The Good News

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In every situation and with each day of our life, God has His part and we have ours. Only God can do His part and only we can do ours.

God reaches to people through people. He has a message but He wants us to be His messengers.

God’s plan to use people as messengers to fill the earth with His message is so effective that satan, a fallen angel and sworn enemy of God, copies that plan and tries to do the same thing - with one exception. God’s message is a message of faith, hope and love. God wrote His message first in creation, then on tables of stone, next in His only Son, and ultimately in the hearts and minds of men.

Satan could offer no redeeming message so he decided his only chance to be heard was attempt to discredit God’s message. Knowing he could not keep people from hearing The Good News, the devil decided to sow seeds of doubt, distrust and disease in the earth concerning both the message and the messengers of God.

For thousands of years and even today, the devil has no greater strategy than to simply wait for God’s Word to be spoken and then immediately say, “It ain’t so!” – “That’s not true, not really … not exactly … you don’t believe that do you? Has God really said …? Surely He didn’t mean it.”

If attacking the message does not work, the devil often resorts to attacking God’s messengers. It can all appear so harmless, seem so reasonable or even look like it is true concern, or all about protecting people’s future.

When others feel they have to protect us from God and His Word, they have become the messengers of the satan, no matter how sincere and well meaning they seem. Some are the devil’s messengers without knowing.

The devil has only one message – “You can’t trust God”.

·       Not for the short game … the situation at hand – the moment

·       Not for the long game … the future beyond – the mountain

·       Not for the moment, not for the mountain, and not for eternity

God’s messengers spread the Word of God like seeds. The devil desires to steal those seeds before they can take root and bear fruit.

Mark 4:14-18

The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts … And they having no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble … and the seed becomes unfruitful.

The devil and his messengers have one goal – to keep the message of God from taking root in people’s life. The Bible calls the devil:

·       satan; that old serpent

·       Abaddon & Apollyon (destroying angel of the bottomless pit)

·       the prince of darkness

·       the god of this world

·       the accuser of the brethren

·       your adversary (like a roaring lion)

·       Beelzebub (the ruler of demons)

·       belial; the wicked one; the father of lies

·       the man of sin, that son of perdition

·       tempter & thief

·       the antichrist

·       the enemy of your soul

The Bible has not one good thing to say about the devil or his messengers.

John 8

43  Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

44  You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

45  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

In Numbers 13, the Children of Israel were faced with a critical moment in their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. In order for them to take full advantage of God’s blessings and provision they needed to do one thing – they just needed to believe God, to trust Him above what they were facing. But, the devil was hard at work. 

Moses sent 12 leaders of the people, one prince from each tribe, to spy out the land and bring back a report on how to best conquer the inhabitants of the land. Those spies all saw and experienced the same things for 40 days. When they returned they all 12 told the same story of the abundant fruitfulness of the land of Canaan, the great walled cities and of the strong inhabitants who occupied those cities.

2 of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, did not deny that the Canaanites were strong and the cities walled, however they believed that the Children of Israel were well able to conquer them and overcome any obstacle because God was with them. However, the other 10 spies had been listening to a different message in their minds and in conversation with one another.

These 10 spies brought back another message. They said, “We are not able to defeat the people of Canaan. We are like grasshoppers even in our own sight … how much smaller must we seem to them. We cannot go! We will be destroyed!”

Joshua and Caleb said, “Let us go at once … their defense has departed from them and we are well able to defeat them!” Whose report do you imagine the people believed? Not the true report … not God’s Word …

The only weapon the devil had was to discredit God’s message and God’s messengers. Soon the people began to spread the devil’s message amongst themselves and lost the battle. However, 40 years later Joshua and Caleb led a new generation into that same land. Just because the devil lies and looks like he has some measure of victory – don’t believe it is over. It’s not over until God’s message and His messengers prevail!

People who have been listening to the lies find it hard to believe the truth.

The devil has one lie … “It’s bad and it will never get any better.”

What have you been hearing lately? About:

·       Your marriage

·       Your money

·       Your health

·       Your children; parents; family; friends

·       Your job

·       Your nation

·       Your future

·       The World?

