2024-09-08_Sunday 1st Service;The Battle is the Lord's: By Rev. Dr. Simon Mwangi, PBC Associate Pastor

We shall now read the scriptures, psalm chapter 46.

Psalms 46 · chapter mention

If you find it, stand up so that we read together Psalm chapter 46, verse 1 to 11.

Psalms 46 · chapter mention

This is a great psalm.

It says the following God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, present help in trouble.

Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Though its waters roll and form and the mountains quake with their surging, there is a river whose streams make glad, the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, and I like verse 5.

God is within her.

She will not fall.

God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in a prowl.

Kingdoms fall.

He lifts his voice.

The earth melts.

The Lord Almighty, el Shaddai, the Lord Almighty is with us.

The God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

Verse 9,.

I want us to read this one together.

He makes war cease to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.

He burns the shield with fire.

He says be still and know that I am God.

I'll be exalted among the nations.

I'll be exalted in the earth.

The Lord Almighty is with us.

The God of Jacob is our fortress Father.

In the name of Jesus, I want to thank you for the reading of this song, or this psalm, or this poem, psalm 46.

Thank you, lord, for the inspiration and power that comes just by reading and also hearing the reading of this poem.

My father, as I do, a father expose of the text.

I pray that your spirit would rest upon me and that, god, you would come through and speak to us, the congregation that is gathered here in person and the congregation that is following this service online around the world, and we bless, my God, those who are here and those who are following the service online, wherever they may be.

And therefore, god, take your position In Jesus' name.

We pray Amen, we may have our seats.

This month is a month of open door, as we can read there, advancement, uplifted kingdom, warfare, and I want to say that God wants us to make progress, but we have an adversary who doesn't want us to make progress, and that is why progress is not a walk in the park.

Advancement or progress is never a walk in the park, whether it's business or career or personal development or marriage and relationship, whichever area of life that we desire to make progress or just get to the next mark and the next mark, we find that it is never, never easy.

However, from God's side, the okay has been granted through what is called the open door.

God told Joshua, everywhere you step, I have given to you, in other words, when he spoke, that God was speaking prophetically over Joshua and speaking regarding his destiny and regarding his future and regarding his future.

And then he says Joshua, now, on the basis of this prophecy, begin to move Everywhere you step.

I have given to you.

We all know that Joshua did step forward after Moses passed on, but we also know that there are battles along the way that he had to face and therefore, it is important for us to know that the door is open, the progress is guaranteed, but there is also warfare that comes along the way, and the goal of this, the objective of this warfare, is actually to stop you.

There is one, the adversary.

In John, chapter 10, verse 10, the Bible says the thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy, but Jesus came that we might have life or have it abundantly, and the adversary wants to cut short people's destinies.

John 10:10

God has a good destiny for you and for me.

When you read Jeremiah 29, verse 11, the Bible says God says I know the plans I have for you and for me.

Jeremiah 29:11

When you read Jeremiah 29, verse 11, the Bible says God says I know the plans I have for you.

Jeremiah 29:11

There are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a hope and a future.

This is a statement from God, from God's desk.

He's saying I know and I have a plan.

God has a plan.

You may not have a plan.

God has a plan and he describes that plan.

And God says I want to grant you this kind of destiny.

And so God has a destiny and God has an intention, a good intention and good plan for every individual on planet earth.

But then there is an adversary, there is an enemy who doesn't want you to make progress, and that is where this title comes from Open door advancement, uplifted kingdom, warfare.

And so we need to understand, as long as we're in this planet, that we shall engage in warfare and the violent take their territory by force.

Did you hear what I said?

The violent take their territory by force and therefore Joshua will take territory.

There is no question about it, because God has prophesied over his life.

However, as he makes this progress, he will get moments when he'll have to engage battles.

God knows that we are here, god knows that you are there, god knows that you're in that situation.

God understands and that is why he appears as God the warrior.

And even as we go through this month and the subject that we are handling, there are some names of God, I think that are very, very important, because in warfare, the focus is not really on the devil and what the devil is doing.

The focus really ought to be on God, who is more than able.

God is creator, satan is creature, and there is no way you can compare the creator and the creature.

Yes, and so the focus must remain on God, who is able and who is powerful.

