Happy Mother’s Day from Pastor Sarah Marie

Happy Mother’s Day!

I have been passionate to see my children and spiritual children become an extension of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

Matthew 5:13 say, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt means love. Our life without love is tasteless. Even our good deeds done out of obligation or to be seen are empty. But, when we do deeds with pure love, God rewards us more than we can think or even imagine.

This awesome God that loves us so much gives us His salt, which means His love. When we use His salt, He credits us and rewards us for sprinkling His own salt.

We make Jesus very happy when we are saltshakers to our children first and then extend to others. We will then have an exciting life full of purpose.

Isaiah 59:21 (AMP)
As for Me, this is My covenant I make with you. My Spirit, Who is upon you and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your true, spiritual children, or out of the mouths of your children’s children.

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

Ripped Off series “Armor of God” with Pastor James (video & notes)

Ripped Off Series

The Armor of God video – Pastor James

Weapons of our warfare:

You don’t have to chase the enemy down and find him and beat him up. You don’t have to pick a fight with him. But, we will talk about how to use the armor of God against his tactics and for ourselves.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV – 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.

The fight:

• No need to fight the devil, he’s defeated.  He wants you chasing him around, but there’s no need to chase him around. He’s defeated.  The more you chase him around, the more power he has.
• You don’t have to try to defeat him. You enforce the finished work in what you believe. It doesn’t change the enemy’s position of being defeated, but it changes the way you look at him.
  • Examples when it doesn’t feel finished:
    • A disease comes against us, we believe that it was defeated in Jesus body. We fight our flesh and mind to believe.
      • Even if it doesn’t change right away in this realm, it is finished in the realm of the spirit. We stay focused on the promise not the problem. It’s not easy, but it’s the way to see it through. Continue to tell that sickness that it has no hold on you. You are fighting from victory not to it.
    • A bad situation comes up in your business, we believe that John 10:10is for us. We fight to believe that this situation is bound to change to a better one.
      • Even if we don’t see it change right away, we believe that it is being worked out. We don’t stop moving forward, but in the process we continue to thank God for His promises and for the breakthrough.
    • Personal story of healing – sinus infection
      • After the healing took place, I still gargled with salt water and took the physical caution so that it wouldn’t return. I kept thanking God during the process. Even though it seemed it was only a 75% job finished, I didn’t stop thanking God. That thing was completely gone by the next work day which was two days later. Usually that would take a week or more with antibiotics.
• Sometimes Believing is the biggest fight against yourself (your human brain, mind, and flesh). I fight to believe against the odds that are constantly bombarding my world.

Sickness, depression, and strife – the enemy’s tactics to Rip you off.

We have authority over the enemy, but we also have authority over what we choose to receive. The authority was given, it’s up to us to remind ourselves of it more than the enemy tells us otherwise. We will evaluate how to do this today.

Ephesians: I think it’s interesting how Ephesians is laid out. He talks about our redemption, living alive in Christ, his stewardship of the church, unity in the spirit, the Christian walk, being imitators of Christ, marriage, relationships, and then the armor. It’s interesting because Paul encourages through most of the book and then he talks about relationships, marriage, and how to act. I have to believe he hits these points just before the armor of God, because this is where we will need the armor. To act right and hold our relationships together.

In this, we have to recognize that the armor and weaponry isn’t just to fight, but also to fend off the wrong stuff from entering into our lives.

• Their is an offensive approach that is taken when you refuse to let the enemy convince you of anything outside of the Word.

To develop this understanding, I think it will help us to break down the armor that is ours as believers. This will help us understand how to use it.

• For example: if you give your baby a set of keys to the car, will he know what they are for? Will he be able to use them affectively? No, he’ll swing them around and make some noise with them and be completely content that they are really cool to make noise. But, he won’t be able to go anywhere.

Ephesians 6:14-18

• Put on and take up
  • Put on the whole or fullarmor of God
    • Every piece is vital
• Take upthe full armor
  • “raise up” – keep held up. It’s your weaponry. It won’t help you if you don’t keep it raised.

