Ripped Off “Practical Authority” by: Pastor Tracy Boyd (video & notes)

Ripped off: Practical Authority

April 29, 2012             Pastor Tracy Boyd

Review: (we will bring three people up to explain the fall, restoration and where we are now)

• Prior to the fall mans spirit was one with God: connected to all God’s resources, had dominion on the earth. Adam was a ruler under God.

Authority lost

• After the fall God’s spirit was severed from the human spirit; this is called spiritual death. He was no longer: ruler of the earth he gave it to satan

Luke 4:6(NKJ) And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

Who ever you listen to is whom you are submitted to. Adam and eve made decisions based on the sense realm alone no longer by their spirit that was now severed.

Gen 3:15 (NLT) And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Authority Gained

• After Christ came and resurrected, Gods Spirit was now available again to dwell in man because the penalty for sin was paid for by Christ (this does not mean that we would no loner sin but that when we would make mistakes we would not be separated from God and His provision for victory).  When we receive Christ our spirit becomes sinless because God’s spirit joins with it. It is God’s spirit in us that makes us sinless and in a place of constant forgiveness. This is where the scripture comes in where God says:

Hebrews 10:16-17(NKJ): I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” ¹⁷ then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Mom said that position ally it’s so, but experientially is another story. Generally our mind and our spirit are not in agreement that is why it takes our mind getting renewed with what God’s Word says.

God’s Word is what we use to enforce God’s ways in our life. Remember last week how P. Sarah said that Jesus authority was tied to Him using or speaking the Word (the temptation of Jesus; He said it is written). And so it is with us.

Purpose for Authority

The purpose as to why we have authority is to enforce God’s good plan and will for our life. There is an opposing resistance to the good things God has for us. If there wasn’t any opposition we would not need authority.

We have a police dept. to enforce the laws of the land because there are lawbreakers that resist doing things the right honorable way.

Authority is not based on strength but believing in what is backing you: lady in traffic.

Example: Jesus speaking to the storm; it was opposing God’s good plan/will Example of Gloria Copeland

He also told His disciples they had authority

Luke 10:19(NKJ) I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Matt 10:1(NKJ)

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness

Message: he gave them power and authority to kick out evil spirits and tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives

Matt 10:7-8(NKJ)

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

He told them to go and heal the sick, cleanse the leper and raise the dead so that tells me sickness, early death, terminal illness opposes God’s good plan

Examples:

We know we have authority over sickness because it was taken care of by Jesus when he took on stripes. So when sickness comes against us it is opposing the good plan of God for our lives we can resist it, apply the word and see it go. If I’m not persuaded I have authority, I get ripped off

Jesus became poor that we would be well supplied; its God’s good plan for me to be well supplied. If financial stress comes on us it is opposing the good plan of God for our lives we can resist it, apply the Word and see it go.

Practical authority

Our authority is tied to whom we are submitted to:

• As Adam listened and followed God’s voice he was in submission to God and could rule under Him
• When Adam listened and followed satan’s voice he came under satan’s ruler ship- who ever we listen to is mastering us.

PUPPET EXAMPLE

• Jealousy: “That should have been yours…you deserve that”
• Disqualification: “You wont get that job”
• Infidelity: “Your wife doesn’t understand”
• Shame: “Your dad was a drunk, your grand dad was a drunk you will never amount to anything, just drink”
• Lust

By default, we will respond by whatever is prevalent in our minds; if we don’t know our authority and what God says we automatically follow the negative influence.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJ) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

James 4:6-7(NKJ)

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

• Resists those who are self-reliant, but gives favor/aide to those who recognize their need of God and draw near to Him.
• Submit to God means to submit to His voice/ways

Examples:

• Have and illness, want to exercise authority but have bitterness in our heart
• Have a financial issue, want to exercise authority, but have a spending problem
• It’s never God preventing break through; it is probably us not cooperating with His ways because we don’t know! So we get ripped off!

