SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(2 Corinthians 4:8-10) ( 8) "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;" (9) " Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (10) "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."
(1 Peter 4:12-13) (12) “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; (13) But rejoice, insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
(Romans 8:35-37) (35) “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (36) "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (37) "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
(Romans 8:38-39) (38) "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
PREFACE SUMMARY
As I contemplate the church's influence in today's world, I'm left with some fundamental questions, the answers to which everyone may not agree. However, there is hope in the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:18, which states that the Lord will build His church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Christ, the head of the church, will build His church on top of the false, the hurting, the broken dreams, and broken hearts, including divorce and worldly views. The true church of Jesus Christ is not and will not be a weak church.
Saints, we will discover in Jewish history that many times, God would allow things to happen that would make his people look weak. Their enemies look like they were being exalted to their most excellent height, for beloved, God was known to take a small number in their greatest weakness and conquer his enemies in their greatest glory.
Dear friends, there are many people out there who are lost and searching for answers. As people who have gone through difficult times and emerged more robust, we can help them. However, we need to work together to make a real difference. We face challenges, and it's disheartening to see that even our places of worship are not safe from the enemy.
Many people attend church without any respect for God, and some churches are filled with immorality and sin. Despite all this, we must not lose hope. We live in difficult times and face many struggles, but we can hold on to God's promise that he will never abandon us. We must stick together and fight for our beliefs, even when things seem hopeless.
We may make mistakes, but we must remember that God has a plan for us and wants us to have a bright future. The enemy will try to distract us, but we must stay focused and continue to work together. God is always working behind the scenes, and we must trust that his timing is perfect.
Saints, the old shipmen of old amid a terrible storm, would tie themselves to the big mast of the ship to keep from getting washed overboard, and beloved, we have his promise in (Psalms 46:1) that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble.
Church, in these trying times with trouble on every corner, keeps fighting the fight of faith as one unified body working in harmony as we hold on to his everlasting arms because many facing what we are facing today are losing hope and giving up.
Beloved, we may make many mistakes, but that does not define who we are, for what matters most is that we dare to believe (Jeremiah 29:11) ESV "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Dear readers, the enemy has a way of knowing when God is getting ready to move for us. He will send distractions our way to get our eyes off of our assignment; therefore, Saints of the Living God, may we hold on just a little longer and realize we need each other, for we are nearing the end of the day of grace and his coming maybe sooner than we think.
Saints, the bottom line to this entire message is knowing and recognizing that we are in a colossal war between good and evil, and we must realize God's timing in everything we undertake to do.
Remember that usually, when we are at the lowest point in our faith and just when we are about to give in, we find God has been working behind the scenes, orchestrating events in our favor.
"THE CHURCH AT WAR"
(Matthew 5:11-12) “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake. “Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
I have lived long enough to understand that some people cannot be pleased or loved, no matter what you do or how much effort you put in. They are always finding faults and complaining, but they are never interested in finding a solution to the problem they are complaining about.
These people usually want control and access to the treasury but hardly ever donate to the ministry. However, I believe it's better to be criticized for doing what is suitable than for doing what is wrong. I would never criticize something that I had not personally invested in.
Beloved Saints, we are under attack, and it is a sad sight when the enemy can attend a house of worship and feel comfortable without any fear or respect for the one who created all things both seen and unseen for beloved, the word of God states that "the sinner cannot sit in the congregation of the righteous." (Psalms 1:5)
Beloved, it is also sad when many attending worship services today do not know or make an attempt to know the people that attend their church services, but beloved, you see advertisements that these churches are in revival stating that they are receiving a visitation from heaven. Still, there are no reports of changed lives and souls being saved. Beloved, if the truth was known, there is every form of immorality in their church, with some living in sin holding offices there.
Beloved, we are living in dangerous times. We are nearing the end of the day of grace, which will be followed by the great tribulation, but do not lose heart, for when all hope seems lost with no good end in sight, it is in our darkest hour that our true character is displayed because it is in our darkest hour with nothing but bad news coming from a thousand directions that we hold on to his promise that he will never leave us but go with us all the way even to the end of the world.
We must understand that two things in this world cause conflicts - pride and greed. You can trace every ministry, marriage, and business that has failed in these two areas. God hates a proud look, and we should not covet what others have.
There is a spiritual war between evil spirits and the Angels of God, and we are in the middle. The Bible reveals that there are satanic forces and heavenly forces engaged in warfare, and it's a battle between good and evil, light and darkness, with the primary battle being between God and Satan.
Throughout history, the US has been involved in many conflicts, including wars. Some of you have fought for your country, and you know firsthand what it's like to be in battle. Trained soldiers engaged in military conflict have no doubt who their enemies are and work to develop a plan to defeat them.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, emphasized that our battle is not against human beings but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, including mighty powers of darkness, wicked spirits in the heavenly realms, and those who govern this world.