Don’t be ripped off. Let’s take what is rightfully ours and use it.

You might not know this, but this armor is what Jesus put on to bring down the enemy and win over him.

• Tools to your offense
  • Loins girded with truth
    • To see the importance of truth, we’ll take a look at this word “loins“. You probably have a pretty good idea of what region this is in, but let’s clarify. It’s the region that contains the lower spine, the reproductive organs, and the muscles that hold you up.
    • You would probably agree that this is a pretty important area. It’s actually your power plant. If you have an issue in this region, you wouldn’t even be able to use the rest of your body or armor. Truth is a big deal, and we’re faced with deciding on it everyday.
      • Two types of truth:
        • Telling lies or extruding a story to make it sound better.
        • Receiving in facts about a situation or the truth of God’s Word regarding your situation.
          • Mom with cancer: I learned this at a young age. My mom had cancer when I was around maybe 7 or 8 years old. I remember her and my dad having many conversations about it prior to them telling us kids about it. I remember not being scared of losing her, the thought never really even crossed my mind, because the way in which my parents presented it was so faith packed. They told us that mom received some bad results from the doctor, but in every conversation they presented the up side. They told us that she would have to go through some treatment, but that she would be ok. We prayed about it frequently, but it wasn’t a crying type prayer, it was a thankful prayer that God had the rescue plan already in place. It was already accomplished, but we just had to walk it out by faith. Of course I had some questions, but they never allowed those questions to turn to a loss type ending. There was no doubt in my mind that she would make it. This wasn’t because I had some great faith or something, but it was because the only thing that I knew about it was a positive outcome. My parents didn’t even let it spread to our friends, because they knew that it could take a negative spin. My mom is alive today, and this is about 26 years later.
      • Truth will gird your loins, fact will sometimes sway you from the truth. It’s not easy, but it’s well worth it.

We have authority over what we choose to receive. Don’t be ripped off.

• Breastplate of righteousness
  • You’re not good enough
    • You are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Then, He equipped you with the imagery of your breastplate, so you could see that you’re sealed and safe. You’re not in need of putting on your righteousness daily, because you’re called righteous when you accept Jesus.
      • A soldier doesn’t have to put on his breastplate to be a soldier or to be part of the kingdom. However, he wouldn’t be very safe in war without it.
        • Throughout history, the breastplate many times has the logo or stamp of the king on it.
      • Our job is to protect our heart from impurities, negative input, condemnation, anything that opposes the fact that God loves you and thinks you’re special.
        • Or, anything that makes you think wrongly of someone else.
      • Guard your heart. Your authority was given to you. You’re in the kingdom. You’re on the team. You’re actually a starter on the team. You’re on the front line. God needs you. Guarding your heart will keep you from accepting anything outside of those thoughts.
    • If someone were to say to a soldier, “you don’t have the authority to stop me from doing this.” He would not hesitate to look down at his breastplate emblem, and say “I beg to differ with that opinion, take a close look at what’s on my breastplate. Now, stop or I’ll have to make you submit to me.”

We have authority over what we choose to receive. Don’t be ripped off.

