Larry Neville speaking at the PC Global LeaderCon 2020. Join pastors and leaders from over 26 nations.
I feel that many have been WRESTLING over what has been going on with the Global Pandemic. This Pandemic has affected most of our lives, ministries, finances, and health.
I believe God wants you to learn to REST.
To rest in the Promises, Provision, Power, and Purpose and Grace of God.
Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Wrestling is a strenuous effort.
The "wrestling" is not really against the devil. We have to deal with the devil, but I will show you that our wrestling is over faith and doubt.
W. E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words explains that this wrestling means "to sway." If we let him, the enemy will come against us and try to sway us. His goal is to get us out of faith and into doubt and unbelief about the Word of God. Why? So he can defeat us.
It is a "fight" to hold fast to our faith in God's Word.
Sooner or later, we all need to move from wrestling to resting.
I understand SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
I don't live in that REALM all the TIME.
I don't live WRESTLING - I live in PEACE.
I know who I am in Christ and the power I have through the Holy Spirit.
1. STAND on all the PROMISES God has Given to ME!
1 Timothy 1:18-19, "This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck."
How did Paul tell Timothy to war good warfare? By the prophecies spoken over you. By holding faith and a good conscience.
Timothy is a young minister. Paul is challenging him to fulfill his ministry and not to be deterred by any opposition you face. "Stay in the fight of faith." Fulfill the call of God on your life.
What a WORD for EVERYONE, MINISTERS and DISCIPLES at this time!
1 Timothy. 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
2. Keeping our minds renewed.
The biggest fight of Covid-19 for Church and Christians World Wide is in the MIND.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not WAR after the flesh: (For the weapons of our WARFARE are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of STRONGHOLDS; 5 Casting down IMAGINATIONS, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ."
Paul is admonishing us to take control of our thoughts and imaginations.
WHY?? To prevent the devil's lies from getting a stronghold in our minds.
1 Corinthians 16:13, Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
That is the MESSAGE I want you to receive today: STAND FAST in the FAITH. There you will find REST.
2 Corinthians 1:24 "... for by FAITH you STAND.
Where was Jesus when the Boat was in a STORM? He was SLEEPING. The disciples were all FEARFUL. What did Jesus say to them? "OH! You of LITTLE FAITH." Then Jesus spoke to the storm, saying, "peace be still."
3. Faith to rest in the PROMISES in God's Word to you.
Your position against the devil is to stand firmly fixed, stable, and unyielding on the promises of God's Word for your life.
1 Timothy 1:18-19, "This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare."
Paul is merely saying, stay committed to the call of God on your life, regardless of the cost.
4. Find Rest by Standing in Power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:4, "He commanded them (Disciples) you do not leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father. . . you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Verse 8, You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Jesus has already "fought" the devil and won. We have the POWER through the Holy Spirit.
5. So we STAND Resting in GRACE of God.
Romans 5:1-2, "Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand."
Why would the Holy Spirit through Paul tell the Body of Christ to stand fast in faith and the grace of God? Everything in the world, including our adversary Satan, will try to pull us out of faith. To get us to walk by sight and our own strength.
Hebrews 4:3, "For we who have believed do enter that rest."
Hebrews 4:11, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (or Unbelief)."
We are PROPHETIC PEOPLE!
Prophetic people see, speak, and declare prophetically.
LET'S PROPHECY TO OUR SITUATION.
Paul said,
"... when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10).
Ephesians 6:10 "We ARE . . . strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
We prophecy healing where there is sickness.
We prophecy fruit where there is barrenness.
We prophecy finances when there are none.
The battle has already been fought and won on Calvary.
Blessings,
Larry Neville
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