IT’S A FIXED FIGHT: We have stronger weapons to win; we have to be reminded

1 Peter 5:5-9

⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith

Baby Dedication pictures 04/29/12

Visa prayer

Mother-in-law and Father-in-law just received visas to be able to come to America, to Naples Fl. They have been denied visas from Peru to travel for the last 10 years. This time we prayed , but we prayed a different prayer. We believed, received, and thanked God and received. On the day we were to find out, I posted on Facebook that we had the victory. I was praising God all day and claiming the victory and shortly after it was announced. We bought their tickets immediately and in 1 month you will meet them at Life!

God is good!

“Authority Gained” in Ripped Off series (notes & video) by: Pastor Sarah Marie

Last week was “Authority Lost” with Pastor James.

This week is “Authority Gained” with Pastor Sarah Marie.

We have gained authority through Jesus, the second Adam. We are positioned in this authority.

How many agree with me that there is a big difference between position and experiencing the benefits of this authority.

James 4:4,6-7 Living Bible

Do you want this authority to be effective and see results? Then follow these instructions:

To experience the benefits we need to grow in the knowledge of the Word. And that is not enough. We need to practice the Word until our actions are consistent with our talk. In the meantime, we need to know that there is an enemy that opposes the process.

Ephesians 4:21-24

I went to a church that taught the Word of God like Life Christian Church.

On a Wednesday night the pastor taught about the glory of God and how Moses had experienced God’s glory. He wanted more. At one point he said, “if you don’t go with me, I will not go”.

I was so affected by this teaching that before I went to bed I knelt down and said to God “you have shown your glory to Moses, then Moses wanted more. You said you would not be partial. What you do for one you’ll do for another. Show me your glory. Come in the night season. You said to ask and I am asking right now.”

Then I fell asleep. I had an expectation that something supernatural was going to happen. I thought I would have a dream. But when I woke up at 6 in the morning and nothing; no dream.

I set up in bed holding my Bible and said “Ma, you said, to ask. I have asked. If you don’t want to show me your glory, what can I do?”

When I said that I heard a voice from near my nightstand right next to me saying, “if you strip yourself of any fleshly desire and put on Christ, you will see my glory”.

At this time I did not know that Ephesians 4:21-24 actually says this. We will get to these scriptures later.

I answered and said “how do I do that?” The voice answered and said “How did you get saved? You believed then you said some words out of your mouth then you got saved”. I answered, “It is that easy?” I started to say, “I strip myself of any fleshly desires and I put on Christ”. Immediately Jesus appeared standing in the air a foot from the ceiling. We were conversing mind to mind. He wasn’t talking and I was not talking. But mind-to-mind he was quoting scriptures and I was quoting scriptures.

We were having so much fun I told Him “Oh my, this is what it means to have the mind of Christ?” And right there a beautiful man with overhaul jeans stood in between Jesus and I. And said to me, “Don’t listen to Him, listen to me, and if you do, I will give you all this”.

Then he showed me the property I owned in Roseville, MI. And on the roof there were diamonds and gold all shining. He said “If you listen to me all this I will give it to you”. I said “what am I going to do with that, I don’t want it”.

Then he took me to the property that I own in Pennsylvania and he showed me the same; all kinds of gem and gold. I said “what am I going to do with that, I don’t want it”.

Then he took me to a building where I had an exercising business and showed me that on the roof had the same things, gems and gold. But, this time the building was multiplying. And I saw so many buildings with exercising business. He said “you can have all this”. I started screaming by this time and said “I don’t want it, you can have it”.

He got mad and threw a thick spit like the size of half an egg. It landed right on my chest and with my breath I blew that spit back to him and it went right into his face. I expected him to be angry.

Instead, he started to look at me with his eyes intensively and felt like I was being hypnotized. I was losing my strength. When this started to happen, I was a little cocky with him knowing that Jesus was right there. He was going to help me. But I was getting weaker and weaker.

I looked up at Jesus and mind to mind I said “ma, aren’t you going to help me?”. Jesus said “I can’t, you say “it is written, be gone from me”. To my surprise with Jesus I could speak mind to mind but with the devil I had to speak words.

