Sermon Title: Prepare for change; Prepare to Change
(Embrace The Win of God – Overcome the bondages of sin)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor 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 6:10-13)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
The work of the devil is not to scare us, to give us goosebumps from the horror movies that many call entertainment.
It is far more insidious.
The devil’s chief work is to entrap every human being in the bondage of sin; which leads to the wages of sin - spiritual and final death.
Never underestimate the spiritual forces of evil.
It is a pervasive, organized, and structured force (Ref: Ephesians 6:12) whose sole purpose is to “steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10a)
In order to overcome the devil’s schemes to ensnare the world in the bondages of sin, the Christian must “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)
Only through the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the Christian strong in the mighty Power of God (Ref: Acts 1:8, Acts 2); without whom, that person remains “a slave to sin.” (John 8:34-36)
Freedom from the bondages of sin comes only through Christ who subsequently baptizes every born-again believer in the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist speaks to the key importance of every Christian receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:11:
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
The Holy Spirit is the “Consuming Fire” (Hebrews 12:29); whose constant Presence is to consecrate and sanctify the heart of the believer – “refined by fire” (1 Peter 1:7) – that every sinful nature may perish and every unholy spirit displaced; as the holiness of the Holy God is ushered into the Christian’s life.
Through Christ, we are free from both the bondages and wages of sin.
Through the Power of the Holy Spirit, we are made holy; that our deepest desire is manifested in our prayers and purpose to sin less and less, till we sin no more.
Christ has indeed set us free from sin; that we might no longer be “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:20) which results in death (Ref: Romans 6:23); and fulfill our destiny as “slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.” (Romans 6:19).
The true child of God has no qualms about being “set free from sin” to “become slaves of God” (Romans 6:22) – gladly reaping the benefit of living holy lives; which results in “the gift of God (which) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:23)
Who is your master – God or the devil?
Do you truly desire a life of holiness?
The choice between eternal life or death is entirely predicated and determined by who your master truly is.
Only Christ gives life; and true life is only attained when it is free of sin.
The choice is clear; but the “ever-increasing wickedness” (Romans 6:19) fueled by the powers of darkness and the wickedness of the human heart overwhelms the multitudes whose faith in Christ is absent, or lacking.
“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” (1 John 3:8a)
For the unrepentant and defiant, voluntarily trapped in the bondages of sin, their inevitable destiny is damnation with the devil.
However, “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8b)
A key aspect of Christ’s ministry was to give His disciples “power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,” (Luke 9:1)
Such is His Power and Authority upon us - when we are baptised in the Holy Spirit – “to drive out all demons and to cure diseases” in our own lives; just as we “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15-18).
And even as we intentionally purge our lives of the presence and influences of the devil, every Christian must be constantly mindful of the evidence of sin’s bondage.
Bitterness and Rejection
“For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:23)
The roots of bitterness that grows in the soil of unforgiveness and rejection “grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15) with sins of disobedience, defiance, greed and pride.
Do you have bitter roots growing, or even, thriving in your heart?
Stop being burdened by bitterness, rejection and unforgiveness; which is really to say - stop victimizing yourself.
Stop looking for any and every opportunity to brand yourself as a victim of your circumstances.
Understand this well.
You may have not chosen the time and place that made you a victim; but to be victimized after the fact is definitely a choice.
Something bad has happened.
To constantly choose to be victimized is the mindset of the bitter, unrepentant and hopeless.
The world is filled with professional victims - people who wake up each day in bondage to this ‘victim’ mentality.
You persistently feel victimized because you refuse to humble yourself “under God’s Mighty Hand” and cast your cares upon Him (Ref: 1 Peter 5:6-7) but instead, allow yourself to dwell in the hurts of the past.
To feel victimized; to constantly remember a rejection or an offense against you - is clear evidence of the yoke of slavery to sin.
The moment you submit yourself to God is the moment of victory over the devil and its temptations that lead you to dwell on your hurts.
In fact, to surrender wholly to God causes the devil to “flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Just as you would cover the ground to kill noxious weeds, cover your heart with the divine love of God and destroy the roots of bitterness in your life.
Forgive others, just as God has forgiven you. (Ref: Matthew 6:12)
Choke out every rejection with God’s divine and overwhelming acceptance that comes with believing in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Be restored unto God’s love by the Power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name!
Fear of death
“Since the children have flesh and blood, Christ too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
The Christian must never fear death.
In Christ, death has become completely irrelevant to our existence.
To fear death is to reveal a lack, or even an absence, of faith in the efficacy of Christ’s finished work on the Cross, which manifests through the wickedness of being uncertain of what lies beyond the grave.
