ACTION / MODULE 7 / SECTION 2

ACTION - PART B

CONSIDER:

1. If we turn back God cannot fight for us. Why? Because, when we turn our back, we are disobeying our leading and our Leader. We are not taking action.

2. We will not see real miracles unless we put ourselves in a position in which God can work for us. God works in the area of the impossible. What is impossible with men is possible with God.

3. You may not need direction . . . you may just need to go forward = ACTION.

There is an old saying, "You are as others see you." The devil knows if you have FEAR in your heart. If you do, ask God to help you: to take the fear away. King David said, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee (the LORD)." [Psalm 56:3] Go to the Word of God and RECEIVE BY FAITH the power promised in the scriptures, such as:

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." [2 Timothy 1:7] Fear is a spirit; therefore, you must speak to it. God is love and He is spirit. Love is stronger than fear. Perfect love casts out fear.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love." [1 John 4:18]

If you are afraid of someone, ask God to give you His love for them.

You can bind fear in the name of Jesus, and cast it away from you. Command it to leave, and use the name of Jesus against it. Speak (declare) the BLOOD of Christ against it.

It is your responsibility to overcome fear. SERIOUS cases of fear require four (4) steps:

• A stayed (fixed) mind.

• Confession of God's Word [1 John 4:18; James 4:7; and 2 Timothy 1:7].

• A step of faith . . . action. Speak to fear and take authority over it.

• Intercession and spiritual warfare (for others or one's self).

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The enemy's chief concern is that you STOP doing what you are currently involved in doing. You have been TOO SUCCESSFUL; also, your plans for future endeavors are causing him to freak out. The devil is the most frustrated person in the world today; he knows that his time is running out. When the fullness of the Gentiles takes place, then all Israel (the nation as a whole) will be saved. [Romans 11]

SunTzu, in his book, The Art of War, says "Every battle is won before it is fought." How true in Christian warfare: even the whole war is won because of the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ. His death, burial, and resurrection conquered the enemy and bought our freedom and eternal life. Now . . . we take ACTION on that victory by appropriating it in faith as we move forward.

Another weapon in the arsenal of the enemy, in addition to fear, is shame. The enemy will try to attack you with imposed shame.

Lots of times, the enemy will attack even seasoned warriors with imposed shame from family members or friends as a result of some "slip up" from the past.

There are many examples of shame experienced by people of God in the Bible. None of us are perfect: that's why we need a Savior! Abraham (the same as) sold his wife two times. Moses killed a man in anger. David committed adultery and murder. Peter denied Messiah three times in one night.

We see that Adam's shame was manifested in hiding. In Revelation 3:18, Jesus admonished the Church at Laodicea to ". . . buy of me white raiment, that you may be clothed, [so] that the shame of our nakedness does not appear . . ."

There are several types of shame:

• Adamic shame

• Inherited shame

• Actual shame

• Imposed shame

Every one of these types of shame may be remitted, or canceled, by the atonement of Christ. The BLOOD of Christ paid for you and your sins, and provides healing for shame.

The verdict of guilt, whether real or imagined, is shame. It may be something inherited from Adam (who brought sin into the world as the federal head of the race); or it may be something inherited from ancestral, or family lines. It may be actual shame, resulting from an action you have initiated. And . . . it may be psychological shame . . . real or false shame that people or demon spirits have tried to impose upon you, resulting in oppression, rejection, physical or mental sickness, and lack of production.

Jesus Christ bore your shame. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that our Lord Jesus despised the shame of the cross and his nakedness thereon, but went through it because of the JOY set before Him: that is, he saw YOU able to be made whole and to know God, with your sins forgiven and having eternal life, as the result of His sacrifice. Jesus despised shame . . . and He despises it in YOUR life. He died for YOU so that you do NOT have to carry shame. He carried it for YOU!

He is alive to remit guilt and its resultant shame from your life today. You can appropriate the healing in His shed BLOOD for you by calling on Him today. Pray and ask Him to deliver you.

You can get back up . . . because He got back up! The Master has need of you in these last days.