El Shaddai is a good name to begin to focus on, even as we go on In Psalm 24 and verse 8.

Psalm 24, verse 8, celebrating El Shaddai.

Psalms 24:8

Who is this king of glory?

The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord strong in battle.

He is almighty, and I want us to know and understand that our God is big, bigger than the devil.

In fact, there is no comparison in terms of how many times, pastor Regan, you cannot even.

There is no factor to be able to compare.

The devil is a little thing like this, but he makes so much noise you think he's everywhere.

Let me tell you something else about the devil.

The devil is not omnipresent.

In understanding the theology of God and the teaching about the devil in the Bible, the devil is not omnipresent.

In other words, he's short of resources.

He cannot be everywhere at the same time.

In fact, the angels that followed Satan or Lucifer were just one third.

The rest two thirds stayed with God.

And no wonder the Bible says those who are for us are more than those who are against us.

Two-thirds.

There are two angels.

For every single demon there are two angels and therefore there is no way you can lose any battle.

The devil is not.

He's short on resources, he's not omnipresent.

Only God is omnipresent.

The devil is not omniscient.

By the way, the devil is not all-knowing, he's not omniscient.

The devil is limited in terms of knowledge and some people get scared.

They say I think the devil will know where I am, where I hide, you know where I'm hiding and all that.

Let me trash that kind of thinking.

You know and teaching.

He's very short in terms of knowledge.

And also, the devil is not omnipotent.

Only God is all powerful.

And so, as we approach warfare, as we seek to make progress, let us have the mindset of Joshua, where God introduces himself to Joshua so that he can wage war.

And today, even as I'm sharing, I am just beginning at the threshold of warfare, which is usually the understanding of who God is.

And Psalm 26 is a celebration of this God, who is in the midst of the city.

And because he is in the midst of this city, this city is not falling.

And I want to declare to somebody here Emmanuel, god, with you, you will not fall, you will make progress and you will not fall.

Is somebody connecting with this?

Yes, you will not fall in Jesus' name.

So, el Shaddai, god Almighty, the other name of God I would like you to keep at the back of your minds as we do this Sunday and next Sunday is El Gibor.

El Gibor, the mighty warrior.

You know the God who gives us conquest.

El Gibor, e-l-g-i-b-b-o-r.

The mighty warrior.

And then I would also want you to take note of Jehovah Sabaoth, lord of hosts.

Jehovah Sabaoth, he's a commander of the heavenly armies.

This is the God we need to know as we hand over the battle to him.

When we say the battle is the Lord's, I have been inspired by 1 Samuel 17 verse 47 for this title, although my text is Psalm 46.

1 Samuel 17:47

Give me 1 Samuel 17 verse 47.

1 Samuel 17:47

The battle is the Lord's.

This is what David said Facing Goliath.

He made a prophetic proclamation and declaration.

And I declare victory over your lives, hallelujah In Jesus name.

It's always good to declare victory before it happens.

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves.

The battle is the Lord's, and that's the title of the sermon today.

The battle is the Lord's.

And David, because the battle is the Lord's, he goes on to say go back a bit, just a little bit, yeah.

He goes on to say go back a bit, just a little bit.

He goes on to say on the basis of that declaration and he, you know you have to continue the sentence and he will give all of you into our hands, because the battle is the Lord's Then God grants you total and complete victory.

So the progress that we so desire is going to happen and I want to declare again here that you will go to the next level.

I know there is contestation regarding your elevation, there is contestation regarding your promotion, there is contestation regarding your growth to the next level.

But I declare here, because the battle is the Lord's you will rise to that next level, that promotion will happen, that increase is coming in your direction.

And you know, jabez realized that he needed to do warfare through prayer, because you do warfare through prayer, warfare through scripture declarations, you know, warfare through holy living, and there are different ways of doing warfare Jabez recognized and realized is that he was in warfare and that is why his destiny was trapped in a capsule and he could never make any progress.

And in 1 Chronicles, chapter 4, verse 9 and 10, he discovered the power of prayer for him to break through and he prayed a short prayer and he said Jabez was more unravelled than his brothers.

1 Chronicles 4:9

His mother had named him Jabez, saying I gave birth to him in pain.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel and I know somebody is going to capture warfare, prayer and warfare, praying from here.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel.

