THE LORD’S PRAYER (Part 1)

We’re going to do something a little different this week. We are going to focus almost exclusively on the book of John, Chapter 17. We will not read every verse, but we will thoroughly explore the last public prayer of Jesus before he and his disciples went to the garden where Jesus would be arrested and led to his persecution and death on the cross.

Most people believe the Our Father Which Art in Heaven prayer is the Lord’s prayer. The truth is, that prayer was a teaching prayer. Jesus was asked how to pray. He then recited the “Our Father” as an example how to pray. This prayer in John, chapter 17, is what I would truly say is the Lord’s prayer and man, oh man, does it ever effect us.

Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service. No one is excluded from this place. Get ready folks, this may be quite a journey. Now listen to me. Believers, nonbelievers and Christian backsliders, this chapter speaks to each of you, so take heed. Jesus, the son of God, is praying for and about us all. John 17:1-2 states:

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”

Please take in the environment of this moment. Jesus knows the end of his earthly walk is upon him. Yet, what does he do? He prays with his disciples for us. Jesus states clearly here that God gave him power over all flesh, knowing that by his death and resurrection we may be saved. He goes on in verse 3 to explain what life eternal really is. If you get this, you will always be able to share with others the true meaning of eternal life. This is what Jesus states in Verse 3:

“And this is life eternal, that they (you and me) might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”

The death on that cross and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead has made it possible for us to know God and his son Jesus. I’m not talking here about just knowing ‘about’ God, but really knowing him. Listen to what Jesus said. Life eternal is that we might know God personally. Notice the word ‘might’ in this scripture. Jesus is saying the possibility of knowing God is here, but we must receive Jesus in our hearts. That is the only true way to know Jesus and his heavenly Father. That opportunity is here for us because of Jesus. Let’s go on and read further. John 17:4-5, Jesus praying to his Father in heaven:

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

In effect, Jesus was telling God that he glorified him by carrying out his will for mankind on this earth. Jesus was so committed to his sacrifice for us, his death on the cross and his shedding of blood, which would occur in just a few hours, that he spoke as if it was already done. Now, what Jesus is saying is the stain of man’s sin is gone. Restore me to my former unstained glory that I had in heaven. Do you understand this, church? Jesus in this prayer is laying out for us exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about.

Imagine this, my friends. Jesus knows the fate awaiting him just a few hours away. But, is his concern for himself? The answer is no. His concern was about us. Now in Verse 8 Jesus begins to talk to God about those who believe on him. He becomes our advocate with the Father. And, guess what? He is still our advocate today. Let’s look at John 17:8-10, Jesus still praying to his Father for us:

“For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.”

Church, if that doesn’t grab your heart, what can? Jesus over and over and over again, all during his days on the earth, proclaimed that he was led by his Father in heaven. As you read the New Testament, everything Jesus spoke of were the words his Father would have spoken. Listen to me. He is not only talking about those that followed him around, but he is talking about us today. He basically said that they believed he was sent to save them. Well church, who are they? The answer – we are – the believers of today. But, this is also for you, my unbelieving friends, as you choose today to believe Jesus and what he did for you.

Now, notice carefully in Verse 9, Jesus was stating that he is praying for us, the believers. He is not praying for those who chose not to believe in him. Tough love, my friends, but a just love. Jesus says because he we are his, we are of God. And because we are of God, we are of him. In other words, as believers we are one with God and his son Jesus. Nonbelievers and Christian backslider, you are not left out here. Jesus is calling you to him. What is your answer? In verse 10 Jesus said he is glorified in us. In other words, as the title of one of our former messages stated “God loves you the best.” I believe this scripture shows that clearly.

Let me clarify something. God cares for all that are in this world. When he said “I pray not for the world,” he was stating he could not pray to the Father to keep those that did not belong to him. But, he most certainly could and would pray for those who have chosen to believe in him.

I’m going to leave John 17, right here at verse 11. We will pick it up at this same place next week. I hope you are enjoying this two part series on the Lord’s prayer. I just felt it to be so important that you understand how much God loves you. How horrible it must have been for our heavenly Father to see his son spit upon, his back beaten to shreds, a crown of thorns pushed onto his skull, nails pounded through his hands and feet. But, how glorious it must have been when Jesus returned to heaven in all his glory and filled with joy for what had been accomplished. Jesus sprinkled his blood on the mercy seat and all of heaven praised the Lord for the work he had done. That is what Jesus was praying about, my friends. He left glory for a hell on earth so we may have glory in heaven with him. What an awesome God we serve.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

JESUS CAME THAT WE MAY HAVE LIFE

Let me start by thanking you for your response to the music video we presented last week. According to your response many were blessed and uplifted by the song “On My Father’s Side.” Let me suggest if you did not play the video, go back to last week’s message and do so. Music is especially good when it lifts up the name of Jesus and this video does just that. Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, is welcome in this place.

