God With Us #4: Immanuel: Glory & Peace

Luke 2:11-14

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 & Matthew 1:23), “God with us”...

• He came on a day - a real day, in real history.

• He came in a city - in the real world.

• He is our Savior - takes away all of our guilt.

• He is the Christ - fulfills all of our hopes.

• He is the Lord - defeats all of our enemies.

This is the Gospel, the Good News.

Two Great purposes of this Good News:

1. God’s Glory


2. Our Peace


• Peace with God
 


Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...
Romans 5:1


• Peace with Ourselves
 


Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7


• Peace with Others
 


If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18



Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32

God With Us #3: The Presence of Christmas

Matthew 1:18-25

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

1. Provision

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

2. Power

God With Us #2: He Is

Revelation 1:5-8

5 He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6 He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven.
    And everyone will see him—
    even those who pierced him.
And all the nations of the world
    will mourn for him.
Yes! Amen!

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

1. He Was

2. He Is

3. He Is To Come

“If you don’t like being around God’s people, heaven may not be the place for you.”

“What HE did for you, is greater than that they did to you!”

God With Us #1: God Is With Us

Luke 1:26-38

1. God has a plan for the World and You

- 1 Corinthians 2:9

- Galatians 4:4-5

- John 3:16

2. Don't try to figure it all out

- Proverbs 3:5-6

3. Trust in the God of the Impossible

- Mark 5:36

4. Say yes to his word

- 2 Corinthians 1:20

-1 John 3:8

Taking Ground #8: The Task of the Witness

Point 1: What is Missions?

Point 2: The First Missionary

Genesis 5:18-24

The most clear example of an Old Testament prophet missionary in the Bible: Jonah.

Enoch was the first prophet in the history of mankind. Interesting facts about Enoch: one of only two people to not experience death. One day he just disappeared because God took him. 7th generation from Adam, in the line of Seth. Seth’s line were believers, righteous and faithful to God, the Messianic line. (Lamech would have been the 7th in Cain’s line…representing completion of sin and evil in the world)

Enoch’s son’s name, Methuselah, means: When I die, it shall be sent.

The task given to Enoch was to be a witness.

What makes a successful missionary in the eyes of God? One who obeys. No one came to God from Enoch’s ministry, that we know of. If they did, it didn’t last 2 generations, because Noah was the only one on the ark.

Jude 1:14-15

Point 3: What is our Task?

Mark 16:15-18 The Great Commission

Are you a successful missionary in the eyes of God? Are you obeying?

Taking Ground #7: Testimony Weekend

Testimony Stories:

1. Katie Bragg - a story of salvation and hope

2. Jasmine Salazar - a story of salvation & deliverance

3. Charlie Salazar - a story of deliverance & holy spirit baptism

4. Chelsea Dubois - a story of financial deliverance & hope

5. Eric Sterner - a story of healing and provision

6. Lindsay Yealy - a story of deliverance and Holy Spirit Baptism

7. Kimberly & Bubba Grimm - a story of healing and praying miracles

8. Natali Ramirez - a story of salvation and healing

9. Abbie Thompkins - a story of surrender and healing

Revelation 12:10 calls Satan “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night.” The context of the verse describes a cosmic battle Satan and heaven, where the believers are victorious in the end. 

Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

I’ve been saying it this whole series, but THIS is how we TAKE GROUND.  We pray, and we preach.  We tell our stories.  We become witnesses to what WE have seen and heard and experienced from God, first-hand!  

He is the HEALER.  The PROVIDER.  The DELIVERER.  The COMFORTER.  Do we have NO part to play in it?  No, of course not.  But when we’re faithful, He is FAITHFUL! 

Today, the response for each of us is to start praying! Come get prayer from other people who have amazing testimonies…ask one of us pastors for prayer on your way out…fill out a connection card and let us pray that way, or just start asking God at home for a breakthrough!

He does hear our prayers.  He is a miracle-working God. 

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Do you have a testimony to share and encourage others with? Tell us here!

Taking Ground #6: The Helper

Acts 1:1-5
”In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus said you need the baptism in the Holy Spirit! It’s a gift!

