Both the Lord and the enemy have a vision for your church fellowship.
The Lord has a vision for every church fellowship. The vision for this church is on the wall (Ephesians 4:11-13) which is about releasing ministries to build up the body thus bringing each one of us into a maturity. However, our enemy Satan also has a vision for each church fellowship, which is to prevent each fellowship from coming into maturity. The enemy plans to divide us, to break us up, and keep every believer defeated and downcast. The enemy as you probably know are organized in a hierarchy of fallen beings and are described in Ephesians 6, and include principalities [1], powers, world forces of darkness, wickedness in heavenly places. These evil beings have orders to attack your fellowship and try to overcome all of us Christians, in our individual lives and as a fellowship.
What is important in the Life of a Church Fellowship?
What do you think they (the enemies) will attack in the life of the believer? The major areas I want to focus on are the word of God and prayer. Have you ever noticed that these two things do not come easily? You can think of many other things you would rather do, there seems to be an opposition or difficulty. Another thing that seems to be opposed is to visit the sick and you can probably identify others? So why does enemy want to prevent you from reading the bible (1 John 8:31-32)? Of course the words of Jesus are found in the bible. If we read and abide, stay, live in, or walk according to his word, then we shall know the truth which shall make and set you free. What truth, Jesus has defeated devil! He has the keys of death and hell has openly triumphed over every power, principality, etc. and through the blood of his cross has purchased a great salvation for all who place their trust in him. That same Jesus Christ gives authority to his body, to tread on serpents (evil), over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall injure you. You shall know the truth if you read God’s word and his word abides in you. The enemy had you bound and blinded not knowing the truth that he is already defeated. Know you know for sure!
1 Peter 2:2
The enemy does not want you to know God word is food for your spirit or soul, which causes you to grow in the knowledge of your wonderful salvation. You can begin to understand the dimensions of God’s love for you. If you starve your baby of milk and she will die! Satan wants you to wither and die concerning knowledge of the truth found in God’s word. Those who are growing up past baby stage, he does not want you moving on to the later stages of maturity.
Ephesians 5:25-27
Christ sanctifies the believers by washing us with his word. His word is alive and powerful and renews our thinking, changes our lifestyle as we conform our lives to God’s word. Christ loves you as part of his body and wants to make holy so that he can present you with spot or blemish to his Father. He cleanses us with the scriptures. How can he do this if we will not read and study them? Satan does not want you cleansed, holy and getting ready as the bride of Christ.
Hebrews 4:12
The Word of God (bible) when it is used as a sword separates man from sin. The Word of God corrects our motives and is alive and powerful. The Holy Spirit defeats the enemy as he energizes our spoken word (rhema word). The enemy does not want you to be free but be kept in bondage and sin. Satan does not want you to know that he is defeated by the word of God in your mouth. Just as the enemy was defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness by quoting the scripture [2] (It is written …)
So brothers and sisters, how long will you let yourself be deceived by the mind blinder? How long will you accept the lies that say these things?
You cannot understand the word
You do not have time for the word
You cannot find a place for the word
You have a block and barrier to receive the word
You can start tomorrow to read the word
Joshua 1:8
Psalms 1:2
If these are your excuses, then you are deceived. You need to repent and receive forgiveness and ask God to give you a hunger for his word daily to cherish and treasure the word of God in your heart. Let the word of God abide in you and you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Free from your past, from your problems, your failures and you will be sanctified and prepared as a bride waiting for her heavenly groom.
Do not let yourself be starved any longer. Your heavenly Father is longing to feed you today come let us thwart the enemy today and every day by studying the bible.
Amen
Prayer
Footnotes
[1] Greek archon. The 5-star generals. The evil hierarchy in Ephesians 6:12 is in descending order of rank.
[2] Matthew 4 4 But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
6 And saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.
9 And saith unto him, all these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.