Spiritual Warfare 101: Reaping What We Sow, Part 1

Spiritual Warfare 101: Reaping What We Sow

Galatians 6:7-8

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Introduction:

Spiritual warfare is a fact of Christian life. Unfortunately, many Christians are unaware of the insidious nature of their enemy’s attacks. Only 50% or ordained Christian clergy believe that the devil is a real spiritual being. Evangelicals are unanimous about believing that the devil is a real spiritual being, but only 26% of non-evangelical born-again Christians and 15% of notional Christians believe the devil is a real spiritual being. More people believe in angels than demons.

Most people attribute much of the evil the devil is covertly orchestrating through human agents (pawns), to bad luck, to karma, to bad breaks. And when bad things happen they often call them “Acts of God” (hurricanes, tornados, floods, and earthquakes) supposing that God made them happen for some reason. When things go wrong in many peoples’ lives they blame others, rather than recognizing that what got them in trouble was actually their spiritual blindness, sinful attitudes, anger, addictions, reactions or similar human failings.

Theologians call this the “Human Condition.”Bluntly, it’s our sin nature.

As Paul tells us candidly in Romans 7:14-20, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

What does this passage say to you?

What trips you up most often?

 

 

 

How are you dealing with it?

 

 

How God's Kindom Comes to Earth

In practical terms we bring the Kingdom of God comes to earth as we do God’s will. God does indeed work in many sovereign ways. But he’s delegated much of what he could do instantly himself to train his sons and daughters to rule in his stead. Most of the time we’ll impact one life at a time as God leads us—sometimes we may impact many at one time as we obey him by doing his will. Here are some ways to bring the Kingdom to earth in you day to day journey,.

Love the Lost: Live to Love God and others. Stay humble by serving others.

 

 

Cultivate a passionate thirst to serve: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men (Ephesians 6:7).

 

Worship God through your service: I glory in Christ  Jesus in my service to God (Romans 15:17).

 

Discern your spiritual gifts and use them to bless the body of Christ: Now to each one the manifestation  of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through  the Spirit  the message of wisdom,  to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

Use your gifts for God’s glory: We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging,  let him encourage; if it is contributing  to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully (Romans 12:6-8).

How do you rate your walk with Jesus?

LEARNING FROM THE PACING OF JESUS' LIFE - So you will finish well and not burn out.

 Reflect on the following questions....

1. Jesus was secure in who He was, where He came from and where He was going – so He could serve others.  (John 13:1-5)

 How secure am I in who I am?

 How secure am I in where I came from?

How secure am I in where I am going—so I can serve others?

 2. Jesus did only what the Father was doing. (John 5:19-20)

 What am I doing that isn’t God’s will for my life?

 What is God asking me to do?

 3. Jesus was motivated by obedience, not driven by needs. (John 11:1-44)

What needs are driving my life?

How can I be motivated by obedience and not driven by needs?

 4. Jesus rested and spent time with His friends. (Mark 6:30-32)

 Do I strive too much to please God?

How can I balance rest and service?

 5. Jesus knew His vision could only be fulfilled, by multiplying His life within others through discipleship. (Matthew 28:18-20)

 How can I multiply my life by equipping others through discipleship?

How to Overcome Fear

How to Overcome the Spirit of Fear (From pages 93-95 in my book Don’t Be Surprised)

If you are prone to worry, fear and anxiety, the enemy will hit you with first person inner thoughts like, “we don’t have the money for this,” “I’m tired of waiting on God,” “I need to find a way out of this,” “What if I can’t find another job,” “I am out of my mind if I think I’ll find a Christian woman/man as ____________ [fill in the

blank] as she/he is.”

What possesses us NOT to trust in our loving Father’s best plans for our lives and relationships?

Why do we fear that God won’t come through for us as he does for others?

We are often fearful because others have let us down, betrayed us, used us, robbed us…The more “hurts” we’ve experienced, the more “hard” we become. That’s why cultivating intimacy with God is difficult for many Christians. They project their significant male or female role model’s negative behavior onto Father God.

If you’ve been wounded by an authority figure, your heart may have closed bit by bit until you came to trust no one but yourself. In shying away from intimacy with others you may be projecting rejection that eventually shuts you off from intimacy with everyone around you.

Fear of pain is a BIG hurdle to get over, but God can heal your wounds. He can also heal your memories and free you from self-condemnation and nagging guilt. It’s a lack of faith in God’s goodness that skews our vision about how to live the Christian life… Paul gives us God’s answer to our dilemma.

