TESTIMONY DYNAMITE 3
Theme: Testimony Dynamite
Topic: Rattle the cage of the spirit of the age
This is based on Acts 1:8 which reads "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”
The English word power here is from the Greek DUNAMIS (from which we also get dynamite in English).
This dynamite power is specifically for the purpose of testifying: being witnesses.
God is love so this Holy Spirit power is loving power. In these last days the love fo many will wax cold however, many does not mean all! and ANY of us can engage with the loving FIRE of the Holy Spirit moment by moment. A fire that many waters cannot quench and can melt mountains of cold-hearted heartedness like wax.
Revelation 12:11 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 want you to have my problem! When I come to share my testimony, it can be hard at times… Which one do I share?! The Lord has done so much!
M.A.G.H.A.N
ROMANS 1:18-32 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE
Zeitgeist. “Time Spirit” - The spirit of the time/age
Each “age” so to speak has a certain force that seems to push it along in a certain direction.
In the 1700s -1800s we had the revolution movements for example. In a world more disconnected than people today could ever imagine, all over the places similarly themed revolutions exploded!
American Revolution (1776–1783)
French Revolution (1789–1799)
Haitian Revolution (1791–1804)
United Irishmen's Rebellion (1798)
Serbian Revolution (1804–1835)
Latin American Wars of Independence (1808–1833)
Greek War of Independence (1821–1832)
Belgian Revolution (1830)
More recent “Zeitgeist” Changes: Homosexuality, Transgenderism, Anti-Manly movement, Marxism,
"The spirit of the antichirst is already in the world”
“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities...”
Jesus Said "The World Hates you because it hate me first.”
There are Ideas today that MANY CHRISTIANS hold, that they think are biblical, but they aren’t actually biblical. How did we get here?
- Megachurches are not OK, Small churches are prefect?
- Jesus was a Socialist
- Money is the root of all evil.
- God will not give you more than you can handle.
- God helps those who help themselves.
- Dodging taxes is “OK”
- “Separation of church and state”
- “Living together before marriage is ok”
And then we have this ZINGER that represent WOKE Christianity very well:
"As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice.”
-AH
Auntie Glenda and her atheist post.
More and more people post things atheists say the church should do better. Wtflip
The Zeitgeist has come so far that this wouldn’t even make sense to someone.
Hebrews 12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten
RATTLE THE CAGE!
Acts 17:4-6 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too."
Romans 12:12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
God band PJ
Matthew 18:19 Symponeo
Pray in the spirit at all times Ephesians 6:18 pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Living Christ-like.
“Turn the other cheek” etc are things that we often know as christians. But do we think of it as spiritual warfare? Because it is. Every day, when we are obedient to Christ and His ways, we’re engaging in true spiritual warfare.
As a married man for example I engage in spiritual warfare. No, no, no, I don’t go looking for temptation to overcome. I just know temptation WILL come. So I prepare myself. I see what the Word says about the relationship between men and women, about lust, about where we put our eyes, about temptation, about the heart being deceitful. And I take action through my renewed mind. This has become easy for me. Part of why this is easy for me, is I started BEFORE I was married. I realized how flawed I was as a man. Jesus says that to look upon a woman with lust is the same as adultery. I took that to heart. I began to make serious changes around the age of 18. I chose what you might call the Mike pence road. With the exception of family, I avoid one on one time with any woman. I chose not to engage in text messaging with women apart from practical purposes. Some would call me old-fashioned. Some would call me a prude. My wife calls me faithful, trustworthy, and true. You can talk to mags about our texting when we first met. I know it annoyed her. We were clearly attracted to each other but I wasn’t going there, and I didn’t text like other dudes did. I kept it limited. I kept it distant. This actually worked into something quite cool when 4 years later God told me to go there with Maghan. When I was getting ready to ask her out, Maghan already knew I was going to ask her out. Why? because I had started texting her much more, and in a much more friendly way. The change was clear and palpable for her. I’m saying this for you to consider how closed I was being over text messaging, and really in every area of my life, so that such a small thing would send such a clear message. In the world of #metoo and moral relativism. It’s called being above reproach. It’s Spiritual Warfare. Dudes. Are you closest friends girls? Yes? Lay that at the feet of Jesus. I believe you need some Godly men around you. Women, are your closest friends guys? Yes? Lay that at the feet of Jesus. I believe you need some Godly women around you.
THE LORD REBUKE YOU!
Here’s some practical information for rattling the cage
Ephesians 6:12 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.
When you get pulled over for your tail light being out, you’re probably not being attacked by the powers of darkness. When you get food poisoning and HFAM Disease in the same week, you might be.
Revelation 12:11 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.
Demon experience.
We’ve been at events where people railed at satan. We’ve been at gatherings where people say all kinds of out of line things about political figures. WHAT DOES the Bible SAY?
Enoch Fuzz: Sharing his “Everyones doing stuff for unity, and everyone’s praying for political leaders. But they don’t know how to pray"
HOW TO: THE LORD REBUKE YOU
Jude 1:8-10 8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
2 Peter 2:10-1110 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.
WHY? Aposolic Delegation. The ONLY Authority the church has is the delegated authority we have from Jesus Christ. That is what it means to be Apostolic. However, part of the zeitgeist of today is a rejection of the Apostolic! This is something we must reclaim to rattle the cage of the spirit of the age.