6/11/25 - A Winning Strategy to Defeat Our Enemy

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(LION ROARING)

(GENTLE MUSIC)

- GOOD EVENING, LORD AND HOST CHURCH.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

I WAS GLAD WHEN THEY SAID UNTO ME,

"LET US GO INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD."

(GENTLE MUSIC)

I KNOW WE'VE ALL COME IN WITH JUST A LOT OF THE WEEK AND A LOT

OF THE DAY ON US, LET'S JUST GET INTO AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE GOD

CAN MOVE AND GOD CAN DO SOMETHING IN AND THROUGH US.

LORD, WE WORSHIP YOU TODAY.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(GENTLE MUSIC)

♪ COME FILL THIS ROOM, LORD. IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF WORSHIP. ♪

(GENTLE MUSIC)

♪ OH, WE WORSHIP YOU.♪

[SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

(GENTLE MUSIC)

♪ OH COME AND FILL THIS ROOM. COME AND FILL THIS ROOM WITH ♪

♪ YOUR PRESENCE. GOD WE NEED YOUR ANOINTING. THAT BREAKS ♪

♪EVERY OAK. BREAKS EVERY OAK. WE HONOR YOU. WE HONOR YOU. ♪

(GENTLE MUSIC)

COME ON, LIFT UP A PRAISE WITH YOUR OWN MOUTH.

LET THE LORD HEAR YOU.

♪ WE WORSHIP YOU. WE HONOR YOU. BE MAGNIFIED. OH, LORD ♪

(GENTLE MUSIC)

♪ OH, YOUR WILL OH, LORD. YOUR WILL BE DONE, YOUR WILL BE ♪

♪ DONE. FILL THIS PLACE, OH LORD. WE PUT EVERY SITUATION ♪

♪ ON THE ALTAR. EVERY PROBLEM, EVERY WORRY ON THE ALTAR. ♪

(GENTLE MUSIC)

♪ AND WE FOCUS ON YOUR GREATNESS. WE FOCUS ON YOUR ♪

♪ GOODNESS. WE FEED ON YOUR MERCY. YEAH. ♪

(GENTLE MUSIC)

♪ FOREVER THE ANCIENT OF DAYS, YOU ARE GREAT. ♪

♪ SO LIFT UP YOUR HANDS AND WORSHIP THE KING OF KINGS. ♪

♪ AND THE LORD OF LORDS. FOR HE IS GREAT. ♪

(MUSIC)

(SOFTER MUSIC)

(MUSIC)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

- WE'LL DO A SWITCH HERE. HOW ABOUT THAT? WE HAVE A BACKUP.

YOU KNOW, GOD'S A GREAT BACKUP TO US. AND HE'S THERE FOR US ALL

THE TIME. THERE'S NO ONE THAT COMPARES TO HIM. HALLELUJAH.

THANK YOU, JESUS. WE WORSHIP YOU TONIGHT IN THIS PLACE, LORD.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN FOR US, LORD. WHEN THE DEVIL COMES AT

US, YOU HAVE A PLAN OF ESCAPE. OH, HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, LORD.

NO ONE CAN OUTMANEUVER OR OUTPERFORM OUR LORD. HE'S THERE

FOR US. HE'S THERE FOR YOU. HE HAS YOUR ANSWER. HE HAS YOUR

ANSWER TONIGHT. HE'S ON YOUR SIDE. HE'S ON OUR SIDE. HE'S FOR

US. HE'S NOT AGAINST US. HE'S WITH US. HALLELUJAH. THAT'S

SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT TONIGHT. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

THERE'S NO ONE LIKE THE LORD. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. THANK

YOU, JESUS. WE WORSHIP YOU IN THIS PLACE TONIGHT, FATHER. WE

LIFT OUR HANDS AND EXTOL YOU. WE INVITE YOU INTO THE CENTER OF

THIS PLACE AND THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES. YOU BE THE LORD OF OUR

LIVES. YOU GUIDE US. YOU DIRECT US. YOU SHOW US THE WAY. OH,

THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU'RE OUR FRONT GUARD AND YOU'RE OUR REAR

GUARD. YOU'RE ALL AROUND US. YOUR ANGELS ENCOMPASS US. OH, WE

HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR, CHURCH. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE

THANKFUL FOR. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS. THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

THE GOODNESS OF GOD. GOD IS SO GOOD. HE LOVES EACH ONE OF US SO

MUCH. HE SENT JESUS FOR US. HALLELUJAH. OH, HALLELUJAH.

THANK YOU, JESUS. DIANE, IF YOU'D HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONE ON

THE EARTH, HE WOULD HAVE SENT JESUS, HIS SON, TO DIE FOR YOU.

OH, HALLELUJAH. AND THAT GOES FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU AND EVERY

ONE OF YOU WATCHING TONIGHT. THANK YOU, LORD. HALLELUJAH.

THERE'S SOMEONE HERE, AND I BELIEVE YOU'VE REALLY BEEN GOING

THROUGH A STRUGGLE IN YOUR LIFE. IT'S BEEN A TIME WHEN YOU'VE

PULLED AND YOU'VE PULLED, AND YOU JUST SEEM TO-- IT'S ALMOST

LIKE- THE ONLY WAY I CAN SEE IT, THE PICTURE I SEE IN MY

MIND, IS LIKE YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE AN OX ATTACHED TO A CART,

AND YOU WERE PULLING AND PULLING AND PULLING, BUT NOT REALLY

MOVING. YOU MIGHT MOVE A LITTLE BIT, BUT YET YOU DON'T REALLY GO

ANYWHERE. AND YOU FELT LIKE THE BATTLE THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN HAS

BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST BATTLES OF YOUR LIFE. AND I JUST BELIEVE

TONIGHT THERE'S AN ANSWER FOR YOU, AND GOD'S GOING TO SHOW YOU

SOME THINGS THAT'S GOING TO OPEN THAT UP. IF THAT'S YOU TONIGHT,

AND YOU'VE BEEN IN A BATTLE, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE THE BATTLE

HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH RELATIONSHIPS, AND IT'S

SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING

TO HOLD YOU BACK IN THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW THAT GOD HAS FOR

YOU IN YOUR LIFE AND WHERE YOU'RE TO MOVE TO. I'M NOT

TALKING ABOUT MOVING PHYSICALLY, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT LEVEL

THAT YOU'RE TO MOVE TO AND IT'S BEEN HOLDING YOU BACK. AND IF

THAT'S YOU, I WANT YOU TO COME UP HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I

BELIEVE TONIGHT IS A NIGHT OF FREEDOM AND THAT'S GOING TO BE

BROKEN OVER YOUR LIFE. COME ON UP HERE QUICKLY, WE'RE GOING TO

PRAY AND I HAVE A SCRIPTURE FOR YOU. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU

JESUS. THANK YOU LORD. HALLELUJAH. THERE PROBABLY IS

MORE THAN ONE. MIGHT BE SOME OF YOU WATCHING ONLINE THAT THIS

APPLIES TO YOU. IF IT APPLIES TO YOU TONIGHT, YOU CAN JUST LIFT

YOUR HAND RIGHT WHERE YOU'RE AT IN YOUR LIVING ROOM OR IN YOUR

HOTEL ROOM, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE, AND SAY, "GOD, THAT'S ME. "I

WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS." AND YOU'RE PART OF OUR BODY, AND

WE INCLUDE YOU AND GOD SEES YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU'RE AT.

HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS. PSALM 66, 12. I WROTE THIS DOWN.

IT SAYS, "WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRE AND THE FLOOD, BUT YOU

BROUGHT US TO A PLACE OF GREAT ABUNDANCE." AND I BELIEVE THAT'S

A WORD FOR THOSE OF YOU TODAY. HE'S BRINGING YOU TO A PLACE OF

GREAT ABUNDANCE. IN THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION, THAT SAME

SCRIPTURE SAYS HE BRINGS YOU TO A PLACE OF GREAT FULFILLMENT.

HE'S GOING TO TURN THIS AROUND AND FULFILL THE DREAMS THAT HE

HAS PLANTED IN YOU. TONIGHT THIS THING THAT'S HOLDING

YOU BACK, THIS STRONGHOLD, IS GOING TO BE BROKEN OVER YOUR

LIFE, I BELIEVE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A TIME WHEN YOU'RE GOING

TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, "LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE. THERE'S BEEN

A CHANGE AND A DELIVERANCE IN ME." AND I'M GOING TO DO THIS.

PASTOR KEITH, WOULD YOU RUN UP HERE NOW? COULD WE GET A MIC

THAT WORKS, HERE? I WANT TO DO THIS. I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE

MORE TIME. IF YOU CAN GET ME ANOTHER MIC MAYBE THAT, AND I'LL

JUST SWITCH IT HERE, MARK. PASTOR KEITH, I'M GOING TO HAVE

YOU PRAY FOR THE ONLINE AUDIENCE TONIGHT. I'LL GIVE THIS ONE BACK

TO YOU, MARK. AND I GUESS I DON'T WANT TO DROP THAT. I WANT

PASTOR KEITH TO PRAY FOR THE ONLINE AUDIENCE, THOSE THAT NEED

THIS BROKEN OVER THEIR LIFE. HE HAS AN ANOINTING TO DO THAT

TONIGHT, I BELIEVE. AND WE'RE GOING TO LAY HANDS, EILEEN, ON

THESE DOWN HERE AND BELIEVE THAT THIS THING THAT'S HOLDING THEM

BACK IS NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE ANY LONGER. IN JESUS' NAME. YES.

WHY DON'T YOU COME WITH ME? HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS. IN

JESUS' NAME. -WE THANK YOU. YOU ARE THE

SOURCE OF ALL GOODNESS. -IN JESUS' NAME.