God has the same Good News today that He had yesterday and will have tomorrow. And, we are called to be His messengers. Therefore it is vital we know God’s message and that we stay on target. For The Good News:

Turn with me to what we call the “Love Chapter” in the Bible:

1 Corinthians 13 NKJV

12  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

We don’t see everything, but we see God’s Word. God’s message is:

1.   Faith

2.   Hope

3.   Love

Put away lesser things and all the lies of the devil. Things are getting better! God will make them better. Our part is to have:

·       Faith which is aimed at moving the moment

·       Hope which keeps us moving up the mountain

·       The Love of God which will endure throughout eternity

Don’t dare let the devil rob you of The Good News!

Perspectives

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This morning we are going to discover a truth about perspectives and hopefully some of us will end up challenging ourselves to change ours a little.

“You can always tell when a person feels defeated, they start looking for a place to die instead of looking for a place to live.” (Points to Ponder)

What is your perspective on the future of things? Are you looking for a hole to sink into or are you looking for a hill to climb?

People in decline imagine they have no need for a vision. However, without a dream the future has no value. And, when we stop valuing the future we stop investing in tomorrow. Believe me:

There is always something that can be done about tomorrow … but it will require the right perspective.

The Old Testament Prophet Jonah was a man who knew God’s Word, God’s Will and God’s Way. He was convinced that God was a merciful and a forgiving God who loved sinners and pardoned iniquity. Jonah however, didn’t always feel merciful, loving or forgiving towards others.

When God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance to that wicked city, Jonah imagined what God was going to do and Jonah wanted no part of it. Some scholars feel Jonah had already judged Nineveh and its people to be wicked and horrible sinners who deserved to be punished and wiped off the face of the earth. As far as Jonah was concerned, it was too late for Nineveh and he refused to invest in their future. In fact … Jonah didn’t even care if those people had a future.

We all know the account of Jonah running from God’s will and the great storm that threatened the ship. God decided that before He could deal with the King and the citizens of Nineveh he would have to deal with Jonah first. What good is a message without a messenger?

Jonah was not looking for a mountain to climb but rather a hole into which he could sink. Jonah was not expecting a victory but rather a defeat. Jonah had no vision and he did not wish to make any investment. Jonah was without hope and unwilling to help. People without hope are often unwilling to help. All Jonah wanted to do was quit and let everyone get what he felt they all deserved. But Jonah had the wrong perspective on things. You see, God was not yet willing to abandon His hope for Nineveh … and neither was God ready to abandon Jonah to his own perspective.

God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah and this gave Jonah time to reconsider. After some time Jonah realized that graves are not for the living. Jonah repented and cried out to the Lord. God delivered Jonah and commanded him a second time. This time Jonah obeyed.

The story doesn’t end there but goes on to tell how the wicked and evil leaders, along with the people of that great City of Nineveh, repented and were forgiven. When we last read about Jonah however, he is once again focused on his own petty perspectives, without hope in his personal life and looking for place to die. Some folks seem prone to be negative and always see the doom and gloom around them. God however, is just not gloomy God. God has a different perspective …

·        God has hope

·        God sees potential in tomorrow

·        God has a plan for the future

·        God has a life changing message

·        However, God still needs a messenger willing to make the investment

The world would like us to think things are bad and aren’t going to ever get any better. People without hope are easy to control. The devil wants to deceive us, depress us, and distract us from our message and our mission, confuse us, abuse us and misuse us to spread his propaganda.

The only weapon the prince of this world has is deception. If the devil can get Believers to lose hope, embrace false doctrine and become less willing to invest in the future… he wins the propaganda war and buys himself a little more time. Don’t be deceived into believing the devil’s message … and for heaven’s sake, don’t become his messenger. Have you been hearing:

"We live in a decaying age. Young people no longer respect
their parents. They are rude and impatient. They frequently
inhabit scandalous places and have no self control."

This inscription was written on a 6000 year-old Egyptian tomb.

"When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly disrespectful and impatient of restraint." Hesiod, 8th century BC

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?" Plato, 4th Century BC

"The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint... As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress." Attributed to Peter the Hermit, AD 1274

In April 1738, the press covered a report from a British Government committee which had been set up to "examine the causes of the present notorious immorality and profaneness."

In the 1800s, hordes of teens and pre-teens ran wild in American city streets, dodging authorities. These youth were,"gnawing away at the foundations of society", as a commentator put it. In 1850, New York City recorded more than 200 gang wars fought largely by adolescent boys.

