We're going to look at application for our prayer life in the area of spiritual warfare. And it's one of the, um, I wouldn't say the most misunderstood, but it is a, it is up there as a misunderstood area of the Christian ministry. So, uh, we'll spend at least two weeks on this. on the area of spiritual warfare. Then we're going to look at some applications. We're going to look at the doctrine behind prayer. And then we're going to look at the whatabouts with prayer. What about prayers that go unanswered? What about human intercessor? What about seed gifts? What about tongues? What about unconfessed sin? How about praying to the dead? praying to angels we'll look at those things and see what God has to say about them. So, let's go to the Lord in prayer, shall we? O Lord God, this is your holy word. We are your servants. Give us understanding that we might know your testimonies. You have prayed, O Lord, sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth. Use your holy eternal, inerrant written word to set us apart to your service and to your glory. Show us great and mighty things which we do not know. The sower sows the word. Let not your word go out and return empty, but accomplish that purpose for which you have drawn us together and for which you are sending it out. Protect us from Satan, Lord, who will snatch your word, making it empty. Protect us from the world's cares and the delight of wealth and the passion of other interests, which enter in and choke your word. Protect us from a wrong reaction to difficulties and discouragements and persecutions, which make our hearts hard and unresponsive to your word. Rather give us good soil, O Lord. Plow now the hard ground of our hearts, that your written word might send roots downward and bear fruit upward. Unsheathe now the sword of your Spirit, O Lord. cut to the vining point of bone and marrow, soul and spirit. Judge now the thoughts and intention of each heart gathered here. Spread your word before us as a banquet table, O Lord. Grant grace that we might eat of the rich meat and drink of the sweet milk of the great doctrines of your word. give us the heart of the prophet who cried to you thy words were found and I did eat them and thy words became to me a joy and a delight of my heart for I am called by thy name O LORD God of hosts O LORD we live in a dark and a wicked age broad is the way and many are on it which leads to destruction. Make your word a lamp to our feet. Make your word a light to our path. Show us that narrow way that you would have us run. And Lord, as we run in the paths of your commandments, enlarge our hearts that in loving you we might be more obedient to your written word. Drop your word against our lives as a plumb line, O Lord. Grant grace that we might see how we deviate from its high and holy purposes. Make your word to us a mirror, O Lord. Grant grace that we might not be as those who look and go away and forget but make us active doers, not forgetful listeners of your written word. O LORD, because of our fealty to you, because of our undying love and devotion to your Son, our resurrected Savior, we pledge to you this day our total submission to your holy, eternal, inherent written word and we pledge to you our unquestioning obedience to all of its commands in the name of our lord and resurrected savior jesus christ we pray amen man well great guys oh uh bammy yes what is your wife's name Sarah. S-A-R-A-H? Yes. Okay. Great. Eleanor wants to pray for her. Oh, thank you. Okay, I have placed in the pipeline 100 American dollars for each, both you and Bishan. And so you should be receiving that in a couple days. It'll get to you quicker, evidently, than the Bible's will. It's going into Amika's ECU or something account. And then he'll be passing it on to you. Thank you, sir. Thank you so much, Uncle John. It's my Valentine's present to you. Thank you. Then that way you'll have something for your wife. You should have it in a couple of days. Thank you so much. But I expect you to be working hard at raising funds. Yes. You know, in the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul used two entire chapters on fundraising. Chapters 8 and 9. In a book of Philippians, he used an entire chapter, chapter four, on fundraising. So I find most pastors' wives and staff wives who grow weary in well-doing, who become beaten down and bitter, and children who resent their father being involved in the ministry, I find the number one reason is they're always in need of finances when they don't need to be because the father doesn't work hard at fundraising. The number two reason is because the father seems to love other people more than his own children. Your children understand you have to work. They're not going to be resentful for that. But it's when they're always embarrassed about their school fees, not having money for church activities, books, things like that, because the father is not out there raising support. And then they realize that their mother is working hard and tired all of the time. because their father's not raising his support. That's when they become bitter. So that's a gift you can give your children, is loving the fact that you're a minister. All four of my children were never resentful that I was a navigator staff for 20 years and then a pastor and missionary for 20 years. They never resented that. One of the reasons was is how hard I worked at staying up to budget. So I exhort you to do that. That's free. Thank you, sir. That's free. No charge. Okay, let's look at our application here for spiritual warfare. First thing we need to talk about because of the age that we live in, is what spiritual warfare is not. What it is not. And let's go ahead and turn in your Bibles and I have it up here on the screen. 