Did you know that we simultaneously exist in the visible and unseen worlds? The unseen world is where evil beings reside, but it is also where Christ and all believers exist.
When Paul stated that he had fought a good fight, he was referring to the fact that we are involved in an invisible war, a cosmic conflict with eternal consequences. It is important to note that he wasn't discussing fighting against another denomination or church in the same locality.
The Bible tells us that Daniel prayed to God but didn't receive an answer right away. An angel appeared to him and explained that there was a delay due to spiritual warfare. The angel reassured Daniel and said that his prayer had been heard and that he had come in response to it.
We must understand that Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of unbelievers. This is because he can only hurt God by deceiving people's souls. As a result, they cannot see the glorious light of the Good News that shines on them.
Saints, we are spirit beings enclosed in human flesh, but we do not wage war with our human plans and methods in this war. Still, we use God’s powerful spiritual weapons that are mighty to tear down the strongholds of the devil and beloved; with these weapons, we can break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God and conquer their rebellious ideas and forms of worship using his holy word.
Beloved, I want to sound the message loud and clear that God is calling His church to engage Satan in spiritual warfare, realizing that we need to daily put on the whole armor of God which will make us strong in the Lord and equip us to break satanic strongholds over our life and those around us.
It is essential to understand that spiritual warfare requires us to use weapons that are not of this world and are not visible. The Word of God teaches that our weapons are mighty, such as prayer, faith, and walking in the delegated authority that Christ gave us from his heavenly father.
The bottom line to understanding spiritual warfare is realizing that our weapons are not of this world, and neither are they visible, but the word of God teaches that they are mighty weapons such as prayer, including the Word of God combined with faith and walking in the delegated authority which Christ gave us that he received from his heavenly father.
Beloved, our enemy is formidable, and his main goal is to destroy us and discredit the cause of Christ in us. Therefore, we must be aware that not everyone who claims to be a Christian is a born-again believer who has accepted God's pardon from sin and been adopted into his royal family.
"THE UNSEEN WORLD REVEALED"
Saints of God, did you know that an unseen world around us is more accurate than the one we live in? And by studying the things that can be seen, we can glimpse our mighty God, who knows every piece of matter in the universe and calls the stars by name.
Beloved, as a young seminary student, the living God revealed to me why he made man in his image and likeness, informing me that Satan did not challenge him on his power but on his justice, and he did it before all that God had created.
Saints, God made man, giving him free will to make choices for himself, and when man was tested in the Garden of Eden, you know what happened that caused man to be driven from the garden. However, God made man with the perfect plan to redeem man should he break the one law and fall from grace.
Beloved, because God knows the end from the beginning and nothing takes him by surprise, he knew that the evil tempter would be there and persuade man to break the law and be sentenced to isolation from him, but beloved, God had a plan in place before he made man.
Saints, in his foreknowledge, God reviewed each life that would be born and knew that man would get so wicked that he would have to send a flood and destroy all but eight of Noah’s family, and beloved his word states that he waited for the time when Noah would be born.
Beloved reader, God decided to make a way to save a lower form of life (Man) to save a higher form of life (Angels).
Church, during Satan's rebellion, there had to be questions in the minds of the Angels that stayed loyal to God because they might have been friends with some of the ones that chose to rebel against Satan.
Beloved saints, I want to tell you that God wiped all the question marks away when he became man’s savior, which required him to suffer, be tried at night without council, be convicted, and be executed as a criminal in man’s place to take away the penalty of sin which is death.
Church, one way we can look at this would be to imagine that there was a judge who ruled by the letter of the law and would not give anyone a break, but one day, his mother was brought before him, who had been caught in a terrible crime.
Beloved, his mother was found guilty, and he was forced to sentence her to the fullest extent of the law; however beloved, after sentencing his mother, the judge stepped down from the bench and removed his robe, stretching both of his hands out, asking the bailiff to arrest him, informing the court that there was not a stipulation in the law that would prevent him from serving his mother’s sentence.
Beloved reader, I don’t know how you look at this story, but this heathen judge who did not regard the persons of man showed that he did have a heart and cared enough for his mother that he was willing to serve out her sentence now friend, that is what I call love.
Dear reader, this is what God did for you and me, for he could not make another Adam from the Earth that had been cursed.
Beloved, in the fullness of time, God (the word) stepped out of eternity and was placed in the Virgin Mary to go to the cross and become man’s redeemer. (John 3:16)
Church, the word declares that “He, who knew no sin, was made sin for us.” Yes, God took off his robe of judgment and paid man’s sin debt, being made a curse for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Beloved, we have historical records where man has died for their faith, being thrown to lions and becoming spectacles for all to see. In the scriptures below, God is allowing us, through the psalmist David, to catch a symbol of his power and notice the many emblems of protection available to all of us.
