Equipping The Church

Weaponizing the Church

• Matthews 11:12 – From the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.
• God is speaking to Israel, thus speaking to us (Romans 11 and Ephesians 2:14-15) – Jeremiah 51:20– “You are my battle-ax and sword,” says the LORD. “With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms (of this world);
• Acts 1:8 – the Apostles were to wait until they received that power
• Under the new covenant, God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh – Acts 2:17-18 – last days – New dispensation of the Holy Spirit – Lester Sumrall

Ephesians 6: – ¹⁰A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

• God gave us mighty weapons – 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
• We must learn how to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit
• The Beatitudes “humility” and “meekness” – Meek doesn’t mean weak in Greek – Bibleman
• The gifts of 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 are the weapons of the Church – they are referred to as sign gifts (God’s calling card)
• 1 Peter 4:10-11 – As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
• Worship is our main weapon
• All starts with worship and prayer – Judah goes first – Judges 20:18 – Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The Lord said, “Judah first!”
• The meaning of Judah (Yehudah) is “God is praised/celebrated.”  Worship originates with praise.
• When Israel was in the battle, God told them to put Judah first. Judah means praise.

Worship drives away the enemy

• 1 Samuel 16:23 – And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
• Psalms 22:3 – Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
• His manifest glory – Shekinah – There’s God’s presence and then there’s His Shekinah!
• We are called to walk in and display God’s glory 2 Corinthians 3:18 – Walk in His image – Genesis 1:26

Must be activated

• James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
• 2 Timothy 2:4 – No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.