It's to God, to God.

You know All that you would bless me before I go there.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel that All that you would bless me.

Before I go there, jabez cried out to the God of Israel.

That is reference to the covenant, and it is reference to the covenant coming from Abraham and coming all the way down.

And Jabez, as he's doing this warfare prayer, he is conscious or cognizant of the covenant stipulations and covenant promise and covenant destiny that is granted to every covenant child, every person who draws flows from Abraham.

And now to Jesus Christ and all of us who are here, who are believers, let me say this God has put amazing things in store for us and we must get there.

You know the Bible says what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived.

God has done what Prepared for those who love him and I declare we shall get there.

Now look at Jabez, who knows when you're a covenant child and you're not making progress, and he knows how to begin to make this progress.

He cried out the God of Israel that's a covenant reference oh that you would bless me.

In warfare prayer for progress, the blessing is the gate and the door.

And you say, my God, oh that you would bless me.

And if we are to do a further study of, oh, god that you would bless me.

We would go to Deuteronomy 28, verse 1 up to verse 13.

Deuteronomy 28:1

We would list 15 covenant promises.

So when he's saying, oh, that you would bless me, and if you're going to make progress in your life, every curse needs to be broken in Jesus name.

And therefore, when you pray, oh God, that you would bless me, a lot of divine activity begins to happen right there and God begins to free you and to release you for progress.

Oh God that you would bless me.

But then he goes to the second level of this kind of warfare prayer and he said now, my father, enlarge my territory.

And you know, it's amazing when you begin to say to invite God's power into all those blockages, just like I shared from Zechariah, chapter 4 and verse 7, where Zechariah tells Zerubbabel, oh, zerubbabel, this mountain you see before you, it has stopped your progress, it's going to be turned into level ground.

Zechariah 4 · chapter mention

When you pray this prayer that you'd expand my territory, let's go back to the Jabez prayer.

You know the prayer of Jabez.

When you get to that level of expand my territory, I'm telling you there is power that is released and that power begins to work in all those corners and things that have been pushed in your path and complications and therefore you don't have to refer to any human being.

You have access directly to God and therefore the God of the covenant, and you begin to talk to him and then you invoke the blessing of God upon your life, enlarge my territory, and then let your hand be with me.

That is, hold my hand, psalms 23,.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in one.

He guides me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul and you say hold my hand and then keep me from harm.

That is a prayer of protection that I'll be free from pain.

And Jabez really, really knows how to release himself from that space where he wasn't making progress to the place where he needs to make progress.

And so Psalm 46 is a gift to us in our time and in our day, and it's an amazing, amazing celebration of God who breaks through for us.

And today, as I share, my prayer is that we will be able to get to this place where we can truly, from our hearts, say the battle in my life is no longer mine.

I cannot fight it anymore in my own strength.

I cannot even begin to win it in any way.

This battle truly is the Lord.

And I say again, the Lord knows where you are, the Lord knows where I am, the Lord knows your scenarios and the battles that you're fighting, and the Lord has what it takes to grant you the victory.

So today is a day of victory, hallelujah.

God has what it takes to grant you the victory.

And so I said in the I've said in the intro that the call, the call that I'm making today, begins by knowing the God who is with you.

In Joshua, chapter 5, give me on the screen.

Joshua 5 · chapter mention

Joshua, chapter 5, verse 13 to verse 15.

Joshua 5:13

Joshua, chapter 5, verse 13 to verse 15.

Joshua 5:13

Now, when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword.

You know, go back a little.

Yes, standing in front of him with a drawn sword.

And I want to underline again drawn sword, drawn sword.

That is the position of El Gibor, it is the position of Jehovah Sabaoth, it is the position of El Shaddai, On behalf of God's people.

He's ready for war and he has a drawn sword Verse 13,.

That's where we are in his hand.

So Joshua went up to him and asked are you for us or for our enemies?

Neither he replied, but I have come.

Remember these words.

I'm sharing about his names.

But I have come, remember these words.

I'm sharing about his names, but I have come as commander of the army of the Lord.

I have now come.

Let's give a hand clap to the Lord.

He has come.

