Sunday, 21 June 2009

WAR ZONE (PT TWO)

1 Chronicles 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
Issachar – The meaning of this name is “he will bring a reward. God expects every father, every leader and potential leader to bring a reward to him that will glorify him. He has not called us to be failures or losers. The bible says he has given us everything that pertains to life and Godliness 2Pet.1:3. That is why Moses could sing to the Lord that he has caused us to triumph gloriously. Exodus 15:1.
• Understanding – to separate mentally, to distinguish, be cunning, diligently, deal wisely, be prudent (Strong’s Heb998). They had the ability to discern and to strategise.
• Times – seasons, what’s going on these days and times.
• Know - to know or ascertain by seeing. The Hebrew word know in this verse is yada, which is a word that means God gives the personal understanding and revelation, and is not a knowing that comes from reading a book for example. This comes by having an intimate relationship with God.
These are people of leadership potential who have a cunning mind, able to mentally distinguish between that which is wise and unwise. They diligently pursue the understanding needed to live well before the Lord. Issachar men and women receive understanding from the Lord Himself, because they know God in an intimate manner. Because they are wise and prudent, Issachar’s are able to perceive and seize opportune times of success and wealth. They are able to lead their families through all the trials and fiery darts of the enemy and take them to a successful end.

These are men that will lead their troops through thick and thin. They will face every giant that comes their way. These are men who will walk by faith and not by sight. They are ready, with the help of God, to conquer anything the devil will use as a stumbling block against them.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Do not let the failures of today cause you to take the wrong decisions because these are temporal, God’s successes are ahead of you. If you fail today, try again you will succeed.
When Moses sent the twelve spies into the Promised Land, 10 came to report of what they saw, but Joshua and Caleb gave their report by what was discerned. Even though they saw these men as giants, they refused to let what they were seeing affect their faith. They held on to what the Lord hard said unto them. They were more than able to overcome these giants. God could use situations and circumstances to overcome these giants.
These are men who will look beyond the giants facing them and the challenges of today to see what God has planned for them and fight for them. We need to gather enough faith to face the giants of today. We need to stand strong and overcome every fiery dart of the enemy.
These are not men who will sit at the same place and go through the same problem year in year out but they are willing to take risks and steps of faith. The four crazy lepers said, why sit we here till we die?
One major thing a lot of believers do not realize is the fact that we cannot do it with our strength. But with God on our side all things are possible.
How does one become a son of Issachar?
1. Issachar: Being someone who brings a reward to God i.e. everything you do must be to his glory. It means fathers must lead their families the way God has ordained it to be and not the way this world culture demands. Fathers must do everything to protect their families from becoming one of the casualties. Leaders must lead in the way God expects them to lead so that it will be to his glory. It is not by their strength but they allow God to show how mighty he is through them.
2. Understanding of the times: We need discernment more than ever. We should be able to discern between good and evil and be able to discern the plans and traps of the enemy so that we can avoid being ambushed by the devil. We must see what his plans are even before he makes his first move. We must also be able to discern what is happening spiritually in this season and be able to deal with it in the way God wants us to do.
3. To know: We must have a personal understanding of what we have to do in any situation and circumstance. This comes by virtue of our experience in walking with God in obedience and an intimate relationship with God. It does not come by reading a book but by our waiting on God and on studying his word. It comes from a personal relationship with God.
4. Their brethren were at their commandment: Out of that intimate relationship with God, their words carried a lot of authority and power which provided them with the ability to lead. Their followers had the confidence that these will lead them in the right direction. Their families could trust them that they will not fail them. They carry everyone along with them, play as a team and therefore are winners.

There is a story of two farmers who desperately needed rain and both of them prayed for rain but only one of them went out and prepared his field to receive it. Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain?
As you have learnt today and you pray about this, go prepare your family and your team you are leading for the rain is coming.

WAR ZONE (PT ONE)

In a war zone, being a leader comes with a lot of responsibility. The lives of all the members of your troop are in your hands. As you go through the unchartered territory occupied by the enemy, a leader of the troop has to look out for snipers on roof tops and trees, you have to look out for booby traps, you have make sure that you are not taking your troop into an ambushment.
Whole battalions have been wiped out because the leader failed in his duty. Your duty is to go through that territory, smash the enemy and come out with all members of your troop unscathed. What you command, say or do will get your troop out alive or wipe them out. Your leadership will make a difference in the lives of your troop and their family.

