Sunday September 04, 2022
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Nehemiah 4:17-18- “Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.”
Anything you build for the Kingdom of God, anything you build to bring glory to God, you will have to “Battle as you Build!”
Prayer is not only communion with God it is also confrontation with the enemy!
When Jesus was on the earth he came face-to-face with the devil.
In Matthew 4 Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.
Every time the enemy tried to tempt Jesus, Jesus responded with a reference from the Bible.
Jesus didn’t confront the devil as God. He confronted the devil as a man with the Word of God!
Matthew 4:1-4 – “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Word– Rhema- another word that is used to define Word- logos
Logos is the message, Rhema is the communication of the message.
Logos is the Bible in its entirety and Rhema is a verse in the Bible.
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW!
Ephesians 6:17-18— “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
The reference to the Word of God in this passage is not the Scripture as a whole, but to that portion which the believer wields as a sword in the time of need.
For every battle you face there is a scripture in your Bible that the Spirit of God intends for you to use as a sword to win that battle with!
HOW DO I FIGHT THIS BATTLE?
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.”
Prayer is not so much a weapon or part of our armor!
Prayer is the battle itself , with God’s Word being our chief weapon employed against Satan during our struggle!
And it’s that Rhema Word of God that is our weapon!
EXAMPLES:
When you’re in the battle:
Romans 8:37- “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
1John 4:4- “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
When fear is trying to rule my life:
Psalm 27:1-6- “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.”
When it appears you’re experiencing lack in your finances:
Philippians 4:19- “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
When you’re discouraged and depressed:
Psalm 42:5- “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!”
When the enemy tries to tell you God has left you:
Hebrews 13:5- “….I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
GO TO BATTLE WITH THE ATTITUDE OF KING DAVID
1 Samuel 17:48- “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.”
WE NEED TO BATTLE WHILE WE BUILD BY CONFRONTING THE ENEMY!
Satan if you mess with me I’ll cut you with my sword!!!
Hebrews 4:12- “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword,……”
THREE STEPS CONFRONTING THE ENEMY
- Submit to God
James 4:7- “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
2. Close the door to the enemy
2 Corinthians 2:11- “so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.”
Ephesians 4:26-27- “And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”
3. Commune with God and Confront the enemy
Romans 16:20- “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
CONCLUSION: The Rhema word from God for me in preparing this message.
Matthew 4:11- “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
Luke 10:17-20- “When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO BE CELEBRATING IS THAT YOUR NAME IS REGISTERED IN HEAVEN!
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?