He has come and I want you to know in your situation the Lord has come and he has come as almighty El Shaddai, the commander of the heavenly hosts.

Neither he replied, but as commander of the army of the Lord, I have not come.

Then Joshua fell face down to the ground, and this is where warfare begins.

That is the position of beginning of warfare when you acknowledge God and you take your position, submitting everything now into his hands in reverence to him, and asked him what message does my Lord have for his servant?

The commander of the Lord's army replied take off your sandals, for the place where you're standing is holy.

And Joshua did so.

Now, when you read Joshua, chapter 6, and you go on the exploits of Joshua, they all come from this point.

Joshua 6 · chapter mention

He has encountered the warrior God, he has encountered El Shaddai and because of this encounter now he goes from victory to victory.

Now he can make progress.

No wonder in chapter 6 of Joshua.

Although Jericho was tightly shut, it was shut, and then the gates were shut and the walls were really, really strong walls, impregnable in human terms.

Joshua, because of this encounter, will take Jericho, and before that he has gone through the Jordan, he's making progress and they shall finally enter the rest.

And so, if we really are to succeed in terms of warfare, we need to know the battle is the Lord's and we need to understand who this God is.

Number one, and very briefly, he is our refuge.

Number two, he makes wars cease.

And number three, he is our peace.

And number three, he is our peace.

From the text, he is our refuge.

Now, psalm 46, just listen to verse one, as I read verse one to five God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore, we will not fear.

Though the earth give way and the mountains fall.

Into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging, there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the most high dwells.

God is within her.

She will not fall.

God will help her at the break of day.

This God is our refuge and therefore, we shall put our children under his banner, we shall put our businesses under his banner and we shall put our careers under his protection and banner.

I am suggesting to us that there is a place you can hide something.

There is a place you can hide something and the enemy will not be able to find it.

And you know, in the whole principle of warfare, god begins by hiding his people.

Then he intervenes and then he grants them rest and victory.

That's what he did with the nation of Israel.

You know, he took them from Egypt, and one time Pharaoh was following them.

What God did?

He put protection behind them and then opened the way through the Red Sea and then led them into rest.

It's a three-point plan of God in terms of warfare that brings progress.

God protects me first, god makes a way and then God leads me through, and so he's our refuge.

And it is important that this song therefore begins with five verses that celebrate the fact that there is a hiding place.

You know, at one place, at one time in Egypt, god had to give them some instructions of protection and he said slaughter an animal, anoint your doors.

You know, in Exodus, chapter 12.

Exodus 12 · chapter mention

You know, anoint your doors Up here, down here and there, exodus 12, verse 12 and verse 13,.

Exodus 12:12

If you remember, on that same night I'll pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt.

I am the Lord, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt.

I am the Lord.

The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are and listen to this, and when I see the blood, I'll do what I will pass over you.

This is a Passover and that's why we celebrate the Passover lamp.

Jesus became our Passover and then he shed the blood and therefore we are covered by the blood of Jesus.

Hallelujah.

No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt Because of the mark of the blood that consummated the covenant.

And every time, therefore, god sees the blood, he knows that there is a covenant.

He cut through his son to us, his people, and therefore the provisions of the covenant, therefore, must reach his people and therefore there is a hiding place and therefore God is our refuge.

I plead the blood of Jesus over all of us.

In Jesus' name.

I plead the blood of Jesus over everything concerning us now and this year and the rest of the years.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we have a hiding place and therefore, when we need to advance, we need to understand that God provides protection.

And I know there is somebody here who is really maybe pursued and you're wondering.

I mean you're very scared.

I say that the Lord is covering you and those enemies pursuing you they'll not see you.

May they become blind.

In Jesus' name, you understand what I mean.

Yes, you will come with this and they won't see you and they won't see you anywhere near.

It's like you've disappeared.

God is able to do those kind of miracles and I talk about.

God is my refuge.

You know, proverbs 18.10 says the name of the Lord is a strong tower.

The righteous run into it and they are safe.

The battle is the Lord's and right now, the battle between Russia and Ukraine.

I've been reading something about the bunkers they have in Kiev, in Kharkiv, in some of these towns in Ukraine, and there's a siren that goes, especially when the missiles are coming, and people know when that siren comes it is time to take cover and they go into the refuge or the shelters.

