweh warned them against actually occurred. 

If we are to make any progress with God we need to pay heed to what He tells us in His Word and follow His instructions.

1. Forward movement with God depends our willingness to challenge the enemy.
2. Forward movement with God depends on our readiness to do battle and win. 
3. Forward movement with God depends on our determination to win completely.
   

Therefore:

1. We need to recognize the extent of our heritage in Christ .
2. We need to recognize and identify the enemy encroaching on our territory.
3. We need to challenge and declare war against the enemy and win.

2Co 10:1-6  Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:  (2)  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.  (3)  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  (5)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  (6)  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In the Christian life our battle is not against our brothers or sisters and every time we take up arms against them and treat them as the enemy we are destined to lose, miserably so and bring horrible reproach on Christ and the church also bringing the Christian testimony into disrepute.

1.      We do not war against the flesh.

What does this mean? Our battle goes deeper than what we see with the physical senses. We should not be looking at our brother as the target but at the evil forces that are influencing him. We should not be carrying out an attack against our sister but against the demonic influences that control her speech and actions.

2.      We do not war in the flesh! 

What does this mean? It means we do not and cannot fight evil with our own human resources. We may be big and bad and want to look big bad and dangerous in the physical realm but in the eyes of the real enemy we just so much chopped liver... a mere grease stain on the floor until we awaken to the fact that we have  weapons that are mighty through God.

3.      We do not fight this fight with earthly weapons.

The best of your flesh is worst than the least of God! You might as well charge hell with a bucket of water than fight the enemy with fleshly weapons.

We are commanded to:

a.       pull down strongholds

b.      cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God

c.       make captives of every thought before they become expressed in words and drag them into alignment with the Word of Truth!

     

Heb 12:12-17  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;  (13)  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  (14)  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  (15)  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  (16)  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  (17)  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Hanging hands, feeble knees are signs of fatigue, infirmity or disease

Bitterness is like a horribly contagious disease that destroys its owner and every one it come into contact with

Bitterness loves company and will seek to drag down everyone with it!

Bitterness will contaminate anyone who entertains it in their life

Bitterness is a toxic poison

It is impossible to be bitter and still have close fellowship with the Lord!

Do not let a moment of fleshly weakness rob you of your eternal heritage!

Indulging in momentary fleshly satisfaction can result in a lifetime of regret and spiritual bankruptcy!

Bitterness loves the misery of others and indulges them through gossip.

Harboring bitterness results in an unforgiving spirit and creates an obscene nature that takes a delight in corrupting as many as possible.

Hag 2:11-14  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,  (12)  If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.  (13)  Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.  (14)  Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

Holiness does not rub off on to another! Evil does! Evil communication corrupts good manners. 

1Co 15:33-34  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  (34)  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Always consider what you are saying to whom you are saying it and what th end result would be not only to yourself and loved ones but to the souls for whom you have to give account to God

Do not let your tongue rule you and control you.    

We need to be careful of what we speak and to whom we speak it. there are certain things I would not discuss or speak about with my child. There are certain things I will not speak about to some adults and there are certain things I will speak to no one about but the LORD!

 Col 3:8-11  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  (9)  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  (10)  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:  (11)  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Unless we follow Christ in all His precepts and make diligent efforts to keep our WHOLE life clean we will not only become spiritual failures but we will also drag down most of the weaker ones we associate with and influence and we will give an account before God! So take over the whole of your life and consecrate it daily to God!

DIVISION OF LABOR AND PROMOTION OF FAITH

"And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." (Act 6:1-15)

GOD APPROVES DIVISION OF LABOR!
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (1Co 12:4-14)
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:7-16)

Preaching of the Word and Prayer should not be pushed into the background for anything.
The first sin and punishment mentioned is quickly followed by the first Christian martyr.

1.    Crisis and the need for creative solutions 
   a.    Community Crisis: And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. (Act 6:1)
It’s still not a perfect world!

  b.    Church Conference: Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Act 6:2-4)

   c.    Creative Consensus: And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. (Act 6:5-6)

2.    Credentials and qualifications necessary for "serving tables"!
  a.    From among you. The church always has appropriate members in the local body
  b.    Men: God still looks for men to stand up and be counted. Men who do not think themselves above this.
  c.    Of honest report. Not just self professing honesty but reported to be honest by the community...of honest report not just honest men but men who also   have an honest report from others...a very necessary qualification
  d.    Full of the Holy Ghost: The number 1 requirement of anyone thinking to serve God in any way
  e.    Full of wisdom: Wisdom is the principal thing so get wisdom  Being full of the Holy Ghost is no guarantee of being full of wisdom.

