Opening Text: 1 Pet. 5:5-10, Eph 6:10:13
1 Pet. 5:5-10
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves
to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed
with humility, for
“God
resists the proud,
But
gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty
hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares
for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing
that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to
His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect,
establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Eph. 6:10-13
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the
Lord and in the power of His might.
11 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.
Go over
dream I had.
How do we CAST all our CARE on Him?
Prayer.
God
was showing me that victory in the natural world requires triumph in the
spiritual.
You
can’t carry what you are trying to carry.
You
and I are called to fight our enemy in prayer.
Your
DESTINY, your purpose and SOULS are hanging in the balance.
David
was told to PURSUE, OVERTAKE AND RECOVER ALL when the enemy stole his family
and his stuff.
I’m
looking for some people who are going to go into the enemy’s camp and get back
your STUFF! All of heaven is with
us.
It’s
time we learn to release and unleash spiritual weapons of mass destruction
against our adversary.
This
spiritual attack of prayer by CASTING all your CARE on Him.
Resisting
him by standing in faith through prayer
It’s
about getting your career back, it’s about rekindling your marriage, it’s about
a healthy relationship with your children and to get back every promise you
have lost.
So
like natural fighting, spiritual warfare demands training and strategy. (ZIKLAG)
Warriors
who reclaim stolen things place a high value on certain feelings like anger,
loss, and grief.
Like David at Ziklag, angry at the loss
of a promise.
Do
you grieve over your unhealthy marriage, your failing job or your broken
relationship with your children?
If
your LOSS does not bother you enough to fight for it THEN you will just shrug
your shoulders and say, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.”
But that IS A MISTAKE.
A
lifestyle of faith is NOT passive!
True biblical faith RESISTS the DEVIL.
It
infuses you with courage that empowers you to declare to the enemy of your soul,
“I’m mad and I’m not going to take it anymore.” WHO AM I TALKING TO?
A
great champion once said, “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they
have deep inside them – A DESIRE, A DREAM, A VISION.”
It’s
time for you and I to reclaim areas of our lives that have been damaged and
lost through SIN and SPIRITUAL NEGLECT!
Listen again to 1 Pet. 5:10
But may the
God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you
have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
PERFECT – Appropriate condition, establish,
prepare, mend
ESTABLISH – to set fast, steadfast in mind
STRENGTHEN – from sickness and lack by making
STRONG
SETTLE – by the foundation
YOU!
Whether you know it or not, as a Christian, you are
already engaged in spiritual warfare regardless of your level of participation.
If you just sit on the sidelines you’re NOT a
spectator, you’re a casualty.
So arm
yourself with the Word and fight.
Yours for Revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