1st Timothy 4 verse 1 and 2. 1st Timothy 4 verse 1 and 2. Let's take a look at that. hello pastor great to see you good evening sir yeah good evening i'm sorry i came i came in late i'm very very sorry no no you are never late to this bible study no one is ever late you are always on time we rejoice to see you thank you no problem yeah well there's uh This is a ministry of co-laborers in the Lord. And you all have hard work that you're doing, so no apology necessary. Okay, 1 Timothy 4, 1 and 2. Bishan, would you like to read that? Okay, sir. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared. And it's with a hot iron. Yeah. Okay. Yes. So now it says, as we look at this passage, they will fall away from the faith it doesn't mean they will lose their salvation but they're going to fall away from their faith that first love now if you write in your bibles you can underline falling away from your faith and you can write Romans 10 verse 17 Mbami, would you read Romans 10.17 please? Romans 10.17 Oh, you have that memorized, I'm sure. Yeah, so faith comes from what is heard. What is heard comes through the message. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing, yeah, from the message, that is the word, that Greek there is the word of God. So what translation is that, Bemi? That is ESV. The, yeah, the, yeah, Christian standard. Yeah, the message, yeah. So, when they fall away from the faith, they are straying from the word of God. they're falling away from the faith. Now, when they stray from the Word of God, what do they begin to do in this verse? What does it say? 1st Timothy 4, 1 and 2. They fall away from the faith and what do they begin to do? They begin to follow deceiving spirits. That's it. That's exactly right. Excellent. You get to go to the head of the class, Pastor. Yeah. All scripture is inspired by God. We have the Holy Scripture through the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. That's 2 Timothy 3.16. And, uh, second Peter one, 20 and 21. So we know that faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God. And the word of God is given to us by God, the Holy spirit. But is God the Holy spirit, the only spirit at work in the world today? No. No. Okay. That's right, Pastor. Read 1 John 4, please. 1 John 4, verse 1. 1 John 4, verse 1. Please. Okay. 1 John 4. And verse 1 says... Verse 1. Their friends do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Yes, now that's very important for us to remember that simply because something is spiritual does not mean it has come from God the Holy Spirit. There are many false spirits and false prophets on the face of the earth. and we want to make sure that we are not falling away from the faith and paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. You see, these people have their conscience seared as with a branding iron. They are no longer sensitive to the sin that they are involved in. Demons, of course, are liars. Look at John 8, 44. Bammy, would you read that for us, please? John 8, 44. you have your father the devil and you want to carry out your father's desires he was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him and he tells a lie he speaks from his own nature because he's a liar and thou liest so we are forbidden from interacting with demons because they are murderers and liars And we are forbidden from that. And so what we are faced with here in the church in the 21st century are these so-called deliverance ministries. Where these false apostles, these false prophets, they stand up and interact with demons, don't they? They demand a demon tell them their name. and the demon will say, I am the demon of greed. Well, is it revealed to us in Holy Scripture that there is a demon of greed? No. No? So if someone talks about the demon of greed, where have they learned that there is a demon of greed? From God the Holy Spirit? No. From what? That's right. And that's forbidden. That is forbidden. We are forbidden from interacting with demons. We are forbidden from learning about demons from demons. And we are forbidden from passing on information learned from demons. It's forbidden. Now the response is, but Jesus did it, didn't he? Yet there are many things which Jesus did to which we are forbidden. There are many things Jesus did. to which we are forbidden. Let's look at some of these things. Let's see, Bishan, you turn to John 3, 18 and 19. And Bami, you turn to 2 Corinthians 5, 20. And then Pastor, you turn to Romans 13, 18 and 19. So, Bishan, John 3, 18 and 19. on 318 and 319, whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment. The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their works were evil. And 2 Corinthians 5.10. for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Yeah, and we're