"Juvenile delinquency has increased at an alarming rate and is eating at the heart of America."  US juvenile court judge, 1946

Psalms records the captivity of the Children of Israel and their perspective of the day. They looked at the current situation and imagined the worst. From their depressed state of consideration they could see no way in which things could ever get better. They were not looking for victory but had rather accepted defeat. They were not looking for a hill to climb but rather a hole into which to sink. They had no hope for tomorrow and saw no reason to make any investment.

Psalms 137: 2  We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it.

They hung their harps upon the willow trees and sang the songs of Zion no more. However, God was not finished … God had a plan … Victory was yet in the mind of God and while people were looking for a place to die, God was looking for new life. The people felt it was over – God was giving them a place to begin. Finally a generation got the right perspective and got with God’s program. Later it was recorded:

Psalms 126:1  When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.

The future belongs to those who place their hope in God; Those who are willing to dream and make investments for the future despite the circumstances or the ill fated perspectives of others. God is a merciful and a gracious God, loving and forgiving, willing to pardon and able to deliver. He is always our victory and He is always near.

Joshua 14:12  "Now therefore, give me this mountain … It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able … as the LORD said."

Caleb was 85 years old looking for a giant to kill … it was all a matter of perspective. Caleb believed what God said above what he saw, what others imagined or what his enemies said. Let me ask you:

Whose Report Will You Believe!

Isaiah 54

1  "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the LORD.

2  "Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes.

3  For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited.

4  "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.

5  For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

6 ¶  For the LORD has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused," Says your God.

7  "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you.

8  With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you," Says the LORD, your Redeemer.

9  "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.

10  For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed," Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

11 ¶  "O you afflicted one, Tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your foundations with sapphires.

12  I will make your pinnacles of rubies, Your gates of crystal, And all your walls of precious stones.

13  All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children.

14  In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

15  Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.

16  "Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.

17  No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.

Isaiah 55

1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

2  Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3  Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you — The sure mercies of David.

I will leave you with three scriptures this morning and one admonition. First the admonition:

·        Challenge your perspective and make sure you have not become this world’s messenger without hope, unwilling to invest and looking for a place to quit. While some people are waiting on a move of God, God is waiting on a move of people! Let’s embrace the right perspective.

Now the three scriptures concerning the right perspective:

Psalms 42:5  Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.

Psalms 42:11  Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalms 43:5  Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Stand up and let’s go out of here with a shout!

Song – The Enemy Has Been Defeated … death couldn’t hold Him down …

Life Shape Prayer and Discipleship Module 2 – New Creation Realities Block 12 – Eternal Life

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When a person is born again they become a new creation in Christ. Old things pass away and all things become new. Along with salvation come many new creation realities. Blessings, benefits, and opportunities abound for the new believer. One new creation benefit is the reality of eternal life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This is the promise of God to all who believe and receive salvation through Christ. Herein is our key scripture:

Key Scripture:

1 John 2:25 And this is the promise he has promised us even eternal life   

The Gospels record several incidents where people approached Jesus with questions concerning eternal life. One such occurrence is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark chapter 10 verse 17.

Mark 10:17  Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

In the continuing account Jesus led this man on a journey in order to answer his question. The conclusion makes plain the fact that eternal life is not given as a reward for our works nor does it come from a strict adherence to God’s law. Rather eternal life is a reality for those who put God first in their life. It is a matter of the heart. Eternal life is the free gift God gives to those who put their trust in Him and follow Christ.

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

We who are in Christ have eternal life. Eternal life is a reality for every child of God.

Every person will exist forever … the only question is where. There is eternal life in Christ and eternal death without Christ. The choice is ours to make. When a person passes from this life into the next they will enter eternity. The souls of those in Christ will enter heaven, a temporary dwelling place, awaiting final reward. Those souls without Christ will enter hell, a temporary place of torment awaiting final judgment.

When God shall have concluded His whole work on the earth, final judgment will come. The devil and his angels along with death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire which will burn forever continually consuming the souls of men in torment throughout eternity.

Those individuals who have been saved by grace through faith will be with the Lord forever under a new heaven and on a new earth wherein dwells righteousness and there they shall forever dwell throughout eternity.

Support Scripture: Titus 1:2, Luke 10:25, Luke 18:18, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:1, 2 Peter 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:17

As a new creation in Christ we have a promise from God of eternal life.