Let’s take a practical look at 2 Timothy 1:7 which we discussed briefly in the last chapter. Paul says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (nlt)”.

Do you hear what Paul is saying to you?

• God didn’t give you the spirit of fear!

• So if God didn’t give it to you it had to come from the devil.

• If it is from the devil it’s not God’s best for your life.

• Since God loves you completely he is more than willing to set you free from the spirit of fear.

• God does this by helping you to focus on what he has done for you, is doing in you and wants to do

through you.

• Understanding the power of the Holy Spirit within you liberates you from this oppression so you can:  Cultivate a sound mind that births self-discipline that leads to self-control. That will free you to deeply love God, yourself and others.

When you focus on what you have going for you, rather than on what’s coming against you, victory is close at hand. In Timothy’s case, Paul had to get a bit tough with him and tell him to grow up! He says to his spiritual son, “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:8b-9a).

Cultivating intimacy with Father God brings his presence into your heart in increasing measure. As you draw closer to him he fills you more and more with his presence. Fear has no foothold in a totally consecrated heart. Fear is literally displaced by love. In comes the love of God, out goes fear. When fear has no foothold in your heart, you are free to be all God wants for you. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

The Nuts and Bolts of Kingdom Service

What are the nuts and bolts of Kingdom service? (Adapted From Don’t Be Surprised, pages 81-82)

Sally and I believe every Christian is a precious son and daughter of Most High God. We live with the expectation that Father will make his will clear to us and his anointing available to us. Not long ago we flew to minister in five cities in eight weeks, and we ministered in many venues. Every trip had multiple God-arranged encounters with fellow travelers, wait staff, flight attendants, hotel personnel and many others. We spoke into many lives, prayed for healing and listened to their stories.

At a the Mobilization 2010 conference in in Colorado Springs we ministered God’s love to a sixteen year man old testified that God healed his chronic jaw and knee pain and a 70 year old said gentleman who said that God opened his left ear that hadn’t heard as sound for 60 years since a fire cracker shattered its inner workings.

We are in a time of spiritual acceleration. Mainline Christians are experiencing miracles just like our Pentecostal and charismatic brothers and sisters have for decades. Only God can heal miraculously, but the atmosphere of worship attracts God’s manifest presence and enhances anointing. We are seeing God do many other wonderful things in people’s lives—especially in third-world and Asian nations. This is the way every Christian can live if/when we make ourselves available to God in serving those around us. We become his voices, hands and hearts when we do his will for his glory. Amen!

God's power is available to every Christian!

God's power is available to every Christian.

In preparation for a sermon in Acts 1:8 God told me that, "The power of God, is available to the people of God, to achieve the purposes of God." That is awesome!!!!

Then God said,

Tell the people that I am in their midst. I am fully with them right now as I am in heaven. My full power is available to them. My full love is flowing from heaven to them—the river is deep and refreshing. Tell them I am for them and not against them. Tell them that I am moving in the miraculous. Let them know I am the fire of purging and the balm of healing broken hearts. I am their source of true life—full life—abundant life.

 Tell them that they are precious in my sight and I am their source of meaning and fulfillment. Tell them that I have plans to prosper them and employ them as Sons and Daughters to represent me and bring my Kingdom to those around them.

This is the message I have for them my son, “You are a precious generation for I have chosen you for great works of grace. Focus on my voice, listen carefully, for you will hear my voice if you quiet your heart and life and are willing to do what I ask of you. Will you seek me with all your heart? If so, I will bless you with joy and peace, opportunity and provision. Spread my love to those in need. Seek my Kingdom and I will magnify myself and honor you as well.” Agape, Alan

God is Concerened for His Church

God is ver concerened for his Church Worldwide..

The church has failed to heed my warning. too many chuurches are so focused on themselves that they has ignored the plight of the needy. Many institutions are more focused on internal problems than they are on the true mission of the church: preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, healing the sick and delivering the oppressed.

I say open your eyes to the poor and desperate. Open your hearts to the ones on life’s margins. Take to heart the plight of those in need. I want you to proclaim a message to the church. This is the message: Awaken from your slumber, people of God. Open your eyes and look around. Don’t you see the many that die for lack of warmth and lack of love? Do you see the longing in their eyes? Do you feel the pain in their hearts? Ignore them no longer. Reach out to them and love them in my name. Mobilize compassion. Take love to the streets. Bring life to the downtrodden. Release healing to the infirmed. For when you forsake the outcasts you forsake me.