Another important thought for you – before you continue to read or listen to this week’s message – stop!! Look to the right side of the message. What do you see? Prayer requests, right? Let me emphasize, these are very important, urgent and very real prayer requests. Take your time. Look them over very carefully. These requests are made to you, the church. Please pray for these people. Lift them up to God. These are our friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, or just plain folk needing help. I’m asking you to renew your efforts for them. Let the sick be healed. Let the weak become strong. Help them, church. They are not just taking up space on the page. I and they are counting on you. Please, do not let us down.

Please, turn with me to I Peter 1:3-5. Let God’s Word minister to you today. Open your hearts and minds to receive what God has for you this week. Okay. I Peter 1:3-5 states:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

So, what is this scripture really saying to us? Let’s look at it closely. I believe there is a lot revealed in what we just read. The first thing that pops out to me is that we should always bless God by being thankful for what he has done for us through Jesus Christ. Now, look at this church. Verse three clearly states that God is the Father of Jesus and Jesus is the Son of God. Now, for those of you out there who have questioned Jesus being the Son of God, you have just read it for yourself. In the Bible – which is the Word of God. You see, you don’t have to take my word or any preacher’s word for it. The Bible clearly states in many different chapters and verses that Jesus is the Son of the living God.

It is shown here that by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which is according to the mercy of God – no wait!! Not just the mercy of God but by his abundant mercy we by our belief in Jesus are transplanted from Adam’s heritage to God’s heritage. Now, do you get this, my friends? God’s Word is telling us in no uncertain terms we as believers are now raised with Christ to a newness of life which enables us to live for God and gives us the ability to live a holy life right here on this earth.

The scripture goes on to say that we as children of God are heirs of God and co-heirs with his Son Jesus. All that God has is ours as long as we keep our faith in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished for us on the cross.

My friends, God loves us more than we can imagine or think. He wants only the best for us. You might have heard the statement “God has made a way for us where there seems to be no way.” I personally know this to be true as many of you do. I look at people and see what condition many of them are in and it is not a pretty sight. Everywhere they turn seems to be a disaster ready to attack. Nothing seems fair or just. The people they have loved and trusted have let them down. They have fought sickness, poverty and emotional distress. They have turned to man with no help - doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians, friends, family and even preachers, yet life appears hopeless. There seems to be no answer.

Let me be a voice in the wilderness shouting out to you!! God loves you!! He desires for you to be an over comer in all these situations of life. Let me relate the words of Jesus to you. Turn with me to John 10:9-12. Jesus is talking to you and he says:

“I am the door: By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

Did Jesus Christ not do just that very thing for us, church? Jesus died that we may live. Remember what we said earlier. Jesus arose from the dead and we as believers arose with him. Jesus is the good shepherd and we are his sheep. Sheep follow the shepherd. We follow the good shepherd, Jesus Christ. Does not Jesus tell us here that all the evil pitfalls of life are the works of the thief Satan. Satan’s mission is to separate us from God so he can steal everything we own or possess – our money, our relationships, our peace of mind and even our health. Truly, Satan desires to kill us and to destroy our relationship with God. But, and let me repeat – but Jesus came that we may have life. That includes money to live on, good health, peace of mind, good relationships and to repeat the word of Jesus “I am come that they (you and me) might have life” and that we might have life more abundantly, which means eternal life with God and his son Jesus.

Jesus loves you!! He desires the best for you. Man can and will let you down. Jesus will never let you down. He will lead you through all the troubles of life. I used to preach a message entitled “Bridge over troubled waters.” I have changed that message. Jesus is our present help in trouble. Don’t you just love him?

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

TAKE IT TO HEART, MY FRIENDS

You know, so many times in the last twenty months we have talked about the Bible being the instruction book of life, God’s Word to us. This week let’s explore what the Bible has to say about God and his son Jesus and how they really relate to us. Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service. Always remember everyone is welcome in this place.