-YOU ARE THE POWER THAT CAN WORK THROUGH US

AND IN US TO BRING ABOUT THAT CHANGE AS IS NECESSARY IN THE

LIVES OF THOSE WHO WILL RECEIVE RIGHT NOW. THE ANOINTING OF YOUR

PRESENCE TO BREAK EVERY YOKE, DESTROY EVERY BONDAGE, TAKE DOWN

EVERY STRONGHOLD THAT WOULD TRY TO ERECT ITSELF AGAINST YOUR

DESIRE OF GOOD, BLESSING, INCREASE, ABUNDANCE. IN EVERY

RELATIONSHIP, IN EVERY FORM, IN EVERY WAY, LORD GOD, TOUCHING

THEM WITH YOUR PRESENCE NOW IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF YOUR SON,

JESUS. LET IT BE SO. AMEN. -IN JESUS' NAME. THANK YOU,

LORD. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS (X2) PRAISE YOU,

JESUS. HALLELUJAH. IS THERE SOMEONE, YOU'VE GOT A NECK

PROBLEM, YOU'VE BEEN LAYING DOWN, I'M SEEING YOU LAY DOWN ON

YOUR PILLOW AT NIGHT, AND YOU'RE FEELING PAIN IN YOUR NECK, AND

IT'S LIKE IT'S KEEPING YOU FROM GOING TO SLEEP. MAYBE THAT'S

SOMEONE ONLINE, MAYBE IT'S SOMEONE HERE. IS THAT SOMEONE

HERE? COME UP HERE QUICKLY. I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU COME UP HERE,

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE IN AGREEMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE

BROKEN ON YOU IN JESUS' NAME. EILEEN, WOULD YOU PRAY FOR HER

RIGHT NOW? BELIEVE THAT THAT'S BROKEN OFF FOR HER. THANK YOU,

JESUS. KOPASOTARA BASETE. AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE TONIGHT

AND YOU HAVE A NECK ISSUE IN THE SAME AREA AND YOU'RE IN

AGREEMENT BY FAITH, WE'RE BELIEVING TONIGHT THAT YOU ARE

TOUCHED WITH A MIRACLE TOUCH OF THE LORD. AND TONIGHT YOU WILL

SLEEP IN PEACE IN THE NAME OF JESUS. YOU RECEIVE ES THAT RIGHT

WHERE YOU ARE AT IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. AMEN.

PRAISE GOD. THANK YOU JESUS. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU JESUS. GOD

IS SO GOOD. I AM JUST WAITING HERE FOR JUST A MOMENT TO SEE IF

THERE IS ANY OTHER DIRECTION THE LORD WOULD HAVE TONIGHT. THANK

YOU JESUS. (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

THANK YOU, JESUS. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS.

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

PRAISE GOD. HALLELUJAH. I AM RELEASED. THANK YOU LORD.

HALLELUJAH. LET'S DO THIS TONIGHT. TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO

SHAKE TWO OR THREE HANDS TONIGHT AND SAY IT'S GOOD TO BE IN THE

HOUSE OF THE LORD ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AND THANK YOU ONLINE

AUDIENCE FOR JOINING US. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE IN A MOMENT.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-WELL, GLORY TO GOD. WELCOME, EVERYONE. IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE

ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT'S TIME FOR OUR WEDNESDAY NIGHT

OFFERING. AND I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS REAL SHORT BECAUSE I NEED

PASTOR DOUG TO GET RIGHT BACK OUT HERE. HE'S GOT A MIGHTY

MESSAGE TONIGHT ABOUT WINNING STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING THE

DEVIL. AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL GOING TO WANT TO DIG INTO THAT

REAL DEEP. AND SO I WANT TO GIVE HIM PLENTY OF TIME TO EXPOUND ON

EACH OF HIS POINTS. I KNOW HE WAS THINKING HE'D BE DONE BY 11.

SO I HAD THE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IF I CAN REDUCE MY TIME ENOUGH,

WE CAN ALL GET OUT OF HERE BY 10:45. THAT'S NOT QUITE

ENOUGH TIME TO GET TO THE ICE CREAM SHOP. BUT DOES IT SOUND

LIKE A PLAN? CAN WE GO WITH IT? CAN WE ROLL WITH IT? ALL RIGHT,

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT. IF THEY WOULD BE KIND ENOUGH TO PUT

TONIGHT'S OFFERING SCRIPTURE UP ON THE SCREENS. I WANTED TO READ

A FEW VERSES FROM THE BOOK OF MATTHEW, CHAPTER 6. AND I'M

Matthew 6 · chapter mention

GOING TO START WITH VERSE 24. SO MATTHEW 6:24. AND I WANT TO

Matthew 6:24

READ THIS FROM THE NEW LIVING TESTAMENT, NEW LIVING

TRANSLATION, EXCUSE ME. IT'S NOT A TESTAMENT. IT'S A

TRANSLATION. BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY THE BEST AT

ILLUSTRATING GOD'S LOVE FOR US. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S

GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT FOR US AS WE CONTINUE HERE

TONIGHT. IT'S ALREADY BEGUN AND ALL OF THAT. AND HERE IN

MATTHEW WE FIND JESUS SPEAKING AND HE SAYS, "NO ONE CAN SERVE

TWO MASTERS, FOR YOU WILL HATE ONE AND LOVE AND THE OTHER; YOU

WILL BE DEVOTED TO ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT

SERVE BOTH GOD AND MONEY." AND THAT IS WHY I TELL YOU NOT TO

WORRY ABOUT EVERYDAY LIFE, WHETHER YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD AND

DRINK, OR ENOUGH CLOTHES TO WEAR. ISN'T LIFE MORE THAN FOOD

AND YOUR BODY MORE THAN CLOTHING? LOOK AT THE BIRDS.

THEY DON'T PLANT OR HARVEST OR STORE FOOD IN BARNS, FOR YOUR

HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. AND AREN'T YOU FAR MORE VALUABLE TO

HIM THAN THEY ARE? I THINK THAT'S THAT LOVE. CAN ALL YOUR

WORRIES ADD A SINGLE MOMENT TO YOUR LIFE? AND WHY WORRY ABOUT

YOUR CLOTHING? LOOK AT THE LILIES OF THE FIELD AND HOW THEY

GROW. THEY DON'T WORK OR MAKE THEIR CLOTHING. YET SOLOMON IN

ALL OF HIS GLORY WAS NOT DRESSED AS BEAUTIFULLY AS THEY ARE. AND

IF GOD CARES SO WONDERFULLY FOR WILDFLOWERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY

AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE TOMORROW, HE WILL CERTAINLY CARE

FOR YOU. WHY DO YOU HAVE SO LITTLE FAITH? SO DON'T WORRY

ABOUT THESE THINGS SAYING, "WHAT WILL WE EAT? WHAT WILL WE DRINK?

WHAT WILL WE WEAR?" THESE THINGS DOMINATE THE THOUGHTS OF

UNBELIEVERS. BUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER ALREADY KNOWS ALL YOUR

NEEDS. SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE AND LIVE

RIGHTEOUSLY AND HE WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED." NOW MANY

PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, MIGHT NOT THINK OF THESE VERSES AS HAVING

MUCH OF ANYTHING TO DO WITH OFFERING, BUT WHEN I THINK OF IT

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ADMINISTRATOR, I'M ALWAYS

CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM GIVING GENEROUSLY IN

CHURCH. AND SO I READ VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEW, OPINIONS,

SURVEYS, EXPLANATIONS, AND SO ON, AND ONE ARTICLE CAUGHT MY

ATTENTION RECENTLY. THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT, IT'S JUST

SOMETHING I HAPPENED TO SEE. CHURCH GROWTH MAGAZINE, IT WAS

ENTITLED "TEN REASONS CHURCH MEMBERS DO NOT GIVE," AND

SEVERAL OF THE REASONS CITED IN THERE WERE SOMETHING LIKE, YOU

KNOW, THEY HAD TO DO WITH A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING. LACK OF

UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW TO GIVE, WHY TO GIVE, WHAT THE CHURCH

NEEDS MONEY FOR AND SO FORTH. BUT WHAT STRUCK ME WAS THE FACT

THAT NEARLY HALF WERE CENTERED AROUND FEAR, WHICH IS A LACK OF

FAITH. SAME THING, RIGHT? FEAR IS THE REVERSE MIRROR IMAGE OF

FAITH. SO I WANT TO LOOK AT A FEW OF THESE REASONS REAL QUICK.

ONE OF THEM WAS THEY DON'T BELIEVE. SO IN OTHER WORDS, THEY

DON'T YET HAVE A REVELATION OF GOD'S LOVE FOR THEM AND HIS

GENEROSITY TOWARD THEM. ANOTHER WAS THEY'RE IN TRANSITION. NOW

THAT DOESN'T MEAN LIKE IN CURRENT POLITICAL FORUMS,

CHANGING FROM MALE TO FEMALE. THAT MEANS THIS IS JUST

REFERENCING THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GROWING IN THEIR FAITH

AND THEY'RE BEGINNING TO REFLECT THE VALUES OF GOD, BUT THERE'S

STILL NOT A FULL TRUST IN THE LORD REGARDING THEIR FINANCES.

ANOTHER REASON IS DIFFICULT FINANCIAL SEASON THAT THEY'RE

GOING THROUGH. AND OBVIOUSLY ANY OF US THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH

HARD TIMES CAN TESTIFY HOW THE ENEMY WILL TRY TO BRING FEAR AND

WORRISOME THOUGHTS REGARDING FINANCES, BANK ACCOUNTS AND

SUCH. ANOTHER IS THEY HAVE TOO MUCH DEBT. AND ANYONE WHO

CURRENTLY HAS OR HAS HAD IN THE PAST A LOT OF DEBT CERTAINLY

KNOWS HOW OVERWHELMING IT CAN BE AND HOW STRESS AND ANXIETY

CAN SO EASILY ENTER IN. SO I WANT TO DEAL WITH THESE REAL

QUICKLY AS A GROUP BECAUSE I FEEL THEY'RE ALL AN INDICATION

THAT PEOPLE DON'T TRUST IN GOD'S LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS

AS MUCH AS THEY PAY ATTENTION TO PERHAPS OR TRUST IN THE WORLD

SYSTEM, THE MONETARY SYSTEM, MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, WEALTH,

RICHES, MONEY, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. SO LET'S RETURN

TO THE PASSAGE IF WE CAN THAT WE READ IN MATTHEW AND IN THESE

VERSES IF YOU TAKE THEM AS A WHOLE JESUS IS TELLING US THIS

SIMPLY AS BELIEVERS IF WE WILL TRUST IN HIM SEEK HIS WAYS FIRST

OPERATE IN RIGHT STANDING, WHICH BY THE WAY INCLUDES GIVING

GENEROUSLY ACCORDING TO HIS CHARACTER, AND NOT BE ENSLAVED

TO MONEY THEN WE NEVER HAVE TO FEAR NOT BEING TAKEN CARE

OF IN OUR DAILY LIVES HE GIVES US THAT ASSURANCE.

NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE PAY NO ATTENTION TO OUR

BANK BALANCES. IT'S NOT GIVING US LICENSE TO SPEND FRIVOLOUSLY

OR EXERCISE POOR STEWARDSHIP OVER THE RESOURCES THAT HE'S

GIVEN US, TRUSTED US WITH. SIMPLY MEANS THAT IF AN

UNFORESEEN EXPENSE WERE TO COME OUR WAY, UNFORESEEN TO US THAT

IS, BECAUSE GOD ISN'T SURPRISED OR CAUGHT OFF GUARD,

HE'S CERTAINLY NOT WATCHING OVER US AND SAYING, "WOW, I DIDN'T

SEE THAT COMING." HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED AT ALL TIMES AND HAS

ALREADY PLANNED TO PROVIDE IT. SO THIS LIBERATES US TO GIVE

GENEROUSLY BECAUSE WE CAN TRUST IN HIM. AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO

INVEST YOUR MONEY IN SOMEONE, DON'T YOU WANT IT TO BE IN

SOMEONE YOU TRUST? AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHEN

YOU'RE SOWING INTO HIS CHURCH, HIS BODY, THE BODY OF CHRIST,

THIS CHURCH FOR EXAMPLE. SO WHETHER YOU'RE GIVING IN HERE TO

HELP PAY OFF THIS LOVELY TABERNACLE THAT WE'RE MEETING

IN TONIGHT, IF YOU'RE ONLINE WE PRAY THAT YOU, IF YOU HAVEN'T

BEEN HERE, YOU CAN GET HERE SOON AND SEE THIS OR WHETHER YOU'RE

JUST GIVING INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO HELP SUPPORT THE DAILY

OPERATIONS OF THE CHURCH. YOU'RE EXPRESSING YOUR FAITH IN THE ONE

THAT YOU CAN TRUST TO CARE FOR YOU AND PROVIDE FOR ALL YOUR

NEEDS. SO IF THEY'LL PUT THE GIVING INFORMATION UP ON THE

SCREENS, PLEASE USHERS, YOU CAN BE IN THE AISLES WITH

ENVELOPES FOR THOSE THAT NEED THEM TO HONOR GOD TONIGHT WITH

THEIR OFFERINGS. AND FOR THOSE ONLINE, AND EVEN THOSE WHO ARE

HERE AND PREFER ANOTHER METHOD, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THEM. YOU

CAN TEXT TO GIVE, YOU CAN USE OUR MOBILE APP, VISIT OUR

WEBSITE AT LOHCHURCH.ORG/GIVE, OR EVEN SEND YOUR GIFTS BY MAIL.

WE LIKE MAIL STILL. THE ADDRESS IS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN. SO AS

YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO GIVE INTO THE WORKS OF

THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU AND CARES FOR YOU. AND WHILE THE USHERS

ARE SERVING YOU, I JUST WANT TO HAVE US MEDITATE FOR A MOMENT ON

WHAT JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES BACK THERE IN MATTHEW THAT WE

WERE LOOKING AT. YOU ARE MORE THAN A SPARROW. YOU'RE MORE THAN

A LILY. HE WILL MEET EVERY ONE OF YOUR NEEDS EVEN BEFORE YOU

RECOGNIZE THOSE NEEDS. WE NEED ONLY TO FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THE

KINGDOM, THE KINGDOM GIVING, AND WHAT WE SOW WILL BE MULTIPLIED.

WHEN YOU'RE READY, WHEN YOU FINISH WRITING OUT THE CHECK FOR

A MILLION DOLLARS, LET'S HOLD UP OUR ENVELOPES OR OUR PHONES

IF WE'RE GIVING ELECTRONICALLY, MY FAVORITE METHOD, AND WE'LL

DECLARE A BLESSING OVER TONIGHT'S OFFERING. HEAVENLY

FATHER, WE DECREE AND DECLARE THAT AS WE TRUST YOU

UNEQUIVOCALLY TO PROVIDE FOR US IN EVERY SITUATION, IN

EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE, OUR OFFERINGS ARE BLESSED AND WE ARE

BLESSED. WE FEAR NOT, WE WORRY NOT, WE DOUBT NOT, WE HAVE NO

ANXIETY, WE ONLY GIVE FREELY IN OBEDIENCE TO HOW YOU HAVE

PROMPTED US IN OUR HEARTS AND WE EXPECT AN ABUNDANT HARVEST TO

COME BACK TO US IN THE MEASURE THAT WE HAVE SOWN HERE TONIGHT

AND IN THE MIGHTY MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS, ALL WHO AGREED SAID,

AMEN. LET'S WELCOME PASTOR DOUG. -AMEN. THANK YOU MARK. GREAT

JOB. HALLELUJAH. PRAISE GOD. YOU CAN BE SEATED. AND I REALLY

WON'T KEEP YOU TO 10:45, I CAN TELL YOU THAT. SO WE'LL GO A

LITTLE FASTER THAN THAT. BOB AND TASHA TOLD ME THEY NEED TO

LEAVE BY 9, SO WE'LL WORK ON THAT. BUT YOU KNOW, THE GOOD

NEWS IS THAT GOD HAS EQUIPPED US WITH EVERYTHING WE NEED TO

DEFEAT ANYTHING THAT SATAN, OUR ENEMY, WOULD THROW AT US.

AND YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF THAT. AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT A

LITTLE BIT TONIGHT, AND I WANNA SET UP MY MESSAGE A LITTLE BIT

BEFORE THAT BY JUST TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GOD'S PLAN FOR

MAN AND HIS ORIGINAL PURPOSE IN CREATING THE EARTH WAS TO HAVE

IT INHABITED BY MANKIND. MAN WAS CREATED TO LOVE AND SERVE GOD.

THAT WAS THE PURPOSE THAT GOD ORIGINALLY HAD IN MIND. GOD

DIDN'T WANT US AS ROBOTS LIKE WE'VE SAID SO MANY TIMES. WE

TALK ABOUT THAT AT CLOSING AND DURING SALVATION MESSAGES. GOD

DIDN'T CREATE US AS ROBOTS. HE WANTED US TO BE FREE WILL MORAL

AGENTS. HE WANTED US TO LOVE HIM BECAUSE WE CHOSE TO LOVE HIM.

NOT BECAUSE HE CREATED US AS A ROBOT THAT SAYS, "I WILL SERVE

YOU GOD. I WILL LOVE YOU." HE DIDN'T WANT THAT. HE WANTED IT

TO COME FROM OUR HEART. THAT WAS HIS DESIRE FOR THE CREATION.

GOD'S DESIRE WAS TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO MANKIND AND BLESS

MAN FOREVER WITH THE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE. GOD'S BLESSING UPON ALL

CREATION WAS SO GREAT IT WAS BEYOND HUMAN WORDS TO DESCRIBE.

AND IF MAN HAD NOT SINNED, THERE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SICKNESS

OR DISEASE OR POVERTY OR DEFEAT OR HARM. THERE WOULDN'T HAVE

BEEN PAIN, SUFFERING, SORROW, MISERY, ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

THEY WEREN'T EVEN PART OF THE PLAN. IT WAS NEVER GOD'S

ORIGINAL PLAN FOR MAN TO SIN AND ALLOW EVIL TO FILL THE EARTH.

AND SO THOSE CONDITIONS ARE REALLY NOT HIS PLAN FOR MANKIND

TODAY. JESUS WAS THE ANSWER TO REDEEM US FROM THE SIN PROBLEM.

IF MAN HAD NOT FALLEN INTO SIN, IT WAS GOD'S ORIGINAL PLAN FOR

ALL MEN TO BE IN HEALTH, TO WALK IN PROSPERITY, AND TO WALK IN

WISDOM. IT'S GOD'S HIGHEST WILL AND DESIRE THAT MANKIND BE FREE

FROM THE CORRUPTION THAT SIN TRIES TO BRING IN. THEREFORE,

SIN, SICKNESS, DISEASE, POVERTY, WANT, UNHAPPINESS, AND FAILURE

ARE REALLY FOREIGN TO GOD'S PERFECT PLAN FOR MAN. THOSE ARE

WORKS OF THE DEVIL. THEY'RE ENEMIES OF GOD AND ALL CREATION.

AND IF THOSE THINGS ARE ENEMIES TO GOD'S PLAN, THEN THEY SHOULD

BE OUR ENEMIES. WE MUST LEARN TO ADJUST AND ADAPT OUR THINKING TO

GOD'S TRUTH. YOU KNOW, OUR THINKING MAY NOT ALWAYS LINE UP

WITH THIS. THE THINKING THAT YOU RECEIVED OR WHAT YOU LEARNED

FROM GRANDMA MAY NOT ALWAYS LINE UP WITH THIS WORD. YOUR NEXT

DOOR NEIGHBOR'S THOUGHTS MAY NOT ALWAYS LINE UP WITH THIS WORD.

BUT WE HAVE TO ADAPT OUR THINKING TO GOD'S THINKING. DR.

FRED PRICE USED TO SAY, "WE MUST LEARN TO LOVE WHAT GOD

LOVES AND HATE WHAT GOD HATES." THAT'S A GOOD ONE TO REMEMBER.

LEARN TO LOVE WHAT GOD LOVES AND HATE WHAT GOD HATES. IN OTHER

WORDS, ADJUST OUR THINKING TO GOD'S THINKING. WE NEED TO

ADJUST TO THIS BOOK. WE SHOULD ALL LET GOD DETERMINE WHAT WE

LOVE AND WHAT WE HATE. GOD'S WORD IS OUR COMPASS. AMEN? AND

AS LONG AS WE WALK ON THIS EARTH, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN FAITH

AND AGGRESSIVE WARFARE AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF GOD'S PLAN. THE

GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, LIKE I

MENTIONED EARLIER, TO OBLITERATE ANYTHING THAT SATAN WOULD

ATTEMPT TO THROW AT US. OUR JOB IS TO COOPERATE WITH GOD TO

ATTAIN THE HIGHEST AND THE BEST THAT HE HAS FOR US. AND MANY

CHRISTIANS DO NOT KNOW THEIR BIBLE, AND THEY ACTUALLY THINK

THAT THOSE CURSES THAT I TALKED ABOUT. THE SICKNESS, THE

POVERTY, THE DISEASE, THE HARM, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE THEIR

FRIEND. SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE. SOME EVEN

GO SO FAR, RACHEL, AS TO CALL THEM THE WILL OF GOD. THEY DON'T

KNOW THEIR SCRIPTURE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL HEARD, OR YOU'VE HEARD

PEOPLE SAY, OR MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD IT TOLD, THAT SOME PEOPLE

HAVE SAID, "I WAS SO THANKFUL I WAS IN THAT AUTOMOBILE

ACCIDENT. I GOT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND I WAS ABLE TO

WITNESS TO THREE NURSES." YEAH? WELL, HOW MUCH MORE COULD YOU

HAVE DONE HAD YOU NOT BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL AND YOU HAD A

HEALTHY BODY? IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A HEALTH CHALLENGE, WE COULD

PROBABLY ALL DO MORE FOR GOD. SO WHY WOULD HE WANT SICKNESS

AND DISEASE TO BE PART OF OUR LIFE? WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE'RE

CALLED TO DO, IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER TO BE IN OPTIMUM HEALTH.