And when the missiles come and hit, those guys are safe.

Then they come out as if to town the Russians, and say you threw the missile.

But look, we are alive and we are here.

No missile shall touch you.

Isaiah 54, 17,.

No weapon fashioned against you shall prosper, and this is your heritage as a child of God.

You know, and so he's our refuge.

The battle is the Lord's.

He, first of all prepares spaces of refuge, and he has done it through his son, jesus Christ, who shed his blood that we might have a safe space.

Number two he makes war cease.

Not only does he put us in a safe place, he goes out and fights the battle.

Verse six to nine.

What does he say?

Nations are in a pro kingdoms.

For he lift his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us.

The God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

Now listen to verse 9.

He makes war cease to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.

He burns the shields with fire.

God knows how to fight.

There is one war he fought on behalf of Israel in 1 Samuel, chapter 7, verse 10 to 13.

1 Samuel 7:10–13

And all that God did is that he thundered 1 Samuel, chapter 7, verse 10 to 13.

1 Samuel 7:10–13

While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle.

But that day the Lord thundered with a loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.

The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to the point below Beth-kar.

Now in verse 12,.

Then Samuel took a stone, hallelujah, and set it between where Mizpah and Shem.

What is it called Ebenezer?

May God bring you to places of victory like this one called Ebenezer, in the name of Jesus Christ, where you set up a milestone and you're saying this far the Lord has brought me and helped me.

The Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel's territory.

Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines.

This is one of the wars that God fought.

Now, when God fights a battle, he does a good job.

And let me tell you the final battle in Revelation 20, verse 7 to 10.

Revelation 20:7–10

Give me on the screen the final battle.

We are fighting these small, small battles.

Yeah, the big one fought at Calvary by Jesus Christ and handed over victory to us.

But finally, of course, from verse 7 to 10,.

When the thousand years are over, satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth Gog and Magog, and to gather them for battle.

In number they are like sand on the seashore.

They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves.

The devil is foolish surrounding the city of God, but fire came down from heaven and devoured them Now listen to this one.

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.

They'll be tormented day and night, forever and ever.

I pray none of us will end up there.

And the way to avoid that destiny is to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, so that that blood covers you, cleanses you, covers you, makes you a new creation, makes you a part of the covenant and then delivers you all the way progress straight into heaven.

You know that's how you avoid this kind of destiny, but this is the end of Satan and that's how it's going to end.

Therefore, the war that Jesus started.

When he came, he became flesh, he dwelt among us, he took my nature and your nature and then he went to the cross Isaiah 53.

And he took your pain.

He took my pain.

He was pierced for our transgressions.

You know that war he fought there on the cross and eventually he died and went down into the grave, biggest battle, and beat death you know, defeated death and everything that goes with death, and then he rose from the dead.

That war, eventually Satan will be put into a place that's burned forever and therefore that is a good story, because God makes wars cease and eventually he will make wars to cease completely when the devil is put where he belongs.

This is divine intervention.

So God is coming through.

That battle you are fighting now has a share of life.

Let me repeat that the battle you are fighting now has a share of life.

It is not forever.

My prayer because the month this year, the word for the year, is acceleration is that the end of the battle is accelerated.

I am praying that the fights that have been around your life financial fights, whatever fights those are may they cease very quickly.

In Jesus' name, may you come to the other end of things, because God never starts something he'll not finish.

And God has started a battle that he will completely be able to accomplish.

There was a guy, a demoniac.

He had so many demons.

In Mark, chapter 5, jesus comes, asks him his name.

Mark 5 · chapter mention

He said I'm Legion.

The gentleman had lost his identity and sometimes the devil takes us to corners where we even forget who we are.

We forget our identity, we start calling ourselves by other names.

The persona of the devil embodies everything within us until there is an evil identity.

And this guy in the book of Mark 5 was manifesting.

He was manifesting and so Jesus asked him his name.

And you know what he said His name, jesus, in verse 9.

Then Jesus asked him what is your name?

My name is Legion.

He replied, for we are many.

May all the demons take off.

In Jesus' name, we break the tendency of demonic hosts.

Today, officially, in any home, in any life.

