Five Questions Part 2: Do I Have The Utterance?

Heb 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud

of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,(every thing that would impede

our forward progress) and the sin (or that which causes us to miss the

mark or fail in walking according to the standard of Christ Jesus) which

so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set

before us.

Somebody say:

"We are in a race"

"We are running to win"

"We are laying aside every weight"

"We are overcoming every sin"

"We are running with endurance"

"Because it is bigger than we think"

Last Wednesday evening I brought the first installment of a series of

messages that I will be bringing over the course of the next few weeks.

That first message was called "Running to win" and I apologize that we

weren't able to get that on audio tape for those of you who were not here

to receive it.

The jest of that message was that if God has called us to do something,

then we need to do it. We need to commit ourselves to prayer, the Word, to

worship and to the work in order to not only finish, but to obtain the

prize that has been set before us.

This past Sunday morning, I brought the first in a series of massages

relating to (5) questions that we must ask ourselves before the end of the

year 2000.

The first question was: "Do I have the right attitude towards money?"

How many of you found that you did indeed have some wrong attitudes in

relationship to money? How many of you had to do some personal evaluations

in regards to your own heart regarding your money and what God expects and

promises you in regards to such?

If you missed that message- it was recorded and will be available to those

who would like a copy.

Tonight, the second question that I believe we must ask ourselves is found

in Ephesians Chapter 6.

Eph 6:10-20

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His

might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against

the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against

principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this

age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 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,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly,

as I ought to speak. (NKJ)

You may think from te context of this passage that the second question

that must be asked is: "Am I wearing the full armor of God?" I hate to

disappoint you, but that is not the question that must be asked. Here is

why.

In the past (25) years, there has been more teaching on the subject of the

armor of God and spiritual warfare than in the previous 10 centuries

combined.

There are ministries and ministry centers that have sprung up for one

purpose; to fight it out with the devil.

We have mapped cities and discovered the names of principalities. We have

flown over cities in airplanes and driven stakes into the ground claiming

our rightful ownership over particular areas. We have shouted and danced

in the face of the devil in order to drive him from our midst. We have

developed strategies and programs and initiatives in an effort to win the

lost and free the captives.

? Now, before you think that I am opposed to spiritual warfare- know that

I am not. I believe what the word says in relationship to us "wresting"

against these powers and principalities and spiritual wickedness in high

places.

But with...

All the shouting

All the marching

All the dancing

All the naming

All the conferencing