AMEN? WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED TO SHARE

CHRIST. I'M AMAZED AT THE ANSWERS THAT THEOLOGIANS GIVE

SOMETIMES WHEN THEY'RE TEACHING THEIR STUDENTS. IN FACT, I JUST

READ THIS ON A POST ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND I COPIED IT

BECAUSE I THOUGHT, "I'M GONNA USE THAT IN A SERMON SOMETIME,

AND IT ACTUALLY FIT IN WHAT I'M DOING TONIGHT." BUT THIS IS A

WELL-KNOWN NEW TESTAMENT SCHOLAR. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE

HIS NAME. BUT ONE OF HIS STUDENTS ASKED HIM A QUESTION.

AND THE QUESTION WAS THIS. "WHY IS THERE EVIL AND SUFFERING IN

GOD'S WORLD?" (2X) AND HERE WAS THIS BIBLE SCHOLAR'S RESPONSE TO

THIS QUESTION. HE SAID, "GOD WANTS US TO BE GROWN UP AND

RESPONSIBLE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHO WE ARE

AND WHAT WE DO. HE SAID, AND SOMETIMES EXTRAORDINARY THINGS,

NASTY THINGS HAPPEN FOR WHICH THERE IS NO OBVIOUS EXPLANATION.

THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD HIS STUDENT. THIS IS A NEW TESTAMENT SCHOLAR

THAT DOES NOT KNOW HIS BIBLE. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THERE ARE 36

REFERENCES TO THE NAME OF SATAN. THERE'S 102 REFERENCES USING THE

NAME DEVIL. JESUS REFERRED TO SATAN AS "THE ENEMY" IN

MATTHEW 13:39, AS "THE EVIL ONE," MATTHEW 13:38, AS "THE

Matthew 13:39 Matthew 13:38

PRINCE OF THIS WORLD" IN JOHN 12:31. HE CALLED HIM A "LIAR AND

John 12:31

THE FATHER OF LIES" AND A "MURDERER" IN JOHN 8:44. HE SAID

John 8:44

IN LUKE 10:18 THAT HE "SAW HIM FALL FROM HEAVEN." MATTHEW

Luke 10:18 Matthew 12:26

12:26 TELLS US THAT SATAN HAS A KINGDOM. MATTHEW 13:38 SAYS THAT

Matthew 13:38

"EVIL MEN ARE HIS SONS." THAT EXPLAINS SOME THINGS. HE HAS

SOME SONS RUNNING AROUND THIS WORLD. AND THEY'RE EVIL. MATTHEW

Matthew 13:38–39

13:38-39 TELLS US THAT "THE DEVIL SOWS TERRORS AMONG THE

WHEAT." THAT ANSWERS ANOTHER QUESTION. AND THEN THERE'S THREE

SCRIPTURES, MATTHEW 13:19, MARK 4:15 AND LUKE 8:12 THAT ALL

Matthew 13:19 Mark 4:15 Luke 8:12

STATE "HE SNATCHES THE WORD FROM HEARERS." THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF

HIS JOBS, JANET, IS TO SNATCH THE WORD. WHEN YOU HEAR IT AND

YOU ATTEMPT TO BELIEVE IT, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF THAT, HE CAN

COME AND TRY AND SNATCH THAT FROM YOU. THAT'S NOT A GOOD

THING. THAT'S A FAITH ROBBER, I WOULD SAY, WOULDN'T YOU, MARK?

PASTOR MARK? I'M STILL WORKING ON PASTOR MARK. IT'S COMING.

HERE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE ONES, MATTHEW 25:41. IT SAYS, "ETERNAL

Matthew 25:41

FIRE IS PREPARED FOR HIM." THAT'S GONNA BE A GOOD DAY.

AMEN. BUT IT ONLY TAKES AN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN THE

BIBLE AND BIBLE DOCTRINE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A

DEVIL, THAT WE HAVE AN ENEMY, AND HIS MISSION IS TO KILL,

STEAL, AND DESTROY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT SCHOLAR

WOULD SIT THERE AND SAY, "WELL, THERE'S SOME NASTY THINGS THAT

HAPPEN IN LIFE, BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHY." I KNOW WHY. YOU

KNOW WHY. AND IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS

LIFE IF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE GOD ON YOUR SIDE AND YOU

HAVE OPPOSITION. IT JUST EXPLAINS SO MANY THINGS.

IT SEEMS SO SIMPLE, BUT CHRISTIANS SUFFER BECAUSE OF

FOOLISH RELIGIOUS TEACHING, AND THEN THEY GET ROBBED ON WHAT GOD

HAS FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND. THEY'RE NOT WELL

TAUGHT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMPREHEND HOW OUR ADVERSARY

OPERATES AND BE REMINDED THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER

HIM. SATAN WANTS US TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS ON EARTH

IS GOD'S WILL. THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD LIKE US ALL TO BELIEVE.

THEN WE'D NEVER OPPOSE HIM. IF THE DEVIL DECLARES OR DECEIVES

US INTO THINKING THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS ON EARTH IS GOD'S WILL,

WE'LL CONTINUE TO CONTINUALLY LIVE IN DEFEAT. BECAUSE WE NEVER

ENGAGE OR FIGHT HIM. WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD AN ENEMY. IT'S

ALL GOD'S WILL. WHY FIGHT HIM? BACK IN 1956, NOW MOST OF YOU

WON'T REMEMBER THIS BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T EVEN ALIVE IN 1956, BUT

YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF THIS SONG. DORIS DAY SUNG A SONG

CALLED "QUE SERA SERA." HOW MANY OF YOU EVER HEARD OF THE NAME

DORIS DAY? OH, YES, THERE'S A FEW HERE. OKAY, THAT'S GOOD. THE

THREE VERSES OF THE SONG ASK QUESTIONS LIKE, "WHAT WILL I

BE?" OR "WHAT LIES AHEAD?" AND THE CHORUS REPEATS THE ANSWER,

"WHAT WILL BE WILL BE." "WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL, I ASKED

MY MOTHER, 'WHAT WILL I BE? WILL I BE PRETTY? WILL I BE RICH?'

AND HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID TO ME, 'QUE SERA, SERA. WHATEVER WILL

BE WILL BE. THE FUTURE'S NOT OURS TO SEE. QUE SERA, SERA.

WHAT WILL BE WILL BE." I'M SORRY, I'M NOT EDDIE. I CAN'T

SING IT FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, IT WAS A CATCHY TUNE. I GOT TO

ADMIT THAT, BUT IT'S TERRIBLE THEOLOGY. CHRISTIANS MUST

UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE IS NOT WHAT WILL BE WILL BE. THAT'S EXACTLY

WHAT SATAN WANTS US TO THINK. IT'S WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO

BRAINWASH US INTO THINKING. SATAN LOVES IT IF WE FLOAT ALONG

THROUGH LIFE THINKING WHAT WILL BE WILL BE. QUE SERA, SERA. AND

WE HAVE NO WAY TO DETERMINE OUR OUTCOME. BOY, THAT WOULD BE A

SAD LIFE. BUT YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE IN THAT SITUATION

RIGHT NOW. THEY DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH. THAT'S WHY WE ARE SALT

AND LIGHT AND SO IMPORTANT TO SHARE. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO

IT FROM YOUR HOSPITAL ROOM, PASTOR KEITH. GOD HAS A GOOD

PLAN FOR OUR LIVES IF WE LIVE WITHIN HIS GUIDELINES. JESUS

SAID IN JOHN 10:10, THIS SCRIPTURE, I ALREADY QUOTED IT,

John 10:10

"THE THIEF'S PURPOSE IS TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY." AND

JESUS SAID, "MY PURPOSE IS TO GIVE THEM A RICH AND SATISFYING

LIFE." THAT JUST SUMS IT UP RIGHT THERE. THERE'S OUR ANSWERS

RIGHT IN THAT ONE VERSE. WE CHOOSE OUR DESTINY AND WE

DETERMINE OUR FUTURE. REMEMBER I SAID GOD DOESN'T TREAT US LIKE

ROBOTS. IT'S OUR CHOICE WHICH SIDE OF THAT SCRIPTURE WE'RE

GONNA STAND ON. WE'RE GONNA WALK WITH SATAN AND ALLOW HIM TO

TRAMPLE US? OR ARE WE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ABUNDANT

LIFE THAT JESUS GAVE US IN THE NEW COVENANT THAT WE HAVE? GOD'S

WILL IS FOR US TO LIVE IN VICTORY AND AGGRESSIVELY DEFEAT

SATAN WHENEVER HE ATTEMPTS TO BRING AN ATTACK INTO OUR LIVES.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. AND SO

TONIGHT I'M BRINGING THIS MESSAGE FORTH. THAT WAS KIND OF

MY, JUST TO LAY SOME GROUNDWORK, MY INTRODUCTION TONIGHT. BUT I

WANTED TO REMIND US THAT WE NEED TO FORTIFY OUR DEFENSES

BECAUSE SOMETIMES EVEN AS CHRISTIANS WE CAN GET A LITTLE

LAZY THERE. WE KIND OF FORGET THE FIGHT THAT WE'RE IN AND WHAT

WE NEED TO DO TO STAY STRONG IN BATTLE. AMEN WE DON'T WANT TO

GET LAZY. WE NEVER WANT TO ALLOW SATAN ANY ENTRANCE INTO OUR

LIVES. SOMETIMES WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS SUGGESTED IN THE PAST THAT PEOPLE WEAR A

RUBBER BAND AROUND THEIR WRIST AND THEN IF THEY'RE TRYING TO

BREAK A HABIT, MAYBE THEY'RE OVEREATING OR THEY'RE SMOKING

OR WHATEVER, THEY WOULD SNAP THAT RUBBER BAND JUST LIKE THE

ONE I HAVE ON MY WRIST TONIGHT AND THAT WOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL

TO ME TO SAY, "STOP IT, DON'T DO IT." AND IT WOULD HURT ENOUGH

THAT YOU'D SAY, "OKAY, I'M NOT GONNA OVEREAT AGAIN,

OR I'M NOT GONNA SMOKE THAT NEXT CIGARETTE," OR WHATEVER IT IS.