As believers we must first know that it is very important for us to renew our minds to the Word of God. To be truthful, from birth to this present time, we are taught the ways of the world. Unfortunately, the bigger part of that teaching does not line up with God’s ways or his instructions to us for victorious living on this earth. Well, how important is this? Please turn with me to Romans 12:2 and let’s explore the teaching of God and his son Jesus through his Word right now. Romans 12:2 states:

“And be not conformed to this world: But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

Our heavenly Father is clearly telling us to not be conformed to this world. So, what in the world does that mean? My friends, look around you. This world system does all it can to refute God and his ways. The lifestyle of the world is party till you drop. Nothing is really out of bounds anymore. Holiness is mocked. The Ten Commandments, which are God’s basic guidelines, are trampled on and ignored with glee. The Bible teaches us that the only way to God is through his son Jesus, yet there are thousands of religions that do not even teach that basic doctrine. Let’s look at Philippians 2:5-11. What does the Bible say about Jesus and our relationship to him? This can be part of the renewing of your mind we talked about earlier. Philippians 2:5-11 states:

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Oh my friends, what teaching we have just read together! God is giving us the recipe for victorious living here. First, let your mind be renewed so you will line up with God’s thinking and ways rather than the ways of the world. This scripture points out clearly that Jesus is our example for living.

Before coming to this earth to redeem us from a life of sin and death, Jesus was in heaven. Not in the form of man, but was in the form of God. Yet, seeing the plight of man, he set aside all the benefits of his deity to take on a new form, that of man. He laid aside his expression of deity, but he never lost possession of that deity. Therefore, Jesus was fully man and yet also fully God. Consider this church. Jesus gave up all of the beauty and benefits of heaven to humble himself and become obedient to God’s plan for salvation, even unto death. I want you to get this. Jesus did all of this for you and for me. Did we deserve it? I think not. What do you think?

Let me depart from the direction we were going in for a moment. Church, I want to speak to you from my heart right now. The reason I put this church online is because I know God wills it. When I received Jesus into my life, my whole world changed. All the reasons I had given for not believing in or following God showed up clearly as phony excuses. I used to tell people I was independent. I would live my life anyway that I wanted to. My attitude was no one, including friends, parents, or even if there was a God, could direct my life. I would live as I chose to live. Unfortunately that included alcohol, drugs and all forms of immorality. Now, as I look back, am I proud of this lifestyle? Absolutely not. I’m just stating the facts as they were.

Many times God put people in my life to lead me to him, but to no avail. What did my independent and free lifestyle bring me? It brought divorce, depression, job losses, car accidents and a path that was leading me to an early death. The reason I’m telling you this is that many of you have used the same phony excuses to justify your way of living and believing. Let’s face it folks, there are many excuses for not following God out there. Let’s look at some of them. Let’s start with “I’m young and have a lot of living to do.” Or, “Why would a just God allow wars and such poverty and unfairness to abound in this life?” “We’re all going to die anyway, might as well live it up.” “Hey, I’m educated. I need facts, not faith in an unseen God.” “I’m just made this way.” “I’m a born loser.”

All right, listen to me. I don’t know what kind of lunch meat you like, but personally I love bologna, and that my friends is what all those excuses are, just plain bologna. Some more excuses: “I’m a logical thinker. I only believe what science teaches.” “I see people who call themselves Christians living like the devil.” More excuses, more bologna! My friends, all of the above is worldly and devilish thinking that will lead you away from God. That is the reason God says to you – renew your mind. Align yourself with God and his son Jesus. Let him teach you through his Word how to overcome every obstacle of life.

I thank God for a praying Mom and for a genuine hippy (Mike Hamilton) Mike received Jesus into his life and heart and the change was so drastic that it caught my attention. My problem though, was that Hippy would not let me alone. You see, he took his job as an ambassador for Christ to heart. Let me shorten this story up. In 1976 God got through to me. God has a way of revealing himself to you in a way that forces a choice, doesn’t he? Well, I asked Jesus to come into my heart. I repented of my sin and I confessed Jesus as Lord of my life. Immediately I sensed a spiritual change in my life. People that I felt bitterness and even hatred for, I now felt a spiritual love for them. I was delivered from the spirits of alcoholism and drugs. God removed depression from my mind and gave me an optimistic view of my chances of succeeding in life. I suddenly felt I could be the husband, father, friend and person I wanted to be. But most of all, I knew I was off the broad path of destruction and on the narrow path of victory and eternal life.

