Dear Family of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thank you for coming by for a CUP! God Bless you and yours!
“Are you being called on to take a step outside of your comfort zone and into the unknown? If so, do so bravely as God is your constant companion. While you may stumble, He will never let you fall. Sometimes, it is when we move only out in complete trust in Him that we can realize the biggest increase in the favor He has waiting for us.”
“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” (Psalm 119:32)
Yesterday was of course Saint Patties Day also the birth date of one of my heroes!
On this date (March 17) in 1895 one of the greatest men I have ever known was born Floyd Milton Caraway, my Grandpa taught me much about how to live my life He was such a loving man My Grandma Lena was the same, she is the one who said in 1974 I would be a Preacher someday.Grandpa went to heaven in 1989 and Grandma passed to heaven in 1978 when I was at radio/tv school At Brown in Mpls. I pray that all will have Grandpa and Grandma’s like I did!
Grandpa and Grandma’s play a very important role in the growing up of children! AMEN! My Grandpa Moede passed onto heaven when my Dad was 13 and my Grandma Moede passed onto to Heaven when I was six. I do remember sitting on Grandma Moede’s lap! Grandpa Moede jioned the Windom Fire Dept. as a Captain in 1912!
Charles Spurgeon – The Prince of Preachers
”Oh, it is a blessed thing to feel that you are living, not as a servant of man, nor of the Church, nor of a sect, or party, but of Him whose precious blood has bought you!”
“Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the mainstay of our joy here.”
This morning I would ask us all to pray for our Children, for you children. The Lord has really put that on my heart this day. I just got some feedback from World Press that hosts the CUP and I cannot tell who this is from but they were thanking us for the Daily CUP, the title of that CUP was, Prayer should not merely be an act but an attitude of life. That is a quote from Billy Graham. I pray that we all come together and pray for our children, pray for our adult children, for their protection, I pray for thousands of Angels right now to be with our Children. Angels have great power, the are called “you mighty ones who do his word” Ps. 103:20 and “powers” Eph 1:21 and “dominions” and “authorities” Col 1:16. Though the power of angels is great, it is certainly not infinite, but is used to battle against the evil demonic powers under the control of satan. Dan. 10:13, Rev. 12:7-8, 20: 1-3. This weekend, a vandal or vandal’s smashed the passenger side windows of Gretchen’s car as she and her friend walked and climbed the Sandia’s. I looked at Buffy and Reno and said, you guys would never do anything like that! I pray for protection for son Lars in Chicago and our kid’s, Greg, wife Natasha, son Michael and Daughter Stephanie and husband Pat all in Denver! Demon possessed people are walking all over! last week I was getting harassing calls from a person who thought she was 3 people. The Police had to get involved. You and I are engaged in Spiritual warfare everyday!
My Dear Friend Paul Dokken sent me a book, “Spirit Wars, winning the invisible battle against sin and the enemy” by Kris Valllotton.
I strongly suggest you get the book not only for yourself, but for your Pastor.
I know this is not the favorite subject of many Christians, but it is vital!
I am also going to share with you a study done by Bob Deffin this morning on Spiritual warfare, but first here is something very important to share with you from Kris Vallotton……..
I have read many Christian and secular books on the subject of depression, oppression, fear anxiety and panic. I have found some of them helpful. But frankly, many of these books are not only inaccurate, they are also destructive and actually lead to greater bondage. I also have spoken to several mental health care professionals, as well as medical doctors, and found that a few of them really understand the root cause of these symptoms. Part of the challenge is that most health care professionals , whether Christian or secular, view the spirit world as some kind of fairy tale perpetuated by uneducated and ignorant souls. I have discovered as well that many Christian counselors who believe in the spirit world and minister to this dimension have very little insight into how intertwined our triune being is. We are composed of spirit, soul and body, and few counselors understand how much each dimension affects the others. These folks often think that every negative symptom in a person is rooted in the spirit. They are completely ineffective, therefore, in dealing with problems that have their origins in the other two-thirds of our being, the soul and the body.
Author Vallotton almost died of from the attacks put on him by Satan.
