THE POWER OF CHOICE

 

Key Verse         Luke 11:21-22

“When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he takes from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils.”

 

·         The enemy’s “armour” is very fragile, based on lies.

·         Jesus has stripped him of all legitimate authority.

 

Story

World War II.  General Jonathan Wainwright surrendered to the Japs at Corregidor Philippines and was placed in a POW camp in Mongolia.  General McArthur kept going and eventually moved troops to Tokyo, Japan surrendered.  News went out of victory, but Wainwright was ignorant of truth and kept in POW longer than needed to be.  Eventually news got through, and armed with the truth, he limped into the Commandant’s office declaring, “My Commander in Chief has defeated your Commander in Chief, I am in control now.  You must surrender.”

 

·         Adam was created to have dominion, rule over creation.

·         Through sin, Satan usurped authority.

·         At the cross Jesus has disarmed, destroyed enemy powers and totally stripped them of any legal right to rule.  Colossians 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22

·         Jesus has given new creation man the authority to overcome all the power of the enemy.  Luke 10:19

·         Our choice determines whether we:

a)            Walk in this authority (known by spirit realm).

b)            Relinquish it, remain captive.

 

How the enemy gains authority from us or keeps us captive

 

·         We are ignorant of victory (never heard the Good News).

·         We believe the enemy’s lies (deceived like Eve).

·         Choose not to believe the truth (unbelief).

·         Give way to temptation and give the enemy a foothold.  Ephesians 4:27

·         Believe his accusations, accept our plight.

·         The enemy’s only hope is that we will believe we have a right to choose.

·         Example:  Homosexuality, abortion, living together, who we get counsel from (what does God’s word say?).

·         He then tempts us, deceives us, seduces us into giving him a foothold.

·         Humanism has shaped us, it has enthroned man’s right, and man becomes his own god.

·         When we are ‘wise in our own eyes’, and believe we can disobey God without consequences, he has us snared.

·         Read Deuteronomy 11and 28; Leviticus 26 to see the consequences of obedience or disobedience!

·         The only way we can deliver ourselves from the snare is to acknowledge the truth and repent.  2 Timothy 2:26

 

How to walk in and establish God’s Kingdom

 

·         Walk in obedience to the king.  Enthrone Him in our lives, align every part of our lifestyle to His words.

·         Matthew 4:4  When Jesus was tempted He relinquished any right to “his own opinion” but said, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

·         Jesus lived this way.  John 14:10  “I am in the Father, and the Father in me … I say His words (not mine), He does the work.”

·         By putting fleshy desires down and seeking His will (eg, fasting, sacrificial obedience) great authority is established.

 

Kingdom living vs 2002 Western mindsets

 

·         This way of living is totally foreign to the way we’ve been shaped by society.  Blasts our mindsets!!

John the Baptist                Matthew 3:2                Repent, Kingdom at hand

Jesus                                 Matthew 4:17              Repent, Kingdom at hand

Jesus, before He left        Acts 1:3                       40 days – Kingdom teaching

·         Change your mindsets, live totally different.

 

                     Kingdom                                                        Society Today

Respect God-given boundaries                                     Law unto self

Respect God-given authorities                                      I’ll do what I want

Release resources for Lord to use                                Keep for self

Keep your word, covenant                                            Only if it suits

Give as the Lord prompts                                              Won’t be enough for me

Get out of debt                                                               I want it now!

Humbly yield to His reproof                                           Throw off restraint

Forgive, let go offences                                                 Keep myself safe

Speak up on what is right                                              Yeah, right!

Teach children – authority in home                               Idolise children

 

·         Lay down our own rights.  It’s not “I’ but “Christ”.

·         Proverbs 3:5-7  Trust Lord, lead not on own understanding.  Be not wise in own eyes.  Fear the Lord.  Depart from evil.

·         Not suggestions, options – but clear commandments.

·         He speaks, we say “Yes sir!” not “I think …”

·         As we stand on the Word, live by the Word, use the Word as a sword, we will plunder the strong man’s house and free the captives.

·         Love the truth, search for it as treasure, hunger for it, receive it into our lives, align ourselves with it, remain aligned, clinging to it through character tests.

·         Deuteronomy 5:29  “… it might be well for them, and with their children forever.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The end of the book

 

·         Kingdom advance – God’s people are rising like a great army, living kingdom lifestyles (radically different from the world), speaking God’s words with faith, authority, boldness.

·         Time – “for the saints to possess the kingdom”  Daniel 7:22,27

·         See the throne room:

Revelation 4:1-2

Revelation 5:9-12  Every nation, tribe, tongue, redeemed kings (reigning), priests (offering praise), reign on earth.

·         The whole earth will be filled with His glory.

·         Every tongue shall confess, He is Lord.

·         Let’s plunder the strongman’s spoil, release his captives.