Now, did all these negative things change instantly? No, they didn’t. However, as time went on and as I read the Word of God, as I prayed and went to church, the renewing of my mind began to take place. Today my life is totally changed. No doubt I am still human and still see flaws in myself. But guess what? I’m still reading the Bible, I am still praying to God daily, and I am still striving to be like Jesus in every way. The point: This could be you!! My heart’s desire is to share Jesus Christ with you. To plant the seed of eternal life in your heart. To see God change your life as he has mine.

Remember what the scripture in Philippians said – Jesus is the name above all names. That includes all sicknesses you can name, all addictions that you can name. It includes the name of every negative feeling you may have. That is what I desire for you, that you be victorious over all these things in your life. Only through Jesus Christ and what he did for you on the cross is that possible. How do I know that? I know this only by the renewing of my mind to the Word of God.

Let me end this message with a scripture just for you. Psalms 119:33-35:

“Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statues; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.”

As I stated above, this scripture is just for you. Take it to heart, my friends.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

A music video below designed to bless you. Email me and let me know if you enjoy it! If you do, we may present other videos of this type in future weeks.

BE WISE AND FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS

There is a Bible scripture I believe is just the right instruction for the beginning of this new week. Please turn with me to Proverbs 8:17, God is talking to us:

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

Pretty simple formula, isn’t it? You love God, he loves you back. You seek him early, he will show himself to you. Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service, everyone is welcome in this place. My friends, God loves us so much he desires us to seek him out early everyday. Each day brings new opportunities and new challenges. God is saying this to us: To those that love me and seek me early, I will be there for you. Proverbs 8:32-33 continues this theme, so let’s read it together.

“Now therefore harken unto me, O ye children: For blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.”

This message is an instructional message. The instruction is very simple and to the point. God is here for us everyday of our lives. God has laid out a pathway of success and victory. Our heavenly Father desires that we be blessed everyday. How do we do that? That above scripture tells us. First, keep his ways!! Hear the instruction given to us through the Word of God, which is the Bible. Basically, we are being told here by the Spirit of God to read the Word of God everyday. Follow the instructions that God has laid out for us and we will be wise and make better decisions. Does that mean we will not encounter troubles of life? Of course not.

Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us, doesn’t it? Bad news comes. Sickness attacks. Money problems arise. Often times these are things we have no control over. I used to tell my daughter, Lyle, it is not what happens to you in life that counts, it’s how you react to it. Because truthfully things always happen to us, don’t’ they. The question is, how prepared are we to meet these battles of life? If we are depending on ourselves or the knowledge the world system has given us, chances are we will lose. But, by seeking God early, by fortifying our spirit with the Word of God, and by loving God through the saving grace Jesus provided for us, wisdom will prevail and victory will be ours no matter what the outcome.

It amazes me when I encounter believers who are facing amazing battles – sickness, poverty, relationship problems and more, yet they have a sense of victory about them. They know God is for them and with them. Their reactions to these challenges are to face Satan right in the eyes and exude the victory they know God has provided for them.
You see, by seeking God early, following his instructions and loving him, they know God is a present time God who will bring them through. Lord, may we all have that spirit of victory that you provide.

I will tell you this, church, one of the most important things for you and me to remember is that our God through his son Jesus Christ, is a very present God in time of trouble, no matter what the situation or condition we find ourselves in. You see, when we received Jesus as our Savior and made him our Lord, we became members of the family of God. Now God becomes our heavenly Father and Jesus is not only our Savior and Lord, but he also becomes our elder brother. You may say “Bro. Bob, I’ve never received Jesus into my heart, does this apply to me?” Well, my friend, I’ve got bad and good news for you. The bad news – no. What I just said does not apply to you. The good news, it sure can!! The choice is yours.

Do you sense the urging of the Holy Spirit drawing you to Jesus? If you do, you now have a choice to make. Remember, God said be wise and follow his instructions. Well, here they are. First, confess out loud, right now. Say these words and most importantly believe them and be serious about it. Say “Jesus I believe in my heart God raised you from the dead. I ask for forgiveness of all my sins and I repent, Lord. I am turning from sin to you. I ask you to come into my heart and I confess you as my Savior. I make you Lord of my life. I now receive you as my Savior and Lord. Amen”

Now, my friend – if you meant that, you are now a child of God. Welcome to the family. Please e-mail me today at BrotherBob@TheSpiritofWisdom.org. Tell me the good news and I will be jumping for joy with you.

