Ester's Call - Anointed For Such A Time As This

Ester’s Call

Gtcotr/093004

Anointed For Such A Time As This

What we need is not another description of the anointing of God, but rather a demonstration of the anointing of God.

You see,

The anointing of God is manifested in power.

The anointing of God is manifested in grace.

The anointing of God is manifested in wisdom and knowledge.

Key Scripture: Ester 4:14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Just like Ester, every person is ready for their next step …

You are ready for your next step.

I. Peter’s Experience

A. Peter was in Joppa, resting on a roof top before lunch

B. Peter had a vision and it perplexed him

1. It was unlawful for Peter to go to Cornelius’ home

2. God chose Peter anyway

C. Peter obeyed God against all tradition, custom, practice and law

1. Much like Ester

2. Peter was anointed for such a time as this

God is not limited by your circumstances or by the traditions of man.

D. When Peter gets to Cornelius’ home, he preaches to the Gentiles --- his subject -

The Calling and the Anointing

Acts 10 (NKJV)

34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

36 "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—

37 "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

E. The result was that the same Holy Spirit which had protected Ester, had been resident in Christ, which was in Peter came upon all those who heard in Cornelius’ house and they were all saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues and glorified God, were water baptized and began to be discipled in the ways of a Believer.

Note: Who knows what horrible tragedy was later averted by this Roman Commander, perhaps influencing decisions of the state after his return to Rome?

II. God Saves His People

A. Once Through Ester’s Call

B. Once Through Peter’s Call

C. Perhaps now, it could be your turn!

Are you ready for your next step?

You came to the kingdom for such a time as this.

III. Anointing

Greek: chrio (khree’-o)

To anoint through the idea of contact .

God consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration.

A. Consecrated - a holy separation for purpose

B. Endued with power - the miracle working power of God

1. Luke 24:49 … until you are endued with power …

2. Acts 1:8 You shall receive power …

C. How do I receive that power?

1. Acts 10:44 God gives it to those who hear Him!

2. Acts 5:32 God gives it to those who obey Him!

3. Luke 11:13 God gives it to those who ask Him!

It often comes through contact with those who have it.

Right now, you can receive the anointing which will:

* Break the yoke that holds you back

* Give you power to do the works of Jesus & even greater works than He did. (John 14:12)

You are ready for your next step.

* Hear what the Spirit of God is saying in this hour

* Consecrate your life before God

* Ask Him to anoint you with the Holy Ghost and Power for such a time as this

IV. Conclude With Laying On Of Hands

Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

Hebrews 6:2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Vision Of The House

Vision Of The House

Gtcotr/ws092904

Please Turn In Your Bibles To Matthew 28

Key Scripture: Proverbs 29:18a Where there is no vision, the people perish …

Perish = ‘Cast Off Restraint’

No Guidelines; No Firm Direction

We all need to know where we are going … Jesus did!

Matthew 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Three Things About The Vision At GTCOTR

#1. We Know Where We Are Going

The Only Marching Orders God Ever Gave The Church Was

“Go Into All The World & Make Disciples”

Therefore: We are going into all the world to make disciples.

From our Jerusalem

To our Judea - Samaria

To our uttermost parts of the world.

We are reaching out in ever increasing concentric circles to simultaneously reach our generation and our world for Jesus.

This is called The Great Commission

The concept is found in several places in the NT …

Lets look at one in:

Matthew 28

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We know where we are going, but …

#2. We Do Not Know What We Will Encounter On Our Journey

We are on a faith adventure with the Holy Ghost, for the Father God and in the name of the King, Jesus.

These are exciting days.

We Know:

* It is not about us.

* We must possess a high tolerance for experimentation

* We must see wrong decisions, bad decisions and costly mistakes as a part of the process and not the problem.

* We must develop great patience for retrial.

* We must not take a temporary situation and create a permanent problem

* We cannot afford to judge success on a weekly basis

* The journey is our friend.

