Applying God into Life

Applying God into life:

Applying God into life

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking “The spirituality of the ancient church is related to the conflict between God and the powers of evil. Ancient Christians were intensely aware of demonic power and influence. For them, spirituality was located in Christ, the God-man, who by his death and resurrection defeated the powers of evil and established his kingdom.

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking New Christians were baptised into the death of Christ, which meant death to all sin and evil in one’s life and being united with Christ in his resurrection. They were to put on a new life patterned after the life of Christ, empowered to live by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, classical spirituality means living in the pattern of death and resurrection.” Robert Webber

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking As Christians, we have an enemy. Peter calls him: our enemy the devil “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking Paul calls him: the ruler of the kingdom of the air “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 2:1-2).

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking Jesus called him: the Father of lies “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking “Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”  Ephesians 6:11-13

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking Satan has been defeated. “At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.” John 12:31-33 Message.

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking “Just as Christ is victor over the powers, so this victory extends to us. Spirituality is a union with Christ and his victory over the powers of evil. Spirituality is to engage in warfare with the powers and continually choose the defeat of the powers through Christ who dwells within.” Robert Webber

Foundational thinking:

Foundational thinking We are not dualists, who believe there is a battle between good and evil with equal opposing forces. Jesus has secured the victory and we are simply engaged in the mopping up operation.

God’s gifts for battle:

God’s gifts for battle 1. Truth (Ephesians 6:14a) “ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist...” We stand against the devil with the Word of God.

God’s gifts for battle:

God’s gifts for battle 1. Truth (Ephesians 6:14a) “ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth… Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7a, 9

God’s gifts for battle:

God’s gifts for battle 2. Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14b) “ Stand firm then…with the breastplate of righteousness in place” Protects us from the accusations and lies of Satan.

God’s gifts for battle:

God’s gifts for battle 3. Readiness (Ephesians 6:15) “Stand firm then...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” Secure in the gospel knowing the truth and grace of God.

God’s gifts for battle:

God’s gifts for battle 4. Faith (Ephesians 6:16) “ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” When we grow reliance on God rather than self then Faith stops the attacks from harming us.

God’s gifts for battle:

God’s gifts for battle 5. Confidence (Ephesians 6:17a) “ Take the helmet of salvation…” “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” Romans 8:35, 37

God’s gifts for battle:

God’s gifts for battle 6. God’s Word (Ephesians 6:17b) “Take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” Colossians 1:13

God’s gifts for battle:

God’s gifts for battle 7. Prayer (Ephesians 6:18) “ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” “Most churches think their members are gathered into one simply to take care of and build up each other. They know not that God rules the world by the prayers of His saints: that prayer in the power by which Satan is conquered: that by prayer the Church on earth has disposal of the powers of the heavenly world.” Andrew Murray

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place Spiritually we are called to be watchmen seeing where the battle may come or is happening. We need the Spirit’s gifts of discernment and wisdom as we apply faith into life.

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place It is hard to claim new ground if we are only standing still! We are to respond in a way that puts us in the place where we can be part of God’s plans and purposes.

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place Minehead will be a city of refuge Minehead will be a ‘city of refuge’; no longer will there be prostitution…drug addiction… violence in this place. I, the Lord, am doing a mighty, mighty work in this place. I am transforming Minehead into a city of freedom, liberty and justice… where there will be much light,

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place where the power of Almighty God will be manifested, where the sick will be healed, the oppressed will be delivered, the broken hearted will be bound up, and the love of God will be manifested. I am transforming Minehead into a beacon on a hill, and much light will shine from it into the surrounding areas. Be prepared for a mighty harvest.

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place I am building a ‘citadel for God’ I am building a ‘citadel for God’ in this place. I am calling the troops in from the North, East, South and West to this place for equipping and empowering …so that they can receive their marching orders …(to) take the land for Jesus. In this place I am building and establishing a House of Prayer where, as my servants totally yield sacrificially to the leading of my Holy Spirit and seek my face day and night,

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place I will reveal a plan for taking the region for God… I am the same God who gave plans for building the temple. Those who are willing to give themselves totally and sacrificially in prayer, supplications and fasting, will be transformed into Giants for God and will lead corps of prayer warriors into situations and circumstances where they have never been before to reach a hurting and lost world …

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place the prisoners will be set free, the sick healed and the broken hearted restored and a Joshua Generation will begin to emerge and become a great light in the darkness shining to the glory of Almighty God.

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place God’s open heaven over Minehead God will have an open heaven over Minehead , the power of the enemy over people and over churches will be broken. Relationships will be healed, people will be empowered; it will involve Butlins holiday camp.

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place I see rivers flowing down the hills and people surging down the hills toward Minehead . I see strongholds over the land, established through centuries; go back over the history, repent and cleanse the land in preparation.

Standing in the right place:

Standing in the right place In order to help achieve these pictures of the Kingdom here, what do I need to do? Are we prepared spiritually to be effective?

Slide 30:

“And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours.

Slide 31:

This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.” Ephesians 6:10-14 Message