We were talking about God being a present time God. Let’s confirm this with the Word of God. Psalms 46:1 states:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Please notice the words “a very present help in trouble.” That means right now. Do you get this? You may have sickness in your body. You may have depression. Money problems may be plaguing you. Your job may be in jeopardy. Your relationship with friends of family members may be on the rocks. Please take the above scripture to heart, my friends. Turn to your heavenly Father not when all else fails, but before all else fails. You have no strength left? God is your strength. You have nowhere else to turn? God is your refuge. You have turned to man with all their worldly knowledge for help to no avail. God is your present help in trouble.

I wish I could tell you all the different times my heavenly Father has been my help in marriage solutions, money solutions, health solutions and general problems of life. There are not enough words or time to relate them all to you. One thing I do know. God is always my present help in trouble. My heart’s desire is for you to come to know that for yourself. I know believers today who read the Bible as if it was just another history book. God sure was powerful and good, wasn’t he? Well, guess what? He is still just that today, right now.

Believers, we have got to get back to telling our children what God has done for us and others and instruct them to tell their children. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 gives us the instruction.

“And thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up.”

Do you understand this, church? We as parents are to talk about God and his son Jesus every chance we get. God has been good to us, hasn’t he? Tell your children, impress on them that God loves them just as he loves you. Oh, by the way, do not stop telling them about the good things of God when they turn twelve-years-old or fifteen, or twenty-one, or thirty, or forty or even fifty or more years of age. Keep telling them as long as you live and they will remember it long after you are gone.

So once again, here is the key: Love God with all your heart. You know he loves you. Seek him early and daily. Follow his instructions. You will become wise and your heavenly Father and his son Jesus will be your refuge, your strength and present help in times of trouble. Now that sounds like a great plan to me, how about you?

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

Urgent Prayer Request: Please pray for Mrs. Leslie Revelo. She is in the hospital where she is recovering from anemia. Please pray that her blood levels return to normal. Let's pray together for a complete and total healing for Mrs. Revelo.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE SERIES (Conclusion)

This week we will conclude our series on spiritual warfare. I must say there is much more on this subject to be explored. However, by the end of this service you will have been taught more and know more on God’s plan to protect you from Satan and his evil spirits. You will know more than most believers will be taught in a lifetime. God loves you that much. Now, let it be said clearly our heavenly Father loves all of his children and would like them to know what you now know.

The problem is not with God, or in many cases not with believers. But with preachers and teachers of the gospel that for whatever reasons they have, refuse to teach their church members the Bible truth about spiritual warfare. You cannot study our signature scripture for this series, Ephesians 6:12, and not know that God is telling us who our enemy is and how to defeat him. All through the Bible God teaches us that we have power over Satan. Is it a struggle? Yes it is. The above mentioned scripture tells us so. Let’s look at it one more time. Ephesian 6:12 states (to believers):

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Notice the use of the term “we wrestle.” That tells us that even as believers in what Jesus did for us by dying a horrible, painful, humiliating death on that cross, we (yes us) still have to wrestle with Satan and his evil spirits on this earth. The good news is Jesus paid the price for our sins. Victory is ours through the blood of Jesus Christ. That being so, however, does not stop Satan from doing everything he can to destroy us and to draw us away from God. Therefore, the wrestling match is on. That is the reason God has presented in his Word (the Bible) the instructions on how to wrestle and defeat the enemy. Now, isn’t God good to us?

Please understand this, we by ourselves are no match for the devil. Only through Jesus do we have power to resist the wiles of Satan. We on our own could never cast out devils. In fact, the devil and his demons would laugh at us. That, my friends, is why whenever Jesus told us as believers to cast out devils, he always said “Cast out devils in my name.” Refer to Mark 16:17 for confirmation. So what am I really saying to you? Do not take spiritual warfare lightly!!

You must prepare for the wrestling match. First, you must know why believers can have spirits oppressing them. The number one reason is sin. Christians through the blood of Jesus have dominion over sin. But, they still can choose to sin, can’t they? Do you know any believers including yourselves who have not sinned since their new birth? Of course not. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Well, guess what?!! Where unconfessed sin is, demons have a legal right to be. So what is the solution? Confess your sin, ask forgiveness from God and repent. In other words, deal with it.

Another way spirits can enter in is unforgiveness. Turn with me to Matthew 18:34-35. Jesus was giving an illustration about forgiveness and how serious it is. Jesus was talking about a king who forgave someone who owed him a very big debt. Yet the person who was forgiven then proceeded to threaten someone who owed him a very small debt with debtors prison. When the king heard about it, he was furious. I suggest you read the full account in Matthew 18:21-35. However, we will focus at this time on Matthew 18:34-35. I want you to get this!!