I said “It is written, be gone…and I never finished the word “gone” and he turned from a beautiful man to this brutal ugly beast and started screeching back. He said “I’m leaving for a while, but I will be back”.

Then I was left with Jesus. And Jesus told me that if I did not resist the devil with the Word, Jesus was not going to resist him for me. Because Jesus said that I had the authority to resist him.

James 4:7

Now this sounds so easy just strip yourself and Jesus would be right there. I tried to do this other times, but Jesus did not appear. Jesus expected me to learn to keep self under control and not to give place to the devil.

Satan influences the system of this world. Satan always appeals to the flesh. Jesus stripped him of his power, but if people don’t know, he will take total advantage of them.

This is why He says to seek Him first. If we stay connected to Him we will get empowered to resist the devil and we’ll avoid many things.

Matt 6:33

This means find out how God wants things done. How He wants us to live and treat other people. How He wants us to act in certain situations. What kind of attitude we should have.

As long as we live in this world, the devil will always presents to us things that appeal to the flesh. But the key to victory is that Jesus holds it all together for us. All we need to do is put Him first.

When something happens, God is waiting to see how we are going to respond. And the devil is going to try his best to let us fall into his trap. If we know the Word, we will say “It is written”. This will determine the victory or defeat.

An example of when I fell.

This week’s note from Pastor Sarah Marie

Dear Beloved,

1 Peter 1:24-25 – “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.”

My beloved, as a flower blooms and we enjoy its beauty for a season, and then it fades away and dies; the same is with us as people. We look the best at a certain age, and then we start to fade and eventually we die.

But the grace, love, and teaching we pass on to others never dies. Our Lord came, lived, died, was resurrected and went to the Father. But, His teaching continues to live on forever. He gave the Word to the apostles. They passed it on to those that followed them. And now we have received it, and we are to pass it on to others.

Our bodies will fade and pass away, but our words will live on. So the most important thing is to become a willing vessel for Jesus so His teaching continues through us.

1 John 2:20 – See yourself anointed and pass on to others the little or much that you have been given. As a believer, you are the hope of the world.

Love,
Sarah Marie Gardner
President and Founding Pastor of Life Christian Church,

Ripped Off Series “Authority Lost” Pastor James Boyd (video & notes)

Ripped Off – Authority Lost – video and notes

Pastor James

The authority given:

Gen 1:26-28

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over allthe earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.

• God created a family that had emotions, feelings, and personalityas Him. He wanted a family that He could love and be loved by. He created kids who had a free will to love Him
  • I just need a hug…the feelings of God
• We see in these opening verses that he gave them authority even as he had authority
• Everything was subject to Adam: climate, crops, animals.
  • God had a “mini-me” – Adam ruled the earth and God ruled the universe
  • Bear video – opposite from the garden scenario
  • Adam could change the weather to water his crops, tell his crops to grow, and tell the bugs to stay away from the crops. He had complete control, and this was God’s intent.
• He was made in God’s image so he ruled like God

Don’t be ripped off. Gods intent hasn’t changed.

There was one thing that the man (Adam) needed to stay away from. It was the tree, and not just the tree but the fruit of the tree.

Example (Jim Vliet or Ron Miller):

• We look like this a lot of times.
• Jim Vliet dressed in police gear and telling me to give him my license.  I tell him to sit down and be quiet.  I revoke his authority and he listens and sits down quietly.
  • I haven’t taken away his authority.  He is still licensed by the county to get my license from me.  However, he somehow doesn’t know this and sits down and follows my directions.
  • He still has his badge.  He still has his gun.  He still has the backing of the county to get my license, but he doesn’t use it.  He’s persuaded that I know more and have authority over him.
• Let’s show this example in a different light. 
  • Jim now is persistent that I need to give him my license.  He comes over and demands it.  I don’t give it to him, so He cuffs me and takes it.
  • This is a picture of what you can do to that lying deceiving enemy that tries to steal your authority.
    • Honestly, the enemy can’t steal your authority.  Just like I can’t tell Jim that He can’t see my license.  Jim has authority to do so, but in the first scenario he didn’t give me his authority, he chose not to use it.  He was scared and timid and didn’t know his rights.  The second scenario was a bit different.  He demanded that I present my license to him.  He used the authority that was given to him.

