Annie, led group in worship…
Pastor Ray shared…
This morning I had one word rolling around me and that was “stand.” I’m talking about physically standing, but standing up spiritually inside. That would take us to Ephesians, “when you’ve done all,” what do you do? Stand. But that’s after you’ve done it all. If you can’t just stand, if you haven’t done anything. I wanted to start out with this. I know I can speak for Annie and Tim, Peg and whoever else might be in here with me leading and praying. I just see it like this. I pledge to you, I will or we will never take it casually that we can broadcast over the Internet and come here in the chapel… we will never be casual about it. He’s told us in His Word, He’s doing a new thing. I believe every day He’s doing a new thing. So I’m believing God that you won’t get tired of seeing me or us… I don’t know how to say it. I feel like I’m doing a political commercial. “I approve this message.” Ha, ha, ha. We’re coming to you with every fiber of our being, trusting in Him. Because He’s the one that’s doing the work and we need Him. I encourage you, don’t quit.
When the election takes place, we’re not finished praying. If you think we’re just ramping up with prayer until the election, no. We know how it was last election. When we moved on from the election, all… excuse me for saying it… hell broke loose. So we keep pushing back with the blood of Jesus and keep speaking what He tells us to speak. For me, I trust what He says. I want to hear His voice. Maybe sometimes it doesn’t make sense but I do it because that’s what He wants me to do.
I’m going to go through a couple things. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”
Then verse 11, “May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].” When His glory is manifested, it will be recognized and people will sense something different in us. And it’ll be a good thing and they’ll be drawn to it.
I want to go through these scriptures Ephesians 6:10–19 from the Passion translation. It’s an interesting translation concerning the armor. Beginning in verse 10.
Holy Spirit, thank You for Your manifested presence here today.
Annie led group in singing about the blood of Jesus…
Pastor Ray shared…
10 “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.
11 Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! 12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. 13 Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.
14 Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. 15 Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.
16 In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One! 17–18 Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.
Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.
A couple Wednesdays ago, I took a portion of the word that Pastor Lynne had on the first night she opened up prayer for our nation, praying for godly leaders. In the last part of that prophecy, it says church leaders will not just preach subjects or different topics, but they will speak arrows to dispel darkness, a new era is being born. What’s that era? When we stand up and do what we just read, we stand firmly covered with the blood and we have the Word of God which is razor sharp. In Ephesians where it says the enemy is shooting arrows at us, we put up that shield and the blood of Jesus protects us and guess what? We’re sending back arrows of the Word against him and every dark way. So I had some scriptures that I wanted to go through to use them as arrows. The enemy is defeated but it’s up to us to keep him down under, recognizing that he is a defeated foe. No fear here!
James 4: 7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Ephesians 6:10–11, “Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might. Put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, against rulers of darkness of this age, against spirit hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:14–17, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth; having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”
1 Peter 5:8–9, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
John 16:11, “Of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
Romans 16:20, “And the God of peace will crush Satan’s head under your feet shortly. The grace of Our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
Psalm 91:11, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”
1 John 5:18, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who is born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”
Group ending with worship…
