Many in our congregation have been experiencing intense warfare in the last few weeks. Some would say it is the most intense they have ever experienced. For me personally, the warfare has ranged from family and financial all the way to physical. This past Sunday was one of those that I didn't know how I was going to make it to the Church, let alone preach, but I knew that if I did, that God would deliver me and use me. I had spent the previous 3 days laying flat on my back being crushed with something like food poisoning, though it wasn't food poisoning.
There had been a warning the previous Sunday. Over our speaker system during the 10:30am service had come a sound which had made the hair on the back of many knecks stand up. It said, "Darkness is hovering over this place, darkness is hovering over this place." It came over a muted speaker, louder then anything else happening at the time and many heard it though not all did. Some were fearful, others were excited. Pst Joy and I were some of the excited ones. You see, we have declared war on darkness and we are a force fighting for Jesus and I believe that the enemy often exposes himself when he is getting desperate. It is darkest before light. But when we are warned, when we know that the enemy is circling, hovering, looking for opportunity, we need to make certain that we "circle the wagons" and close every opening that he might enter. It is a time to unite, and especially to be careful to follow God's commandments completely, as Moses encouraged us to.
God has a plan for you and for I... it is a plan to prosper us and not to harm us... to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 paraphrased). According to His Word through Moses, He has already given us the land. We are already able to enter into this land freely. But entering the land and moving about in it, touching it and feeling it, is a very different thing then actually possessing it.
Lots of people enter the Church which is the vehicle that will help you acheive your destiny in Christ, but few people will actually possess their destiny. I'm not trying to discourage you friend. I'm just calling it like I've seen it for 40 years in every Church and Christian home I have ever known.
I said these words this last Sunday: "The Church is the safest place in the world!... for people who are careful to obey completely, the Word of God. The Church is the most dangerous place in the world for people who are not careful to completely obey the Word of God." I whole-heartedly stand behind what I said then and have written here today. You will either live and take possession of your promised land or you will die... in the Church!
Get all the wisdom you can, obtain all the wealth and prosper to your hearts content, cast demons out, go deep into the realms of prophecy and prayer, heal the sick, preach with eloquance and amazing revelation, value family and fellowship as your highest priorities, feed the hungry, house the homeless, send missionaries, plant Churches... do all of those things and do them well... but more then anything else... be careful to follow the decrees of God so that you may live and not die.
1 Peter 5:7-9 (NIV) "7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
The services on Sunday were powerful, Monday has been even better and an hour from now, Tuesday will be even more amazing!... for those of us who are being careful. God is full of grace and He loves us! Thank you for your prayers and loyalty to God and to His Kingdom! To the One who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more then what we can ask or imagine, to the One who is able to KEEP us until THAT DAY, we give You all the glory and commit our lives fully to YOU!