• Think differently

• Act differently

• Speak differently

Acts 1:6-8
”So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

It gives you power to testify about Jesus.

“9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Vs. 11. Why are you standing here?

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Baptism in the Holy Spirit - Power for Ministry

Introduction

John, the forerunner of Jesus, says in all four Gospels that he is baptizing in water, but when the Messiah comes, He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

>>Matthew 3:11 >> Mark 1:8 >>Luke 3:16 >>John 1:33

Jesus

On several occasions, Jesus talks to His disciples about the Helper - the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit - that will come in His place after His death, resurrection, and ascension. The plan of Jesus was to multiply Himself and send out the disciples on the same mission. The Greek word for Helper, parakletos, means “someone that assists in stirring up an army.”

>>Luke 24:49 >>John 15:26, 16:13-15 >>Acts 1:5, 8

Baptism in the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts

Jesus wants to totally cover us with His Spirit. In the same way, a person is covered by water at the time of baptism in water. This is what it means to become baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is possible to go to heaven just by faith in Jesus, but it is impossible to serve Him fully here on earth without being clothed with power from on high. The Book of Acts describes six occasions where people were baptized in, or filled with, the Holy Spirit mostly in connection to repentance and baptism in water.

>>Jerusalem, Acts 2:1-18, Acts 4:31 >>Samaria, Acts 8:14-21 >>Damascus, Acts 9:17
>>Caesarea, Acts 10:44-46 >>Ephesus Acts 19:6-7

Practical Questions

Let’s study examples of baptism in the Holy Spirit from the Book of Acts

• When did the baptism in the Holy Spirit take place in the first church?

  • Immediately in connection to repentance and water baptism (Acts 19:5-6)

  • In response to eager and persevering prayer (Acts 2:1-4, 4:31, 8:14-16

  • In connection to preaching the Word (Acts 10:43-46

  • Through the apostle’s hands, a transmission of power (Acts 8:17, 9:17-18)

• What was the experience like?

  • In the Book of Acts, no baptism in the Holy Spirit is like another. The Holy Spirit is sovereign!

  • Everyone has an experience, but it is individual and unique for each one of the disciples.

Speaking in Tongues:

The gift of speaking in tongues is written in plural in the original text. There are at least 3 ways of speaking in tongues—one for personal edification and two prophetic purposes.

• Does everyone speak in tongues when they are baptized in the Holy Spirit?

  • Most of the time, this specific spiritual gift was released at the time of baptism in the Holy Spirit. In Acts 19, the disciples were prophesying as well. My experience is that 99% of people start speaking in tongues.

  • You cannot speak in tongues without being baptized in the Holy Spirit, but it is possible to be baptized int he Holy Spirit without having started to speak in tongues yet. If you have no started speaking in tongues, or are unsure if you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, simply ask God for this gift, receive it in faith, and begin to speak!

• Can everyone speak in tongues?

  • Yes, everyone can speak the type of tongues for personal edification (Mark 16:17).

  • Not everyone speaks in prophetic tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30).

• Why should someone speak in tongues?

  • It builds up our spiritual life and makes us strong in faith (1 Corinthians 14:2,4,18).

  • It helps us in prayer when we do not know how to pray (Romans 8:26, Jude 20).

• Advice when using the gift of speaking in tongues

  • Speak in tongues often (1 Corinthians 14:18, 39-40)

  • Pray that you will get the gift of interpretation, so that you can build up others (1 Corinthians 14:5, 12-13, 19, 26)

ASK, RECEIVE, AND SPEAK!

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Do you have a testimony to share and encourage others with? Tell us here!

Taking Ground #5: Fishers of Men

Stages of Faith
Unbelievers
Believers
Disciples
Servant-Leaders
Reproducers

Luke 5:1-11

1. Find Jesus

• He allowed them to observe.

• He met a need.

• He came into their life first.

• He challenged them to more.

2. Move Forward

3. Do Something...You Need A Helper

Do you have a testimony to share and encourage others with? Tell us here!