Just in case we do not get the Great Commission fully accomplished, we are ever busy ‘raising up runners for the next lap’

We know where we are going, we do not know what we will encounter but …

#3. We Do Know What It Will Take To Succeed

Conviction

A strong sense of right, wrong and responsibility

Comes from reading, studying & hearing the Word.

Passion

The willingness to be stirred to commitment and action.

Comes from prayer, fasting, praise and worship.

Discipline

A determination to keep a commitment, bear a burden and pay the price.

We must have a conviction, be passionate and disciplined to:

Reach People - Evangelism - (example: fair)

Teach People - Discipleship - (example: His Time/30 Steps)

Keep People - Relationship - (example: SS & Home Groups)

All About Me

All About Me

Gtcotr/ws092204

Early last week while I was in prayer, I was interceding for a child I had heard about. I could not imagine what would have happened in the life of a mother to cause her to abandon her baby.

After prayer I was still bothered by this situation and others like it. I walked outside and sat down beside my pond to meditate. Unable to escape this burden pressing on my heart and mind, I questioned God as to why things like this happen. Why don’t parents love and take care of their children as they ought? What’s wrong with this world?

God gently answered me and I understood. I offer to you tonight what God said to me about why some people make the decisions they do. I have changed God’s personal word to me into a 3^rd person statement of principle. This is what God revealed:

Love is the enemy of selfishness and selfishness is the enemy of God.

I have re-surveyed the whole counsel of God’s word and have found that trouble begins when love’s commandments are abandoned. The result is a lifestyle of decisions based on - “It’s All About Me!”

Love often demands that we make difficult decisions, but never selfish ones.

The motivation for every difficult decision must be judged.

When we say, “This is for the best.”, we should examine that statement and ask ourselves the next question, “Best for who?” and the follow up question to that, and “Who does this hurt?”

Selfishness has taken over the lives and cultures of society. It was the basis for satan’s fall and the original sin of mankind and will be the downfall of the whole world. Selfishness causes so much trouble …

Selfishness is not only the enemy of God, but the enemy of us all.

I. Selfishness says: It’s All About Me

A. Insight On: - The Sin of Selfishness Begins

1. Mingling with the wrong crowd (people or seducing spirits)

* seeds of discord, disharmony, dissatisfaction

* support for sin

2. Entertaining alternatives

* subtle conversations

* the satanic translation of the bible

3. Deceived to believe a lie

* tunnel vision

* temporary insanity

4. Departure from the revealed will of God

* an isolated decision

* Proverbs 18:1 ¶ A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

5. Leading others astray

* companion in misery - group support

* somebody to blame

B. Next Hiding From The Presence Of God

1. Once you realize you are wrong

2. Stay away from the light - fear of condemnation, criticism and/or rejection - John 3:17-21 - This is the condemnation …

C. Then Blaming & Accusing Others

1. Everybody in general

2. Unrepentant people will eventually accuse God

Genesis 3 (NKJV)

1 ¶ Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’ ?"

2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;

3 "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’"

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.

5 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

6 ¶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9 ¶ Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"

10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

11 ¶ And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"

12 Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."

13 And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

II. Two Steps To Avoiding The Trap

Ecclesiastes 12

12 But, my child, be warned: There is no end of opinions ready to be expressed. Studying them can go on forever and become very exhausting!

13 ¶ Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person.

14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

A. Fear God

1. More than you fear not getting what you want

2. More than you fear death itself

B. Obey God’s Commands

* John 14:15 ¶ "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

III. Self Examination - How do I know if I love only myself?

1 John 5

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

You are only as smart as God made you and He did not make you smarter than Himself.

IV. Good News

God charged Himself, sacrificed His Son, defeated satan and all sin and gave you His Word and Spirit.

When you fear God and obey His commandments you are demonstrating that you love Him, trust in His power and are committed to His will, not just what‘s best for you in your own eyes.

God will see your faith and works and will reward you with His deliverance and His dream for your life.