Listening to me right now, in the name of Jesus, I declare that tenancy broken and I declare that these spirits never come to haunt again.

You know any individual or anything connected to you.

And he begged.

Jesus again and again sent them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside that was nearby.

The demons begged Jesus.

Imagine they even dared to speak Send us among the pigs, allow us to go into them.

And he gave them permission.

The impure spirits came out and went into the pigs they had about.

There were about 2,000 in number.

You know that these two demons were suicidal a number.

You know that these two demons were suicidal.

So when they entered the ship, all these animals, the coded message was commit suicide.

So they rushed the thief comes to steal, to kill and to destroy.

They rushed down the steep bank into the lake where they were drowned.

Now, this gentleman was infested by this kind of spirits, very dangerous, very destructive, and I encourage us never to try things like drugs or things that are addictive, because you are opening your door and your gateways for the devil to have a free place to function.

And you know some of these things that invade our spaces, like these ones that were inside this person, their plan is to destroy.

No wonder this demoniac could not stay at home.

He was led to the graves Funny place to be in the cemetery, and he was destroying himself, literally, like you know, cutting himself.

He lost self-identity and that identity was given over to the devil.

To the extent, it's the devil speaking, he's no longer having a voice.

And so I'm talking to somebody.

Don't try those things that allow, give the devil a foothold in your home or in your life, or in your business or in your career, because your progress begins to get stunted there right away.

Liar John, chapter 8, verse 44.

John 8:44

And he's a father of lies and he can disguise bad things to look like good things.

You know, jesus told them you belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires.

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.

When he lies, he speaks his native language.

That's very interesting, for he his.

What A liar.

And the father of lies.

The devil is not a friend.

He's not a friend and that is why God is committed to kicking him out.

Right now, in this season in dispensation, in local lives, in neighborhoods, even territorial spirits.

God is committed, over cities, to cause territorial spirits.

Luke, chapter 10, verse 18, when Jesus said I saw Satan fall like lightning.

Luke 10:18

He's committed to completely bring Satan down, whether corporately, individually, into family units, into the path of your life, into the path of your life.

God is on a mission To cause wars.

Cease, and his sword is out and he's ready.

Jehovah Sabaoth El Gibor El Shaddai, his sword is out and he wants to deal with the enemy that has caused your progress Not to happen for this long time, and therefore the gates of hell shall not prevail Matthew 16, verse 18.

Matthew 16:18

Jesus said I'm building the church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail.

But I must finish by saying he is our peace.

He puts us in a place of safety, he goes out fighting on our behalf and then gives us the victory which manifests in terms of peace.

That is what God wants to give all of us.

It is described as peace that passes all understanding.

First, I think, is Philippians 4, verse 6 and 7.

Philippians 4:6

Pastor Regan, isn't it?

Have no anxiety, but in everything by prayer.

Let me just read it't it?

Have no anxiety, but in everything by prayer.

Let me just read it as it is.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

You know, the stations of warfare are the heart and the mind, but the Lord is able to fight those battles to the extent that peace is deposited here and here and that is God's plan for each one of us.

When he fights the battle, the battle is the Lord's he fights it from A to Z, and when he fights the whole landscape of the battle, then he comes and gives us the victory, and that victory manifests in terms of peace that passes all understanding.

In Isaiah 26, verse 3, the Bible says he keeps them in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.

Isaiah 26:3

I like it.

In the King James version, isaiah 26, verse 3, he says thou dost keep them in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.

Isaiah 26:3

I want you to declare peace over your life and over your business, and over your home and over all the situations of your life.

One of the things that we do by faith to declare peace is to use that scripture.

I just say, and you say I decree peace over my mind, I decree peace over my heart.

Why don't you try it?

Yes, right now, I decree peace over my mind, I decree peace over my heart, and then you can span your hands out and say I decree peace over everything that concerns me, you know, in Jesus name.

And that's a very powerful prayer, it's a very powerful warfare action, by the way, a very powerful warfare action and so a very powerful warfare action.

And so, if we are to take territory, we must have the God who is able to lead us from victory to victory.

We must have the God who is able to help us to take these territories.

And I want to declare that from here we are going to advance.

The same way Joshua advanced, we shall advance.

God is saying everywhere you step, I have done what I have given to you.