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Baptism in the Holy Spirit - Power for Ministry

Introduction

John, the forerunner of Jesus, says in all four Gospels that he is baptizing in water, but when the Messiah comes, He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

>>Matthew 3:11 >> Mark 1:8 >>Luke 3:16 >>John 1:33

Jesus

On several occasions, Jesus talks to His disciples about the Helper - the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit - that will come in His place after His death, resurrection, and ascension. The plan of Jesus was to multiply Himself and send out the disciples on the same mission. The Greek word for Helper, parakletos, means “someone that assists in stirring up an army.”

>>Luke 24:49 >>John 15:26, 16:13-15 >>Acts 1:5, 8

Baptism in the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts

Jesus wants to totally cover us with His Spirit. In the same way, a person is covered by water at the time of baptism in water. This is what it means to become baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is possible to go to heaven just by faith in Jesus, but it is impossible to serve Him fully here on earth without being clothed with power from on high. The Book of Acts describes six occasions where people were baptized in, or filled with, the Holy Spirit mostly in connection to repentance and baptism in water.

>>Jerusalem, Acts 2:1-18, Acts 4:31 >>Samaria, Acts 8:14-21 >>Damascus, Acts 9:17
>>Caesarea, Acts 10:44-46 >>Ephesus Acts 19:6-7

Practical Questions

Let’s study examples of baptism in the Holy Spirit from the Book of Acts

• When did the baptism in the Holy Spirit take place in the first church?

  • Immediately in connection to repentance and water baptism (Acts 19:5-6)

  • In response to eager and persevering prayer (Acts 2:1-4, 4:31, 8:14-16

  • In connection to preaching the Word (Acts 10:43-46

  • Through the apostle’s hands, a transmission of power (Acts 8:17, 9:17-18)

• What was the experience like?

  • In the Book of Acts, no baptism in the Holy Spirit is like another. The Holy Spirit is sovereign!

  • Everyone has an experience, but it is individual and unique for each one of the disciples.

Speaking in Tongues:

The gift of speaking in tongues is written in plural in the original text. There are at least 3 ways of speaking in tongues—one for personal edification and two prophetic purposes.

• Does everyone speak in tongues when they are baptized in the Holy Spirit?

  • Most of the time, this specific spiritual gift was released at the time of baptism in the Holy Spirit. In Acts 19, the disciples were prophesying as well. My experience is that 99% of people start speaking in tongues.

  • You cannot speak in tongues without being baptized in the Holy Spirit, but it is possible to be baptized int he Holy Spirit without having started to speak in tongues yet. If you have no started speaking in tongues, or are unsure if you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, simply ask God for this gift, receive it in faith, and begin to speak!

• Can everyone speak in tongues?

  • Yes, everyone can speak the type of tongues for personal edification (Mark 16:17).

  • Not everyone speaks in prophetic tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30).

• Why should someone speak in tongues?

  • It builds up our spiritual life and makes us strong in faith (1 Corinthians 14:2,4,18).

  • It helps us in prayer when we do not know how to pray (Romans 8:26, Jude 20).

• Advice when using the gift of speaking in tongues

  • Speak in tongues often (1 Corinthians 14:18, 39-40)

  • Pray that you will get the gift of interpretation, so that you can build up others (1 Corinthians 14:5, 12-13, 19, 26)

ASK, RECEIVE, AND SPEAK!

Taking Ground #4: The Game Plan with Pastor Jason Boll

John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

3 Roles of the Game Plan:
1. Prepare Yourself

1 Samuel 17:39-40...“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

2. Encourage Yourself!

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

1 Samuel 30:6 Further, David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all of them were embittered, each man for his sons and daughters. But David felt strengthened and encouraged in the LORD his God.

John 16:33- “...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

3. Plant Yourself.

1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Proverbs 27:17 - As Iron Sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another!

Taking Ground #3: What's Your Reason?

Luke 15:1-7

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Let everything you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

1 Peter 3:15

What's your reason?

3 Testimony Questions:
Who were you before Jesus?
What made you decide to give your life to Him?
How has life changed since Jesus?

John 4:1-10

It's a gift.

Taking Ground #2: The Praying Church

1.Personal Prayer:

1. Acts 9:9-16 Saul - Paul

2. Acts 10:2,4,9 Peter rooftop - Acts 11:5

3. Acts 22:17-21 Paul receiving his calling, further

Jesus was a man of prayer.