Don’t be ripped off. Gods intent hasn’t changed.

Genesis 3:1-6 – Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

• “and he said to the woman” – the enemy will attack at your weakest point
  • I’m not saying the woman is weak, but this was Adam’s weakest point. You guys know what I’m talking about.
  • God said directly to Adam, but the enemy came in through talking to His counterpart.  Adam was more persuaded since he heard directly from God.
    • Be careful of this. Wherever your weakest part is, tis is where the enemy will try to come in.
    • “you will not surely die” – God was talking about spiritual death, but the enemy twisted the story. He convinced them that death wasn’t going to happen, because He twisted God’s words.
      • This is what the enemy does. He twists God’s words.
      • “knowing good and evil” – God was trying to save man from knowing the evil side of things. He wanted man to only have to contend with good things and have dominion, but the enemy convinced him otherwise.

Whatever voice we listen to becomes our master.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

Lusts of this world

• The enemy used the lusts of this world to rip off Adam from God’s intent
  • Lust of the flesh (saw the tree was good for food)
  • Lust of the eye (it was pleasant to the eyes)
  • Pride of life (desirable to make one wise)
  • Adam and Eve switched masters. They decided to go by this worlds entrapments, instead of God’s promises.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

How does this apply today?

• Who we’ve listened to

Story – The one-arm boy (judo champion):

• This boy could have left the sensei and went to find another coach that would train him in more skills. He could have walked away from the competition, because he only had one move.  He could have been overwhelmed with only having one good arm, but he never would have reached his full potential.
• He probably heard from other teammates that there was no way.  He probably heard from his parents that he should join the special Olympics instead of go up against this force that was too powerful.  But, He decided to use his one move.  He didn’t even know throughout the story that this one move can’t be beaten, but he did it afraid.
• Who we listen to can impact our outcome.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

• What we’ve been taught
• Good, Bad, Fear, Doubt: If you know the issue, and you know the way out, you will win.  However, there’s a lot of churches that don’t teach the people that they are already victorious in Christ.  There are churches that teach that God does good and God does bad.  This is just not the case.  These are believers that don’t know their authority in Christ.  They are being tossed all over the place with everything that the enemy is throwing their way.
• They are actually implanting fear in their people. Something bad happens and the people doubt God, because they’ve been taught that He might not do anything. They’ve been taught that the will of God is different than it actually is. Believers are confused because of the teachings they’ve received for so long. They question Gods love and don’t use their authority in Christ.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

• Example: Cindy Cox- stage 4 melanoma, found Life Christian, healed due to this authority used, now there are over 30 people that have learned from her classes and been freed completely from cancer.
  • Here’s what it means when it says, He’ll work all things for good for those that believe. The enemy wanted to win another battle in the war and add confusion to the Body of Christ. But, Cindy got ahold of her authority in Christ.
    • Many believers are taught that this scripture means that God will send bad stuff to use it for our good. This isn’t the case. The enemy sends bad. God converts it to good, and wins. But He does it as a result of the authority that you have and call into existence.
    • God doesn’t plan on the enemy winning any battle in the war, but His people are going to need to learn about this authority to bring that to pass.
    • Cindy got into a church that believes that God is a good God, all the time. And life was spared because of how she was taught.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

The enemy’s tricks are still the same

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) – whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

The enemy knows what was given to him by Adam. He’s banking on you not knowing your authority.  He tried the same trick with Jesus too.

Luke 4:5-8 NIV

5         The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

6         And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

7         So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8         Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him

only.’”

