Weekly Message: The battle on the great day of God Almighty 6272018
By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts
Ministries
Living in the United States of America, there are many ministers and prayer warriors face the spiritual warfare, and forces. It results in frustration, self-defeating, rejection, confusion, grudges, despairs, and hesitate to explore some scenarios. Many self-defeating and degraded Christians faced spiritual conflicts, couldn’t overcome (or unable to be set free from) the bondages of sins, and darkness, then gave up the faith in Christ. Ultimately, they became the bitter vessels, blamed others and cursed God because of their circumstances. As Revelation 16:8-11, 18, 21 had foretold as follows,
“The
fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to
scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they coursed
the name of God, who had control over the plagues, but they refused to repent
and glorify him. (16:8-9)
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his
kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed
the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to
repent of what they had done. (16:10)Then there came flashed of lightning, rumblings,
peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever
occurred since man has been on earth… from the sky huge hailstones of about a
hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague
of hail, because the plague was so terrible.” (16:21).
“The
battle on the great day of God Almighty the war will consist of several
battles, beginning with Antichrist’s campaign into Egypt (Dan.11:40-45) and
including a siege of Jerusalem (Zech.14:2) as well as the final battle at
Armageddon. (Rev.16:16).”[1] Three
evil spirits looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon,
beast, and false prophet. The dragon is Satan. The beast is Antichrist
(Rev.13:1-3), the false prophet, the lieutenant. (13:11-18). “They are spirits
of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the
whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.”
(Rev.16:14). Jesus did warm us, “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he
who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and
be shamefully exposed.” (Rev.16:15).
“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he
who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Rev.22:7). Apostles
John unveils these visions and awakens the saints keep watching and wait
patiently upon the Lord. Once we know the truth, the truth shall set us free,
and aware of the spiritual warfare.
Christian’s faith is truth encounter
The spiritual prayer warriors and ministers
who fight for the battle of Christ, in Christ, they are victors. They pray
without ceasing for the nations, stand for the Biblical principles. These
fighters have strong faith in Christ, mood swings cannot touch their joy,
despair cannot control over them nor do the grudges corrode them.[2] In
Christ, they are victors, not victims, this is faith realization. For the sins
cannot be the master to rule over the servants of God.
Unfortunately, there are many degraded and
self-defeating Christians became hardened hearts, and refused to believe the
Word of God, nor listen to the voice of God, because of their circumstances resulted by sins. They were the
salts on the earth, but lost saltiness, and let Satan gained the foothold. More
shameful is that some self-defeating Christians even let the unbelievers and the
secular psychologists diagnose them as mental illness, the term such as
“schizophrenia, paranoia, psychosis, neurological chemical imbalance, Bai-polar,
mania and depression”. And force them to take medication, and some results in
the drugs abuse, regardless of a spiritual battle of the mind.
Author Neil Anderson opened up the blind sight of our spiritual eyes. Satan is spiritual beings; distract people through temptation, accusation and deception. Through a book named, “the Bondage Breaker”, Anderson explored the Psychologists and psychiatrists routinely see patients who are hearing voices: chemical imbalance is the standard diagnosis. But he debated, “How can a chemical produce a personal thought? How our neurotransmitters can involuntarily and randomly fire in such a way that they create thoughts that we are opposed to thinking? Secular psychologists limited to a natural worldview attempt to offer natural explanations for mental problems while Christians are encouraged to believe, declare, and act upon the truth of God’s Word.”[3] “Satan and his demons are spiritual beings; they do not have material substance, so we cannot see them or any spiritual being with our natural eyes, nor hear them with our ears. Satan’s only weapon is deception.”[4] But the Bible stated, “The one in us is greater than the one in the world.” In perfect love drives away the fear, for God is love. We can command whatever frightens us to leave in the name of Jesus. Believers have the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. (Eph.6:14-17). Believers can pray or communicate with God in their mind and spirit, for God knows that thoughts and intents of their heart. (Heb.4:12). They can have unspoken communication with heavenly father. But when they under a direct attack from Satan, for instance in their room at night, they need to exercise their authority in Christ by speaking out loud, since the evil one does not have the power to completely know believers’ thoughts.” [5] As James says, “submit therefore to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. (2Cor.10:4).
Accusation is one of Satan’s primary
weapons, when Satan accused Joshua’s filthy clothes day and night; God
vindicated and defeated Satan’s accusation. By the blood of lamb, and the
testimony of the saints, believers can overcome the Satan’s accusation.
Christians’ awareness
In order to live a victorious life there are
few factors as followers,
1). Keep testifying Jesus Christ died on the cross at the Calvary has
powerfully defeated the Satan. Through Jesus’ redemption the believers have
purchased back to Heavenly father. Christians need to do is keep testifying the
Christ and declare the victory of their life in Christ.