• Matthew 4:1-2 - led into the wilderness to pray and fast and be tempted

• Luke 5:16 - “jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer”

• Luke 6:12 - “went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night”

• Mark 9:29 - “this kind can only be cast out by prayer”

• Matthew 26:39 - “if possible, let this cup be taken from me”

• Luke 23:34, 46 - “father, forgive them, for they know not what they’re doing”

  • His last words were a prayer…”Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”

Matthew 6:5-15

My Takeaway: I Don’t Pray Enough

2. Common (Constant) Prayer:

• Acts 1:14 upper room prayer “all met together and were constantly united in prayer”

• Acts 2:42 “all the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the lord’s supper), and to prayer”

• Acts 3:1 “Peter and John went to the temple one afternoon to take part in the 3:00 prayer service”

• Acts 12:5,12 Peter in prison, “the church prayed very earnestly for him”, “where many were gathered for prayer”

• Acts 20:36 Paul “knelt and prayed with them”

• Acts 21:5 “the entire congregation…left the city and came down to the shore with us…there we knelt and prayed…”

• Acts 4:24-31 “give us great boldness in preaching…stretch out your hand with healing power…signs and wonders”

Acts 4:23-31

My Takeaway: My Prayers Need To Change. I need to pray for boldness, signs, & wonders.

3. Sanctifying Prayer:

• Acts 1:24-25, “24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.”

• Acts 6:6, Food program delegation, “6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.”

• Acts 13:1-3, Appointing Paul & Barnabus, “3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.”

• Acts 14:23, “Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” They’re still organizing and setting up leadership

My Takeaway: We Need More Partners In Ministry.

4. Worship and thanksgiving:

• Acts 16:25, earthquake, Paul & Silas prison story, “25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.”

• Acts 27:35, Paul’s shipwreck story, “35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.”

My Takeaway: I Don’t Worship Enough.

To join the intercessor’s team, text “Intercessor Team” and your full name to 717-321-0932.

Taking Ground #1: We Are His Army

Matthew 16:18-19

3 Spheres of Existence Biblically:
our sphere
demonic/angelic sphere
God’s sphere.

There are some that believe the church is a like a cruise ship…
Do I like the music they play in the ball room?
Do I like the captain and crew?Is the service good?
Are my needs met?
Is my cruise pleasant?
Is it comfortable?

When the better metaphor is made with a battle ship…
Is the ship on a clear and noble mission?
Does the captain submit to a higher authority?
Are crew members equipped to succeed?
Are they able to contribute in significant ways?
Are they honored for their efforts?

Ephesians 2:1-12

I used to be an outsider.

Ephesians 2:13-19

Now I am united.

• Secrecy

  • James 5:16, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

  • You’re always going to be a sick as your secrets. 

  • You don’t have to tell everybody, but you have to tell somebody.

  • Outsiders keep secrets from each other…but we’re now united.

• Stubbornness

  • Proverbs 29:1, “Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.”

  • Psalm 81:11-12 ESV, “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.

  • Romans 2:5 ESV, “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed”.

  • Outsiders are stubborn. A unified church is humble and teachable.

• Selfishness

  •  Being here, but not contributing. The whole body suffers if we’re not ALL using our gifts and talents to serve each other.

Ephesians 2:20-22

We are His House.

Pray & Preach

If you’re interested in the Intercessor Team, text “Intercessor Team” and your Full Name to 717-321-0932

Suit Up #8: Q&A

Q&A Submitted Questions

1. Can you explain what a secret place is and how it can be used with deliverance?

2. Can Christian’s have demons in them?

3. Can you cast demons out of yourself alone?

4. Has Aaron ever done a deliverance on someone or encountered someone that was clearly demon possessed?

5. Why do people say 3am is the devils hour? Is there truth to that? What other superstitions have truth behind them?

6. What are the best verses to say out loud when struggling with spirits at night?

7. What is a soul tie? How do you get them, how do you get rid of them, and can they be Godly?

8. Is pride fleshly or spiritual? If it’s both How do you tell the difference

9. Is it scary to see people who are demon possessed?

10. I am saved but my husband is not. Should I still anoint my house? Will it even work?

11. My family member does witchcraft. Should I let her in my house?

12. Should all Christians be healing the sick and casting out demons? or is it just for the people god calls to it?

13. Is lgbtqa+ fleshly desire or spiritual attack? Or both?

14. How is yoga demonic? Can I do it just for exercise if I’m not doing the chants?

15. Can you describe more of what a religious spirit is?

16. Aaron - what is your experience with the spiritual realm? Do you have any other run ins with spirits other than what Candace mentioned?

