Changed By the Light

In Acts 9:1-31 We read about the conversion of Saul. Saul was "very angry" with the Lord's disciples. Some translations say that he was having "murderous thoughts". 

 

This man asked permission from the High Priest to travel to Damascus to speak to the Jewish communities there. Saul was worried that the Christian heresy might spread there as there was a large Jewish community in Damascus.

Saul, on the road to Damascus, experienced a bright burning light which left him blind.  Scripture says that no one can see the Living God and so Saul is blinded by the light emanating from Jesus. He then encounters Jesus who turns his life upside down.

Saul is taken to Damascus and there he encounters a disciple called Ananias who instructs Saul in the faith, and baptizes him. From then on Saul gives his life to follow Jesus and making Jesus known. As a sign of his conversion he changes his name to Paul. As a result of his radical commitment to following Jesus.

Paul talked about the message of God made known in Jesus. This was good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed. Paul shared the message that all people are equal. All people can have a relationship with God. Gentiles do not need to become Jews before they can know God. Paul talked about God's self-giving love. No one needs to worship idols and give money to idols to have blessings in life. Idols found in the temples do not have power. It is only God who has the power, and this power is freely given to all. Even the Roman emperor's power was not absolute. It is God who has the power to new life out of what was dead. 

Paul's call, as described in Acts, was to bring the message of Jesus to all people, not just to the Jews so that they could live in the light. Paul's conversion was linked with his call to be a servant and a witness. He challenged the world-view of others because he would not be quiet. Conversion for Paul was not so much about his personal salvation, important though that was, as it was about his call to welcome all people into Christian community. Paul believed that he was sent to the Gentiles, "so that they may turn from darkness to light." For the pagan Gentiles, the darkness was their enslavement to the rules of idol-worship, to spirituality which was, no doubt, warm and fluffy, but which did not fulfill them. The light was their freedom found in God's unconditional love for them.

Paul's message about God threatened the world-view of many. As a result Paul suffered persecution. The Christian message continues to challenge those who seek absolute power through politics and financial endeavors.  To be converted means to be changed, to be turned around. Paul was turned around from being one who persecuted Christians, to becoming the main architect of the Christian mission to the gentiles.

As we consider the importance of Paul's conversion, we see the link between his relationship with God and his call. Conversion need not be understood in narrow terms. Conversion is about growing in knowledge of God's love for us and all people, and that is an on-going experience---even for those who have had mountain top moments. So, maybe the word "conversion" isn't so scary after all. Growing in knowledge of God's love, as we experience here in community, leads to a call. We, like Paul, are called to share what we know of God. We too are called to welcome all. In this way, we continue Paul's ministry.  

~Author Unknown

Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from the dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan and close the door to any of his devices.  I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away; now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Speak the Word of God that Breaks the Bondage

Speak the words that break the power of the control of darkness that has endeavored to bind you to be broken.  Loose the spirit of darkness that can be evicted by the blood of Christ, and the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the power of the Word of God, that will free you from your bondage.

Heavenly Father, I choose today, to submit myself to the Lordship of Christ. I choose today, to posses Your life, just as Jesus possessed Your life.  I choose to submit my mind, my will and emotions to You.  I submit my heart, attitude and desires, to You.  I choose today, to pursue and possess the freedom from bondage and harassment that Jesus died to provide.

I choose to turn loose of the sins, the habits and addictions that so easily entangle me.  I repent and renounce my involvement in participation to every sin that has given Satan and his kingdom jurisdiction in my life.  I choose today through my submission to Jesus as Lord, for every spirit of darkness that seeks to influence and control my life, to be gone.  I speak the name of Jesus into my inner most being, into my will, my mind, my emotions.  I speak the name of Jesus into my entire body, which is the temple of God's Holy Spirit.  I speak the name of Jesus against every spirit of darkness that would attempt to hide inside of me and I declare, be gone, go, do not stay, you have no right to remain.  I order you to leave now.  I choose Jesus to be Lord of my life from this moment forward.

Father,  I speak to every spirit not of Your Kingdom.  Every spirit not of God, seeking to inhabit or harass anyone who is born again and under the Lordship of Christ.   Identify the spirit and say, "Be gone."  Any spirit of darkness, any spirit not of God, any spirit seeking to influence, indwell or rest upon any believer that has been cleansed by the blood of Christ and is under the Lordship of  Christ and we have chosen his Lordship, we speak to you spirit of darkness  and we say go now, leave now, in Jesus' name we command you to leave.