Some Christians live in house arrest. Like spiritual archaeologists, they spend most of their time digging in the graveyard of their old lives, looking to unearth some hidden treasure of hope. But all they ever discover are the dry bones of discouragement, condemnation and fear!
WOW! Great book by Kris Vallotton who is the senior associate leader at Bethel Church in Redding, California. I hear such great works of God coming out of Bethel from Pastor Alan Hawkins here in Albuquerque and also from Paul Dokken in Sioux Falls, SD as his Pastor Steve Hickey has ties to this church also. Pastor Hickey has written books also that I have shared with you and also serves in the South Dakota Legislature! Look at all the fruit being produced by these folks!!!!!!! AMEN!!!!!
Let us all be Fruit Trees for our Lord Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMEN!
Now let us join Bob Deffin on his study of spiritual warfare………..Eph 6: 10-20
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Introduction
As Hitler’s appetite for power and territory grew, his army began to march across Europe. In some cases, the fight could hardly be called a battle. The German army advanced, with its tanks and with technologically advanced weapons. In some of the underdeveloped nations, their armies made a futile effort to resist Hitler’s aggression, fighting back with spears and even rocks. It was no contest at all, because these nations were not equipped for the battle.
The same could be said of Satan, and those whom he opposes. Many of his victims do not even know there is a war going on. They make easy prey. Christians should know that we are in the midst of a great spiritual struggle, although many seem not to believe it. And even more distressing is the fact that many who consider themselves “in the war” do not understand the nature of Satan’s schemes, of the weapons which he employs, or of the weapons which God has provided for our defense.
Ephesians 6:10-20 is perhaps the clearest definition of the spiritual war which we find from the pen of the Apostle Paul. It not only assures us that there is a spiritual war, but it warns us that apart from utilizing the weapons which God has provided for us, we are hopelessly underpowered. This passage informs us as to what our divinely weapons are. Beyond this, these weapons imply the nature of the struggle which we are in. The weapons which God has provided for us are those weapons which best repel the attacks of Satan, and thus we can learn a great deal about the nature of Satan’s opposition from simply considering each of the weapons at our disposal.
In this first lesson, we will concentrate on verses 10-13, which direct our attention to the war itself, and to our grasp of its gravity. After a consideration of the war in general, we will then proceed to examine in more detail each of the weapons Paul mentions, and the offensive strategy of Satan which they imply. May God give us open hearts and minds to understand the spiritual war, and the means which He has provided for our defense.
The Spiritual War in the Old Testament
It should come as no surprise to the Christian to read here that we are engaged in a great spiritual battle. From the early chapters of the Old Testament it is apparent that Satan is the enemy of God, and that he actively seeks to oppose God, His purposes, and His people. Let us consider the evidence for the spiritual war in the Old Testament, and then to further pursue this matter in the New Testament.
We would probably turn first to the third chapter of the Book of Genesis to find Satan striking what appears to be the first blow of the spiritual war. Actually, the battle began long before the creation of Adam and Eve. Satan’s rebellion against God is described in two Old Testament prophecies:
12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’ (Isa. 14:12-14).
12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 “You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created, Until unrighteousness was found in you (Ezek. 28:12-15).
It is clear from these verses that the prophets are not speaking only of an earthly ruler, but of someone possessing much greater power. They are speaking of none other than Satan. He was the angel who was created by God (Ezekiel 28:13), given the highest authority under God, but who was not content with this. He was the one who was in Eden, the garden of God (Ezekiel 28:13). He was once blameless a the time of his creation, but then was found with sin (Ezekiel 28:15). He possessed great beauty, power, and authority, but he had to have more. He wanted to exalt himself further; he wanted to become like God (Isaiah 14:14).
When Satan rebelled against God, others joined him in opposing God and His purposes. And so we find Satan making his first public appearance in Genesis chapter 3, not as Satan, but as a creature which God has made. Satan comes to Adam and Eve as a fellow-creature, under God’s authority and that of the man and his wife. His temptation is heeded, and God’s Word disobeyed, leading not only to the downfall of Adam and his wife, but of all their offspring.