YOU USE THAT RUBBER BAND AND SNAP YOURSELF. TONIGHT, I WANT

YOU TO SNAP YOURSELF AND SAY, "I'M NOT GONNA LET THE DEVIL,

ANY ENTRANCE, HAVE ANY ENTRANCE IN MY LIFE." AMEN? NO ENTRANCE,

HE'S NOT ALLOWED. 1 PETER 5:8 SAYS, "BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT,

1 Peter 5:8

BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL WALKS ABOUT LIKE A ROARING

LION, STAKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR." IT'S OUR JOB TO BE

AWAKE AND AWARE. IT'S OUR JOB TO KNOW AND USE THE TOOLS THAT GOD

HAS GIVEN US TO DEFEAT OUR ENEMY. AND WHEN ANY WAR IS BEING

WAGED, THOSE FIGHTING IN THE BATTLE NEED TO SECURE

INTELLIGENCE ON THE ADVERSARY. ANY OF OUR MILITARY UNITS HAVE

INTELLIGENT, ALL OF OUR MILITARY UNITS, I SHOULD SAY IT THAT WAY,

HAVE INTELLIGENCE UNITS AS PART OF THEM BECAUSE THEY NEED TO

KNOW WHAT THE ENEMY IS DOING. YOU CAN'T GO INTO BATTLE UNLESS

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ENEMY IS DOING. AND WHEN WE EXPOSE THE

DEVIL AND HIS SCHEMES, WE'RE TAKING A STEP TO DEFEAT HIM. SUN

TZU IS CREDITED AS THE AUTHOR OF THE ART OF WAR. IT'S AN

INFLUENTIAL WORK OF MILITARY STRATEGY. AND SERIOUS STUDENTS

OF BATTLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS BOOK. SUN TZU IS PROBABLY THE

BEST KNOWN FOR THIS QUOTE CONCERNING THE PRINCIPLES OF

KNOWING YOUR ENEMY WHILE KNOWING YOURSELF. AND REALLY, IT'S

AMAZING HOW THIS QUOTE APPLIES TO OUR CHRISTIAN WALK. LISTEN TO

ME. I'M GOING TO READ THIS FOR YOU. IT SAYS, "IF YOU KNOW YOUR

ENEMIES AND KNOW YOURSELF, YOU WILL NOT BE IMPERILED IN 100

BATTLES. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR ENEMIES, BUT YOU KNOW YOURSELF,

YOU'LL WIN ONE AND YOU'LL LOSE ONE. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR

ENEMIES NOR YOURSELF, YOU'LL BE IMPERILED IN EVERY SINGLE

BATTLE. CHRISTIANS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT ADVICE. WE NEED TO

KNOW THE POWER THAT LIES WITHIN US. WE NEED TO KNOW OURSELVES,

DON'T WE? AND IF WE KNOW OUR COVENANT, WE KNOW WHAT JESUS HAS

DONE FOR US, AND THAT HE RESIDES IN US, AND HE TOLD US WE HAVE

THE POWER, WE CAN TRAMPLE OVER THE DEVIL, WE HAVE IT, THAT'S

KNOWING OURSELVES BECAUSE HE'S GIVEN IT TO US, AND THEN WE ALSO

UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ENEMY'S STRATEGY IS, THAT'S A WINNING

COMBINATION, WE CAN DEFEAT HIM EVERY TIME. WE HAVE TO

UNDERSTAND AND DISCERN OUR ENEMY'S STRATEGY SO WE CAN BE

MORE EFFECTIVELY IN A POSITION TO DEFEAT HIM. AND TONIGHT I

WANT TO GIVE YOU QUICKLY SEVEN POINTS AS A REMINDER OF OUR

AUTHORITY AND HOW WE CAN DEFEAT THOSE SATANIC ATTACKS AND STOP

HIM IN HIS TRACKS. AND I'M JUST GOING TO LIST THOSE FOR YOU REAL

QUICKLY NOW. NUMBER ONE, WE OVERCOME THROUGH FAITH. NUMBER

TWO, PERFECT LOVE ELIMINATES FEAR. NUMBER THREE, TEMPTATION

IS DEFEATED WHEN WE RESIST THE DEVIL. NUMBER FOUR, CLAIM YOUR

RIGHT TO DIVINE HEALTH. NUMBER FIVE, UNDERSTAND PROSPERITY IS

GOD'S PLAN. NUMBER SIX, ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE US. AND

NUMBER SEVEN, STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED. AND I

GUARANTEE YOU, IF YOU FOLLOW THOSE SEVEN STEPS, YOU'RE GONNA

GO A LONG WAYS TOWARDS DEFEATING ANYTHING THE DEVIL WOULD THROW

AT YOU. WELL, LET'S SEE HERE, OVERCOMING THROUGH FAITH.

HEBREWS 11:6, "BUT WITHOUT FAITH, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE

Hebrews 11:6

HIM, FOR HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND

THAT HE'S A REWARDER OF THOSE THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM." AND

I'M GOING TO READ ANOTHER SCRIPTURE NEXT HERE THAT JAMES

SAID HERE IN JAMES 1, VERSES 5 THROUGH 8. "IF ANY OF YOU LACK

James 1:5–8

WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, WHO GIVES TO ALL LIBERALLY AND

WITHOUT REPROACH, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM. BUT LET HIM ASK

IN FAITH WITH NO DOUBTING, FOR HE WHO DOUBTS IS LIKE A WAVE OF

SEA DRIVEN AND TOSSED BY WIND. FOR LET NOT THAT MAN SUPPOSE HE

WILL RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD. HE'S A DOUBLE-MINDED MAN,

UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS." WE KNOW ACCORDING TO ROMANS 10:17

Romans 10:17

THAT FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD. SO

WE CAN ONLY DEVELOP FAITH AS WE HEAR AND LEARN. NO MAN CAN HAVE

FAITH IN SOMETHING THAT HE'S IGNORANT ABOUT. WE HAVE TO KNOW

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT TO DEVELOP FAITH. DOUBT AND

UNBELIEF IS AN ENEMY AND ALSO COMES THROUGH FALSE TEACHING OR

ACCEPTING LIES INSTEAD OF TRUTHS. CHRISTIANS WHO ARE

TAUGHT WRONG CAN BE INVOLVED IN TEARING DOWN SOMEONE ELSE'S

FAITH. YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE THROW COLD WATER ON PEOPLE THAT HAVE

FAITH. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO BELIEVE THE BEST THEY CAN FOR

THEIR HEALING, AND SOMEONE COMES ALONG AND SAYS, "WELL, YOU

KNOW, IT'S THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU TO BE IN THAT SITUATION," OR

WHATEVER THEY SAY, THROWING COLD WATER ON IT TO DASH THEIR

FAITH. SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT IT'S SINFUL TO ASK

FOR ANY MORE THAN WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE. AND IF WE'RE

GOING TO BELIEVE THE BIBLE, THEN LET'S BELIEVE IT IN ITS

ENTIRETY. IT'S EITHER TRUE OR IT'S NOT TRUE. WE'RE EITHER

GOING TO STAND ON THESE PROMISES AND BELIEVE FOR THEM UNTIL WE

TAKE OUR LAST BREATH ON THIS EARTH, OR WE JUST AS WELL THROW

IT OUT. WE CAN'T JUST PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE.

IF WE OPPOSE GOD AND THE BIBLE BY COOPERATING WITH SATAN, AND

SOMETIMES WE DO IT UNKNOWINGLY, THEN WE BRING HARM TO OURSELVES.

UNBELIEF CAN BE STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS ONCE WE UNDERSTAND GOD'S

PERFECT WILL FOR OUR LIVES. AND WHEN WE START SPEAKING AND

PRAYING GOD'S WORD RATHER THAN DOUBT AND UNBELIEF, THEN WE CAN

BEGIN TO REAP THE BENEFITS THAT GOD PROMISES. REPEAT THIS AFTER

ME. I OVERCOME WITH FAITH. - I OVERCOME WITH FAITH.

- IN GOD'S WORD. - IN GOD'S WORD.

- THAT'S NUMBER ONE. THAT'S HOW WE OVERCOME, FAITH IN GOD'S

WORD. NUMBER TWO, PERFECT LOVE ELIMINATES FEAR. 1 JOHN 4:17-18

1 John 4:17–18

"LOVE HAS BEEN PERFECTED AMONG US IN THIS, THAT WE MAY HAVE

BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN

THIS WORLD. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE, BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT

FEAR BECAUSE FEAR INVOLVES TORMENT, BUT HE WHO FEARS HAS

NOT BEEN MADE PERFECT IN LOVE. PASTOR MARK TALKED ABOUT THAT

FEAR ISSUE A LITTLE BIT EVEN IN OUR GIVING INVOLVED IN THAT.

BUT AS WE FOCUS AND UNDERSTAND ON GOD'S COMPLETE, UNENDING LOVE

FOR US, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE STAND IN A PLACE OF VICTORY,

KNOWING THAT HE NEVER WANTS TO HARM US, THEN WE CAN WALK

WITHOUT FEAR. OUR THINKING HAS A GREAT EFFECT ON DETERMINING OUR

OUTCOME. PROVERBS 23:7, SAYS, "FOR AS A MAN THINKETH IN HIS

Proverbs 23:7

HEART, SO IS HE." YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL'S CHIEF WORK IS TO GET MEN

TO THINK WRONG. HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE SICK, BELIEVE

WE'RE WEAK, BELIEVE WE'RE HELPLESS, BELIEVE THAT WE'VE

BEEN MISTREATED BY OTHERS OR EVEN BY GOD. AND HE WANTS US TO

BELIEVE THAT WE'RE FACING LACK AND POVERTY IN OUR LIVES.

RELIGION TEACHES THAT WE JUST NEED TO ACCEPT THOSE CONDITIONS

AS THE WILL OF GOD, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS HAVE

OCCURRED IN OUR LIFE. THAT'S NOT GOD'S PLAN. IF SATAN CAN GET US

TO THINK ABOUT SICKNESS OR FAILURE OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT

WE'RE DEALING WITH, THEN THOSE THOUGHTS CAN TURN TO WORRY OR

FEAR. AND THEN THAT LEADS TO THE UNDESIRED RESULTS. IF WE MOAN

AND GRUMBLE AND BECOME DISCOURAGED ABOUT ANY

DIFFICULTY, IT ONLY INTENSIFIES IN OUR LIFE. JOB 3:25 SAYS, "FOR

Job 3:25

THE THING I GREATLY FEARED HAS COME UPON ME, AND WHAT I DREADED

HAS HAPPENED TO ME." JOB'S SPIRIT OF FEAR WAS NOT FROM GOD.

JOB WAS ACTUALLY A FINE HOWEVER, ONE OF THE REASONS I BELIEVE

THAT HE WAS TESTED WAS BECAUSE HE PROBABLY WAS NOT FREE FROM

FEAR. JOB EVENTUALLY LEARNED THAT FEAR WAS NOT HIS FRIEND.