If you have failed the test of selfishness, (i.e. you are not afraid of God and/or you have disobeyed His commands) -

Turn from that way of life

Humble yourself

Repent

Ask for His forgiveness

Accept His pathway to restoration

Rekindle a relationship with God

Give Him time and space to accomplish His will - not your will

Support His work in you and in others

Examine each new decision in the light of love, fear & obedience.

God The Builder

God The Builder

Gtcotr/091804

Our text for today will come from 1 Chronicles 17

What you are going through is not punishment for your past but positioning for your future.

Jeremiah 29:11 Says that God has a good future in mind for each of us.

Isaiah 64:8 Tells us that we are clay and God is our Potter. That we are all the work of His hand.

2 Corinthians 4:17 Reveals that the things which happen to us are designed to work for us not against us.

Key Scripture: Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

God likes to make things and make things happen.

When God wanted to first introduce Himself to us, He told us the story of creation.

The first impression we have about God is that He is making something and making something happen.

When Jesus tells His disciples that He has to go away for awhile, he excuses Himself by saying that He is going away to prepare, make, something. John 14:2

God is not just busy making things for the things sake, but both He and Jesus portray Themselves as makings things for us.

First it was a world to live in, then food to eat, then a self watering garden to live in, light to see by and animals to befriend us and mow the garden, next it was a companion.

God busies Himself making things for us.

God not only makes things for us but He also makes Himself available to us.

With Adam He walked in the cool of the evening.

With Moses and the children of Israel He dwelt in a tent.

With the disciples He came in the flesh.

Now He lives in us by the Holy Spirit.

For eternity we will see Him face to face.

Not only does God make things for us and make Himself available to us, but He also is busy making something out of us.

God is making a future for you and a you for the future.

Have you found 1 Chronicles 17

1 Chronicles 17 NKJV

4 "Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: "You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.

5 "For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

6 "Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’"‘

7 "Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.

8 "And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth.

9 "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,

10 "since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a house.

Once again, in this scripture we see: God The Builder

Can He Fix It?

Yes He Can!

Verse 7b The Message

I took you from the pasture, tagging after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel.

God did not take David and give him a kingdom

God took David and made him a King.

Through all of the situations and circumstances of life

David’s dysfunctional family members

David’s motives being misjudged by his employer

David’s separation, divorce and remarriage of his wife

David’s friends betraying him

David’s sin and its ultimate costs

Both David’s failures and his successes made David.

God never left David nor forsook him.

God made all these things work for David, to make him a king.

Like David, you too - Perhaps you are in the middle of a making.

What you are going through is not punishment for your past but positioning for your future.

Psalms 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

God is a Creator, a Maker, a Builder and He is building us a future.

If we live long enough and get it right, we can have much of our kingdom inheritance while here on earth.

But

If we discard wisdom, godliness, patience or diligence, we may have to wait until heaven to live the good life God has planned for us.

God is building a future for each of us! How can we help?

4 Ways We Can Help God Make Something Out Of Us

1. Be Godly It’s a choice!

2. Be Wise Read the manual.

3. Be Diligent Work with God.

4. Be Patient Let God be God.

God the Builder is busy and you are in the middle of a making.

It’s not punishment for your past, but positioning for your future.

Purpose

Purpose

Gtcotr/091504

Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Early Saturday morning, January 27, 1996, I was awakened from a dream.

I dreamed that I was in the foyer doorway entering the sanctuary of a church. The church held about 200 people in wooden pews sitting on a wooden floor. It was packed full of men, most of whom I knew. Many preachers, elders, deacons and lay leaders. Everyone was mingling and talking, happy to see one another.

Someone was singing a song on the small platform. It was a hymn-like song about going to heaven. I heard the last verse and when the singer sand the words about us getting to meet Jesus face to face, something happened. Men everywhere began lifting their hands and shouting praises to God and to the Lamb.

Several men began running around the church with their hands raised. Conservative men, filled with such true excitement about meeting Jesus that the reality of such a day overwhelmed them and they could not constrain themselves.

Then a minister I knew stepped to the platform and said, “Since you left the world behind, have you gotten any closer to Jesus?”