Now there is a new war going on in the world, you are still the leader of your troop but this time, the troop is made up of members of your family. Your wife and your children are following you in this war zone. The decisions you take will either let your family come out unscathed or will wipe out your family. The devil has declared war on all families in the world. You are leading your family and the future of your family depends on the decisions taken by the father today.
The devil has declared war on leaders in ministry and how you lead your team will determine the outcome. There are many potential leaders and fathers who have been crashed even before they started. There are many who have been destroyed midway as they were climbing up. Whether you like it or not there is war in the atmosphere and you will have to win the war in order to lead your people to where God has planned for them.
The culture of the world today is being used as a weapon of the enemy to fight the family and leaders of this generation.
Ephesians 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.
The plan is threefold. To separate the husband from the wife either physically or emotionally, to separate the father from the children either emotionally or physically and to neutralize the leader or make him ineffective. Look at this statistics;
1. A young man is murdered every week. This has turned the young women into widowed virgins. Every person killed is someone’s future husband.
2. One out of two marriages is ending in divorce.
3. The median age for divorce is 34 for men and 30 for women
4. One out of every five households is maintained by a woman with no husband present.
5. Thousands of teenage girls will get pregnant out of wedlock because they seek to fill the emotional gap left by their fathers from men who show them affection and end up impregnating them.
6. Several of these girls will abort the baby
7. Many young people are into drugs, and crime today because there is no father figure at home.
Lamentations 5:7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
What will you do to save your family from this casualty list? What are you doing to keep your children from the casualty list? God is looking out for men who will stand up to their responsibility and not allow the enemy to have his own way. God is looking for men who will stand up and lead. He is looking for people who will stand up and not allow their families to go through this.
In the church the devil tries to neutralize the influence of the leader, i.e. the pastor or leader of a department by financial impropriety, sexual immorality, by unproven rumors or by members undermining his authority. He uses the fear of failure to neutralize a lot of potential leaders. If you do it and you fail, try again.
God is looking for people who have an understanding of the times and seasons to go through this war zone.

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

MAINTAINING YOUR DELIVERANCE

Many come for deliverances and for some reason, the demons come back because of lack of knowledge. God has promised us that if I by the finger of God set you free, then you shall be free indeed. So today I will share a few thoughts on how to maintain your deliverance. One thing we have to understand is that deliverance is a process. The one that takes place here is only the foundation which Pastor does it for you. The rest is the one which you will have to do on your own and no one can do that for you.
A. Don’t break the hedge
Ecclesiastes 10:8 “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him”. The protection of God is around us and that when we break the hedge, then we allow the enemy to come in and hurt us.
We do this by;
1. Luke 11:24-26 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

That is to say do not return to your old life style.

Submit yourself to God. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”.
This happens by starting a diligent Bible sturdy 2Tim.2:15 and prayer life, let Biblical principles be your principles and abide by them and lastly seek the will of God in everything you do.

2. Put on the whole armour of God. Ephesians 6:11-18 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints –
This scripture must be an active part of your life.

3. Flee from temptations: 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to 1 man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also 2 make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
This tells us that temptation is common to mankind and we are able to resist. Our problem - we don't take the escape route! 1Cor.10:14, 1Peter 5:8.


B. Guard the gates of your heart and mind.
1. Discipline your mind and life according to God's directions. You are responsible for the use of your mind and the actions of your life (II Cor. 10:5). You are responsible for what comes into your heart.
Our mind is the best entry way that satan has and therefore we always have to guard the gates to our mind. We have to cast down every negative imaginations and anything that tries to compete with God in our minds and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Fight against fleshly appetites daily (Gal. 5:19-21, 24). Don't return to old sinful friends or places or old thought life (I Cor. 5:7).
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not 1 carnal, but mighty through 2 God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, 1, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2. Controlling your mind is your responsibility Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things 2 are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
3. Use the Word of God against evil thoughts and demonic attack . Jesus did this at His temptation. When demons come back to attack or tempt you, take authority over them in the name of Jesus Christ. Immediately begin to tell them about Jesus' death and resurrection which were done for you (Matt. 4:4,7 & 10).

DRIFTING - One other very successful wile of Satan is drifting. Christians gradually drift from neing in line with God. We in London are loosing our God given freedom gradually. Satanism is moving in on us gradually.
We get into trouble gradually: too much T.V., too much food, too much self indulgence. Soon we are addicted and have become something we never thought we'd become.
I Cor. 10:21-22 You cannot drink the Lord's cup and demon's cup. You cannot partake of the Lord's table and demon's table.
Many times we try to partake of both and find that we indeed cannot serve two masters. A Christian cannot serve two masters and we will find ourselves gradually drifting away from God and maybe wilfully giving up our salvation in the end.
Most of our entertainment today goes back to the ancient pagan worship of gods and goddess': all acts of perverted sex, sports from Olympia, demonic music from old music used in old pagan temple worship, the use of drugs for temple worship also. .
Let the scripture mould you, correct you, and refine you. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the 1 man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
C. When you fail get up and start over, remember you may be knocked down but not knocked out (Rom. 6:16, 12:21; II Cor. 4:8).
D. Don't fear demons; be consistent and fearless against them. Remember no demon gets into anyone who has not given ample ground for its entry (Phil. 1:28).
E. Clean out the home you live in. There should not be anything in your house that calls demons. Ask the Lord to guide you to things in your home that displease Him. Be sure and check out all your jewelry. Deuteronomy 7:26 - 8:1 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
Acts 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it 1 fifty thousand pieces of silver.
F. Fellowship with other Christians (Heb. 10:25).
G. Maintain an attitude of gratitude and praise to God for all His blessings (Deut. 28:47-48).
H. Maintain a loving attitude even to your human enemies (Matt. 5:44-46).

This is the most important part of deliverance. We can spend all the time casting out demons but maintaining your deliverance is your part and no one can do this part for you. You have to maintain your own deliverance; it is the hardest part of deliverance. You will have to change your mindset, the way you think, and you and you alone will have to change the way you act. You will have to study and obey the Word of God. It's not a matter of how much you read the Bible but how much you obey it's precepts.