FEAR COMES THROUGH WRONG THOUGHTS, AND WRONG THOUGHTS ARE

SEEDS OF FUTURE ACTS. THE THINGS THAT WE SPEAK IN FEAR CAN

ACTUALLY MATERIALIZE IN OUR LIVES. PAUL SAID IN 2 TIMOTHY

2 Timothy 1:7

1:7 "FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND

LOVE AND A SOUND MIND." AND WE NEED TO LEARN TO IGNORE,

MINIMIZE, DENY, AND REFUSE SICKNESS, POVERTY, SIN,

SUFFERING, OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT SHOULD NOT BE IN OUR LIVES.

AND AS WE FOCUS ON GOD'S PLAN OF GOODNESS FOR US AND HIS

LOVE, FEAR AND WORRY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ALLOWED IN OUR

LIVES. DO YOU KNOW THAT WHAT YOU'RE WALKING IN TODAY IS MANY

TIMES THE RESULT OF BAD THOUGHTS OR GOOD THOUGHTS OF YESTERDAY?

YOU'RE SOWING SEED RIGHT NOW TODAY FOR YOUR FUTURE.

THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE THINKING AND SPEAKING TODAY

CAN AND WILL PROBABLY AFFECT YOU IN THE FUTURE. LET ME RESTATE

THAT IN ANOTHER WAY. THE SIN, SICKNESS, FAILURES, AND

UNHAPPINESS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING TODAY CAN BE THE

RESULTS OF THOUGHTS AND PLANS OF YESTERDAY. BUT THE GOOD NEWS

IS ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE HEALTH, THE WELL-BEING, THE

PEACE, AND THE PROSPERITY THAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE TODAY

PROBABLY IS COMING FROM WHAT YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT EARLIER,

YESTERDAY, THE DAY BEFORE, THE MONTH BEFORE, WHAT YOU WERE

SPEAKING BEFORE. SO, HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS. IF YOU'VE CAUGHT

YOURSELF, YOU'VE SNAPPED YOUR RUBBER BAND, YOU WERE SPEAKING

WRONG, OR MAYBE YOU REALIZE NOW, "HEY, I WASN'T SOWING IN

GOOD GROUND. I WAS SPEAKING WRONG FOR THE LAST MONTH. MY

FOOT WAS HURTING AND I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT AND GRIPING

ABOUT IT AND JUST SPEAKING ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WAS HURTING ALL THE

TIME. I NEVER SPOKE GOD'S WORD OVER IT. I NEVER BELIEVED FOR

IT. I NEVER PRAYED. I NEVER REALLY GOT INTO FAITH OVER THAT.

I JUST LET IT HAPPEN AND IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE. WELL,

YOU PLANTED BAD SEED. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE ONLY REASON.

I'M SAYING THAT'S ONE REASON IN THE MANY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT

TONIGHT THAT COULD BE AN AREA THAT WE'VE STUMBLED IN. SO THE

GOOD NEWS IS YOU CAN REVERSE THAT COURSE. YOU CAN START

SPEAKING RIGHT. YOU CAN START BELIEVING RIGHT. YOU CAN START

THINKING RIGHT ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, WHATEVER IT IS, AND

THEN SEE THAT THING START TO TURN. AND IF YOU SOWED SOME BAD

SEED IN THE PAST, YOU SPOKE WRONG, YOU THOUGHT WRONG,

WHATEVER IT WAS, YOU CAN REPENT OF THAT. SAY, GOD FORGIVE ME.

I WON'T DO THAT ANYMORE. AND THEN YOU TURN FROM THAT, AND YOU

START FINDING THOSE SCRIPTURES THAT APPLY TO YOUR SITUATION AND

BUILDING YOUR FAITH THAT AREA. SO YOU TURN THE TABLES ON THE

DEVIL. AND THEN HE CAN'T OPERATE IN YOUR LIFE ANYMORE. YOU DON'T

GIVE HIM AN OPEN DOOR. AMEN. THAT WAS AN EXTRA. THAT WASN'T

EVEN A PART OF MY MESSAGE. BUT I THREW IT IN. OKAY. HALLELUJAH.

BUT THE THINGS THAT YOU FEED ON ARE SO IMPORTANT. THE MOVIES

THAT YOU WATCH, THE MEDIA POSTS THAT YOU READ AND LISTEN TO ON

YOUR MOBILE DEVICES, WHATEVER IT IS, WHATEVER SOURCE IT IS THAT

YOU TAKE IT IN, FROM THE TELEVISION OR THE RADIO OR

WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THEY ALL INFLUENCE YOUR THOUGHT LIFE.

IT CAN BRAINWASH YOU IN A WAY THAT IS NOT GOOD IF IT'S THE

WRONG STUFF. THAT'S WHY YOU WANT TO ALWAYS FEED ON THE GOOD

STUFF. THE MIND HAS TO BE KEPT CLEAN AND PURE. AS WE PROGRAM

OURSELVES TO THINK RIGHT, THOSE THOUGHTS WILL ELIMINATE FEAR AND

REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF YOU DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU LATER

REGRET. THAT'S WHY PORNOGRAPHY IS SO HARMFUL. IT FEEDS YOUR

THOUGHT LIFE, AND IT SOON LEADS TO ACTS OF SIN. SATAN CONVINCED

JOB TO WALK IN FEAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, AND SOME UNDESIRABLE

EVENT STARTED TO HAPPEN IN HIS LIFE. IT CAME INTO JOB'S LIFE.

WHEN A FEARFUL THOUGHT TRIES TO EMERGE, STOP AND REFUSE IT.

DON'T LET THOSE FEARFUL THOUGHTS COME IN. REPLACE IT WITH

SPEAKING GOD'S PROMISE. FEAR YOU'RE NOT COMING IN. I'M

BELIEVING GOD'S WORD ON THIS. HE SAYS I'M GONNA HAVE VICTORY

IN THIS AREA, AND I'M BELIEVING IT. PSALM 53:3-4 SAYS, "WHEN I

Psalms 53:3–4

AM AFRAID, I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN YOU." I PRAISE GOD FOR WHAT

HE HAS PROMISED. I TRUST IN GOD, SO WHY SHOULD I BE AFRAID? WHAT

CAN MERE MORTALS DO TO ME? REPEAT THIS AFTER ME. GOD HAS

NOT GIVEN ME A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND OF LOVE AND OF

A SOUND MIND. AMEN, AMEN. NUMBER THREE, TEMPTATION IS DEFEATED

WHEN WE RESIST THE DEVIL. I WANNA BRING SOME CLARITY HERE

CONCERNING TEMPTATION. WHEN A CHRISTIAN IS UNDER ATTACK FROM

DEMONIC FORCES, IT'S NOT AN INDICATION THAT GOD HAS FORSAKEN

YOU. IT'S SATAN'S DESIRE TO GET YOU TO BELIEVE THAT GOD'S

FORSAKEN YOU WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG IN YOUR LIFE. HE WANTS YOU

TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE GOING THROUGH THIS TRIAL IF GOD

WERE ACTUALLY WITH YOU. LET'S CLARIFY THAT NOW. JAMES 1:13-15

James 1:13–15

SAYS, "AND REMEMBER, WHEN YOU ARE BEING TEMPTED, DO NOT SAY,

'GOD IS TEMPTING ME.' GOD IS NEVER TEMPTED TO DO WRONG, AND

HE NEVER TEMPTS ANYONE ELSE. TEMPTATION COMES FROM OUR OWN

DESIRES, WHICH ENTICE US AND DRAG US AWAY. THESE DESIRES GIVE

BIRTH TO SINFUL ACTIONS, AND WHEN SIN IS ALLOWED TO GROW, IT

GIVES BIRTH TO DEATH." A CHRISTIAN IS NOT ALLOWING SIN

INTO YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU'RE BEING TEMPTED. NO SIN IS COMMITTED

UNTIL LUST IS CONCEIVED AND THE SIN IS FINISHED. WHEN WE COME

UNDER ATTACK FROM DEMONS, WE'RE INSTRUCTED BY JAMES TO DO THIS.

JAMES 4:7, HE SAYS, "THEREFORE, SUBMIT TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL,

James 4:7

AND HE WILL FLEE." RESIST HIM. TEMPTATION IS A PART OF EVERY

CHRISTIAN'S LIFE. JUST ASK JESUS. WHEN JESUS WAS IN THE

DESERT FOR 40 DAYS, HE WAS NOT FREE OF TEMPTATION. THE BIBLE

TELLS US THAT HE WAS TEMPTED BY SATAN. HE WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY

ANGELS. THE TEST OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IS NOT THAT YOU'RE

TEMPTED, BUT THAT YOU STAND UP UNDER THE TEMPTATION AND RESIST.

DON'T GIVE INTO IT. WHEN YOU REACT TO SIN BY FLEEING FROM IT,

JUST AS JESUS DID, I BELIEVE YOU'LL BE ATTENDED BY ANGELS AND

BE GIVEN STRENGTH TO STAY THE COURSE. THANK GOD FOR HIS

ANGELS. THEY ATTEND TO US AFTER WE'VE RESISTED THE TEMPTATION.

IT'S LIKE A REWARD. THANK GOD FOR HIS ANGELS. THEY COME AND

ATTEND TO US. HALLELUJAH. FATHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR

ANGELS. I THANK YOU, LORD, THAT EVERY TIME WE NEED THOSE

MESSENGERS FROM HEAVEN, THEY ARE AT OUR BECK AND CALL. YOU

HAVE ASSIGNED THEM TO EACH ONE OF US. AND THEY HAVE AN

IMPORTANT WORK TO DO IN OUR LIVES. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THEM

NOW. WE THANK YOU FOR ANGELS ON ASSIGNMENT IN OUR LIVES,

PROTECTING US, KEEPING US, AND EVEN ATTENDING TO US, JUST LIKE

THE ANGELS DID FOR JESUS AFTER HE RESISTED THE DEVIL AND

RESISTED TEMPTATION. IN MATTHEW 4:11 AND MARK 1:13, WHEN JESUS

Matthew 4:11 Mark 1:13

CONCLUDED HIS 40 DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS, THE ANGELS APPEARED

TO HIM, AND THEY ATTENDED TO HIM OR MINISTERED TO HIM AND MET

HIS PHYSICAL NEEDS. THEY TOOK THE ROLE OF SERVANTS AND

MINISTERED TO HIS PHYSICAL NEEDS. THANK GOD FOR THE

SUPERNATURAL ACTIVITY OF ANGELS. AND IF WE DO THE RIGHT THING AND

RESIST SATAN, THE ANGELS WILL MINISTER TO US. AS WE LEARN TO

STAND FIRMLY AND RESIST THE DEVIL, I BELIEVE THAT HELPS US

TO BECOME SHARPER AND STRONGER AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE NEXT