3.    Consistency in commitment to the work despite criticism
Stephen: an example of a man who treated his office seriously with honor and respect
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: (Act 6:5)
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Act 6:8)

In addition to being full of the Holy Ghost and Power Stephen is a man full of faith!
He was not just faithful to his duty but he was full of faith and as we observe in Acts 7 Stephen also knew the Scripture and the history of God's grace unto salvation through Jesus Christ!
It is important for us to understand that we are expected look to God for solutions to problems arising in the church.
We also to treat every office in the church as working for the glory of God. When it is for Him there is the proper perspective on our motivation.
There is dignity, honor and blessing in anything done for the glory of God!

“A man came across three masons who were working at chipping chunks of granite from large blocks. The first seemed unhappy at his job, chipping away and frequently looking at his watch. When the man asked what it was that he was doing, the first mason responded, rather curtly, “I’m hammering this stupid rock, and I can’t wait ’til 5 when I can go home.”
”A second mason, seemingly more interested in his work, was hammering diligently and when asked what it was that he was doing, answered, “Well, I’m molding this block of rock so that it can be used with others to construct a wall. It’s not bad work, but I’ll sure be glad when it’s done.”
”A third mason was hammering at his block fervently, taking time to stand back and admire his work. He chipped off small pieces until he was satisfied that it was the best he could do. When he was questioned about his work he stopped, gazed skyward and proudly proclaimed, “I…am building a cathedral!”
“Three men, three different attitudes, all doing the same job.”

EFFECTIVE WITNESSING THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST

Act 5:29-32 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.  (30)  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.  (31) Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  (32)  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

  

Jesus' command is that “ye shall be witnesses unto me" Acts 1:8. We will look at four statements drawn from this passage:

1.      OUR FIRST AND FOREMOST ALLEGIANCE IS TO GOD.

We are exhorted to obey governments and those in authority until that action comes in opposition to the will of God. Then we are required to obey God rather than men! Even the LORD was in subjection and learned obedience when He was on earth!

Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Act 4:19-20  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  (20)  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Heb 5:8-9 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  (9)  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

     

2.      BEING A WITNESS UNTO GOD IS REQUIRED IF WE WILL BE OBEDIENT TO GOD!

God expects us to be witnesses unto Him. We are so commanded! 

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

  

3.      IN ORDER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS UNTO HIM WE NEED THE HOLY GHOST.

It was Christ's specific command that the disciples await the coming of the Hoy Ghost! This work needs to be done in the power of the Spirit that the faith of men may rest not on the excellency of man's speech but on the power of God 

1Co 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  (2)  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  (3)  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  (4)  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  (5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

If we fail to fully depend on the the Holy Ghost then we have failed to present Christ properly for only the Holy Ghost can effectively open men's hearts to the truth and power of salvation. We can at the most appeal to the mind but it is the Holy Ghost that touches the heart with the Word. Faith cannot be conjured up but it comes by hearing the Spirit Anointed Word.

4.      THE HOLY GHOST IS A WITNESS TO THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF THE CHRIST.

Rom 1:1-4  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,  (2)  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)  (3)  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  (4)  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Are you obedient to God in His gospel? Then has given you the Holy Ghost!

Do you have the Holy Ghost?  Realize that He is the witness of everything from dawn of creation to present day and the future.

Need to be an effective witness? Let the Holy Ghost do His thing!

Depend on Him! Surrender to Him! Let Him control you! Let Him speak through you! Then He becomes the witness through you! As a result you speak with His authority! You walk in His truth! You work in His power! He gets the Glory! Souls pass into the kingdom! 

I remember sitting at the back of the Sunday School Class that Sunday morning on September 10, 1978. I previously had a serious night of arguing with God about my frustrations with what was going on and even questioning His faithfulness and interest in me and my leaning towards laying down arms and just giving up. I remember awaiting, in tense anticipation, the arrival of some lightning retribution for my perverse accusation. When it did not happen I was relieved but also miserable. I no longer felt as if I should go about the Lord’s business in that state of mind but I still did…in a mechanical sort of way.

So as I sat at the back of the class waiting the time for my address, I mechanically began to read in the Bible where I had previously left off…Acts 5. As my eyes followed verse 32 it hit me like a bolt of lightning. Like the gushing of an internal spring it overwhelmed me as I read the words  ...”and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him!” As the inner well flowed and inundated my spirit, soul and body, tears welled up as I finally received my Lord’s response!