Father, I pray upon these people the life, and the power, and the dominion of Your Word.  I pray that they would begin to fill themselves with Your Word.  That they would begin to memorize the scripture and place those scriptures in their heart.  I pray that the scriptures that pertain to Your Peace, Your Joy, Your Love and Your Life, would begin to fill them.  I pray that each person would begin to fill themselves with Your Praise and Worship.   I pray that if anything or anyone that is still seeking to hang onto them, any slug, any slime, any grime or any junk, that it would be crowded out as they fill themselves with Your Word.  Any slug, any slime, any grime or any junk, I pray now, that it would be crowded out through our praise, through our worship, through our prayer.  We pray that these things  would be crowded out, that they would have no place.  That the power of darkness would be broken.

Father, when temptation comes, I pray, that they would be readily resistant.  They would surrender to Your Word.   They would use Your Word as Jesus did, as He said,  "It is written!", they  would speak it, "It is written!", let it be so.   And Father, if they fail there, if they mess up, and they blow and they end up in oppression, I pray, right there that they would draw a line and say, "That is it, and say that I am not going any further.  I break this darkness I repent of this sin, I renounce that sin, I cancel that influence over me and my participation in it and I want it broken."

Father, if there are people that allow things to go to the infestation level,  where they are just half out of control and just not functioning, and just going through the motions, and they have lost their Joy and their Peace in their life.  I pray that they would stop and not go another step without recognizing what is taking place and they would turn around and they would place their faith in Christ as their deliver to break the power that is there.  And Father, I pray that no one would go to the 4th level.   If they do, I pray, that they would clearly understand that they have one hope and that is Jesus, it is nothing else, it's Jesus.

Father, for the people, I pray, that the power of darkness, the influence of darkness, the manipulation of darkness, the subduction of darkness, and the control of darkness that has endeavored to bind them in any area in their life would be loosed.  I pray, that those chains would be broken.  That those spirits of darkness would be evicted by the blood of the Cross, and the name of the Lord Jesus, and the power of the Word of God, and that they would be freed.

Father, let freedom manifest to all.  Yes, Lord, we choose Your life,  we choose Your life,  we choose Your life.  To God be the Glory, to God be the Glory.

As you prayed with me, you might have felt something leave and you may not have felt anything.  But, you have just prayed a prayer that you have said, "Jesus You are King and You sovereign and You are Monarch of my life.  If you know there is something that you struggle with, I would continue to give that command.  Say, "You will not stay, addiction you will not stay, you will not stay! " I will not be mastered by you, you will leave."  You need to continue to declare continue that.  You need to continue to speak the Blood of the Cross. by the name of Jesus and the Word over that area of your life.  You just need to continue to do that till that area is broken.  The power of Christ' Blood will force out the stuff that will be there.

You will be tested, but remind the enemy that you are going to stand in the Lordship of Christ.  That you are going to stand in the Power of the Word.  That you are going to stand with confidence in the Blood of Christ and you are going to make it.  There may be some battles, you may get knocked down, but the important thing is that you get back up, hit him twice.  Tell the enemy that you are not going to put up with this, this is not normal.  Say the words, " I want to move in the realm of normal where the Holy Spirit is controlling me." Amen.   Father, I bless these people to enjoy Your life and to enjoy You,  just as You enjoy them.  In Jesus' name let it be so.  Amen.  Thank You Father. 

~Bits and Pieces of the sermon Overcoming Opposition to God's Plan for Your Life by Milton Hubbard

El Shaddai/God Almighty

We all want a place to go when we’re stressed or sad, tired or lonely, fearful or tempted, disappointed or discouraged - a place where we can unload our burdens and get some relief. When we feel insecure and inadequate we need a refuge - a shelter. We need a retreat. Prayer can transport us to such a place!

Consider the words used to describe the place of refuge provided by God in this great 91st Psalm.

The first word is "shelter" in verse one. This literally means "a hiding place - to cover, to hide covertly or secretly". The King James translates the Hebrew words here "secret place".

These same Hebrew words are translated "hiding place" in Psalm 32:7 - "You are my hiding place: you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

God is also called our "refuge" in verses two and nine. This Hebrew word literally means "hope, place of refuge, shelter, or trust."