going to be judged. Yeah, we'll stand. Now, what? Pastor, read Romans 13, 18 and 19. I have to unmute you. Okay. Romans 13, 18 and 19? No. It ends at 14. Romans 12. Romans 12. Okay. Sorry. Romans 12. Sorry. Okay. Romans 12. Review, review, review. That's what I did. Romans 12. Okay. Romans 12, 18 says, if it is possible As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, it is mine to avenge. I will repay, says the Lord. So God is going to judge and take vengeance upon people. They're going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. But we are forbidden from that, aren't we? so jesus jesus can do things that we are forbidden from doing just because jesus did something doesn't mean that we also can do it let's see uh... revelation fourteen ten and eleven uh... bammi if you would read that and pastor if you will read james four twelve 1411. 10 and 11. 10 and 11. And they said to me, you must prophesy again about many people. Uh oh, I may have given you the wrong verse again. Where is my head today? Let's see, Revelation. He will also drink the wine of God's wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his hander. He will be tormented with fire and so forth inside of the holy angels and inside of the So he will be tortured in the sight of who? The holy angels and who else? In the sight of the Lamb. Yeah! And then what else do we see here? Read verse 11. And the smoke of the atonement will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, anyone who receives the mark of his name. Yeah. So, Jesus... Hell is not separation from God. Those who are in hell are experiencing the infinite wrath of God, aren't they? Yeah. It's not separation from God. Jesus is there looking on, isn't he? now in this verse is satan in charge of hell no look at revelation if you uh... do cross-references in your bible you can look at revelation twenty verse ten so bammy read that based on Revelation chapter 20 verse 10. The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and suffered where the beast and the false prophets are and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. So is Satan in charge of hell? No, God is. Satan is a recipient of the judgment of God. Now, on the other hand, what does James 4.12 say? I believe Pastor? James 4.12, there is only one law-given judge. The one who is able to save and destroy. But you, who are you to judge your neighbor? So we are not permitted to decide who goes to heaven and hell, are we? No, we're not. There's one law giver and judge who's able to save and destroy. We are the messengers of the gospel. We are the witnesses. We proclaim the gospel. But I have been excommunicated from the faith by the Cardinal of the Cathedral City of Los Angeles, so I don't get to go to purgatory. He has banished me to hell. And I've also been excommunicated by the United Pentecostal Bishop of the country of Belarus. He also has excommunicated me from the faith, but it doesn't mean anything, does it? They don't have power to save and destroy. I have received the seal of the Holy Spirit and I will have eternal life in Christ, irrespective of what these false teachers in the Catholic Church and Pentecostal Church think. It's neither here nor there. But what Jesus thinks is important, but what we think, we have nothing to say about it. Now, we are all going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, aren't we? But what will be the verdict when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ? Not guilty. That's right. Next to 2 Corinthians 5.10, if you write in your Bibles, write Romans 8.1. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So of course we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, but our judgment will be not guilty. Let's look at another passage. Let's see, Bishan, you look at John 6, 46, and then we'll come down to Bami if you will look up Exodus 33, 20, and 21, please. Let's look at John 6 46 John 6 46 Not that anyone has seen the father except he who is from God He has seen the father So Jesus has seen the father hasn't he? Yes, sir. Yeah Okay, Bami Exodus 33 20 and 21 But he had it You cannot see my face, but humans cannot see me and live. The Lord said, here is a place near me, you are to stand on the rock. So, Jesus can look and see God, but we cannot. Not until we have our new bodies in heaven, in our glorified self. Let's look at Hebrews 4, verse 15. Pastor, would you read that? And then Bishan, if you will read Isaiah 53, 6. And Bami, if you will read 1 John 1, 8 and 10. Hebrews 4, 15. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses. But we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. Yet he did not sin. Yeah. Jesus Christ was sinless. He was tempted and didn't sin. Jesus could witness to prostitutes and not sin. Jesus could go anywhere and not sin. He would never sin. He is God. But what does Isaiah 53.6 say? all we like sheep have gone astray who had that? I think Vishan you have Isaiah 53.6 Isaiah 53.6 yes all we like sheep have gone astray we have turned everyone to his own weight and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all yeah we are sinful people though aren't we? 1st John 1.8 and 10 Bami Bami if we say We have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. In verse 10. If we say we have not sinned, make him a liar and his word is not enough. So we are sinful. So we have to be careful and circumspect about situations in which we place ourselves. You guys cannot witness to prostitutes. I don't even witness to women. I don't. That's my wife's job. I don't meet one-on-one with women in the ministry. That's my wife's job. And many staff and pastors get into trouble doing that. So, what do you call this? You are going to meet with a woman You're going to meet at a coffee shop. You'll buy the coffee and biscuits and then you are going to talk and pray together. What do you call that? That's a date. Isn't it? Isn't it? Exactly. It's a date. Don't do that. Don't go on Christian dates. You're married men. If you're going to go to a coffee shop and talk about spiritual things and pray and buy the woman biscuits and coffee, then that's your wife and no one else, maybe your daughter. Now Jesus could do it, but we can't because Jesus did not have the fallen nature of Adam. he did not struggle with the internal wrestling of the soul all the temptations that jesus experience were external let's look at mark one bishan you turn to mark one and then bami you turn to first timothy four just a minute i have to go get something Pardon me, Mark 1, 24. Yes, sir. Mark 1, 24. What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God. Now, a demon is talking to Jesus, isn't he? Yes, sir. Mark 3, 11. Am I to read that too? Please, I'm going to give you a whole series here. Okay, so Mark 3, 11. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, you are the son of God. Okay, Mark 5, 7. Mark 5, 7. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, What have you to do with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I adjoin you by God. Do not torment me. And we know that Jesus interacted with the demons in the demoniac, whose name were Legion. Don't we? Try this, Bishan. Look at Luke 4, chapter 4. Luke 4 Chapter 4 Verses 5-8 Luke 4 Chapter 4 Verses 5-8 5-8 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me. and I give it to whom I will. If you then will worship me, it will all be yours. And Jesus answered him, it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and to him only shall you serve. Okay, now Jesus is interacting with the demon, with Satan himself, isn't he? Yes. Now turn to Luke 8.30. Luke 8. Okay, Luke 8.36. Jesus then asked him, what is your name? And he said, Legion, for many demons have entered him. Now, Jesus asked him his name and his name is Legion. Yes. So Jesus talked with demons. Jesus interacted with Satan in Luke 4 in a whole series of conversations. Jesus commanded the demons to tell them their name. But that doesn't mean we can do this. Jesus judges. Jesus is cast into hell. Jesus has seen God. Jesus has never sinned. Jesus does lots of things we can never do. Just because Jesus did it does not mean we can do it. We are only allowed to do it if God the Holy Spirit, through His Word, gives us permission. And in 1 Timothy 4, 1 and 2, He withdraws permission for us to interact with demons. You cannot do that. Now, it is possible to know things which are forbidden to us. So it is possible to interact with demons, and demons will talk to you. But it's forbidden. So, Bishan, look at Matthew 5, 27 and 28. Nami look at Proverbs 20 verse 19 pastor you look at Leviticus 19 verse 11 Please in 28 28 you have heard that it was said you shall not commit adultery But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Is it possible to look at pornography? It's possible. Is it forbidden? It's forbidden. That's right. And it is possible to interact with demons who have possessed people, but it is forbidden. It is possible to learn things from demons and pass these on to other people in the form of books, in the form of videos, teach it, but it's forbidden. Proverbs 20 verse 19. Proverbs 20, 19. The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip. Avoid someone with a big mouth. Yeah. Is it possible to gossip? Yes. It's possible. Yes. Is it forbidden? It's forbidden. Yeah. Yes. Just because it's possible to do something doesn't mean we are allowed to do it. Leviticus 19, 11, pastor. Leviticus 1911, do not steal, do not lie, do not deceive one another. Ah, so is it possible to steal, to lie and deceive? Yeah. But it is forbidden. Exodus 20 verse 13 says you shall not murder. The Hebrew word there is homicide. You shall not murder. It is possible to know what it feels like to kill people just for the fun of it, but it's forbidden, isn't it? And it is possible to interact with demon possessed people, to learn from them and to teach these things to other people, but it's forbidden. Now, Bami, you are attending a marriage conference, let's say, and this particular session is on sexual intimacy in marriage. and he begins with Genesis 2 and how the two shall become one and they were naked without shame and then he goes on to illustrations of good marriages in the scripture and then he goes on to Proverbs uh... five about the enjoyment of uh... relationship with our wife and then he goes on to song of solomon and then and he continues on to first corinthians seven and he's teaching us from the bible that uh... that uh... that there is nothing wrong with sexual intimacy