He had given me the Holy Ghost…I knew that! And the Holy Ghost was a witness to everything…and He lived in me and I can be a witness without fear or uncertainty because it is no longer I but the Spirit in me. All I had to do was step back and let God be God in my life! Let the Holy Ghost do His thing. Be a witness in me… A witness to the ministry of Christ! …a witness to the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ! A witness to His ascension and glorification! He was A WITNESS from beyond creation in the past to beyond restoration in the future. It all was in Him and I did not have to struggle to witness unto Him. I just had to depend on Him!

HIS NAME THROUGH FAITH IN HIS NAME!

(Act 3:16)  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Act 2:21)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Act 2:38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

There is so much to say about the Name of Jesus that books have been written and books can be written without exhausting the wealth of information available on the Name.

We try to restrict ourselves to a few noteworthy points drawn from the miracle, message and meaning exposed to us in Acts 3 and 4 by Peter.

(Act 3:6)  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  

Peter had something he was able to give to the lame man.

He admitted that it was not by his own power or holiness.

He quickly pointed to the source of the healing miracle.

(Act 3:12)  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

1.      THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE LAME MAN.

a.       His expectations were ordinary.

b.      His expectations were natural

c.       His expectations were at a lower, accustomed level

2.      THE EXCLAMATION OF THE CROWD

a.       They had just witnessed the unexpected

b.      Their everyday normality was disturbed

c.       Their lives would never be the same again.

3.      THE EXAMINATION OF THE COUNCIL

a.       They were astonished at this display of power.

b.      They were disturbed at the reaction of the people

c.       They were perplexed and in anxiety about the consequences

4.      THE EXPLANATION OF THE MIRACLE

a.       The denial by Peter of any personal power or holiness.

b.      The direction of attention away from themselves

c.       The declaration of the real reason for the miracle

 (Act 4:7)  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Their answer was by the name of Jesus and by Him alone

(Act 4:10)  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

No other name but the name of Jesus can bring Salvation

(Act 4:12)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

THE BELIEVER AND THE NAME OF JESUS!

The name of Jesus is not a talisman, or a good luck charm. The Name is not to be treated lightly. It must be remembered that this Name packs behind it all the authority in heaven and in earth and earth may be limited but heaven is unlimited!

As already stated by many writers and drawn from the Word of God, Jesus obtained His name by Inheritance, by Conquest and it was bestowed upon Him by the Father.

1.      BY INHERITANCE

Heb 1:1-4  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  (2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  (3)  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;  (4)  Being made so much better than the angels, as HE HATH BY INHERITANCE OBTAINED A MORE EXCELLENT NAME THAN THEY.

2.     BY BESTOWAL

Php 2:5-11  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  (6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  (8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (9)  Wherefore GOD ALSO HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, AND GIVEN HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

3.     BY CONQUEST

Eph 1:16-23  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;  (17)  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  (18)  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  (19)  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  (20)  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  (21)  FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, NOT ONLY IN THIS WORLD, BUT ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME:  (22)  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,  (23)  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Col 2:6-15 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  (8)  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  (9)  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  (10)  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  (11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  (12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  (13)  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (15)  AND HAVING SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, HE MADE A SHEW OF THEM OPENLY, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT.

Note that the principalities and powers that we wrestle against are the same Jesus defeated and is above. They are under the feet of His Body which is the church…which is you and I.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Col 1:9-18  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  (10)  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  (11)  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;  (12)  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  (13)  WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, AND HATH TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON:  (14)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  (15)  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  (16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

As noted we have been delivered from the authority of the enemy. We are no longer subjected to his rule. We have been given the name of Jesus to use. That Name has all the authority of heaven and earth behind it. When you stand in His name against the powers of darkness be aware that you are clothed in authority from His throne. Be aware that His Name carries weight and irresistible power. Be aware that He gave you permission to use His name.

A police officer is nothing by himself as a human being but when backed by the law and authority of the whole USA he becomes a force to be reckoned with. The authority that you have is greater. The Roman centurion recognized this when he compared the authority he had with the authority of Jesus.

Luk 7:1-10  Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.  (2)  And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.  (3)  And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.  (4)  And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:  (5)  For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.  (6)  Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:  (7)  Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.  (8)  For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  (9)  When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  (10)  And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

It caused Jesus to marvel! A Gentile had recognized the authority and Jesus placed the reason directly on the man’s faith! It takes faith to recognize this authority! It takes faith to act on this authority! It takes faith to accomplish anything by this authority. And as the Word says in Romans 10:17 SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.