• Feet prepared with peace
  • Stress, overwhelmed – hinder forward progress
  • Why feet with peace? We move forward by faith, but we follow our peace. He’s tying faith and peace together. You can’t go anywhere without moving forward. But, you won’t get to your destination without peace.
    • It’s offered to us, but it’s our job to follow our peace as we walk by faith.
    • Example: Many times I find that walking by faith isn’t as easy as it seems. We all say it, but really it’s tough when we can’t see the results that we are believing for in the process. This is just human. You don’t need to look down on yourself when you have these feelings. It’s normal. But, we fight against it lasting and winning.
      • Auburn Ridge deal: I recall very vividly our 12 month walk of faith for our debt cancelation last year on one of our properties. I had some times of squirrellyness in my brain. “This isn’t working, this is the tenth lender that I’ve talked too, there aren’t any other avenues to take this to get it financed, we’re up a creek here, we need to walk away…” As you can see, the enemy was having a field day in my head…peace was hard to find.
      • The enemy was trying to win by using my agreement with his thoughts. He was trying to win by taking me out of peace. I have to tell you, he was doing a pretty good job a couple of times during that 12 months. He wanted me to stop moving forward, because if he can ruin our peace, we stop in our tracks and our faith in the situation turning out well is dwindled.
      • How to overcome: I had good people around me to speak truth not fact into me. This helped me stay at peace. Others were in it with me, they were speaking encouragement when the situation was speaking discouragement. They were praying with me. They got in the boat with me. The Body of Christ is necessary to have around us.
        • The peace that they exhibited, was enough to keep me moving forward in faith.
        • Another way to stay in peace is this…I regularly would bring it back to the thrown. I would say, God I’m moving forward by faith, if I’m heading the wrong direction stop me. If I don’t hear from you, I’m just squaring up with you about my faith direction since it wouldn’t be faith without action.

We have authority over what we choose to receive. Don’t be ripped off.

• Shield of faith
  • Extinguish the flaming missiles (fiery darts) of evil
  • This term is interesting. “fiery darts” – I always thought that fiery or flaming was just to put emphasis on the enemy being really mean and dangerous, but in actuality I believe that this term is used a bit differently. The word “fiery” means to set a glow.
    • Think about this, when the enemy brings things against us, his intent is to set them a glow so that our focus turns to the issue and not the answer. Light a match in a dark room. Where does your attention go? Right to the match, of course, because you can’t see anything else. The enemy is trying to get your focus off your shield and into his negative force.
      • Example: raccoon- Have you ever hit a possum or raccoon with your car? What happens right before he meets his maker? He usually looks up and stops. He’s looking straight into your headlights. He gets mesmerized with the light, and forgets that he needs to get out of the way. I remember one late night driving home, and the worlds’ biggest raccoon walked in front of my car. I saw him about a tenth of a second before he bit my tire at 60 miles per hour. What I remember is him looking up at my lights and stopping. I also remember freaking out and thinking, why didn’t that guy just wait to cross the road or jump out of the way. He couldn’t, he was too focused on my headlights.
        • Shining deer: Do we have any proud rednecks (hillbillies) in the room? These folks know all about shining deer. They know what happens when you go out at night and put a spotlight on a deer. The deer freezes. He doesn’t move. He’s looking right at danger, but he’s frozen in his tracks. He’s focused on the wrong thing. He should be focused on his nearest escape, but he’s focused on the problem more than the answer of escape.
        • This is what the enemy wants us all focused on. The problem and not the solution that was given to us in Christ.

We have authority over what we choose to focus on. Don’t be ripped off.

• Helmet of salvation
  • Crown of thorns off, helmet on to protect the finished work in your mind
  • “But, you don’t understand…it’s my boss that makes me mad.” No, your boss does bad things, talks to you wrong, belittles you, etc. But, you get mad. You perceive it a certain way, which is your choice how to perceive it, and then you retaliate either outward or in your mind.
  • Boss story
    • He was so negative, nothing was good enough. I would beat him into the office by 3 hours every morning and stay 3 hours after him on conference calls to the states from Japan, but he was still mean and angry.
    • I let it sink in and it nearly ruined me. Everything started to have a negative spin to it. I remember, it was hard to enjoy anything because I let his view seep into my thoughts.
  • When you have a hope, a positive expectation of good things, a foreshadow of good that runs through your mind…you release endorphins.
  • Philippians 4:8 NKJV – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things  are  noble, whatever things  are  just, whatever things  are  pure, whatever things  are  lovely, whatever things  are  of good report, if  there is  any virtue and if  there is  anything praise worthy meditate on these things.

We have authority over what we focus on and what we let in. Don’t be ripped off.