To fear death is also to reject God’s Promise of eternal Kingdom life in favor of storing for yourself “treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19)
Be very careful never to forfeit your citizenship in Heaven. (Ref: Philippians 3:20)
Stop holding on to the things of this world; and better yet, stop hoping that things will ‘improve’ in this world.
It is most definitely not going to.
Fueled by the ever-increasing depravity of the human heart, and the onslaught of the demonic forces, evil will only intensify and culminate in the Great Tribulation.
Only Christ saves.
Only Christ can put a stop to all evil in the world.
Stand your ground; place all your hope in Him.
Devote your life to being holy by the Power of the Holy Spirit; and serve Him today in His Gospel Work of inbreaking the Kingdom of God – in short, store up for yourself “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20).
Christ reveals, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21).
Where is your treasure? What, is your treasure?
Ministry success must never be deemed as spiritual success.
To this, Christ keeps our focus on His victory over death; instead of our victory over the evil spirits.
Luke 10:17-20 shows us:
“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you (your spirit). However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20)
Joy for the Christian must be derived solely from the fact and truth of God’s Salvation through Christ; and such is the very foundation of our victory over the devil’s schemes to entrap us in the bondages of sin.
The simple matter of ‘standing firm’.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
To stop the devil in its tracks, know that Christ has saved you from the wages of sin; and that in His Spirit’s Power, you are also completely free from the bondages of sin.
Stand firm in this divine truth; and simply stop sinning.
This would have been impossible if you do have not Christ in you.
But in Christ, your old, sinful self is dead. (Ref: 2 Corinthians 5:17)
The devil must cease to be your master; and you must be rid of all desire to be a slave to depravity. (2 Peter 2:19)
With Christ as your Master, you are free from the bondages of sin; as you strive daily to live in the “love, joy, and peace” of God; and live with “patience, kindness and goodness” in our hearts; and treating others with“faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of holiness.
To the life that resolutely bears the fruit of the Spirit, the devil has no claim, nor hold.
Indeed, “thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Put sin to death in your life; put your old, sinful self to death, and come alive in Christ!
As the Apostle Paul would describe in Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Be victorious today; make God’s Salvation through Christ the very basis of your victory in the world.
Overcome the devil’s schemes to destroy you through the bondages of sin.
Be in Christ; embrace His Win!
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, grant that my faith in You is strong, and that I will trust in Your mighty Power; that I may always overcome the devil’s schemes to ensnare me in the bondages of sin
Indeed, You have led me away from temptation; and delivered me from the evil one. (Ref: Matthew 6:13)
By the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ – who baptized me in the Power of the Holy Spirit – I believe that I am consecrated and constantly sanctified by Your Spirit, made holy and acceptable in Your Sight.
Thank You for setting me free from sin to be Your true child - a slave of God and of Righteousness. (Ref: Romans 6:22)
Holy Spirit, I desire more of You in my life; for I desire only a life of holiness.
You have come to the world to give me life to the full (Ref: John 10:10b); and to “destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8b)
Lord, destroy the devil’s work in my life; and just as You did for Your disciples then, thank You for giving me “power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,” (Luke 9:1, Ref: Mark 16:17-18)
In the Name of Jesus, I drive out all demons and demonic influence in my life!
I believe in the Power of the Name of Jesus Christ to completely purge my life of all evil; and free me from the bondages and wages of sin!
By Your Blood, O Lord, I believe that I am cleansed from the roots of bitterness; and released from the temptations that hold me to this world.
Forgive me when I knowingly choose to live in the sin of pride and harbour unforgiveness in my heart.
Instead of dwelling on my past hurts, Lord, I choose this moment to dwell on Your Love and Acceptance.
I choose to believe that I am Your precious child; and that I belong to You alone!
Lord, consecrate and cover my heart completely with Your Love – that the roots of bitterness will die; just as I die to myself, in order to follow You.
I will forgive others, just as You have forgiven me. (Ref: Matthew 6:12)
And thank You for freeing me from the fear of death!
Forgive me when in my doubts, I was uncertain about Your Salvation and gift of eternal life; and forgive me when in my wickedness, I have placed importance on, and laboured for, the things of this world – thereby defying Your Will for me to “seek first” Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
Holy Spirit, grant that I may have supernatural faith – that I may never forfeit my citizenship in Your Present and Coming Kingdom.
Lord Jesus, I declare that You are my Master; and that I am free from the bondages of sin.
May I daily strive to live in Your Love, Joy and Peace; to live with Patience, Kindness and Goodness in my heart; and treat others with Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. (Ref: Galatians 5:22-23)
As I humble myself before You, and seek first Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness, I know that the devil has no hold on me and that it has fled from Your Presence!