Not by some tear jerking sentimental song or story but by the Word of God.

Not by some preacher’s reputation but by the Word of God

So let us saturate ourselves prayerfully in the Word of God. Let it seep through our very being, the fabric of our whole man. Believe His Word and in believing we will act on it. This authority cannot be bought or sold not cannot be traded for anything. It comes by the Holy Ghost saturated Word of God made effective by fervent prayer!

Act 4:29-31  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  (30)  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  (31)  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

ONWARD! UPWARD! MAY WE EVER GO!

ONWARD! UPWARD! MAY WE EVER GO!

The chorus for 'The Song Of Guyana's Children' goes like this

Onward, upward, may we ever go

Day by day in strength and beauty grow,

Till at length we each of us may show,

What Guyana’s sons and daughters can be.

There is a message in it for the Children of God's Kingdom!

Do we find ourselves dwelling in the past and what it used to be? Do we find ourselves comparing what is now to what it was before. Do we long for the "good old days" when life was predictable with no challenges? 

God does not want you to dwell on your failures.

God does not want you to dwell in the past

God expects you to move on with Him.

There are people who are always moving but getting nowhere and there are people who seem not to go anywhere but keep making gigantic strides in the right direction with God.

Abundance of activity is not indicative of progress! 

Stop singing about the way we were..rather start singing we're marching on.

Every time Israel came face to face with an obstacle they began reminiscing of the way they were back in Egypt! They seemed to have forgotten

the unceasing labor, 

the taskmaster's whip,

the constant male infanticide, 

their lower class slave status 

and their constant groaning and crying out to God for deliverance.

They subsequently incurred the displeasure of God because of their unbelief. 

Remember what the Word says? "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb 11:6)

The song says it all "the more I seek you the more I find you". 

Jesus said seek and you shall find (Mat 7:7).

God who knows your heart knows the difference between earnest seeking and a half hearted search! The search can take a long time and necessitates the dying of the unbelieving self life until the new nature in Christ asserts itself and move onward...upward to victory.

In review it is noted that: 

1. The blessing of God was on their lives in Egypt Ex 1:7
2. They grew and prospered mightily Ex. 1:7
3. The Pharaoh and his people became afraid Ex 1:9,10
4. The Pharaoh made them slaves Ex 1:11-14
5. Taskmasters afflicted them  Ex 1:11-14
6. Male infanticide was ordered. Ex 1:15-22
7. They cried to God for release from bondage Ex 2:23
8. They were heard and God sent a deliverer...Moses. Ex 2:24,25; 3:1-10

Things appeared to become worse after Moses appeared, sent as deliverer to Israel by Yahweh. They blamed the deliverer Moses for this! Yet Moses was obeying God!!!

When they left Egypt they became:

THE COMPLAINING DEPARTMENT!!!

1. THEY COMPLAINED AT THE RED SEA!

(Exo 14:11)  And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? (Exo 14:12)  Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. God delivered them without they having to fight  

2. THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT BITTER WATER

Exo 15:22-24  So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

(23)  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. (24)  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? God sweetened the water for them

  

3. THEY COMPLAINED FOR BREAD

(Exo 16:3)  And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. God provided manna   

4. THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT PRIVILEGES AND LEADERSHIP

Num 16:1-5  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: (2)  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: (3)  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? (4)  And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: (5)  And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. God got rid of the dissenters 

  

5. THEY COMPLAINED FOR WATER

(Exo 17:3)  And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? God provided water from the rock   

6. THEY COMPLAINED WHEN MOSES DID NOT SHOW UP

(Exo 32:1)  And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. (Exo 32:4)  And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

God began punishing them. God now retaliates!   

7. THEY JUST COMPLAINED!!!

Num 11:1  And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.  More punishment!  

8. THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT FOOD VARIETY

(Num 11:5)  We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: (Num 11:18)  And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. (Num 11:20)  But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? God gave them flesh and smote them with a plague in the process.  

 

9. THE COMPLAINED ABOUT MOSES'S WIFE AND MOSES AS A LEADER

Num 12:1-4 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. (2)  And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.(3)  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) (4)  And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.  God spat in Miriam's face  

10. THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT GIANTS AND OBSTACLES

(Num 14:2)  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! (Num 14:3)  And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? (Num 14:4)  And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. They were soundly trashed by the enemy.

