Last night I had a dream. In my dream I was on a train and there was a very evil person hiding on this train who was targeting people both on and off the train to shoot them with a very advanced crossbow. ……….Okay know what you are thinking. Pastor Jon what did you watch on TV yesterday. I can assure you that I did not watch any spy movies or action films last night before I went to bed but that is not to say that I have not enjoyed a few action filled spy movies in my day. What I will tell you is that at the end of this dream the Lord put this scripture into my mind and it is what I believe the Lord wants us to talk about today: The scripture is founding in:
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
***I believe the majority of you here have hear this scripture before and perhaps have even memorized it. But there are others of you who may not be familiar with this passage of scripture and God cares so much about you that he wants you to be fully equipped to live a victorious Christian life and be effective for Christ and the Kingdom of God.
*** I also believe that there are believers in here that know this scripture even by heart who need to be revived to the understanding of the power and position that God has placed you in his kingdom.
Lets go back to the beginning of this passage and read it in context:
2 Corinthians 10:1-8
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
***The first point I want to bring out to you in this passage of Scripture is found in verse #1: The gifts of the spirit are to be operated using the fruit of the spirit.
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ……
Paul starts of this passage by saying everything I am about to tell you I bring in the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
As I was preparing the message this morning the Lord put it on my heart to expand on this topic and give you some key verses to underline in your bible for reference regarding the Spiritual Gift and the Fruit of the Spirit
****As a reminder lets go look at the list of the Gifts of the Spirit. We will find these summarized very neatly in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians
1 Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another (Gift of faith) by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another (Gift of prophecy); to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
***Summary of the Nine Gifts of the Spirit:
- Word of Wisdom
- Word of Knowledge
- Gift of Faith
- Gifts of Healing
- Working of Miracles
- Gift of Prophecy
- Discerning of Spirits
- Divers kinds of Tongues
- Interpretation of Tongues
***Do not miss verse #7 here 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal…….What is Paul saying here? Paul is confirming here the manifestation of the infilling of the Holy Spirit is speaking in Tongues and it is profitable to the person who entering into the gift.
1 Corinthians 14
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Jude 17-23
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
***Summary of the Nine Gifts of the Spirit:
- Word of Wisdom
- Word of Knowledge
- Gift of Faith
- Gifts of Healing
- Working of Miracles
- Gift of Prophecy
- Discerning of Spirits
- Divers kinds of Tongues
- Interpretation of Tongues
***Now lets look at the 9 Fruit of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
***Summary of the Nine Fruit of the Spirit:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Longsuffering
- Gentleness
- Goodness
- Faith
- Meekness
- Temperance
James actually expands and contrast the fruit of the spirit with the fruit of this world in James 3:13-18.
James 3:13-18
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
***I was convicted by the Holy Spirit this morning that last week in a my message a point I made was done with a sprinkle of bitterness and a dash of strife. It felt good to my flesh to drive a point home but I was not using the gift of the spirit with the fruit of the spirit.
Jesus said Matthew 6:22-23
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Lord forgive me for allowing a part of darkness to come into my words. Now let’s go back to our key passage of scripture:
2 Corinthians 10:1-8
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
***The first point I want to bring out to you in this passage of Scripture is found in verse #1: The gifts of the spirit are to be operated using the fruit of the spirit.
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
***The 2nd point of the message today: We live in the physical realm but our battles and victories are in the spiritual realm.
Ephesians 6:10-13
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: The outcome of your spiritual battles will determine physical victories.
Matthew 16:15-19
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
John 16:32-33 (Jesus is in the Garden talking to his disciples before his betrayl)
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: The outcome of your spiritual battles will determine physical victories.
***Any professional sports person will tell you that the game is won or lost in the mind. The outcome is much more mental than physical.
**Back to key verse**
2 Corinthians 10:4-8
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
***The 4th and Closing Point of the Message today: God has given you the authority in the name of Jesus over the imaginations and thoughts of your mind.
I want you to see this clearly this morning:
- There is a war
- The struggle is real
- The weapons we have are not natural, they are not of this earth. The weapons we have are spiritual.
- The weapons we have are our words. Our tongue,
- Your powers are weak without the Holy Spirit
- That is why God gave you the Holy Spirit and the edification of speaking in tongues.
- You have to engage in battle if you are going to be victorious.
- Your weapons are going to fail unless they are through God and bring things into the obedience of Christ.
- Your weapons, your words with philosophy of men will fail you everytime.
***The first point I want to bring out to you in this passage of Scripture is found in verse #1: The gifts of the spirit are to be operated using the fruit of the spirit.
***The 2nd point of the message today: We live in the physical realm but our battles and victories are in the spiritual realm.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: The outcome of your spiritual battles will determine physical victories.
***The 4th and Closing Point of the Message today: God has given you the authority in the name of Jesus over the imaginations and thoughts of your mind.