Along with fear and imposed shame, the enemy will also, at times, try to attack the seasoned warrior of Christ with mental oppression. Again, I have some Good News for you.

Oppression - both mental and physical - are included in Christ's work FOR US. Christ was driven; he was abased and looked down upon. Isaiah 53:7 says, "He was oppressed and he was afflicted . . ."

The Hebrew word for "oppress" [nagas] in this passage means "to drive, to harass, to tyrannize, to oppress."

The original word used for "afflicted" [anah] means "to look down upon, depress, abase, humble."

Christ was driven; he was abased and looked down upon.

In Isaiah 53:4, where it reads, " . . . he carried our pains," the literal Hebrew meaning is "acute pain; intense suffering: MENTAL or PHYSICAL."

In Psalm 41, a Psalm of David written 1,000 years before Christ, Kind David writes, "LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against you." [Verse 4]

The Hebrew word here used for "soul" is "nephesh" which refers to not only the mind, but also the heart: healing for the intellect, the emotion, and the will, as well as the body. Jesus "carried" sickness, sin, disease, poverty and oppression - the "works" of the devil (Satan) - FOR YOU!

Now . . . YOU don't have to carry them any longer! They do NOT belong to the believer in Christ!

Jesus healed the separation between God and man through His work (the atonement) FOR US, and therefore ended Satan's dominion over ALL who would trust in Christ.

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might DESTROY the works of the devil." [1 John 3:8]

Action, including intercession, is the key thing Satan is afraid of in your life and ministry. He has to STOP your action. But he can't if you do NOT let him! "The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." [Matthew 11:12] The Greek word for "violent" here used is "biastes" and means a "forcer" or "one who is energetic." The devil is AFRAID of your ENERGY directed towards the kingdom!

Follow this model: Effort, energy, enthusiasm.

Notice that most of the attacks Satan makes against you are in the realm of the mind through lies: telling you that you are ill, weak, going to die . . . or using imposed shame, fear, or discouragement. This is why you must be proactive and DECLARE the BLOOD of Christ over your body, mind, soul and spirit each day. (This way, even your emotions are covered.)

It's interesting to note that one of the names of the devil is "Beelzebub." The original Hebrew name means "Lord of the flies" and was the name of a Philistine [Palestinian] god. It was a "dung god" . . . a "manure god." What a wonderful title for Satan: "Lord of the maggots . . . the manure god!" Dead blood draws flies.

GOOD NEWS! The BLOOD of Jesus repulses Satan and his demons. Speak the BLOOD over your home and family. Just as the Israelites applied the BLOOD to their doors so that the death angel would pass over [Exodus 12], so you can apply the BLOOD of Christ over your family and home by speaking it in faith over them.

Declare the BLOOD of Christ over your loved ones daily and over all that God has given you by birth, adoption, or assignment!

In case you ever become . . . or have already been . . . a victim of any of these attacks of Satan, and have suffered loss of spiritual or physical dominion, I have again some Good News for you. What has caused you to suffer loss: Sin? Disobedience? Bad decision? Attack from the enemy? Whatever it was, God CAN turn the situation around for you. God WANTS to turn it around for you!

There are FOUR (4) major points to consider for recovering your loss:

1. Realize there is a turning point - a good future. (Remember King David.)

2. Do what God tells you to do. Pray, listen, and obey.

3. Make your past glorify God.

4. Go forward.

OTHER SCRIPTURES RELATED TO RECOVERING YOUR LOSSES

"So I will restore to you the years . . . the locust [the enemy] has eaten. You will eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; My people will never be put to shame." [Joel 2:25-26]

"As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today, I declare that I will restore DOUBLE to you." [ Zechariah 9:11-12]

"Instead of your shame you will have DOUBLE honor, and instead of confusion they will rejoice in their portion. Therefore, in their land they will possess DOUBLE." [Isaiah 61:7]

"I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they will increase and bear young [be fruitful]; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you will know that I am the LORD." [Ezekiel 36:11]

"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning." [Job 42:10,12]

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL FUTURE!!!