The Psalmist also uses the word "dwelling" in verse nine to describe a close relationship with God.

The previous Psalm written by Moses uses the same characterization - "LORD, YOU have been our DWELLING PLACE throughout all generations."

What’s so special about making God your DWELLING?

Just look at the blessings of dwelling in God’s presence in Psalm 91. Each one of them in itself is outstanding but when you put them all together it’s almost overwhelmingly unbelievable!

Indulge the alliteration with this bird’s eye view of what this Psalm says DWELLING in God’s presence offers us:

V. 1 - REST in God’s shadow.

V. 2,4 - REFUGE in God’s fortress.

V. 3 - REDEMPTION from temptation.

V. 5-6 - RELIANCE upon His promises.

V. 7-8 - RETRIBUTION upon the enemy.

V. 9-10 - RESORT from wrath.

V. 11-12 - REINFORCEMENT from angels.

V. 13-14 - RESCUE from danger.

V. 15 - REQUESTS answered.

V. 16 - RESILIENCE promised.

The 15th verse will be the focus of our consideration today - "He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him."

"IF we make the Most High our DWELLING" (V.9) we can claim the promise of God answering our prayers when we’re in trouble. (V. 15) We then have a way to get away from it all.

Prayer in this context is more than just a problem-solving tool. Prayer becomes a WAY OF LIFE.

Our dwelling is where we live - we’re not just an occasional guest. Likewise, our relationship with God should not consist of only an occasional visit. Especially if that visit is solely for the purpose of helping us out of trouble.

Jesus reinforced this insight when he said, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." (John 15:7)

It would be easy for us to zero in on the last part of Christ’s statement and fail to grasp the significance of the first part. We relish the "ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" part of Christ’s promise. But we’re often unmindful of the condition: if we’re going to ask so that God answers our prayers, we must "remain" in Christ and His words must "remain" in us.

We know the devil is behind a plot to muddle this truth because he quoted verses eleven and twelve of the 91st Psalm when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:’He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’" (Matthew 4:6)

Satan had these verses of the Bible memorized but he wasn’t dwelling in God’s presence so he purposely twisted the Word of God. Satan was the first spin-doctor. He’s been involved in that kind of activity since the Garden of Eden.

Jesus on the other hand was always in the presence of the Father. He wasn’t the least bit fooled by Satan’s distorted view of scripture. Jesus knew that prayer was not a lucky rabbit’s foot or four-leaf clover that you carried in your hip pocket. God isn’t a genie in a bottle that you rub and get three wishes from when you want them.

TALKING to God is much more effective when we’ve been WALKING with God.  We need to seek His face, not just His hand.

That’s why we need to constantly nurture our friendship with God. Friendship is a two-way street. God is the initiator but we’re given an opportunity to reciprocate.

If we come to God ONLY when we’re in trouble and not on a daily basis - what kind of friendship is that? That’s a one-way street kind of friendship. We’re just using God.

On the other hand, when we have a lifestyle of continually walking and talking with God, like we do our other friends, we can call on Him and He will answer.

But be forewarned - He may call on us too!

Psalm 50:15 puts it this way, "and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, AND YOU WILL HONOR ME."

God wants us to honor Him when He answers our prayers. When He delivers us He expects some sort of appreciation. Isn’t that just good manners? Don’t we at least say thanks to our other friends when they help us?

Our Father in heaven isn’t asking us to do something He doesn’t do. God certainly honors those who participate in a friendship relationship with Him. The last part of our text verse reinforces this principle.

"He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him AND HONOR HIM." (Psalm 91:15)

Can you imagine that? God honoring us? That’s precisely what He says He will do for those who make Him their dwelling.

The Hebrew word for "honor" literally means "to make heavy."

Here’s what happens. We go to God with a heavy load of  burdens and we leave with a heavy load of blessings! That’s how God honors us. He doesn’t stop at delivering us from our difficulties - He goes on to make us heavy with blessings!

Why wouldn’t we want to honor Him in return? Psalm 91 is not just a song of confidence that God will provide a place for us to get away from it all. It is also a song of thanksgiving and adoration.

~Bits and Pieces of the sermon by Brian Atwood

"O thou who has given us so much, mercifully grant us one thing more - a grateful heart." - George Herbert