ATTACK EVEN EASIER TO FLOAT RIGHT THROUGH AND SAY, "DEVIL,

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY PART OF IT. I RESIST YOU IN

JESUS' NAME." YOU KNOW, DIAMONDS ARE FORMED UNDER EXTREME

PRESSURE AND INTENSE HEAT. ORDINARY CARBON IS FORMED INTO A

DIAMOND. IT'S THE HARDEST SUBSTANCE IN THE WORLD. ONLY

ANOTHER DIAMOND CAN SCRATCH A DIAMOND. THAT'S HOW HARD THAT

SUBSTANCE IS. GOD'S DESIRE IS THAT WE BECOME AN ARMY OF

BELIEVERS SO STRONG THAT WE'RE SCRATCH RESISTANT, JUST LIKE A

DIAMOND. IMPERVIOUS AND UNYIELDING TO ANY SATANIC

ATTACKS. REPEAT THIS WITH ME. I WILL SUBMIT TO GOD, RESIST THE

DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE. AMEN. AMEN. OKAY, NUMBER FOUR. CLAIM

YOUR RIGHT TO DIVINE HEALTH.(2X) IT'S THE RIGHT OF EVERY BELIEVER

IN CHRIST TO HAVE PERFECT HEALTH AND FREEDOM FROM THE WORKS OF

THE DEVIL. I JUST WANT TO DO THIS TONIGHT. YOU ARE WELL

TAUGHT IN THIS HOUSE AND ONLINE HERE TOO IN THE HEALING COVENANT

THAT WE HAVE. WE TALK ABOUT IT OFTEN. YOU KNOW THAT, WHAT IT

IS. I DON'T HAVE TO TEACH ON HEALING TONIGHT,

BUT I WANT TO READ YOU THREE SCRIPTURES, AND WHAT I'D LIKE

YOU TO DO IS JUST SOAK THOSE IN TONIGHT. IF YOU FEEL LIKE JUST

CLOSING YOUR EYES AND LISTENING, YOU CAN DO THAT. YOU DON'T HAVE

TO CONTINUE TO LOOK UP HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO, BUT JUST

LISTEN TO THE WORDS HERE THAT I'M GOING TO READ TONIGHT AND

JUST SOAK IN THAT HEALING POWER. PSALM 91:1-7 "THOSE WHO LIVE IN

Psalms 91:1–7

THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL FIND REST IN THE SHADOW OF

THE ALMIGHTY. THIS I DECLARE ABOUT THE LORD. HE ALONE IS MY

REFUGE, MY PLACE OF SAFETY. HE IS MY GOD AND I TRUST HIM. FOR

HE WILL RESCUE YOU FROM EVERY TRAP AND PROTECT YOU FROM DEADLY

DISEASE. HE WILL COVER YOU WITH HIS FEATHERS. HE WILL SHELTER

YOU WITH HIS WINGS. HIS FAITHFUL PROMISES ARE YOUR ARMOR AND YOUR

PROTECTION. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE TERRORS OF THE NIGHT, NOR

THE ARROW THAT FLIES IN THE DAY. DO NOT DREAD THE DISEASE

THAT STALKS IN THE DARKNESS, NOR THE DISASTER THAT STRIKES AT

MIDDAY. THOUGH A THOUSAND SHALL FALL AT YOUR SIDE, THOUGH TEN

THOUSAND ARE DYING AROUND YOU, THESE EVILS WILL NOT TOUCH YOU.

AND THEN MATTHEW 8:16-17, "THAT EVENING MANY DEMON POSSESSED

Matthew 8:16–17

PEOPLE WERE BROUGHT TO JESUS. THEY CAST OUT THE EVIL SPIRITS

WITH A SIMPLE COMMAND AND HE HEALED ALL THE SICK.

THIS FULFILLED THE WORD OF THE LORD THROUGH THE PROPHET ISAIAH

WHO SAID, 'HE TOOK OUR SICKNESSES AND REMOVED OUR

DISEASES." AMEN, AMEN. AND THEN ROMANS 8:11, "THE SPIRIT OF GOD

Romans 8:11

WHO RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD LIVES IN YOU. AND JUST AS GOD

RAISED CHRIST JESUS FROM THE DEAD, HE WILL GIVE LIFE TO YOUR

MORTAL BODIES BY THIS SAME SPIRIT LIVING WITHIN YOU."

CHRIST HAS DONE THE WORK. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GETTING HEALED

AND REMAINING IN THAT HEALING IS US. IT'S UP TO US. HE'S DONE IT

FOR US. WE HAVE TO RECEIVE IT. WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT. WHEN WE

DESIRE HEALING, THE BIBLE GIVES US INSTRUCTION. HE TELLS US TO

RESIST THE DEVIL. HE TELLS US TO PRAY IN FAITH WITHOUT WAVERING.

AND THEN BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED THE ANSWER. YOU MAY NOT

EVEN HAVE THE FULL MANIFESTATION OF IT. YOU DON'T HAVE THE FULL,

COMPLETE, NATURAL MANIFESTATION OF IT, BUT YOU STILL BELIEVE

THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED IT. THAT'S NOT LYING. THAT'S BELIEVING

GOD'S WORD THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED THE PROMISE. HOWEVER LONG IT

TAKES FOR THAT TO MANIFEST IN YOUR BODY, YOU STILL WALK IN

THAT FAITH, AND YOU DON'T DOUBT IT. YOU NEVER WAVER. THAT'S

FAITH. AND EVEN IF YOU'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A LONG-TERM HEALTH

CHALLENGE, DON'T WALK IN CONDEMNATION. YOU MIGHT SAY,

"BUT PASTOR DOUG, "I'VE EXPERIENCED A HEALTH CHALLENGE

FOR MANY YEARS, "AND I'VE PRAYED, AND I'VE FASTED, "AND

I'VE TRIED TO BUILD MY FAITH, "BUT I'M STILL DEALING WITH THAT

SICKNESS." THEN MY ANSWER TO YOU IS JUST KEEP STANDING. JUST

KEEP STANDING. WE'VE ALL HAD HEALTH CHALLENGES. EVERY ONE OF

US IN HERE, I'M SURE, COULD SAY AT SOME TIME YOU'VE WALKED

THROUGH SOMETHING, OR MAYBE YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH SOMETHING

NOW, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STAND ON THE WORD.

CONTINUE TO STAND. NOTHING WAVERING. DON'T LET ANYONE

ELSE'S DOUBT EVEN ENTER INTO YOUR THOUGHTS. DON'T LET IT COME

IN. YOU STAND WITH GOD'S WORD AND LET THE MANIFESTATION COME.

FILL YOUR HOME AND YOUR ATMOSPHERE WITH FAITH AND PRAISE

AND NEVER STOP TRUSTING OR BELIEVING FOR FULL

MANIFESTATION. EPHESIANS 6:13 SAYS, "THEREFORE, TAKE UP THE

Ephesians 6:13

WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD "THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE

EVIL DAY "AND HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND." YOU KNOW, HEALING WORKS

IN THE SAME WAY AS SALVATION. WHEN YOU ACCEPTED THE LORD JESUS

CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, YOU BELIEVED THAT YOU WERE A

CHRISTIAN. YOU BELIEVED YOU'D BEEN TRANSFORMED. YOU BELIEVED

THAT YOUR ETERNAL HOME IS HEAVEN. AMEN? YOU JUST WALKED

INTO IT. YOU PRAYED, YOU BELIEVED, AND YOU STARTED

WALKING WITH HIM. AND IT'S REALLY THE SAME THING WITH THE

HEALING. NO DOUBT. YOU JUST BELIEVE IT. THE SAME FAITH IN

WHICH YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT HEAVEN IS YOUR ETERNAL HOME IS

THE SAME FAITH THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE FOR HEALING IN YOUR

BODY, OR PROSPERITY, OR WHATEVER ELSE IT IS THAT YOU'RE TALKING

ABOUT. REPEAT THIS AFTER ME. THE SAME SPIRIT THAT RAISED CHRIST

FROM THE DEAD WILL QUICKEN MY MORTAL BODY. AMEN, AMEN.

PRAISE GOD, LET'S MOVE ON HERE. WE'RE DOING OKAY, I THINK. I'M

GONNA GET YOU OUT BEFORE NINE. YOU'LL BE OKAY, BOB, YOU CAN GET

TO THE ICE CREAM SHOP. BOB AND TASHA REALLY WANT ICE CREAM

TONIGHT, SO I'M GONNA TRY AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. PRAISE GOD.

UNDERSTAND PROSPERITY IS GOD'S PLAN. NUMBER FIVE, UNDERSTAND

PROSPERITY IS GOD'S PLAN. ALL BELIEVERS CAN ACCESS THE

BENEFITS OF MATERIAL BLESSINGS. GOD WILL GIVE US THE BENEFITS

THAT HE'S PROMISED AND PROVIDE ABUNDANTLY FOR US WHEN WE STAND

IN FAITH AND IN THE WISDOM THAT'S NECESSARY TO GET THESE

BLESSINGS. AGAIN, I'M GONNA READ THREE SCRIPTURES FOR REVIEW.

YOU'RE WELL TAUGHT IN THIS AREA. I DON'T NEED TO TEACH ON IT

TONIGHT. LET ME JUST GIVE YOU THREE MORE SCRIPTURES JUST

TO CONFIRM WHAT THE WORD SAYS ABOUT YOUR PROSPERITY. PROVERBS

Proverbs 3:9–10

3:9-10 SAYS, "HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH AND WITH THE

BEST PART OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU PRODUCE. THEN HE WILL FILL

YOUR BARNS WITH GRAIN AND YOUR VATS WILL OVERFLOW WITH GOOD

WINE." AND THEN MATTHEW 6:33, "SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD ABOVE

Matthew 6:33

ALL ELSE AND LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY AND HE WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING

YOU NEED." AND THEN 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7-8, "YOU MUST

2 Corinthians 9:7–8

EACH DECIDE IN YOUR HEART HOW MUCH TO GIVE AND DON'T GIVE

RELUCTANTLY OR IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE FOR GOD LOVES A PERSON

WHO GIVES CHEERFULLY. AND GOD WILL GENEROUSLY PROVIDE YOU WITH

ALL YOU NEED. THEN YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED

AND PLENTY LEFT OVER TO SHARE WITH OTHERS. REPEAT THIS WITH

ME. AS I SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HE

WILL PROVIDE EVERYTHING I NEED. AMEN. AND THEN NUMBER SIX, ALLOW

THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE US. WE HAVE A KEEN ADVANTAGE HERE IN

OVERCOMING SATAN BECAUSE WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY

SPIRIT WILL GIVE US INSIGHT, DIRECTION, AND WISDOM. JOHN

John 16:13

16:13 "I WANT TO READ THAT OUT OF THE AMPLIFIED TONIGHT. IT

SAYS, "BUT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, COMES, HE WILL GUIDE

YOU INTO ALL TRUTH, FULL AND COMPLETE TRUTH, FOR HE WILL NOT

SPEAK ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE, BUT HE WILL SPEAK WHATEVER HE

HEARS FROM THE FATHER, THE MESSAGE REGARDING THE SON. HE

WILL DISCLOSE TO YOU WHAT IS TO COME IN THE FUTURE. LISTENING

TO THE HOLY SPIRIT ALLOWS US TO AVOID THE TRAPS OF SATANIC

INFLUENCE. IN MATTHEW 16:21-25, CHRIST REBUKED PAUL FOR ALLOWING

Matthew 16:21–25

SATAN TO INFLUENCE HIM. PAUL WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO STOP JESUS

FROM GOING TO THE CROSS. AND HE HAD TO BE REBUKED FOR THAT. IN

THIS CASE, PAUL WAS A CHRISTIAN, BUT IN IGNORANCE HE YIELDED

HIMSELF TO SATANIC INFLUENCE AND HE LISTENED TO THE DEVIL FOR

THAT MOMENT. IT'S AN FOR ANY OF US TO HAVE HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES.