• Sword of the Spirit
  • Word of God – using the fruit of the spirit in your home
    • Example: home after a long day- You come home and your wife and kids are screaming and going nuts. She said this, and he said that, and you want everyone to go away and shut up. You had a perfect picture of rest and enjoyment from a tough day at the office, but it isn’t that way.
      • Your choice to blow up…turn around and go back to the office…start grounding everyone that’s standing around you (including your wife)…smile and walk directly to your bedroom and close the door (hiding from what’s going on).
      • Or, your choice: You use the fruit of the spirit as your sword to cut down the situation. You bring peace into your home instead of another yelling adult. You choose to rely on your sword to cut through this issue and help rather than hinder or leave it as is.
      • Which one do you think would work better? Which one will get you to peace quicker?
  • We probably look at the sword of the spirit as something that we saw in the movie 300, but that really isn’t realistic. It’s cool and tough, but not really easy to apply. You see, your wife isn’t really impressed with your 300 antics. She isn’t really impressed with your tough guy routine. She needs to see you use the sword in a relatable way that solves situations.

We have authority over how we use or don’t use our weapons. Don’t be ripped off.

• Extreme uncle example: I remember one of my uncles that just got saved. He was running around hollering at the enemy all day everyday. He was really an extremist. He was either all in or all out. He was either drinking at the bar until he puked or making everyone nervous with his awkward way of yelling at the devil for everything.
  • I’m not saying that there isn’t a place for that, but the way it played out was that he never let it sink in. He never let the reality of the principles of the scriptures being a big part of his warfare.
  • The flaming missiles are sometimes our choice to abide in the Word or not, so that we know how to use it. Our choice to use the Word is just as much for ourselves as it is to fend off the enemy.
  • My uncle never let that reality sink in, and even to this day isn’t following Christ any longer. We need to use the Word as a sword to cut off our negative tendencies. We need to do some surgery with our sword and not just swing it around at everyone else.

We have authority over how we use our weapons. Don’t be ripped off.

2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 NKJV – For the weapons of our warfare  are  not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

• Isn’t it interesting that this scripture only mentioned the enemy once (strongholds). And it mentions us twice (arguments & thoughts)

Isn’t it interesting that there is nothing covering your back in all this armor? It’s either because we are to be on the offensive or God has our back…or both.

The enemy doesn’t know who’s inside the armor. The last time he saw it, Jesus was under it…and still is in you!

God has fully equipped you. He sees you pure through His Son that died for you. However, we have a lot to do with how much of this we experience here on earth.

A note from Pastor Sarah Marie

Dear Beloved,

Yesterday, my husband and I were involved in a National Day of Prayer event in Naples, Florida with many others from Life Christian Church. About a dozen pastors led in prayer and we joined our faith together. It was a powerful time as many churches publicly worshiped God and proclaimed our trust in Him. At the close of the event, there was a potent prayer for unity among the body of believers. I was so touched as a passage of scripture came alive.

In Psalm 133, it says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity…for there the LORD commanded the blessing – life forevermore”. We know that one can put 1,000 to flight and two can put 10,000 to flight. There is power in unity.

If we continue in prayer daily, unity with other believers will be evident. If you don’t pray daily, I encourage you to ask the Lord to give you the desire and a passion to pray. He will give it to you.

Prayer cannot only be a one-time event; it has to be daily fellowship with God. There we obtain the strength to overcome self and a critical eye of others. The more we pray, the more we will see others as Jesus sees them. Seek unity at any cost.

The result of unity is health, peace of mind, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

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

Rent waived

We have been receiving financial blessings lately, a $2,500 blessing 2 weeks ago and this week again I didn’t expect anything crazy, to be honest these blessings are new for me…but check this out…

We have some issues with the apartment we are renting and last Sunday the landlord calls and waived this months rent! Wow, it wasn’t till evening when i was laying down that I realized what had happened. FAVOR!! I told the guy, wow that’s too much, but when I realized it was a blessing from God, I received it and thanked God and now I’m testifying of His Glory!

Blessed, Highly Favored, and Empowered to Prosper!

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!

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 Program video – 2012

Easter Program at Life Christian Church Naples – 2012