“And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you if ye from your heart forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”

Now, this is Jesus talking. The tormentors he is talking about are Satan’s demons. Pretty serious stuff, don’t you think? So the question begs how do you get rid of these tormentors? Answer, repent of the sin of unforgiveness. Forgive and God will forgive you and set you free. There is a spirit of unforgiveness, but in Jesus name, he has to leave. Cast him out and then fill your heart with forgiveness. This is beginning to make sense, isn’t it?

A third way spirits can enter in is by your dabbling in the occult. Things like Ouija boards, horoscopes, fortune tellers and even false religions. All open the door to evil spirits. Do not think for one minute they will not enter that open door. Spirits of fear, unbelief, infirmity and sickness are all waiting for the doors to your heart and mine to be open to them. Solution? stay away from all things that attempt to replace God as your Lord. That is exactly what the occult and all their devices are designed to do. Their mission is to replace God with beliefs in everything but God and his son Jesus. Repent, which means to turn away from these evil forces. Confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. In Jesus name command all spirits of the occult to leave your body and mind.

The devil assigns demons to destroy your mind in different ways. Remember if possible that evil spirits will overtake your will even to the point of suicide (spirits of death). They will attack your emotions with spirits of anger, fear and even crying. You know, some cry too much, some not enough. Satan doesn’t care which extreme you are in as long as you are not normal.

Satan and his spirits of infirmity and sickness and fear will also attack your body, especially if you are ignorant of his devices or choose not to use the spiritual tools God has equipped you with. That, my friends, is why God has given us this message for you. As serious and as scary as the above statements sound, remember this!! God has prepared you for spiritual warfare. The blood of Jesus protects you. So always plead the blood over yourselves and your loved ones.

The name of Jesus is the name above all things. His name is above and more powerful than any evil spirit and even Satan himself. You have learned through this series that you, through Jesus Christ, have power over all evil spirits. You now know you can cast out devils in Jesus name. You now know to never carry around unconfessed sin and you know to walk in forgiveness at all times. And most importantly, you now know not to open the door to evil spirits through the occult in any way. Do not ever fear Satan. Do as the psalmist in Psalms 34:4 does, just say:

“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Remember deliverance is the children’s bread. Keep a hedge around you and remember God is your Father and Jesus is your Savior and Lord. That, my friends, is a mighty good hedge. Let me end this series by taking you to Matthew 28:19:20, Jesus is speaking to us:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Notice Jesus says to observe all things “I have commanded you”, and that my friends, includes deliverance and the casting out of devils in Jesus’ name.

Do not ever go into spiritual warfare unprepared. First, confess all sins. Second, repent of those sins. Third, plead the blood of Jesus over you and by all means search your heart for unforgiveness. Forgive anyone who comes to mind. Speak out and command any curses that may be over you to be broken. Now, go wrestle, my brother and sister. You win!

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

SPIRITUAL WARFARE SERIES

(Deliverance is the children’s bread)





This series on spiritual warfare has been long overdue, hasn’t it? The fact that most churches do not preach or teach on this subject anymore does not mean it isn’t important. You see, church, everything in the Bible is important and should be preached.

Let me make something clear to you. I do not see demons behind every bush. I actually do not even dwell on the subject that much. But, I am not and will not be ignorant of all that God has done for us. I find it to be a high priority to understand why Jesus died on that cross for us. I want to know and understand the tools and concepts Jesus taught us in the New Testament. Certainly Jesus taught us who our enemy is. And he, through his apostles and followers in the New Testament, has shown us how to resist the devil so he will flee from us. My pastor in Michigan used to say “The devil would flee from us as in terror.” And, that is exactly how I want it for you and for me.

Let me welcome you and let me stress once again, everyone is welcome in this service. This 24/7, week long, online church is designed to lead you to Jesus so you may have a victorious life on this earth and eternal life with God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Please turn with me to James 4:7 and let’s read it together.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

The interesting thing about this is James was talking to believers. So, the advice he gave to them would also apply to us, wouldn’t it? In today’s terms, submitting yourselves to God would mean reading his Word (the Bible), and choosing to follow God’s instructions for living. The truth is, you can only do this by faith in Jesus Christ and what he did for us on the cross. The first thing James says, resist the devil and he will flee from you – so what does that say to us? To be blunt, it tells us that even though we are saved by the grace of God, the devil is still hell bound on destroying us and drawing us away from God. Well, how do you see it?