2).
A desire
of heart to trust.
In the New Testament, Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of
the man; the demon-possessed man had cured. (Luke8:26-39) Jesus also healed many
sicknesses, for the person who came to Jesus had a desire of heart to be healed
and trust.
3). Keep praying and fasting. In some cases
require the believers to fast in order to defeat the demons, pray without
ceasing, and declare the victory.
4).
Repentant
and obedience. An
unrepentant heart, disobedience, and reject the voice of God, it results the spiritual
conflicts, weakness, and many sickness. (John8:44-49). Adam and Eve didn’t
stand on the ground of obeying God’s instruction. It resulted in spiritual dead
and cursed.
5).
Recognizing
and partaking
the cup in worthy manner. Many Christians’ weakness and sicknesses were resulted by partaking cup
and bread without recognizing the body of Christ. (1 Corin.10:14-22).
6)
Applying
the Sword of the Spirit.
Christians’ best spiritual weapon is Sword of the Spirit which is Word
of God. And take up the whole armor of God, having girded loins with truth and
having put on the breastplate of righteousness and the gospel of peace. (Eph.6:13-17).
7). Keep perfect love in Christ. Keep serving the Lord through serve the people, and
family with perfect love in Christ, for God is love, and the perfect love will
drive away the fear.
8).
Keep conscience
clear and forgive one another. An unforgiving heart will blind one’s
inner man’s conscience, to keep conscience clear, Christians must forgive one
another.
9)
Completely
humble and compassionate. A meekness heart like quiet water, calm the soul. A proud heart gives
Satan the foothold to dominate one’s mind, act in flesh implosively, and speak malice,
full of envy, deceit, hypocrisy and slander of every kind. God resists proud,
but give grace to the humble.
10).
Renounce
the freedom in Christ.
Christians have right to be free and gain the victor in the battle of their
mind. For where the spirit of Lord is, there is liberty.
Christians need to renounce the freedom in Christ, and have nothing to do with the
ancestors Adam and Eve’s sins. Because second Adam, Christ Jesus had paid the
price for the sins once for all. By His blood shedding on the cross, believers
are redeemed, and their sins are forgiven.
Conclusion,
Where the spirit
of Lord is, there is liberty. Christians’ faith in Christ is the key element to
be set free from the bondage of sins and sickness; by declaration, repentance,
and act upon the truth of God’s word. Believe that Jesus has already delivered Christians
from Satan, and sins. The cross of Christ at cavalry has defeated the Satan,
sins, and dead. Christians need to be still, steadfast and believe the battle
belong to Christ. Satan (dragon), Beast (Anti-Christ) and false prophet’s
schemes are deceitful, full of confusion, deception, and lies. (Jh.8:44). At
the ending time, even the idol can speak, demonstrate the miracles, dominate
the economy and refuse to have business with certain groups, such as those
whose forehead without mark (tattoo). It will be very difficult to recognize the
Christ. Apostle Peter encouraged disciples, “The end
of all things is near, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can
pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude
of sins.”(1Pet.4:7-8).
In order to live a Christian life in victory, there
are ten factors that Christians need to be aware with. 1). Keep testifying
Jesus Christ died on the cross at the Calvary has powerfully defeated the
Satan, through the Lamb of God; he had purchased the believers back to Heavenly
father. And declare the victory of their life in Christ. 2). A desire of heart
to believe and trust. 3).Keep praying and fasting in some cases. 4). Repentant
and obedience. 5). Recognizing and partaking the cup in worthy manner. 6). Applying
the sword of the Spirit which is Word of God. 7). Keep perfect love in Christ,
for perfect love drives away the fear. 8). Keep conscience clear and forgive
one another. 9) Completely humble
and compassionate. 10) Renounce the freedom in Christ. The ancestors Adam and
Eve’s sins through the second Adam, Jesus who died on the cross, the
crucifixion and resurrection of Christ had set us free. Christians have right
to be free and gain the victor in the battle of their mind. For where the
spirit of Lord is, there is liberty. In Psalm 2:9 states, “you will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them
to pieces like pottery.” God gave Christ authority to rule
over the nations; Christ gives the same authority to His overcomers. And encourages
disciples, “He who overcomes and he who keeps my works until
the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.” (Rev. 2:26). My friends, May God
strengthen you to be the victors, and overcomers.
[1] Charles C. Ryrie. The Ryrie Study Bible
(NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.),1738.
[2] Max Lucado. Glory Days. (Nashville, TN. Thomas
Nelson, 2015),21.
[3]
Anderson,
Neil. The Bondage Breaker: Overcoming Negative Thoughts, Irrational feelings,
Habitual sins. (Sisters Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2006). 20
[4] Bruce,
Katherine L. Book review: The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson. (Orlando FL:
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. 2012). 6
[5] Ibid.
