Sermon Central
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Call 911
Contributed by Vera Hughes on Feb 21, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: We had many 911 situations in this generation. Let this sermon show you how we can handle these situations to encourage this generation.
We have just read in the above scripture a 911 situation. We found a boy vexed by a foul spirit and no one could deliver Him but Jesus. We all sat in shock as we saw two planes crash into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. These were absolutely terrorist attacks at its worst.
God showed me that whenever He pours out His best, in a mighty display of power, people get healed and saved and delivered and encouraged and set free from the bondages that have held them. We call that outpouring "revival" and when it comes, Satan tries to counter it by pouring out his "best." His best takes the form of relentless destruction, maiming, crippling disease, and death. In its ultimate manifestation, we call that "war."
All through history, and particularly during this century, the revival of God has paralleled war. We’ve seen mighty outpourings of God during this twentieth century, and at the same time, we’ve also seen mankind’s most terrible wars.
Those wars have actually been Satan’s specific attempt to sidetrack us, to take our attention off the outpouring of God and center us up on war instead. It’s a diversionary tactic whose sole purpose is to stop the move of God.
What tactics does the devil use to attack us?
1. Critical Spirit
Agree with thine adversary quickly, lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer and thou be cast into prison.
Adversary – satan
The devil is criticizing you but keep saying what the Word says. When the devil leaves you, then he is agreeing with the Word. The devil has to respect the Word.
Judge – krititos – because you did not agree with God, then you gain a critical spirit and turn yourself over to agree with satan.
Matthew 4:8-10 (paraphrased)
Again the adversary taketh him with him to the top of all the realms of the world and their grandeur suggesting to Him, Every bit of this I will give to you if you bow down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Go away devil! For it is written, You must worship the Lord your God and to Him only render divine service – at this the devil left him.
2. Religion has crept into the Church
Hebrew 9:1-3; 7, 10, 11-12,15
The church is once again in bondage to things we have been delivered from. The church has brought into religion.
Redemption – no longer sacrifice to man to get to God.
Pastors and Prophets have made it today that we have to come to them to get the promises, favor and benefits of God. They use their hands, money, tapes and that is the way to get to the things of God.
There has to be a restoration of the church. Where is the real church? People who are fire baptized, holy, sanctified?
We are praying for our relatives to come and when they come to church they don’t see the church but the spirit of the world.
Everything that we give signature today is not of God. Anything that promotes you to respond in the flesh is not God.
Where are our church mothers and fathers? Where are the people who labor in prayer all night?
When Jesus died on the cross it is finished! Not over. Jesus finished what God called Him to do and He established the New Covenant. When the tabernacle was erected, there was a veil that separated us from God; now the veil has been rent through the redemption work of Christ. We have access to the Father for ourselves.
Anything other than this is religion. The Church has stitched the veil back.
3. Thus goes the Family, then the Church, then the Nation
Where are the “family men” like Joshua? Today, we have men who are unwilling to change to get back to the family structure set up by the Lord in the beginning.
The man needs to change so his family can change. Then the church will change. Then the nation will change.
Change is not change until it is change.
Intention to change is not change. Talking about changing is not change.
We spend millions of dollars on preventing teen violence by putting in programs. For the women, we have written books and seminars on teaching them to be good wives.
Having done this, we send our wives and children back to men who have not changed. Men are still untaught and unchurched.
A rehabilitated child and reform wife will find frustration when they come home to an unchanged man. The man is the head of the home: change is to start with him.
Manhood is not talked, it is lived.