(Num 14:22)  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;  

 

11. THEY COMPLAINED FOR WATER AGAIN

Num 20:1-3(1)  Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of    Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.(2)  And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.(3)  And the people chode   with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

(Num 20:5)  And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.  Moses suffered as a result   

12. THEY COMPLAINED AGAIN ABOUT THE BREAD

(Num 21:5)  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.  God sent fiery serpents among them.

 Because of their unbelief the children of Israel were sentenced to death by Divinely Ordained Compulsive Wandering Syndrome! The old nature will never break out of that cycle. Therefore it must be put to death in order that the new may arise up to its victorious destiny.

When they tried to act on their own and break out, they were soundly beaten and chased right back into the wandering cycle. As recorded in Numbers 14: "And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah." (Num 14:39-45)

You can always expect a sound trashing from the enemy when you move presumptuously without God!  

However in the years of wandering something marvelous was happening. The weak, unbelieving, sniveling, complaining grumbling crowd was being slowly transformed into a fighting fit unit as every corpse of unbelief dropped off one by one in the wilderness.

The beaten down mentality of the subdued slave gave way to a freedom loving, forward looking people who were no longer subjected to the victim mentality that God hated so intensely. It may have seemed as though nothing was happening but slowly and surely one corpse at a time God was stripping away the old nature and outfitting them anew for the Onward and Upward journey! 

Ah! The Wilderness Crisis...it breaks you and remakes you! We need to get rid of the victim mentality, the naming and blaming and self indulging misery of the past and move ever onward and upward to our God Ordained Goal. 

Like Paul I am "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you." (Php 3:13-15)

  

1. The old Israel was completely conformed to Egypt: The new Israel was completely  transformed. 
2. The old Israel was always looking backward: the new Israel was forward looking 
3. The old Israel moved in circles on constant old ground: the new Israel march onward to new territory
4. The old Israel could not possess the promises: the new Israel moved into the Promised Land
5. The old Israel carries too much baggage around: the new Israel is not restricted by the past

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  (Rom 12:1-2)

Before transformation can occur death must take place.

In conforming to the world you become squeezed into an uncomfortable mold.

In transformation you experience renewal and expansion from within.

Expansion and victories are limited to the extent we limit God.

anakainōsis Gk

 This Greek term in its various forms (anakainoō, anakainizō) has two basic meanings.
1. “to cause something to become new and different (i.e., better)” – Rom. 12:2; Col. 3:10
2. “to cause a change to a previous preferable state” – II Cor. 4:16; Heb. 6:4-6
       (taken from Louw and Nida’s Gree k-English Lexicon, vol. 1, pp. 157, 594)
       Moulton and Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament, say that this term (i.e., anakkainōsis) cannot be found in Greek literature earlier than Paul. Paul may have coined this term himself (p. 34).

   Frank Stagg, New Testament Theology, has an interesting comment.
“Regeneration and renewal belong to God alone. Anakkainōsis, the word for “renewal,” is an action noun, and it is employed in the New Testament, along with verb forms, to describe a continuing renewal, as in Romans 12:2, ‘Be ye transformed according to the renewing of your mind’ and 2 Corinthians 4:16, ‘Our inward man is being renewed day by day.’ Colossians 3:10 describes the ‘new man’ as ‘the one being renewed unto thorough knowledge according to the image of the one having created him.’ Thus the ‘new man,’ the ‘newness of life,’ the ‘regeneration,’ or ‘renewal,’ however designated, is traced to an initial act and a continuing act of God as the giver and sustainer of eternal life” (p. 118).

(http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/renew.html) 

Being an action noun Renewed (renovation) implies a continuous effort to tear down and build up. We tear down that which is unlike Christ. We build ourselves up on the most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost. We make a constant examination of our lives like a conscientious home  owner who regularly examines his home for signs of wear and need for repair. He does not sit down and  allow it to fall to pieces but is constantly inspecting, examining, fixing things and replacing worn out and broken fixtures. The statement, Let a man examine himself takes on new meaning: 2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Our lives for God is meant to be active. Nothing is accomplished by passivity. Serving in the  kingdom requires active attendance to doctrine.

Paul advised Timothy in 1Ti 4:12-16  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  (13)  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  (14)  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.  (15)  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  (16)  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

So let us heed the command to turn to the Lord and yield to His Spirit in order that we "... all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2Co 3:18)