Important Points:

1. Every person will exist forever. The question is where.

2. Every born again believer becomes a new creation in Christ.

3. The ultimate benefit of being born again is eternal life.

4. If you are in Christ you will never die.

Fathers Forever

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The best picture of a father is the picture God gives us of Himself. All God ever wanted to be was a father. And, once a father, always a father – nothing can change it … ever!

The last word God spoke in the Old Testament is recorded in Malachi 4. God knew it would be 400 years before the earth would hear from Him again. The words He chose to leave with His children were very calculated and very important. What did He say? He spoke about fathers.

Malachi 4

5  “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (Some imagine these to be two days.)

6  And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Dysfunctional families bring a curse in the earth.)

After Malachi, the next time anyone on heard from heaven is recorded in Luke 1. It was an old priest named Zacharias who was in the Temple in Jerusalem interceding for Israel. The angel Gabriel suddenly appeared to Zacharias with a message from God. Guess what the message was about? Gabriel’s message contained the same words from Malachi about fathers.

Luke 1

17  "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ’to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

If fathers were in the heart and on the mind of God as the last thing He said in the Old Testament and the first thing He points to in the New Testament, I believe we can safely conclude God sees fathers as vitally important to His plan. And, the hearts of children towards fathers as well.

In fact, in both of these passages reveal the heart of God concerning family relationships, specifically the relationship between father and child. The 10 Commandments also speaks to this critical issue. (Ephesians 6:2)

You see, if planet earth is to be any reflection of God’s Will or heaven’s pattern, healthy father-child relationships must be intact. There are many passages in the Bible that give parental direction and instruction but the weight of maintaining healthy relationship throughout life is yet placed on children. This is a reflection of each individual’s responsibility towards God.

This morning however, I want to share 4 characteristics of a father we gain from looking at our Father God. Fathers, we represent our Father God:

A Father Is Aware

        He cares enough to know what is going on (Genesis 1:1&2)

A Father Is Involved

        He plans and works to make things better (Genesis 1)

        Not distant but gets closer to those things which need to change

        Pays the price and accepts the cost without complaint (John 3:16)

A Father Is Forgiving

        Stays ready to receive the repentant and returning child

        Like the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15:20)

        It’s a matter of the heart (Psalms 103:13)

A Father Is Forever

        When it’s all said and done, all God will have left is family.

        Family is forever. (Exodus 3:6; John 14:16; Ephesians 3:14&15)

“Let the Revolution Begin!” Revolve means to come back around. Perhaps one the greatest challenge we face in this world is to humble ourselves and become responsible to fix something we didn’t break. Many times it will mean we have to come back around … revolt … revolve and return.

As we age, much of the burden of continued relationship falls on children. Sure, it is a parent’s responsibility in the beginning but as life continues, more and more the burden shifts and relationship becomes the burden of the child. It’s the same with the relationship we have with God. He came to us in Christ first, now we must come to Him. This is the simple truth. God is our Father, we are His children, and we are to honor Him.

God’s Word has not changed. Fathers – we must be aware, be involved, be forgiving because just like God, we will be fathers forever!

Life Shape Prayer and Discipleship Module 2 – New Creation Realities Block 10 – Angels on Assignment

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Key Scripture

Psalms 34:7  The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

Angels are a spiritual species of beings which God created with purpose.

Angels were created by God as spiritual beings which all have:

·        Differing Ranks

·        Differing Orders

·        Differing Duties

·        Differing Abilities

·        Differing Appearances

Ø Daniel 10 & 12 speak of Michael as a Chief Prince of Israel

Ø Near 100 times the Bible mentions Cherubs/Cherubim as angels which hover over and cover with their two wings (1Kings 8:7 & Ezekiel 10; Hebrews 9:5)

Ø From Ezekiel 28 it seems Lucifer was created as an anointed Cherub who was given authority by God to rule over much of creation.

Ø Isaiah 6 speaks of Seraphim which have six wings and acted in Isaiah’s case as a messenger of God.

Ø Angels have names and are sent on assignment by God. (Luke 1:26)

Ø There are angels who appear to us as mere men and yet we are unaware they are sent from heaven (Hebrews 13:2)

Ø Angels bring messages to people in dreams (Matthew 1:20)

Ø Revelation 12 speaks of warring angels

Ø Daniel was informed concerning a fallen demonic angel prince who had power in the air and exercised authority over Persia and another one was over Greece. These were no doubt rulers of darkness.

Ø Mark 1:13 shows angels ministering to Jesus in the desert of Judah.