We had Maria, our child from the Makona family, come here.

We had Jack and Queen's son the other Sunday, when I was here, this young generation and you know what, jack and the McConnors in the Bible.

We had David, and there was an anointing that was released on him by the prophet Samuel.

1 Samuel 16 and verse 13.

And I pray, this anointing that gives you progress comes upon you in Jesus' name.

He took the horn of oil.

If I would do an anointing service again, because I know it's not by power Nor by might, but by God's spirit, you make it.

That says the Lord and Samuel took the oil.

Looks a foolish thing, but he takes the oil and then pours the anointing of greatness.

And after that anointing God's spirit came upon David.

1 Samuel 16, verse 13.

1 Samuel 16:13

From that day, god's spirit rested upon David and David was able to progress.

You know, from there to there, the lion came no issue.

The bear came nothing.

Goliath came just a single stone.

You know, goliath came just a single stone.

You know, pastor Regan, david did not need five stones.

But because of our human nature, he must have had a thought of a plan B, or probably human wisdom, where he thought there are five cities of the Philistines and every town has a giant.

I believe.

Therefore, just in case I hit giant one and giant two comes, I have the five stones.

God needed only one stone.

And without sling this thing stopping my progress, this is warfare.

Now, just as you are with a stone of prayer, with a stone of scripture, declarations and proclamations, with a stone of faith Matthew 17, verse 20.

Matthew 17:20

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain be removed from here to there, and it shall be removed.

With a stone of faith, you just take that stone and you just did like this, released it.

It became the stone of God.

God is not waiting for you to do big things, he just wants you to trust him and begin to do the small things when he says release the battle to me, I will finish this job, just simply release it to me.

And David released it.

And our young generation are moving by faith, just like David and with the anointing.

And now we are hearing victory from Bangkok and moving on to Yale, I mean from this end of the earth.

Is it this side?

Bangkok?

Is this side?

I'm assuming To that side, to Yale in the United States.

Our young girl, maria.

I am so happy, I'm very happy, I'm so excited.

As I say this, our young girl is showing them how it's done.

Africa is rising, africa is shining.

You know, the light of God is upon Africa and the glory of God is upon our continent.

And that girl, you know, is going.

Young people are rising and I declare again, they shall gain ground and they shall not stagnate, in the name of Jesus Christ.

These young people, just like David, and they are making progress, and indeed our son also, now in that school, and I know St Andrew's story, that's where he is now.

He's going to shine.

I mean, they are going to see these stones being thrown, hallelujah as he does the exam, a stone and a stone, and then victory after victory.

Fura and your team, where is Alex, alex?

Alex, I told you I missed your service.

Is it somewhere here?

Is it there?

Oh, he's online, ok, ok, alex Barton Burton, I'm told here by this team here that you're online.

God bless you.

I'm just about to decree something about you, about about the young people, that anything that was placed in your path to try and hinder your progress, I, as a pastor, minister of God, I wage war in the name of Jesus Christ and I wage war by a decree and I say that the way now is cleared, the mountains are leveled, the crooked paths have been made straight and the young generation, fura, alex Barton and the others, and the many who are here, you will find it easy because of this decree.

You will find progress easy because of this decrees.

This servant of God has waged war today, the war that Jesus started.

All that Jesus invested is so that we can break through.

That's why he did what he did, and I decree the same among the young generation and therefore, don't be afraid the economy may look like.

That's why he did what he did, and I decree the same among the young generation and therefore, don't be afraid the economy may look like it doesn't have provision for you.

You've done your master's degree, you've done the other things and you're knocking doors here, there.

You have stayed at home for three years or two years.

You have really tried.

It is becoming too much upon you, the young people.

But I've made a decree here, hallelujah.

I have made a decree.

El Gibor, el Shaddai, jehovah Sabaoth, with a drawn sword, he has gone ahead of you and he has come behind you and he has laid his hand of blessing upon you and for that reason you shall make progress.

Let's all stand up now and pray.

If you believe that God has waged war on your behalf and you believe that you're going to make progress, I want you to connect with me as I pray today.

As you connect with me.

I know there are certain areas of your life that you want to circle, and the breakthrough of God is a place.

