(A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE)
Luke 9:57 – “As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
We need to know why Jesus came, so we are not distracted to go astray or to follow false teachers. We need to know what He is teaching and that we are to be the method, ambassadors if you wish, by which He delivers His message, so we remember to remain yielded to Him, His purposes and His ways.
Jesus tells us that He came to earth for three primary reasons:
1. “The Son of man came to save that which was lost ”Matthew 18:11
2. “I have come into this world to testify to the Truth” John 18:37
3. “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples, gave them authority, told them to go and preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”. Matthew 10, Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus’ teachings are always the revelation of Truth and are meant to be demonstrated in and through our lives. This is a primary objective when becoming a disciple of Jesus and in preparing for Spiritual Warfare.
Jesus’ method is that, first He teaches, then He demonstrates what He is Teaching and completes His Teachings by sending His disciples to apply His Teachings. This is His method, and it is our pattern, also.
This process, this cycle of ministry, includes (1) “Being Called by God, (2) Being Saved by God, (3) Being Sanctified by God, (4) Being Taught by God and (5) Being Sent into the world by God”.
Said another way, we are (1) called by Jesus to become His disciples and when we respond (2) we will hear His Word, (3) we go with Him and we will watch His methods and ways, (4) we will learn and apply His teachings, and then (5) we will go and make disciples of Jesus.
You will see that this training is systematic, rigorous and difficult and, in one sense, can be life-threatening. In another sense, however, His yoke is easy and, His burden is light, as you submit yourself to Jesus, He does the work through you. Either way, it is life changing.
THIS IS THE WAY
By way of His Words, you will begin to literally “Walk by the Spirit of God”. You will effectively engage in “The struggle against the rulers, powers, and world forces of darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”. And, you will overcome!
This will take time, dedication and personal discipline, but, the results will astound you. You will scarcely recognize the person you have become, and the world won’t know what to do with you, at times. (A word of caution and encouragement: most who start, will not ‘endure to the end’ of this process. But, I encourage you to endure. I encourage you to take your lifetime, if that is what is required. It will be worth your investment, and the rewards are beyond anything, you can imagine.)
The time is now – His return is near. We are about to begin the greatest journey of our lifetime and in a way you may have never experienced. Let’s place our trust in Him as we join together and do His Works and greater works as He promised.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter, “THE TEACHING, TRAINING & COMMISSIONING”
(Please also notice, you can go to the webpage for this podcast and click links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)