in marriage so far we're okay aren't we it's all bible verses Then he says, now I want to show you some illustrations of this. And he begins to show us pornographic videos. What do you do? That's right. That's exactly right. Or if it's a book and there are pornographic pictures, you throw the book away. It is the same way with these so-called deliverance ministries. It's one thing to do what I'm doing, and that is to teach you what the Bible says about this subject. And then it's another thing when they say, now, let me tell you some stories about my ministry. And this woman was demon possessed, and I demanded to know the name of the demon. It was the demon of greed. And then they begin to say, and God gave me the ability to see the demon, and it looked like a giant spider. And then I died and went to hell, and there were all the demons there. And he begins to tell you things, that are not in the Bible. That's forbidden. You walk away. You close the book. You turn off the TV. It is forbidden. But we are mystified by the forbidden, aren't we? But we have to discipline our bodies and make them serve us. First, uh, uh, first Corinthians nine 27, so that while preaching to others, we will not be disqualified. It is forbidden. They will fall away from the faith and pay attention to deceitful spirits and the doctrines and teachings of demons. It's forbidden. And people say, why? It's not so bad. I was ministering to a university student and he said, well, God created the woman's body and it's just like looking at a beautiful mountain or a wonderful tree or other things that God has created. It's a thing of beauty. I said, I'm not saying it's not beautiful. I'm saying it is forbidden. We are not forbidden from looking at mountains. We are forbidden from looking at undressed women. It's forbidden. So we have to remember that it's possible to know things which are forbidden. So what spiritual warfare is not, it is not paying attention to deceitful spirits and listening to teachings taught by demons. Another thing, it is not a miracle contest. It is not a battle between you and Satan where you're doing miracles and involved in this mystical or metaphysical victory. Let's look at Revelation 11, 3 through 10. Pastor, I'll ask you to read that for us. Okay. Meanwhile, Bami, you will look up Revelation 13, 11 through 17. and Bishan, 2 Thessalonians 2, 9 and 10. So, Pastor, Revelation 11, 3 through 10. Revelation 3. Revelation chapter 11. Oh, OK. That's alright. It's my English. Revelation chapter 11, beginning with verse 3 and going to verse 10. Oh, OK. Revelation 11, reading from verse 3 the Bible says Jesus is Lord and fine okay and I will appoint my two witnesses and they would prophesy for 1,260 days to know that it is that close they are the two olive trees and the two lampstands and they stand before the Lord of the earth If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut off the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying. And they have power to turn the waters into blood and to drink the earth with every kind of plagues as often every kind of plague as often as they want. Now, let's stop here. These people, these two witnesses seem to be invincible, aren't they? What can stand against them? Nothing. Well, let's read verse 7 through 10. Now when they had finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the earth will attack them. and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days, some from every people, tribe, language, and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. Versed, the inhabitants of the earth will do so at them, and we celebrate by sending each other gifts because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. Yeah, but they were defeated, weren't they? Now this is something I'm going to say again at the end of this lecture. We have to remember this. We will all die, won't we? Satan will not die. And if we are not careful, we will begin thinking that Satan is in control. Because for generation after generation, Christians who've stood against Satan are dying, aren't they? The last time I checked, the mortality rate in Nigeria was 100%. The same with America. Everybody is going to die. And Satan keeps going on and on and on, doesn't he? And if we are not careful, we will think somebody is spiritually powerful because they are able to kill a Christian. Let's look at Revelation 13, 11 through 17. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast. whose fatal wound was healed. It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven, earth in front of people. It deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that is permitted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. It was permitted to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And it makes everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand, on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has a mark. this name or the number of this name. Now this great false prophet, he can heal, he can give life to images like Moses did to the rod becoming snake, he can call down fire from heaven like Elijah, he can do all these things, can't he? So I remind people, any demon can do a miracle. Spiritual warfare is not like Elijah and the prophets of Baal, where you are going to engage in some sort of conflict with demons. Elijah did that because God commanded him to do it. It wasn't a deliverance ministry. What is Matthew 7, 22 and 23? Pastor, I think I accidentally muted you. I apologize. Matthew 7, 22 and 23. That's right. Bishan? Yes, sir. Matthew 7, 22 and 23. and then Bami, 2 Thessalonians 2, 9 and 10. Pastor, my cursor went over you and accidentally clicked you, so you have to unmute yourself. I apologize. Matthew 27? Uh-huh. Let's see. Matthew 7, verse 22 and 23. Okay, sir. Matthew 7, verse 22 and 23 says, I didn't know that I was muted. Yeah, I did it by accident. I apologize. I was moving around on the document and it went over your name. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, Did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers. Any demon can do a miracle. Nothing big about that. 2 Thessalonians 2, 9 and 10. Who had that? Bammi? Okay, and then Bishan, you take Matthew 12, 38 and 39. Second Thessalonians 2, 9 and 10. The covenant of the lawless one is based on Satan's work, all kinds of possible miracles, signs and wonders, and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they do not accept the law of the truth, and so they Now, any demon can do signs and wonders. I see these things. Miracle crusade, signs and wonders. That doesn't mean that this is from God. Any demon can do a sign and wonder. Let's read 2 Thessalonians 2, 9 and 10. I'm sorry, Matthew 7, 22 and 23. I'm sorry, Bishan. Matthew 7, 22 and 23. Okay. Not everyone... Okay, 22. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, it will not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles. Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. away from me, you evildoers. And I want to revisit this. The miracles, prophecy, casting out demons. Any demon can do that, can't they? People say, why would a demon cast out demons? Why do Muslims blow each other up? Because John 10.10, the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy. That's Satan's modus operandi. They're violent, evil spirits. They hate everything. Well, let's look at Matthew 12, verse 38 and 39. Nishan, would you read that, please? Okay, sir. Matthew 12, 38 and 39. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you. But he answered them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Okay. Who goes to Miracle Crusades looking for signs and wonders? Who seeks for a sign, Bishan? What is it? Yeah, but why the hell does God characterize them? Okay, um Let's see this well I don't trust generation. Yeah, don't do that Look at John 16 14 if it's a Holy Spirit crusade What will be? the center of it John 1614 John 1614 John 1614 he will glorify me that's right who does the Holy Spirit want to talk about he will glorify me because he is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. Who does the Holy Spirit want to talk about? Jesus. The only crusade that we know of in Holy Scriptures is the Jesus crusade, not the signs and wonder crusade. And we have to warn those in our churches and ministries about this. What is the power of the Holy Spirit? Acts 1.8. Bami, would you read Acts 1.8? Bishan, you look at Revelation 22.17. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. Now wait a minute. What is the evidence of the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit? Witnesses. Witnessing. Witness. That's right. You will see power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and what will you do? Witness. Witness. Because who does the Holy Spirit want to glorify? Jesus Christ Jesus That's right Revelation 22 17 Revelation 22 17 The spirit and the bride say come and let the one who hears say come and let the one who is thirsty come let the one who desires take the water of life without price What is the Holy Spirit saying? Saying come to Jesus And what is the bride of Christ the church saying? Come to Jesus That's right What are these false spirits saying? Come see a miracle. Come see a spectacle. Come listen to what the demons have to say. Because that's what they do at these deliverance ministries, don't they? Come watch us and be entertained by poor, demonic, oppressed people. and we'll take your money as if it was a sideshow we have to remember that we will die Satan and his demons will not die Hebrews 9 27 says is it appointed for men to die once and after that comes judgment on the other hand Job 14 verse 5 pastor would you read that please Job 14 verse 5 Job 14 verse 5 Job 14 verse 5 says A person's days are determined. You have decreed the number of his months. and have set limits he cannot exceed. As we have an appointment to go to heaven, and we don't know when it is, but when God calls, we will go to heaven. What we can do is determine our testimony, our life, that we're living when we're called. But we cannot determine when we are called. We can go to heaven walking with God or we can go to heaven being killed because we're a drunk driver. We can go to heaven walking with God or we can go to heaven dying of AIDS. So what we want to do is make sure that our testimony is secure. But what happens is Christians look around and they see all these Christians are dying, aren't they? But Satan is still working. So we begin thinking, we're losing the battle, but