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ASSAULT THE GATES
Matthew 16:15-19 Yeshua said to them, "but who do you say that I am?" And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God. And Yeshua answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
IN SCRIPTURE, THE GATES REPRESENT THE SEAT OF AUTHORITY
Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
YESHUA is saying that the powers of darkness shall not prevail against us!!
But we cannot just wait to have the victory come to us. We must go on the offensive!!
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
VIOLENT: FORCEFUL; ENERGENIC!
HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT?
Look back at Matthew 16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
IN ORDER TO DO THIS WE MUST IDENTIFY THE ENEMY!
Ephesians 6:12 For we our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
I Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour: But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Messiah, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
WHAT DO WE DO?
I Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
WHAT DO WE DO? (Continued)
Jude 1:3 ... it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith
WHY ARE WE FIGHTING OVER FAITH?
Hebrews 11:33 (KJV) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
BECAUSE THROUGH FAITH WE
1> SUBDUE KINGDOMS (Kingdom of Darkness)
2> WROUGHT RIGHTEOUSNESS (Performed or administered the right way of the Lord)
3> OBTAINED PROMISES (Appropiate the benefits and powers of the Kingdom of God)
4> STOPPED THE MOUTHS OF LIONS (Stop the lies of devils, lock the jaws of liars, tread on and take dominion over devils)
5> QUENCHED THE POWER OF FIRE (As the 3 Hebrew children; neither scorched or burned)
6> ESCAPED THE EDGE OF THE SWORD (Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you will prosper)
7> OUT OF WEAKNESS WERE MADE STRONG (II Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me.)
8> BECAME MIGHTY IN WAR (Ex: Gideon)
HOW DO WE CONTEND FOR THE FAITH?
I Peter 3:15 But sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverance.
2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
I John 5:4 For whoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
I Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
II Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah;
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD
Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV) 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. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
WHEN YOU ARE CLOTHED WITH THE ARMOUR OF GOD, YOU ARE NOT VULNERABLE TO THE ENEMY'S TACTICS. YOU ALSO HAVE THE WEAPON NEEDED TO ATTACK THE ENEMY--NOT JUST DEFEND AGAINST HIS ATTACKS. YOU WILL BE FIGHTING ON YOUR TERMS, NOT HIS. |
GOD HAS GOOD PLANS FOR YOUR FUTURE
know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.
Jeremiah 29:11 (Message Bible) |
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