With that comment I had awakened … the question going over and over in my mind. As was my habit in these moments, I quickly and consciously turned to prayer concerning this dream and the question it posed. I prayed for understanding and for a personal closeness.

I examined my life in prayer and searched the scriptures in my mind which would lead me to a closer relationship with Jesus. I asked God to guide me by the Holy Spirit if I was to share this with others. I opened my heart and mind and asked God to fill me and lead me by His inspiration.

After perhaps 20 minutes of following thought after thought on how I could best present this to people if God wished me to, I decided to go back to sleep while I let God take my mind and inspire me in my rest.

As I was drifting away, I asked God what does it take to lead a people and for them to be happy and fulfilled week after week, year after year? How can I keep the fresh excitement of Christ in their lives so that they value the church and are not bored or do not grow complacent with coming to church and working in the church?

I must have gone to sleep because I saw a cloud come toward me. God spoke out of the cloud and said in a very clear and determined voice, “My people need a purpose.”

I understood in that moment that I must lead Christians to find and to understand their purpose and then help them to fulfill it.

So tonight, over 8 years since that dream, with all of the thought, prayer, counsel and study I have given to it since, allow me to share on the Stages of Purpose

I. First - It will take Preparation

Acts 26:16 ‘But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

A. Preparation for our purpose begins before we are ever aware.

1. Saul of Tarsus was a man prepared by God

2. Christopher Columbus was born for his purpose

3. Jeremiah 1:5 speaks about God’s purpose for Jeremiah

B. When considering the purpose of God for our lives we can usually look behind us and see what He has prepared us for.

C. If you can’t seem to find the purpose of God for your life, keep on going, When God is ready the purpose will find you!

II. Passion also plays a part in purpose

A. The Stages of Purpose

1. First we Find The Purpose

2. Then we Follow The Purpose

2 Timothy 3

10 ¶ But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,

11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

B. In talking to young Timothy, one can sense Paul’s Passion

C. It will take passion for the purpose to keep you engaged and in pursuit of the purpose. Passion to follow!

III. Last - Persistence

A. Preparation to Find Purpose

B. Passion to Follow Purpose

C. Persistence to Fulfill Purpose

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

God’s people need a purpose.

Without a vision people perish.

2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Proverbs 20:18 says that every purpose is established by counsel.

Fit For Service

Fit For Service

Gtcotr/ss091204

Our main text today will be found in Romans 6

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorists attack on America. The terrorists high-jacked four commercial airliners and crashed two of them into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City, another succeeded in hitting the Pentagon in Virginia, while the fourth was crashed into an empty field with the aid of the brave passengers who thwarted the terrorists’ plans to hit their target of either the White House or the Capitol building in DC.

Three thousand people lost their lives that day. Since that time, our efforts to track down and deliver justice to those responsible for world terrorism has cost many more lives. More than 1000 of our brave soldiers have died on the battlefield of Iraq alone.

While civilized nations have responded to the demands of this day, the church has also responded with prayer, fasting, encouragement and support. Together, the church of the living God along with the United States of America and their determined allies have declared war on the spirit of terrorism and we are determined not to cease pursuit until we see final victory.

This devil and his followers do not want to accept their inevitable defeat. When found and cornered they come out fighting. They know their time is short … they tear, they threaten, they show their teeth and do their worst, hoping to frighten their pursuers into backing off, giving up and running away. But it won’t work! Our duty is clear and our resolve is firm.

We have come too far and paid too much to stop short of complete victory. Our exit strategy does not include being counted out, carried out or leaving by some side door. We entered this ring to win and win by a knock out blow with no score cards or decisions left to the judges. The first to go will be the terrorists. They need to work on their exit strategy. We go home when it’s over!

In WWI there was a song often sung to remind those in battle and at home just when the boys would be returning. It became the most popular WWI song and even became the song of choice for enlistees and their families during the Second World War. It went like this:

Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there -
That the Yanks are coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming
Ev'rywhere.
So prepare, say a pray'r,
Send the word, send the word to beware.
We'll be over, we're coming over,
And we won't come back till it's over
Over there.