Yes, Lord Jesus, live in me - that “the life I now live in the body, I live by faith” in You who loved me and gave Yourself for me. (Galatians 2:20b)
Thank You, Father, for giving each of us “the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57); for “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20a)
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Embrace The Win of God – Overcome the bondages of sin)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor 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 6:10-13)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
The work of the devil is not to scare us, to give us goosebumps from the horror movies that many call entertainment.
It is far more insidious.
The devil’s chief work is to entrap every human being in the bondage of sin; which leads to the wages of sin - spiritual and final death.
Never underestimate the spiritual forces of evil.
It is a pervasive, organized, and structured force (Ref: Ephesians 6:12) whose sole purpose is to “steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10a)
In order to overcome the devil’s schemes to ensnare the world in the bondages of sin, the Christian must “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)
Only through the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the Christian strong in the mighty Power of God (Ref: Acts 1:8, Acts 2); without whom, that person remains “a slave to sin.” (John 8:34-36)
Freedom from the bondages of sin comes only through Christ who subsequently baptizes every born-again believer in the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist speaks to the key importance of every Christian receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:11:
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
The Holy Spirit is the “Consuming Fire” (Hebrews 12:29); whose constant Presence is to consecrate and sanctify the heart of the believer – “refined by fire” (1 Peter 1:7) – that every sinful nature may perish and every unholy spirit displaced; as the holiness of the Holy God is ushered into the Christian’s life.
Through Christ, we are free from both the bondages and wages of sin.
Through the Power of the Holy Spirit, we are made holy; that our deepest desire is manifested in our prayers and purpose to sin less and less, till we sin no more.
Christ has indeed set us free from sin; that we might no longer be “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:20) which results in death (Ref: Romans 6:23); and fulfill our destiny as “slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.” (Romans 6:19).
The true child of God has no qualms about being “set free from sin” to “become slaves of God” (Romans 6:22) – gladly reaping the benefit of living holy lives; which results in “the gift of God (which) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:23)
Who is your master – God or the devil?
Do you truly desire a life of holiness?
The choice between eternal life or death is entirely predicated and determined by who your master truly is.
Only Christ gives life; and true life is only attained when it is free of sin.
The choice is clear; but the “ever-increasing wickedness” (Romans 6:19) fueled by the powers of darkness and the wickedness of the human heart overwhelms the multitudes whose faith in Christ is absent, or lacking.
“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” (1 John 3:8a)
For the unrepentant and defiant, voluntarily trapped in the bondages of sin, their inevitable destiny is damnation with the devil.
However, “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8b)
A key aspect of Christ’s ministry was to give His disciples “power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,” (Luke 9:1)
Such is His Power and Authority upon us - when we are baptised in the Holy Spirit – “to drive out all demons and to cure diseases” in our own lives; just as we “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15-18).
And even as we intentionally purge our lives of the presence and influences of the devil, every Christian must be constantly mindful of the evidence of sin’s bondage.
Bitterness and Rejection
“For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:23)
The roots of bitterness that grows in the soil of unforgiveness and rejection “grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15) with sins of disobedience, defiance, greed and pride.
Do you have bitter roots growing, or even, thriving in your heart?
Stop being burdened by bitterness, rejection and unforgiveness; which is really to say - stop victimizing yourself.
Stop looking for any and every opportunity to brand yourself as a victim of your circumstances.
Understand this well.
You may have not chosen the time and place that made you a victim; but to be victimized after the fact is definitely a choice.
Something bad has happened.
To constantly choose to be victimized is the mindset of the bitter, unrepentant and hopeless.
The world is filled with professional victims - people who wake up each day in bondage to this ‘victim’ mentality.
You persistently feel victimized because you refuse to humble yourself “under God’s Mighty Hand” and cast your cares upon Him (Ref: 1 Peter 5:6-7) but instead, allow yourself to dwell in the hurts of the past.
To feel victimized; to constantly remember a rejection or an offense against you - is clear evidence of the yoke of slavery to sin.
The moment you submit yourself to God is the moment of victory over the devil and its temptations that lead you to dwell on your hurts.
In fact, to surrender wholly to God causes the devil to “flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Just as you would cover the ground to kill noxious weeds, cover your heart with the divine love of God and destroy the roots of bitterness in your life.
Forgive others, just as God has forgiven you. (Ref: Matthew 6:12)
Choke out every rejection with God’s divine and overwhelming acceptance that comes with believing in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Be restored unto God’s love by the Power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name!
Fear of death
“Since the children have flesh and blood, Christ too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
The Christian must never fear death.
In Christ, death has become completely irrelevant to our existence.
To fear death is to reveal a lack, or even an absence, of faith in the efficacy of Christ’s finished work on the Cross, which manifests through the wickedness of being uncertain of what lies beyond the grave.
To fear death is also to reject God’s Promise of eternal Kingdom life in favor of storing for yourself “treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19)
Be very careful never to forfeit your citizenship in Heaven. (Ref: Philippians 3:20)
Stop holding on to the things of this world; and better yet, stop hoping that things will ‘improve’ in this world.