Ø Jesus said in Matthew 26:53 that He could presently call more than 12 legions of angels to defend and deliver Him. A legion numbers more than 6,000 each. (6,100 footmen + 726 horsemen ~ RWP)

Ø Elisha saw the same willing warriors awaiting his command at Dothan in 2 Kings 6:17.

Ø The devil knows that God gives angels assignments to watch over His children. (Like 4:10 … lest you foot dash against a stone.)

Ø Angels care about souls and express joy and rejoicing over a sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)

Ø Luke 16:22 Angels escort the souls of saints from earth into heaven.

Ø According to Luke 20:36, angels never die.

Ø However, those angels who followed satan in the rebellion against God will one day be cast into the eternal lake of fire which God has prepared specifically for them. (Matthew 25:41)

Ø Rebel angels attempt to appear as angels of light, masquerading as those helping others to see the “real truth”, but are rather angels of darkness and deceit. (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Ø 1 John 4:1ff admonishes us to not believe every spirit but rather test each one with the Word of God as our standard.

Ø Paul said if an angel, or a man for that matter, appears to you with some message which does not agree with the scriptures, let them be cursed. (Galatians 1:8)

Ø Angels are everywhere, everyday used by God, listening for His Word to affect His will. (Psalms 103:20) ~ Speak the Word!!!

Ø Angels are among those listening to the words we speak and are motivated by the prayers we pray. (Daniel 10:12 ~ I have come because of your words)

When a person gets born again, they are born into the family of God and become a Child of God. The Spiritual Children of God are a brand new species, neither human nor angel nor spirit nor man. To be born again is to become a New Creation in Christ Jesus, eternally alive and predestined to be transformed into the image of God’s dear Son.

There are many new realities and awesome benefits available to the Child of God. One such benefit is the attendance and dependence of Angels on Assignment. Upon the request of heaven or earth, angels are dispatched to assist the saint according to the will of God.

It is certain that angels have their work but so do we. If we were to read the account of Cornelius and the angel in Acts 10 we would find an interesting limit to angel’s assignment. According to the angel, heaven had been moved by Cornelius’ devotion to prayer and giving to the poor. However, when heaven responded with the dispatch of this angel, the angel did not tell Cornelius what to do to get born again, rather the angel merely pointed Cornelius to a saint, Peter in this case, who would tell him the story of Jesus.

In an earlier case in Acts 9 with the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Neither the angel nor the voice from heaven explained to Saul what he should do but rather pointed him to wait until a Child of God could respond and lead him to salvation in Christ. It took 3 days of heavenly voices and visions before Ananias worked up the courage and went to lead this man to Christ.

Angels were all created with the same purpose as man – to serve and glorify God. Unlike humans however, we generally understand that angels do not reproduce and therefore do not pass either death or life on to their offspring.

At one point an anointed, high ranking Cherub named Lucifer felt he no longer wanted to be known as God’s servant or second in command. Rather Lucifer wanted to do his own thing and have his own glory. Lucifer began to talk his reasons among the angelic population and infected some with his side of the story. When Lucifer felt he had enough support to make it on his own, he rebelled against God and many of the heavenly host followed him. His fall was like lightening.

Today these rebel angels are often seen as angels of light but they are only working for their own goals, attempting to build their own kingdom and their own following, trying to make people dissatisfied with God, using every means to discredit Him and win people over to their side.

It started in a peaceful garden with a subtle and secret conversation this sneaky snake had with a woman. Seeds of distrust, dissatisfaction and discontentedness were sown. Satan successfully divided her and everyone she affected from the good and loving God who had given so much, even given so much to the devil himself, that is before he fell prey to his own pride and rebelled to begin his own kingdom. (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Today angels are at odds with one another divided between God and the devil. God expects for those who followed Lucifer and were ultimately casted out of heaven’s embrace, to be resisted by those who follow Him. God also knows that these rebels will continue trying to influence others, humans and angels alike, to follow pride and break free from God and His ordained leadership. While there is hope for mankind through repentance and the salvation which was provided by the blood of Christ, there is no future hope for fallen angels … their future is sealed.

One day we shall see them as they are and just how much misery and harm they have caused the earth. So much of your trouble, seen and unseen, known and unknown, discovered and yet to be discovered, is the result of rebellious, pride-filled, greedy, arrogant, selfish and self-serving spirits who, without God’s blessings, can only feed on the unsuspecting and uncovered souls of men. These spirits can only influence and deceive, they cannot save and keep safe.