Remember that ACTION keeps you under the anointing so that you are as a new, sharp threshing instrument. Knowing that the enemy's KEY INTENTION is to STOP your action, you now have military intelligence as to his plans. Your main focus NOW should be on developing a spirit of excellence in your action. That's what The University of Excellence is about.

There are SEVEN (7) things you need to cultivate a spirit of excellence:

[1] VISION

Spend time with God. Pray and fast for:

• A fresh vision, and,

• A prophetic anointing.

[2] DETERMINATION

You need "bulldog" endurance and perseverance. You can't be a "pansy" and you can't be a quitter. Be a warrior and remember: "If you don't quit, you will win!" (But if you quit, you can't win!)

[3] PRIORITIES

You need to put God's program FIRST in life. He will show you when you need to spend time for family, for recreation, and for fellowship. At times, He may have you spend LOTS of time on family, recreation, and fellowship. But don't try to replace God's Kingdom as your top priority. "You seek first the kingdom of God, and all things will be added unto you." [Matthew 6:33]

[4] ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountability will give you real liberty. You need to be accountable to:

• Jesus, the Great Pastor, and,

• Others, in ministry.

[5] REST

You need to rest one day a week. This is God's plan and is necessary for your overall long-term health and blessing. At times, He may lead you to take extended periods of rest. Always obey Him in these matters. He knows what is best for you . . . and for those to whom you minister. You can't minister effectively if you're worn out or burnt out!

"For thus says the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and confidence will be your strength." [Isaiah 30:15]

Honoring and keeping the Sabbath will also enable you to appropriate the rewards of a spirit of EXCELLENCE: delight, dominion, and desires granted. [Isaiah 58:13-14]

[6] A HEART FOR GOD

The prophet Samuel said, "the LORD has sought him a man after his own heart," describing King David. [1 Samuel 13:14] After being anointed, and successful as a king and military leader . . . the champion of the people . . . King David sinned greatly. Even in the midst of his sin, he had a heart toward God, which caused him to repent. He paid dearly for his sin, but even in the midst of his sin, he loved God and was repentant.

In all his public official conduct he acted according to the Divine mind, and fulfilled the will of his Maker: thus was he a man after God's own heart. In reference to his private or personal moral conduct, the word is never used.

So what was his problem? Why did David sin? The answer is: He didn't FEAR God. He loved God, but He didn't fear Him at the time of his great sin! We need to be not only morally reverent towards God, but also to have a sense of alarm that will keep us from walking off the path of righteousness. We need to think ahead of time about the consequences of our sin and transgression. Our Father in Heaven loves us too much to let us get away with such behavior. There is not much preaching on holiness anymore. We need to LOVE GOD and to FEAR GOD; then we will have a heart for God.

In David's rulership of the Kingdom, in his official conduct, he fulfilled the will of God; however, in his private life and personal conduct he failed miserably . . . but then repented. This brings to light THREE very important things to consider:

Your actions can bring reproach on God, yourself, your family, your friends, your nation, and your cause.

Your actions can give your enemies occasion to slander you and also mock the God you are supposed to be serving.

Your actions can bring severe judgment upon you and your family.

In the heat of temptation you need to consider these things. Are you willing to pay the price? Do you LOVE God and your family enough to protect them from the results of your sin? Do you FEAR God enough to prohibit you from doing the thing(s) you are considering?

[7] INTEGRITY

Honesty and moral uprightness are the KEY INDICATORS of the God shaped life. The deeper your character . . . the greater your impact! Many things that we question in life, even small things, are a TEST of our integrity. God is constantly testing us to see if we can be entrusted with greater giftings, talents, skills, and responsibilities.

Integrity is a two edged sword. It is an instrument of blessing:

• For ourselves

We must live with ourselves in all good conscience. "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God." [1 John 3:20-21] This assures us of answered prayer and provision. "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." [Verse 22]

• For others

Our families, our friends, our parishioners, our communities . . . our progeny . . . all are impacted by our integrity. The quality of our life is a direct antecedent of the same. The degree of EXCELLENCE of your life and ministry predetermines your future and many times, the future of those to whom you minister and love.

LIVE A LIFE OF EXCELLENCE!

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