My friends, Satan deploys his evil spirits, which we know commonly as demons, to attack us in every way possible. This brings us to the question people, including many preachers, like to ignore. Can Christians have demons? I have a good pastor friend in Tennessee who says “Christians can have anything they want.” Unfortunately, they can
also have things they may not want, such as oppression from evil spirits.

Now, before you close your mind to this teaching, let’s look at the Bible and see what God’s Word has to say on this subject. Who is deliverance for? Who should devils be cast out of? Believers or nonbelievers? You want the truth don’t you? Mark 7:24-27, talking about Jesus here, states:

“And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into a house, and would have no man know it: But, he could not be hid. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation: And she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, let the children first be filled: For it is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it unto dogs.”

Basically what this scripture is saying, is that deliverance and healing are the children’s bread. Deliverance and the casting out of devils are not for the unbeliever, but is for God’s children, which believers in the saving grace of Jesus Christ are. Do you get this, church? It is very important!! Simply put, deliverance is the children’s bread. That is the reason when Paul was talking to the church of Ephesus, he stated, as we have pointed out in every segment of this series, in Ephesians 6:12, which was a message to believers:

“For we (believers) wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

So let us repeat ourselves. Deliverance and the casting out of devils is the children’s bread. It is only one tool to resist the devil so he has to flee out of us and not be able to return to harm us. Why? Because we will fill our hearts and spirits with the protection that God’s Word provides for us. That, my friends, is what the unbeliever or you might say, non Christian, would not do. The very reason when Jesus says in Mark 16:17:

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.”

Jesus is not talking here about casting devils out of nonbelievers. Let me prove it to you. Turn with me to Matthew 12:43-45. Please, pay real good attention here, Jesus is speaking:

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he sayeth, I will return into mine house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: And the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

How much clearer could it be said? Demons consider your bodies as their house. My friends, the worst thing you could ever do to a nonbelieving friend, relative or stranger, would be to cast evil spirits out of them. You would be condemning them to a fate seven times worse than whatever state they were when you began this. You want to cast the devil out of them, get them saved. Then cast the devil out and fill their heart up with the Word of God.

Now you see why deliverance is only the children’s bread. Wow, we have covered a lot of ground this week, haven’t we? You know, church, I very rarely recommend books to you. But I am going to make an exception this week. There is a book based entirely on the Bible entitled “Pigs in the Parlor” by Frank and Ida Hammond. This is a great basic book on spiritual warfare, which of course includes deliverance and the casting out of evil spirits. The premise is this: If you were a farmer and you left the front door open and the pigs walked through your door into your parlor, would you let them stay there? Of course you wouldn’t!! Then as believers, if evil spirits enter into you would you not kick them out just as quickly? Pigs in the Parlor can be found in most Christian bookstores. You may have to order it as it was written quite a number of years ago. But the truth it reveals is still valid today. You may find it in the spiritual warfare section of your Bible book store. I urge you to read this book and read every scripture it refers you to. You will become well informed and will be blessed.

Next week we will conclude this series on spiritual warfare by revealing how demons enter in. But, most importantly, how they can be blocked from entering in. You see, my friends, God is revealing these things to you because he loves you. Let’s leave you this week with a special scripture. II Timothy 1:7:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

In other words, church, if you sense a spirit of fear while digesting this message, it is not of God. So cast it out, in Jesus name.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

Urgent Prayer Requests: Please pray for Regina Hidley. Regina is a mother of small children and she has lost her job. She needs finances to pay her bills and to care for her children. Please pray that God will lead her to good employment that pays well, has good benefits, and safe working conditions.

We have a prayer request for Brenda. We ask the Church to pray for her personal needs.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE SERIES (A Continuation)

Let me start by welcoming everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service. This service is for any and everyone who desires to know more about the things of God. No one is excluded from this place.

This week I would like to continue our teaching and preaching on spiritual warfare. If we as believers do not understand the concept and doctrine of the power God has given us over Satan and his evil spirits, we will be doomed to defeat, sickness and trouble at every hand. God desires we have joy and victory over all the wiles of the devil. After all, didn’t Jesus come to this earth for that very reason?