WE CAN HEAR THE DEVIL WHISPER, WE JUST CAN'T TAKE THAT BAIT.

WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT REALIZING IT. OUR TIME, OUR TALENTS, AND

OUR ABILITY SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO PROMOTE THE RIGHTEOUS CAUSE

OF GOD. WE'RE CALLED AS CHRISTIANS TO WALK IN HOLINESS

AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. PASTOR HANK RECENTLY SAID, "WHAT OTHERS

CAN DO, I CANNOT." IT'S A GOOD THING NOT ONLY FOR PASTORS TO

FOLLOW, BUT FOR ALL OF US. GALATIANS 5:22-23 SAYS, "BUT THE

Galatians 5:22–23

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG-SUFFERING,

KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, "GENTLENESS,

SELF-CONTROL. "AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW." AND WHENEVER A

BELIEVER TAKES PART IN ANY DIVISION, STRIFE, MALICE,

HATRED, OR ANY KIND OF WRONGDOING, HE'S BEING USED AT

THAT POINT AS A TOOL OF SATAN. DEMONIC POWERS HAVE GOTTEN A

HOLD OF YOU AND YOU'RE LISTENING TO THEM IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN

THOSE THINGS. I MIGHT BE STEPPING ON SOME TOES TONIGHT.

THERE'S A LOT IN THAT LIST, DIVISION, STRIFE, MALICE,

HATRED, BUT NONE OF US WANT TO BE COUNTED AMONG THOSE THAT ARE

USED AS A TOOL OF SATAN. BUT WHEN WE YIELD TO SATANIC POWER,

WE DO THINGS CONTRARY TO HOLINESS AND SOUND BIBLE

DOCTRINE. REPEAT AFTER ME. I WILL ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO

GUIDE AND DIRECT ME. AMEN. EDDIE, YOU CAN COME. I'M ON

NUMBER SEVEN ALREADY HERE. NUMBER SEVEN, STUDY TO SHOW

YOURSELF APPROVED. WHEN CHRISTIANS STUDY AND BECOME

KNOWLEDGEABLE AND STRONG IN GOD'S TRUTH, THEN WE'RE REALLY

A THREAT TO SATAN. PAUL ADDRESSED THIS IN HIS LETTER TO

TIMOTHY, 2 TIMOTHY 2:15, SAYS, "STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF

2 Timothy 2:15

APPROVED UNTO GOD, "A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH." AND THEN PAUL ADDRESSED

THAT AGAIN IN EPHESIANS 6. HE WRITES TO THE EPHESIANS AND

HE TOLD THEM, "PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD. STAND YOUR GROUND. PUT

ON THE BELT OF TRUTH." LET ME READ EPHESIANS 6:13-14 TO YOU

Ephesians 6:13–14

OUT OF THE NEW LIVING TRANSLATION. IT SAYS,

"THEREFORE, PUT ON EVERY PIECE OF GOD'S ARMOR SO YOU WILL BE

ABLE TO RESIST THE ENEMY IN THE TIME OF EVIL. THEN AFTER THE

BATTLE, YOU WILL STILL BE STANDING FIRM. STAND YOUR

GROUND, PUTTING ON THE BELT OF TRUTH AND THE BODY ARMOR OF

GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS." AND WE CAN'T PUT ON THE BELT OF TRUTH

IF WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH, THE WORD OF

GOD. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO STUDY TO SHOW OURSELVES APPROVED

AND UNDERSTAND. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND

THE DOCTRINES THAT ARE IN THIS BIBLE. JUST LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE

ARE OUT THERE AIMLESSLY GOING ALONG THINKING, "WHAT WILL BE,

WILL BE," AND DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE

OPPOSITION IN THIS WORLD BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE WORD.

THEY DON'T KNOW GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE

BATTLE THAT WE'RE IN, BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE VICTORY.

THIS ALSO GIVES US PROTECTION FROM FALSE TEACHING. THERE ARE

HUNDREDS OF SCRIPTURES FROM BOTH THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW

TESTAMENT ABOUT BEING AWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS. THE DEVIL LOVES

FALSE TEACHING. DID YOU KNOW THAT? BECAUSE IT LEADS

INDIVIDUALS DOWN A PATH OF DECEPTION, WHICH IS HIS KEY

OPERATIONAL TOOL. HE LOVES TO DECEIVE PEOPLE AND THEN HE LEADS

THEM INTO DESTRUCTION. 1 TIMOTHY 4:1-2 SAYS, "NOW THE HOLY SPIRIT

1 Timothy 4:1–2

TELLS US CLEARLY THAT IN THE LAST TIME SOME WILL TURN AWAY

FROM THE TRUE FAITH, THEY WILL FOLLOW DECEPTIVE SPIRITS AND

TEACHINGS THAT COME FROM DEMONS. THESE PEOPLE ARE HYPOCRITES AND

LIARS AND THEIR CONSCIENCES ARE DEAD. IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF

THE GUY WHO WAS SHOPPING AT WALMART AND THERE WAS AN OLD

LADY IN LINE THAT KEPT STARING AT HIM. AND FINALLY SHE SAID,

"YOU LOOK SO MUCH LIKE MY LATE SON. AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY

SILLY OF ME TO ASK, BUT COULD YOU JUST CALL OUT TO ME,

'GOODBYE, MOTHER,' AS I LEAVE TODAY? IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL SO

HAPPY IF YOU COULD DO THAT." AND THE GUY SAID, "YES, I'LL BE

GLAD TO DO THAT FOR YOU." AND THE OLD LADY PROCEEDED THROUGH

THE CHECKOUT AND AS SHE LEFT THE SUPERMARKET, THE MAN SAID,

"GOODBYE, MOTHER." AND THE OLD LADY WAVED BACK AND WALKED OUT

THE DOOR. AND THE MAN WAS REALLY PLEASED THAT HE'D DONE SOMETHING

TO MAKE THAT LADY'S DAY, TO BRING HAPPINESS TO HER. AND THEN

HE PROCEEDED TO PAY FOR HIS GROCERIES. AND THE CASHIER SAID,

"THAT'LL BE $362." THE GUY SAYS, "$362? I ONLY BOUGHT A FEW

THINGS." AND THE CASHIER REPLIED, "YES, BUT YOUR MOTHER

SAID THAT YOU WOULD PAY FOR HERS." THE GUY WAS DECEIVED. HE

WAS TRICKED. AND WE ARE DETERMINED. WE ARE DETERMINED

NOT TO BE DECEIVED. WE'RE GOING TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND

CONFIDENT IN THE WORD OF GOD. AND THE DEVIL'S NOT GOING TO

TRICK US. REPEAT THIS WITH ME. I WILL NOT BE DECEIVED. AMEN.

AMEN. WHY DON'T YOU STAND WITH ME TONIGHT? WE'RE BASICALLY DONE

HERE. YOU KNOW, I'VE REVIEWED SEVEN PRINCIPLES THAT WE CAN USE

AS A WINNING STRATEGY TO EXPOSE THE DEVIL. AND I THINK EVERYONE

IN HERE PROBABLY KNEW OF THEM BEFORE YOU GOT HERE. BUT I

BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD REMINDER TO REFRESH OUR MINDS IN OUR

COVENANT, IN WHAT GOD'S DONE FOR US, AND WHAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO

DO FOR US AS WE STAND IN FAITH. LET'S PRAY TONIGHT. FATHER, I

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO YOUR WORD.

AND TONIGHT AS WE LOOKED AT WINNING STRATEGIES THAT WILL

HELP US DEFEAT AND OVERCOME THE DEVIL, I THANK YOU, LORD, FOR

YOUR WORD, FIRST OF ALL, THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US, THAT WE CAN

STAND STRONG IN FAITH IN YOUR WORD AND WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US.

AND AS WE STUDY AND SHOW OURSELVES APPROVED, YOU'LL GIVE

US THE VICTORY. I THANK YOU, LORD, THAT TEMPTATION THAT COMES

OUR WAY, DECEIT THAT MAY COME OUR WAY FROM SATAN, WE ARE GOING

TO RESIST IT, OPPOSE IT, AND NOT HAVE ANY PART OF IT. I THANK

YOU, LORD, THAT WE CAN STAND AND WALK IN PROSPERITY, WE CAN

WALK IN HEALTH, AND ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US

AND PROVIDED FOR US BECAUSE YOU'RE A GOOD GOD AND YOU LOVE

US. WE'LL NOT ENTER INTO FEAR, BUT WE'LL CONTINUALLY PRAISE

YOU, WORSHIP YOU, FOLLOW YOUR GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND

BE DIRECTED BY YOUR VOICE. AND WE'LL DO THIS FROM VICTORY TO

VICTORY TO VICTORY AS WE MOVE ON IN THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE

CALLED US TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS EARTH. AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT

NOW IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. WELL, GOD BLESS YOU

TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR COMING. DON'T FORGET TO BE BACK IN THE

HOUSE ON SUNDAY. AND I THINK I HEARD THE RUMOR, PASTOR MARK,

THAT PASTOR BRENDA'S PREACHING THIS SUNDAY. SO IT'S GOING TO BE

A WILD TIME IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. TUNE IN FOR US AT 9

O'CLOCK AND THEN THE REPEAT AT 11:30 BROADCAST. GOD BLESS YOU.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK. AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK IN THE

HOUSE ON SUNDAY MORNING.

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