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1 John 3:8
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
I was reading a news story this morning and saw that a world leader was quoted as saying he wanted to make the situation with ISIS a "manageable problem".
This is not a political post, and I don't know if this leaders words were taken out of context, but either way, those two words opened up my spirit and I felt led to begin typing, it is like a veil was lifted and a message was downloaded into my spirit:
"Manageable Problem", let these two words settle in your heart and mind. ISIS, possibly one of the most evil groups to come on the scene in decades. Unlike the genocidal groups that we have seen in Rwanda,The Sudan and in other countries, the scope and plans of this group seem to reach into all the globe. They are brutal, blood thirsty and seem to have lost all sense of humanity, even for those who follow after the same God as they, and bow before the same "prophet".
They seem intent, like conquerors before them, to take the world for their father the devil, and for a season anyway, have been given an open door and unholy anointing to do so.
They behead and burn alive, all whom they see fit. They have their children hold up the heads of their victims and some even eat the hearts of the dead.
They are driven and under the sway of Satan. They are evil incarnate, they are the great evil spoken of by the prophets and priest throughout the Word of God.
They will never be anything resembling a "manageable problem".
We can see, through this error in thinking, so many things. The thoughts and thinking processes of modern day man, and unfortunately far too many churches, has been that sin and evil are manageable problems.
How many great evils have been born by trying to make the sin in mans heart and the darkness of mans spirit a manageable problem?
Abortion is a result of trying to make sin a manageable problem. Prisons,Drugs,Pornography are all mans attempts at making sin a manageable problem.
Lets take it straight to the Church though, because we are the only ones that carry the message that The World needs. Our Great Commission is to take The Gospel, to all The World. We have been given the message that this great evil we see, that the sin we see in the world, has been dealt with. We are called to declare and DEMONSTRATE, through The Power of The Holy Spirit and in The Name of Jesus, that The Devil has been defeated.
Unfortunately, instead of demonstrating the devils defeat, and moving in The Power of The Gospel, many of us have opted to try and make sin a manageable problem. Many Churches are nothing more than places where soft messages,motivational speeches and fun activities, try and cover the seriousness and eternal consequences of rejecting the Gospel, by making the pain in mans heart a manageable problem.
Jesus didn't come to make The Devil a manageable problem and the devil knew it. The devil didn't mind religion and even really good,holy people all to much, because they only had systems and programs in place to make him a manageable problem. They didn't threaten him and his minions in the least. They could stay hidden, go about their business of destruction and pain, and there was no one to stop them, no one to challenge them.
However, when Jesus came on the scene, anointed by God, with The Holy Spirit and Power, on a mission to go about doing good and healing all who were oppressed and harassed of the devil, then the devil and his demons knew that no longer was God allowing The Kingdom of Darkness to be a manageable problem in the world, but that He sent His own Son to DESTROY the works of the devil!!! Praise God!!!
When you look at the ministry of Christ and the template we are given in The Book Of ACTS on what effect The Gospel should have when taken into all The World, I want you to consider what reaction it got from the wicked and the devils kingdom. The reaction and the demonstration of The Spirit changed when The Gospel that Jesus commissioned us to carry, was being preached, in faith that Jesus came to confront and DESTROY the works of the devil, not make them a manageable problem.
There is a reason I am beating this point home. The reason the devil has had free reign in so many places and cities, and sadly a growing number of churches, is because we have not confronted his kingdom, in faith, with The Gospel, The Whole Gospel, but instead have built sanctuaries where we try teach men and women how to manage their problem with sin.
If you want to be part of what The Lord is longing to do right now, then put away the books on 7 steps to a great marriage, 12 steps to a growing church, 400 steps to be free from trouble. Get on your face before God and pray. Instead of going to sit in cars you can't afford right now trying to build faith to afford one, look at the pain around you, look at the conditions of the walls of Jerusalem(the church) and cry out to God for the faith to take His message of the enemies defeat into your world. See yourself being His hands extended setting the captives free, healing the sick, casting out devils and proclaiming freedom to all who are oppressed.
Don't do this light heartily , don't do it without at least one like minded, person with you. Don't go into the fight of faith without a deep, close relationship with The Lord. Because, just like the Disciples who set the template for us, when we as a Body, begin to strip off all that we have built up to try and make the kingdom of darkness a manageable problem, and begin to crash against the gates of hell with the Gospel of Power, there is going to be a reaction. Devils will cry out, the possessed and oppressed will be brought to our door steps and the sick, even through our roofs.
The religious will cast us out and the comfortable will mock and persecute.
Oh but we will rejoice, that finally The Full Gospel has been restored, and once again the kingdom of darkness and even the earth is shaking at the name of Jesus and the presence of God in and on His People. The joy of salvation from the devil death grip will rise up within us and spread to those around us.
SO BE IT !!
Acts 10:34-48 (NKJV)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Hebrews 2:14-15Good News Translation (GNT)
14 Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, 15 and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.
1 John 3:8(AMP)
8 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].
Mark 16:14-20 (NKJV)
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