It is most definitely not going to.
Fueled by the ever-increasing depravity of the human heart, and the onslaught of the demonic forces, evil will only intensify and culminate in the Great Tribulation.
Only Christ saves.
Only Christ can put a stop to all evil in the world.
Stand your ground; place all your hope in Him.
Devote your life to being holy by the Power of the Holy Spirit; and serve Him today in His Gospel Work of inbreaking the Kingdom of God – in short, store up for yourself “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20).
Christ reveals, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21).
Where is your treasure? What, is your treasure?
Ministry success must never be deemed as spiritual success.
To this, Christ keeps our focus on His victory over death; instead of our victory over the evil spirits.
Luke 10:17-20 shows us:
“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you (your spirit). However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20)
Joy for the Christian must be derived solely from the fact and truth of God’s Salvation through Christ; and such is the very foundation of our victory over the devil’s schemes to entrap us in the bondages of sin.
The simple matter of ‘standing firm’.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
To stop the devil in its tracks, know that Christ has saved you from the wages of sin; and that in His Spirit’s Power, you are also completely free from the bondages of sin.
Stand firm in this divine truth; and simply stop sinning.
This would have been impossible if you do have not Christ in you.
But in Christ, your old, sinful self is dead. (Ref: 2 Corinthians 5:17)
The devil must cease to be your master; and you must be rid of all desire to be a slave to depravity. (2 Peter 2:19)
With Christ as your Master, you are free from the bondages of sin; as you strive daily to live in the “love, joy, and peace” of God; and live with “patience, kindness and goodness” in our hearts; and treating others with“faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of holiness.
To the life that resolutely bears the fruit of the Spirit, the devil has no claim, nor hold.
Indeed, “thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Put sin to death in your life; put your old, sinful self to death, and come alive in Christ!
As the Apostle Paul would describe in Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Be victorious today; make God’s Salvation through Christ the very basis of your victory in the world.
Overcome the devil’s schemes to destroy you through the bondages of sin.
Be in Christ; embrace His Win!
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, grant that my faith in You is strong, and that I will trust in Your mighty Power; that I may always overcome the devil’s schemes to ensnare me in the bondages of sin
Indeed, You have led me away from temptation; and delivered me from the evil one. (Ref: Matthew 6:13)
By the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ – who baptized me in the Power of the Holy Spirit – I believe that I am consecrated and constantly sanctified by Your Spirit, made holy and acceptable in Your Sight.
Thank You for setting me free from sin to be Your true child - a slave of God and of Righteousness. (Ref: Romans 6:22)
Holy Spirit, I desire more of You in my life; for I desire only a life of holiness.
You have come to the world to give me life to the full (Ref: John 10:10b); and to “destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8b)
Lord, destroy the devil’s work in my life; and just as You did for Your disciples then, thank You for giving me “power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,” (Luke 9:1, Ref: Mark 16:17-18)
In the Name of Jesus, I drive out all demons and demonic influence in my life!
I believe in the Power of the Name of Jesus Christ to completely purge my life of all evil; and free me from the bondages and wages of sin!
By Your Blood, O Lord, I believe that I am cleansed from the roots of bitterness; and released from the temptations that hold me to this world.
Forgive me when I knowingly choose to live in the sin of pride and harbour unforgiveness in my heart.
Instead of dwelling on my past hurts, Lord, I choose this moment to dwell on Your Love and Acceptance.
I choose to believe that I am Your precious child; and that I belong to You alone!
Lord, consecrate and cover my heart completely with Your Love – that the roots of bitterness will die; just as I die to myself, in order to follow You.
I will forgive others, just as You have forgiven me. (Ref: Matthew 6:12)
And thank You for freeing me from the fear of death!
Forgive me when in my doubts, I was uncertain about Your Salvation and gift of eternal life; and forgive me when in my wickedness, I have placed importance on, and laboured for, the things of this world – thereby defying Your Will for me to “seek first” Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
Holy Spirit, grant that I may have supernatural faith – that I may never forfeit my citizenship in Your Present and Coming Kingdom.
Lord Jesus, I declare that You are my Master; and that I am free from the bondages of sin.
May I daily strive to live in Your Love, Joy and Peace; to live with Patience, Kindness and Goodness in my heart; and treat others with Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. (Ref: Galatians 5:22-23)
As I humble myself before You, and seek first Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness, I know that the devil has no hold on me and that it has fled from Your Presence!
Yes, Lord Jesus, live in me - that “the life I now live in the body, I live by faith” in You who loved me and gave Yourself for me. (Galatians 2:20b)
Thank You, Father, for giving each of us “the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57); for “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20a)
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.