Jesus used the Word as His weapon of choice.  You have a weapon of choice.  If you let your weapon of choice be the Word, you will never fail.  When the enemy hears the truth, he has to flee.  He has to get lost.  He can’t win.  Just like Jesus used, you can use.  The enemy has no answer for the Word being spoken.  That’s why it’s so important as believers to know what is ours by opening that Bible and studying it.  It’s important to use all of your tools.  You are saved the day that you accept Jesus.  The grace of Jesus is all over you.  But, when the enemy tries to talk you out of it, that’s when you need the Word.

It’s important to know your Word. Then, use it.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

Restoration foretold

Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman,

And between your seed (the devil) and her Seed (Christ);

He shall bruise your head (the devils authority),

And you shall bruise His heel (referencing the cross).”

Ephesians 3:22-23 NIV

22         And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,

23         which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

You are the body of Christ, the church. You have a head, Jesus. And you have feet…these feet are to stomp the enemy!

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

The Name – Jesus in the garden – isn’t it interesting that Jesus starts his trek to the cross in a garden.

• There’s authority in the name. Whenever you use the name the enemy shakes in his boots. I recall the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• John 18:6 NKJV – Now when He said to them,  I am He, they drew back and fellto the ground.
  • “fell” – thrust down, to lose authority, uncontrollably without power
    • “I am” – just those simple words took complete control. It was like a knock out punch. They went limp. They hit the dirt. They lost power in their bodies.
      • I assure you, they reformed the question after this instance.
      • You have this same knock out power. Not because you are tough, but because He gave you all power in heaven at you disposal.
      • “I am” a child of the Most High. “I am” the righteousness of God in Christ. “I am” more than a conquerer.

Don’t be ripped off, show the enemy what you know.

Practice who we are: the more you practice who you are in Christ and convince yourself of your rights as a child of he Most High, the more you’ll turn to it when needed.

Tell yourself what the Bible says about you. This will be your weapon of choice when the enemy tries to come against you.

Tell yourself daily how much God loves you.

Tell yourself daily how much power you have in Christ.

Tell yourself daily that you are His child.

Tell yourself daily that you are righteous in His sight.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

The abundant life @ Life

I’m overwhelmed … I’m so happy Life Christian Church is here, and I get to be part of it. In the past I have been to some amazing churches, but I have never had this kind of teaching that develops my relationship with God. I’m driving with the radio off, saying “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” and just talking with the Father, a lot of thanking. I’m approaching jobs and praying for God to go ahead of me and make the job smooth, have the customer find favor with me. When I get in a jam, I reject it, I said ” God your going to have to deal with this because I’m handing this over to you, ” I’m praying for needs, thanking God for meeting them, and dancing and praising Him for the victory. All tools that I have been equipped with from L.C.C. and even though I’m not consistent & I have my moments. I’m becoming more consistent as I start my day in the Word and keep my mind on Him and seeing the results of my relationship with God growing and the results are life changing. I’m living! I have life to the abundance! for real!

Easter 2012 pictures

Children’s Ministry Testimony at Life

My Life Children’s Ministry:

So my 8 year old Son asked me last week, “Dad, can I have a new Bible?” !!!  how awesome is that! He said he wanted a children’s Bible like they have in his class, (apparently his has too many pictures) . We were out so I stopped right away at the book store, my wife suggested that he could use one of my many Bibles. But I was so happy, when your son asked you for a new Bible, for me you run and get it. That was a great moment for me.

My 8 year old has some kind of fund raiser going on in his class at school. So he decided he would bring in his piggy bank and give all his money. This was about $60 , he was saving for a new video game. I let him do it, he took it to school, the teacher asked him if he was sure, three times and he said yes. I was so proud of him. We told him how happy we were and surprised him with a nice gift. Our son has always had a good heart, but I have noticed a Godly character being developed, that I cannot take full credit for. ( I’m hoping some of it is from me! lol).

Life Christian Church is helping my whole family see all that God has in store for us.  Thank God for you!

Easter Program video – 2012

Easter Program at Life Christian Church Naples – 2012