" MORE POWER WILL REQUIRE MORE PRESSURE"
Dear readers, the message is clear: God is calling his church to engage in spiritual warfare against Satan. We need proper training and counseling to be strong in the Lord and fully equipped to break down satanic strongholds.
Throughout history, we can see that persecution has often revived the church. The apostle Paul's missionary trip to Ephesus, which was in Asia, appeared unsuccessful. He spoke of the danger they faced, almost losing their lives. But when we are pressed out of ourselves, we are pressed into Christ.
Although scholars are unsure if a mob or sickness came against them, Paul informed his companions that they needed to trust in God, who could even raise the dead. They were pressed beyond their human strength; their only hope was their faith in God.
Pressure will press us out of ourselves and into Christ, where our life is in Him. It needs to be significant enough to press us beyond our human strength and any source of hope we may be holding onto. We need to be placed in situations where there is no conceivable way for us to win on our own, which brings us to the end of ourselves and our hope in our human strength.
This is how we grow in our faith. When we come to the end of ourselves and sink until we have no hope in our human strength, the victory of the cross shines through. God never promised us a life without discomfort, discouragement, and even depression, but He promised to be with us through it all.
Beloved, at some point in our lives, we will all experience discomfort, and sometimes we suffer through multiple discomforts simultaneously. However, we can find comfort in knowing that God is faithful, and His word declares He is always present to help us in times of trouble.
If you ever feel like you're facing an overwhelming situation, take comfort in knowing you can endure it. Remember that God has allowed this challenge to be placed upon you because you can overcome it and that His grace will guide you through even the most challenging times.
Dear readers, if you feel like your life is falling apart, remember that Jesus faced many trials and tribulations during His time on earth and that we are given the gift of faith through Him. Remember that you have been given all the resources you need to fulfill your purpose on this earth and bring glory to God.
MY CONCLUSION
(Romans 8:28) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
Dear readers, remember that no matter what troubles we face, such as heartaches or sorrows, there is always a reason and purpose behind it, and our God is always working behind the scenes.
Beloved, we know that we will face opposition when we do anything for the Kingdom of God. But we must remember that victory does not come quickly and that God's grace is sufficient for our every need. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Paul did not allow himself to quit, turn back, or give in to the pressure of others. Instead, he pressed towards the mark of the high calling of God, which was in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)
Dear readers, as believers, we can find comfort in knowing that God knows the future and has a divine plan for our lives. This means that His plan cannot be thwarted, and each of us has a vital role in it.
We must remain vigilant and aware of the enemy's tactics and be ready to exercise our faith and resist all attacks. Let us also draw strength and support from our Christian community and the God of all grace.
Dear readers, the Christian race is not won by those who are swift or intense but by those who endure till the end. To be a valid winner in this race, we must have a spirit of endurance.
Remember, "You cannot do what you say you can't until you attempt to do what you can." God has promised to bless the work of our hands, and all things that are called according to his purpose work together for the good of his people.
We can rest assured that God knows the future and that his divine plan will be accomplished in our life and ministry; therefore, may we find peace in His promises and continue to trust in his unfailing love.
International Evangelist
Dr. Jerry W. Hulse Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
MY CLOSING PRAYER
Dear Lord, my prayer is that you stir us up and burden our hearts for true revival, yes, Lord, in every country throughout the world and demonstrate to the people in these countries that you are the Unchanging God, for your word declares it, that what you were yesterday, you are today, and will be tomorrow! (Hebrews 13:8)
Dear heavenly Father, I ask that you move to bless each who has taken time to read this message and has humbly surrendered their life more to your purpose, and I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their life and ministry in Jesus mighty name.
Father, I ask that you bless them spiritually, financially, physically, relationally, and emotionally so that their life may be blessed to enrich the lives of others.
Dear Lord, I ask that your will, purpose, word, and Spirit have a free course in their life and everyone they meet.
Father, I pray that all curses and words spoken against them will be broken, and I ask that you stand up for them in these last days and make their lives count.
Dear Lord, I ask you to awaken the gifts and talents placed in them at birth so they may become unified in the faith with other believers, realizing the need to work together in harmony like a fine-tuned orchestra in the master's hands.
Father, if anyone reading this prayer should need deliverance from some oppressing spirit, including some illnesses that may be attacking their body, Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would raise a standard against these attacks and set them free.
Lord, I pray that the power of your written and spoken word be activated through the authority made available unto us in the name of Jesus, and we apply the following scriptures to our prayer.
(John 16:23) "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you."
(Psalms 34:15) "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."
Father, we close our prayer believing that you have heard and answered us according to your divine will and purpose, for it is in Jesus’ mighty name we pray and ask these favors. A-Men