In Genesis chapter 6, we are told that the “sons of God” took wives from among the “daughters of men.” In the Old Testament the expression, “sons of God,” is used of angels rather than in reference to men. It would therefore seem that Satan was seeking to employ fallen angels to corrupt the “seed of the woman” who was promised to defeat Satan and to bring about man’s salvation from sin (Genesis 3:15).144
The events of the Book of Job are believed to have occurred in patriarchal times, and thus Satan’s appearance in Job 1 and 2 would have taken place after Genesis chapters 3 and 6. Satan was gathered around the throne of God, along with the other “sons of God” (Job 1:6). He contended that Job would only serve God as long as God blessed him. God then granted Satan the authority to afflict Job, but always within strict limits. In the case of Job’s adversities, they came first from Satan, but ultimately from God, whose sovereign control over the events of His servant’s life never wavered. An important thing to note here is not only that the suffering of Job, which appeared to be of very natural causes, was of satanic origins. Furthermore, we are led to see beyond the earthly drama to its more celestial purpose of instructing not only Satan, but all the “sons of God,” to God’s glory, if not to Satan’s fuller grasp of the issues.
In 2 Kings chapter 6, the king of Syria was waging war against Israel. God informed Elisha the prophet of all the Syrian king’s battle plans in advance, and the prophet conveyed them to the king of Israel, so that all of Syria’s attacks were nullified. When the king of Syria learned that Elisha was the source of his troubles, he sent out his army to seize him. In the morning, the Syrian troops surrounded the city of Dothan, where Elisha was staying. When Elisha’s servant arose early and went out, perhaps to draw water, he saw the Syrian army as it was surrounding the city. The panic-stricken servant rushed to his master and told him what he had seen.
While the servant was terrified by what he had seen, Elisha remained calm. He knew something that his servant did not. He knew that earthly armies were no threat when the host of heaven was on his side. And so he prayed that the eyes of his servant might be opened, to see the “invisible army” which was on duty to protect the people of God:
15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said,” Strike this people with blindness, I pray. “So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria (2 Kings 6:15-19).
This heavenly army descended to Elisha, who prayed that they might strike the enemy with blindness. As a result, Elisha was able, singlehandedly, to lead the entire Syrian army into the hands of the Israelite army’s hand. He would not allow them to be killed, but instead sent them all home after giving them food and water. The heavenly army is ever-present, and it responds to the prayers of the saints.
In 1 Chronicles, we see another glimpse of Satan’s opposition to God and to His people. A glimpse which is not mentioned in the parallel account in 2 Samuel chapter 24: “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel” (1 Chr. 21:1). Unless we had been given the revelation of this verse, no one would ever have attributed David’s actions here to anything other than bad judgment. But behind his foolish and sinful decision we find Satan, ever seeking to oppose God through His people.
Finally, in the Book of Daniel we come to one of the most dramatic examples of the spiritual warfare:
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he responded and said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” (Daniel 3:24-25).
10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.… 20 Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince (Daniel 10:10-13, 20-21).
In Daniel chapter three, Daniel’s three companions are thrown into the fiery furnace, because they will not bow down before the golden image which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up. But when these three were cast into the furnace, the king looked in and was shocked to see not three, but four men inside, and they were not writhing in pain or being consumed by the flames, they were walking around inside that furnace. If not our Lord Himself, this fourth person was surely an angelic being, sent there to save the lives of these faithful men.
In chapter 10 an angel was sent to Daniel, in answer to his prayers (note verse 12). This angel informed Daniel that he had set out to come to him much sooner, but that he encountered opposition from the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” who withstood him, delaying him for 21 days. Having been left there with the kings of Persia, Michael came to his rescue. After he finished speaking with Daniel, the angel would encounter the “prince of Persia” and the “prince of Greece” (verse 20). The important thing to notice here is that angels are very much involved in the affairs of men and of nations. The godly angel came in response to Daniel’s prayers and the ungodly celestial beings opposed this angel. More than this, the unholy angels seem to have a link with political kingdoms and their king.
For God’s Glory Alone in the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ, Dewey Sharon and Family
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Dewey Moede
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