You need God, you need to see the hand of God.

You know and you need to see progress in your life.

One area, two areas, three areas, as, even as I'm talking, just highlight them within yourself.

I don't know what that is, but with the anointing that's upon my life right now, I sense that God is here as El Gibor.

He's here as Jehovah Sabaoth.

He's here as Jehovah Sabaoth.

He's here as God El Shaddai.

It is not about me.

It is about the anointing from him through his servant among his people.

2 Samuel 5 20 says his name is Jehovah Bar-Peraazim, the God who breaks forth like many waters.

He's literally unstoppable.

You know he breaks forth like many waters.

He's literally unstoppable.

You know he breaks forth like many waters.

And today he's going to break forth.

He's waging war.

He's giving you victory.

The battle is the Lord's.

Don't fight anymore.

Just simply release those areas you have highlighted into the hands of God and let's believe God for that breakthrough.

I am a firm believer that when God comes through, it is known publicly that he has come through.

The testimony will be one that all will be able to see.

The same way, goliath came down out of that stone and David said all these people gathered here will know it is not by sword or spear that God saves, for the battle is the Lord's.

Let us pray, father in heaven, I thank you for the open door.

The door that you have opened for each one of us, lord.

It's a door of progress.

Father, I thank you, because it is your plan and desire that every one of us makes progress, that every one of us rises to the next level.

My God, you are not in the business of digging graves for people to sink.

You are in the business of generating elevators, the elevators of the Holy Spirit, so that, lord, we can step on them and begin to be moved to the levels where you want us to be, because you tell us we are the light of the world and when we succeed, we are shining and the nations are able to see the light as we shine.

Whether in the workplace, whether at home, lord, whether in school, wherever that is God, you're in the business of raising your people to the next level.

And, father, the door is open, the door of progress, the door of advancement, the door of rising, and it was opened through a precious price of the blood of Jesus Christ.

My God, I thank you for this open door.

Now, by the anointing that is in this place I have spoken regarding the battle in your hands, so that we can make progress.

Father, I realize, even when the door is open, the devil tries to come and create contention.

He comes to slow down, he comes to cut short destinies.

He comes to make the path difficult and the path complicated.

He comes to cut short destinies.

He comes to make the path difficult and the path complicated.

He comes and puts mountains and all kinds of obstructions and roadblocks upon the path.

But, jesus, you came, and me, as your servant in this service, I have also come into the service that I may declare that God, by the anointing that is in this place, has cleared the path ahead of us.

Now connect with it.

Now, in Jesus' name, he has cleared the path ahead of us.

God has made a way, and that way the devil cannot touch it.

Revelation 3 says I hold the key of David.

I've opened a door before you that no man can shut and therefore we decree together, collectively, that we shall make progress, that we shall grow from glory to glory, that we shall advance into the next level, that all the ceilings have been removed and all the mountains have been leveled.

Now my father, like you, told Joshua step, because I have given you everywhere you step.

We want to walk and march through Jericho, through the Jordan, through Ai.

Make progress into the promised land.

My God, we want to enter our rest, we want to know our peace, we want to receive our full victory.

I know you have ordained a good destiny for every one of us and I remove the hand of the devil and the grip of the devil over those destinies in the name of Jesus Christ.

Our destinies shall flourish.

In the mighty name of Jesus Glory.

My God, I pray that you come through and, father, I thank you because as you do this and we step to these new levels, the city will know that you're doing something in Parklands Baptist, the nation will know that you're with us and Africa will know that you are with us.

So, my God, thank you so much, because the battle belongs to you Now, these areas we have highlighted.

Right now, in Jesus' name, I urge you, as you lift up your hands to God, to formally hand them over into the hands of God.

Father, by the raising of these hands, the areas we have highlighted, areas of warfare, we hand them over to you and we decree and declare the battle is yours.

We hand over these matters into your hands.

Now, as we lift up our hands to you, give us peace and assurance that you have taken over, peace that passes all understanding and for that reason I declare there will be no depression, there will be no anxiety, there will be no ulcers, there will be no fear, there will be no despair, there is no configuration from hell that will be found along our path.

We have known peace and we have received peace that passes all understanding, and I declare therefore victory is our portion and shalom is our portion, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and we all say