17. In the Bible Jesus casts legion of demons out of the person and into pigs. If they can enter pigs can they enter our pets? Can they enter children? How would you know if your child (or pets haha) needs demons casted out?

18. Why and how is praying in tongues an effective weapon against evil spirits?

19. What are the most common spirits or manifestations you run into during deliverance? Why do you think they are more common

20. Are levitation and astral projection real? Have you ever seen or experienced this during a deliverance or in general

    • Article on Out-Of-Body Experiences

21. How can a Christian with the Holy Spirit also have a demon in them?

22. What exactly happens during a deliverance? Is it painful? Comparatively speaking to the exorcist movies

23. What are some good biblically accurate resources to learn more about deliverance, types of spirits, etc

24. Are things like yoga and dream catchers as bad as crystals and tarot cards

25. What is an open door? What are some examples

    • What are some ways demons can enter?

26. How does someone know if they need deliverance? Vs. just a change I need to make.

    • How you know if you have a demon?

27. What are the characteristics of the jezebel spirit? Do demons have ranks? What are some signs that I may be affected by this spirit?

28. Have there been any attacks on the church during this series? Situations, people, etc

29. What do demons look like to the people who can see them?

30. When a deliverance is taking place and is successful, where do the demons go? Do they have to go into something else? There's other people there, do they try to enter one of them?

31. Do you need to fast before a deliverance?

32. Can your cultural upbringing/ background come into play in regards to deliverance?

33. If we know someone who may be getting attacked demonically should I attempt to take it out of them?

34. Is mental illness (depression, bipolar, etc) a curse passed down, if so, how do we fight it? Especially if you’re on medication for it.

35. ​​What is intercessory prayer?

36. Can you open yourself up to a demon, or allow one in, by thinking or talking about the topic in general?

Suit Up #7: The Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:13-17

1. Know it.

Hebrews 4:12

2. Practice it.

1 Corinthians 13:1-2

1 Corinthians 13:8-10

2 Timothy 3:16-17

James 5:13-14

James 5:16

3. Live it.

Suit Up Q&A

On the last week of our Suit Up sermon series, October 2nd, we’re going to have a panel of people with lots of experience with the supernatural world answering YOUR questions! You can submit them here anonymously (unless you’d like a personal answer from a pastor, then please also include your email address).

Suit Up #6: The Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:13-17
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. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

As a general term in theological use, assurance refers to a believer's confidence in God, God's response to prayer, and the hope of eternal salvation.

Matthew 10:28
10 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell

Romans 6:10
6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 8:1-2
8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

1.Renew our minds.

Romans 12:1–2
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2 Corinthians 3:13-15
13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

2.Reject doubts that arise from circumstances.

1 Peter 1:8–9
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

Ephesians 3:20
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

3.Keep an eternal perspective.

Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

4.Remember that victory is already accomplished.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

5.Find all our hope in Him.

Psalm 73:25
Whom have I in heaven but You? Besides you, I desire nothing on earth.

Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Philippians 4:8
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Suit Up Q&A

On the last week of our Suit Up sermon series, October 2nd, we’re going to have a panel of people with lots of experience with the supernatural world answering YOUR questions! You can submit them here anonymously (unless you’d like a personal answer from a pastor, then please also include your email address).

Suit Up #5: The Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:14-16

A shield moves to the area of attack.

Faith doesn’t stop them from firing arrows at you. 
Faith just stops the arrows from killing you. 