This song was written by George M. Cohan and in 1940 the US Congress recognized him for his contribution to the war efforts and awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor. All because he helped frame and set the resolve of a nation responding to an evil which the world could no longer tolerate. He gave the army their mindset. Each soldier understood his/her duty.

You are now a soldier in this current war against evil.

You are in an army of God.

An army of prayer warriors. We fight the enemies of God and the evil which would come to harm children, destroy families and devastate communities in the name of hatred. We stand and attend to our duties on the front lines for our God.

As with any army, it is imperative that we be trained, equipped and fit for service. Yours may not be a physical warfare but it is warfare nonetheless. Don’t let your Commander & King down. Your orders are clear. Some of you will hold the front line with prayer while others will take the word of God to advance and engage the enemy with all prejudice, giving no quarter. Stop looking for an exit --- we won’t go home until it’s over.

My job as your pastor is to:

* Train you to know the enemy

* Equip you for warfare

* Keep you fit for service

* Lead you into battle

This morning I will focus our time on keeping us fit for service.

Nothing will knock us out of the fight quicker than sin!

So today, let’s look at how we can defeat sin.

Last Sunday we began our service with the statement:

There is no justification for terrorism --- just as there is no justification for sin.

Before we qualify as fit to serve in the cause of freedom for others, we must first free ourselves from the power of sin.

I. Freedom From Sin

A. First there are two powers of sin

1. The Damning Power of Sin

2. The Governing Power of Sin

B. I trust all of you are free from the Damning Power of Sin. This is defeated through salvation and forgiveness of sins which are past. God grants this freedom from the wages of sin to all who will call upon the name of His Dear Son, Jesus. If you sincerely believe and ask Jesus to come into your life, be your Savior and Lord, His blood will save your soul and give you eternal life. The sin you were born into and the sins of your past will be blotted out and there will be no evidence against you on those counts.

C. This morning, however, we will focus on the Governing Power of Sin. The sin which ensnares the believer, the Christian, after they are born again, in efforts to knock them out and take them out of the race. The sin which makes us unfit to serve our King.

Turn with me now to Romans Chapter 6

Romans 6 (NKJV)

6 Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

D. You, Christian, You Are Free From Sin

E. Sin no longer has any dominion over you - cannot control you -

1. Unless …

2. You let it rule

II. There Are 3 Ways To Defeat Sin’s Control Over Your Life

A. Confess and Forsake Sin

Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

1. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins … forgive & cleanse …

2. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

#1 If you have sinned - confess and forsake! - Don’t hide & harbor it.

#2 If you are tempted to sin --- ‘Run Away!’

B. Flee --- ‘Run Away’

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

* If you are standing on the doorsteps of sin today --- ‘Run Away!’

* In keeping you fit to serve it is important that I help you deal with sin. Sin will disqualify you. Sin will allow the enemies to ignore you, defeat you and break through upon your family, community, your nation and the world. Sin will render you powerless.

* In Acts 19 there were seven sons of one man who thought they could overpower the devil on their own. The devil spoke and replied: ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Acts 19:15

Believe me, the devils know if you are right with God!

C. 3 Ways To Take Back Control Of Your Life

1. Confess and Forsake Sin

2. Run Away From Temptation

3. Stay Off The Road Sin Lives On

Proverbs 7:25 Don’t fool around with a woman like that; don’t even stroll through her neighborhood. (The Message)

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (NKJV)

Matthew 7 (NIV)

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The road may be narrow but stay on the right road.

III. Conclusion

* Each soldier and every Christian has a job to do in this current war against evil.

* We must all be

> Trained

> Equipped

> Fit For Service

* The Christian’s duty is to:

> Hold the front lines with prayer

> Take the word of God as our sword to advance and engage the enemies of God.

* While you do, remember these things:

> We wrestle not against flesh and blood

> We hate the sin but love the sinner

> It won’t be over until it’s over