Did he not come to this earth to save us, give us eternal life and to show us by example how to live a victorious life right here, right now? And then, beyond this life, right onto eternal life with the heavenly Father and his son Jesus. You see, my friends, God loves us more than we can comprehend. He did not just dump us on the earth and say “Good luck.” No, he gives us tools to live victoriously until we unite with him in the afterlife known to us as eternal life. I want to give you a couple of scriptures from the Old Testament books of Nahum and Micah. Nahum was a prophet of the Lord around the year 625 B.C. In other words, Nahum was anointed 625 years before Jesus to give forth God’s Word. I believe you will see how those words pertain to us today. Nahum 1:7 states:

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

These words are just as truthful and relevant today as they were in the year 625 B.C. Let’s look at this a little closer. Nahum is telling us because God is so good, he will be our stronghold or you might say strength in times of trouble. Now, I ask you, my friends, are these not troubling times? Of course they are. And who is our strength? The Lord!! That is, if you accept that strength through his son Jesus. And that also is if you as believers use the strength that God is in your life. It is important for us to believe the Word of God (the Bible), and its instructions on how to defeat Satan’s constant and relentless attacks against us.

We must learn to trust God. This scripture says God knows them that trust him. How does he know that? I could be flippant and just say because God knows everything. But that would not be fair to you, even though it is true. Seriously, folks, God knows those who trust him by their faith in Jesus and by their hunger for the things of God. When Jesus says over and over again “In my name cast out devils,” those that trust him know there are times when that is exactly what we should do. How do we do that? By faith in Jesus. For example: You have an addiction you can’t stop even though you have tried everything you know to do. You hate the addiction and what it is doing to you. Draw on the truth of God. Search the Bible on spiritual warfare scriptures and use the strength of God that Nahum talks about and speak to that spirit of addiction and command it to leave your body in the name of Jesus.

If you need support, ask God to lead you to a church or preacher who believes the Bible and knows how to pray for you and will in faith and by the name of Jesus, cast those evil spirits out of you and set you free. Deliverance from evil spirits is provided for you by Jesus and what he did for you on the cross. Use it, my friends, use it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am sick and tired of seeing people that I know who love God suffer at the hands of the devil. This message is not a message designed to please the multitudes. Many preachers would advise me to not preach on this subject. They would advise that it would cost us church membership. Now it definitely won’t cost us a decline in money, because we never ask anyone for money. Some would say this subject is too controversial, but I would say – since when is Bible truth to be stopped by controversy? What I am showing you in this continuation of a two or three part series is how much God loves you.

Our church believes in salvation, healing (physical and mental), and deliverance from demonic oppression. It would not be fair to you if we did not preach on each of these subjects. God gives me the messages based only on his Word, and I am obligated by my promise to God and to you to deliver them to you. These messages are designed to inform and bless you with God’s Word. I cannot and I will not back away from the truth of the Word that God has revealed to me. Why? Because I love God and his Word and I love you. But, God loves you even more than I do. Okay, let’s continue.

I mentioned earlier Micah, who was a prophet and minister of our Lord around 725 B.C. Let’s take a look at what he has to say about us believers when we have fallen and feel like we are surrounded by darkness. Micah 7:8 states:

“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”

This is an example of Micah, a believer, speaking to his enemy and telling him he would not be defeated because God would be his light and deliver him from darkness. Would he not do the same for us? So, who is our enemy? The Bible says, as we reported last week, that our enemy is not man, but are evil spirits sent to destroy us and to draw us away from God. Remember the scripture we gave you last week out of the book of Ephesians? Let’s read it again. Ephesians 6:12 states:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

So you see, my friends, Micah was telling us to speak to our enemy, which is Satan and his evil forces. Tell them no longer can they rejoice or laugh at your despair. In fact, command them in Jesus’ name to depart from you, never to return again. Speak out loud to that devil and say as Micah said “Even though I have fallen, I shall arise, because my God is for me.” Say out loud “Even though I may be in darkness, God is my light and I am coming out of your darkness into the light of God.” I think you are beginning to get the picture, my friends. God loves you so much he has given you the ability to defeat the devil at every turn. Will demons attempt to oppress you? Yes they will. Do they have the right to oppress you? Only if you let them. But you are learning through this online church that you don’t have to let them oppress or destroy you. Deliverance is available for you in the name of Jesus from all oppression of the devil. We will continue this series next week. Stick with us to the end. I guarantee you will be blessed.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

Prayer Request: Please pray for Judy Girouard. Judy is in need of a job that pays well, has benefits, and safe working conditions. Also, pray that Judy is able to obtain a new car and she needs transportation.