Faith is: belief that causes action

1. Eve - in Genesis 3 (mental attack)

2. Job - in Job 1:6-12 (physical attack)

   1. FORGIVENESS

   2. HUMILITY

3. Jesus - Matthew 4:1-11 (mental attack)

   1. KNOWING THE WORD

   2. FASTING

4. Peter - Luke 22:31-32 (mental attack)

   1. REPENTANCE 

   2. PRAYER

Suit Up Q&A

On the last week of our Suit Up sermon series, October 2nd, we’re going to have a panel of people with lots of experience with the supernatural world answering YOUR questions! You can submit them here anonymously (unless you’d like a personal answer from a pastor, then please also include your email address).

Suit Up #4: The Shoes of Peace

Ephesians 6:13-15

1. God gives peace...

Isaiah 32:17-18

Philippians 4:6-7

2. But we maintain it.

Ezekiel 13:18, 20-21 NIV

Revelation 21:11, 18-19

1. We live like HE is our provider.

2. We are properly practicing Sabbath rest.

3. We are properly dealing with conflict.

4. We are spreading the GOOD news.

Suit Up Q&A

On the last week of our Suit Up sermon series, October 2nd, we’re going to have a panel of people with lots of experience with the supernatural world answering YOUR questions! You can submit them here anonymously (unless you’d like a personal answer from a pastor, then please also include your email address).

Suit Up #3: The Body Armor of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:11-14

Google defines righteousness as: “the quality of being morally right or justifiable.”

Bible Definition: acting in accord with divine moral law : free from guilt or sin.

DIVINE law.  Meaning YOU don’t define what is morally right…GOD does. 
We go to HIM for our information of how to live our lives, because He is the AUTHOR of life!

Psalm 34:19-22

1. God redeems us.

2. We must participate in our own redemption (but maybe not in the way you’d think!).

1 Corinthians 10:13

2 Corinthians 2:11

Proverbs 4:20-27

Suit Up #2: The Belt of Truth

We are all in a war facing an invisible adversary who is aggressively attempting to inhibit us from experiencing life as God intended for us. Most believers don’t even know they’re in it.

Ephesians 6:11-18

1. Put it on

God supplies, we apply. 

2. Put on the full armor

Not some of it, all of it. Wherever you’re unclothed, you’re uncovered.

So the enemy isn’t looking for you to everything on, he’s just looking for the one place, you’re uncovered.

Genesis 3:1-7

John 8:31-32

If you don’t have truth–none of the other weapons work. Prayer is a weapon, praise is a weapon, binding & loosing is a weapon, but if you don’t know the truth about those things–it won’t work.  This is why the devil does want to keep you out of the house of truth.  

Stay rooted in truth with: The Word

You can’t know what God WOULD say, if you don’t know what He HAS said.

Stay rooted in truth with: Discernment from the Holy Spirit

“Discernment isn’t knowing the difference between right and wrong. Discernment is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” -Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 18:15-17, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

Exodus 12:12, “On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!”

Matthew 4:1-11

Suit Up #1: The Supernatural World

We’ve got to master spiritual warfare.

You may not be fighting [Satan], but he’s fighting you!

Just because ALL of it isn’t the devil, doesn’t mean SOME of it isn’t the devil. This is why we need discernment.

1.Evil often looks like good. We need God to help us discern which is which.

Ezekiel 28:12-16

John 10:10

Satan has 3 objectives, and ONLY 3.  To KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY.    He is a thief!  He wanted to steal God’s throne, and because he can’t, he wants to steal God’s prized possessions, created in His image, instead. 

Ephesians 6:12

2. The supernatural world is real and complex.

1 Samuel 28:4-19

Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Daniel 10:12-14

Isaiah 6 (Isaiah 6:1-7) describes “seraphim” which have 6 wings, two coverings their faces…two covering their feet, and two that they flew with. 

Genesis 3:23, 24 describe cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden.

Revelation 10:1-3 describes a mighty angel coming down from heaven who is clothed in a cloud, rainbow above his head, face like the sun, and legs like fiery pillars. He roared like a lion and stood with one foot on the sea and one on land.

Colossians 1:15-16

Jude 1:9

3.There are guidelines–God-appointed guidelines of dealing with the supernatural world.

Acts 19:13-16

4. There is hope!

• Repentance.

• Forgiveness.

• Obedience.

JESUS is your hope!

2 Timothy 2:25-26