One day … we shall see them as they are and according to 1 Corinthians 6:3 we shall be their judge. Shall we not therefore also judge the things of this life? Thank God for His angels on assignment who:

Psalms 103:20  … Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.

Important Points

1.   Hebrews 1:14  Angels are all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.

2.   Matthew 18:10  Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

3.   Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

4.   Psalms 34:7  The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

Life Shape Prayer and Discipleship Module 2 – New Creation Realities Block 11 – The Will

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For the purpose of this teaching, let’s imagine the whole universe as one great courtroom in which God is the supreme judge. The volume of scriptures in the Bible clearly paints this picture with Jesus as our advocate/attorney; and Satan as the accuser. Scriptures also tell us that we are surrounded with a great cloud of witnesses and that records are being kept which contain every work we do and every word we speak on earth.

Each individual will one day approach the great judgment seat of Christ and these books will be opened. Evidence will be presented, testimony given, and records reviewed by this court.

These proceedings will be very intense and concerning to so many because all decisions of this court will be final … and by final I mean eternal and without appeal. This court will decide whether you go to heaven or spend eternity in hell.

All decisions of this court shall be based on what is written in The Will.

When a person accumulates, inherits, or possesses a great amount of worth and wealth it is wise to prepare a last Will and Testament so that in the event of death assets can be distributed as desired. Providing it meets legal criteria, this last Will and Testament is binding upon the estate of the individual. At death, or at any time thereafter as prescribed, both assets and authorities thereunto transfer to others according to the provisions of the Will.

Last Wills and Testaments can only be changed by the person who made the Will and then only before their death. Without respect to what anyone else says, feels, or believes should happen, the written will stands as a testimony and is backed by the whole force of law. If you do not have a will it is reasonable that you consider making one … this is the biblical pattern. God has a written will.

We have been given a copy of God’s will. First, there is a copy of His Old Will and Testament and as well we have a copy of His New Testament. These two do not contradict but they rather complement and confirm one another, adding clarification, which thereby strengthens the tenets and conditions of His will.

Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him,that we may also be glorified together.

Both the Old and New Testaments name God’s children as heirs beginning with His only begotten Son. The New Testament specifically names every born again believer, not only as an heir of God, but also as a joint heir with Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:1-2,7  1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, ² but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

7 Now you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The heirs of God, as long as they are young and immature children, differ nothing from a servant in practice and authority but rather are placed under tutors, governors and guardians until the time appointed of the father when they shall have grown up and their inheritance has come fully under their control. This is true even though the child is already legally heir and therefore lord of all.

Proverbs 20:21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

Proverbs admonishes us from the wisdom of God to understand that an inheritance received too early in life can be easily misused, squandered, and ultimately waste away. I am certain that God not only distributes His wisdom to mankind but also follows this wisdom Himself, setting appointed times to which are tied the release of greater authority and exercise of our inheritance. These things are set according to the written Will and Testament of God.

The person who makes their last Will and Testament is called the testator. This word is not in the common vocabulary of most English speaking people. Nonetheless we find it written in our key scripture.

Hebrews 9:16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

When a person is saved they become a new creation in Christ Jesus. At that point, they are born again into the family of God and as God’s children hold eternal legal rights of inheritance to the things of God. God has made this very plain, written in His will and sealed by the blood of His Son.

Each child of God holds legal claim to eternal life and this right supersedes all other claims against his soul.

Every person will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Without regard as to the evidence, testimony, or record against them the Will shall prevail. Providing they have been born again, all debt will be considered paid in full by the blood of Christ and they shall be accepted into the beloved with God forever. This is but one provision of God’s Will for His children.

The Will of God also grants access to healing, health, mercy, forgiveness, peace, prosperity, hope, and help of all sorts. God’s storehouse holds abundant blessings which have been passed on to God’s children through the provision of His Will in light of the death of Christ.

The whole world and all creation belong to God and everything is finally subject to His will.

Important Points

1. Imagine the Universe as a great courtroom - God does.

2. God’s Last (New) Will and Testament came into force at the death of Christ.

3. Every child of God is a legal heir of God.

4. The Will of God applies to life on earth and eternal life.

5. All decisions based on the Will are final, without appeal, and for eternity.