we're not. Revelation 20.10. Pastor, would you read that again? Revelation 20.10. verse 10 Revelations 20 verse 10 Revelation 20 verse 10 says and the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. He will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Yes. That is his end. And we know that end, don't we? But it will seem like he's winning. But that's prophesied, isn't it? These two great witnesses, remember up here in Revelation 13? These great witnesses, they seem to be unstoppable, but they'll be killed. And the pagans will declare like a Christmas holiday because they've been killed. People will rejoice, they'll exchange gifts. Finally, we're no longer convicted of sin, we've gotten rid of these two witnesses. But they haven't gotten rid of Jesus. And Satan will be destroyed. On earth, Christians will come and go. It will seem like Satan and his demons have the upper hand. As if they are the constant and we the Christians are the variable. and that is why god has given us the holy scriptures so that we know that we are victorious even if god allows satan to kill us we win don't we? because that's the objective to go to heaven so what spiritual warfare is not It is not interacting with demons. It is not a victory whereby we never die and Satan instead dies. Because that's not going to happen. That's not going to happen. Spiritual warfare is not one of the spiritual gifts, is it? So I say, well, I have the gift of deliverance, or I have the gift of this. No, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness. And then we have lists of spiritual gifts. But nowhere in the list of spiritual gifts does it say spiritual warfare. It is not a ministry or calling. There is nowhere in the Holy Scripture that people are called to the deliverance ministry. That's my calling. That's my gift. Because it's not there. Look at 1 Corinthians, if you will. 1 Corinthians 12. Verse 27 through 27 and 28. Pastor, you read that. 27. Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Ah, now notice that last verse. Does it say, and of the angelic tongue? No. No, it says different kinds of tongues. So are we supposed to suppose that in heaven there are all these angels and the seraphim speak one language and Michael speaks one and Gabriel speaks a different... No, no. He's talking about human tongues. But is demonic deliverance one of the gifts? Is it one of the fruits of the spirit? No, it's something we do if we are confronted with that. But these people who make a full-time living and become rich off of it, are the deceived leading the deceived. So, where we have looked at this week in the application of spiritual warfare, we first looked at what it is not. Next week, we're going to look at what it is. We'll probably spend two weeks on that. And then we will go on to other applications in terms of the disciplines of discipleship. But I hope that helps you. I have a PowerPoint show I may show it to you next week. It's entitled, Where's Jesus? and it's all of these posters and all of these giant bulletin boards and all these signs and they all talk about signs and wonders and chains and deliverance and power and fire and they have pictures of rich men and women on there covered in gold and jewelry and A man with expensive diamond rings? And I just have one question. If this is a Holy Spirit crusade, where's Jesus? He's not even mentioned. John 16, 14. He will glorify me. Acts 1, 8. You shall receive power and the Holy Spirit will come upon you. Revelation 2217, the spirit and the bride say come. Does someone claim to be a spirit filled person? Then he's calling people to Jesus. Does he claim to have a spirit led ministry? He's calling people to Jesus. Is it a spirit crusade? He's calling people to Jesus. Is it a spirit-filled church? It's full of people calling people to Jesus. Are they being led by the Spirit? They're being led to call people to Jesus. Are they walking in the Spirit? They're doing what the Holy Spirit does, calling people to Jesus. Are they quenching the Spirit? They're refusing to witness. So I hope this is helpful. Don't be deceived. Don't be deceived. They look like they're winning. They look like they have all the power and all the money. Everybody is flocking to them. That was all prophesied. We are going to die and go to heaven. God's church will remain on the earth. until Jesus returns and places Satan and all of his demons in hell. So it's not about us. It's about the Holy Spirit. It's about the church, the body of Christ. It's about the believers. It's about witnessing discipleship and disciple making. Stand firm. Don't worry, guys. Things are not spinning out of control, okay? And we have to remember it's going to look like it. When those two witnesses are killed, people are going to say, wow, they were the two most powerful prophets in terms of miracles ever to live, and Satan defeated them. I guess Satan is winning. Is he? No, he's not. So don't worry. Don't worry. God has already told us these things will happen. And Satan wants to deceive us into thinking miracle warfare is spiritual warfare. And it's not. Leading people to Christ is spiritual warfare. And we'll see that next week. May God add His blessing on His Holy Word. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.