Category: SermonByte

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It’s Time to Lay Down our Christmas Weapons

file8511338711005SCRIPTURE:

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” Luke 2:10-14 (NKJV)

MESSAGE:

It seems we have a new and sinister Christmas tradition. Just as surely as there will be a Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade to officially herald the Christmas season and just as certain as reruns of “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” and “It’s A Wonderful Life,” we have now come to expect the War on Christmas. Continue reading “It’s Time to Lay Down our Christmas Weapons”

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Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 7

False-ReligionSCRIPTURE:

“’Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?’” Numbers 14:3 (NLT)

MESSAGE:

It appears that it was easier for God to get his people out of Egypt than it was for Him to get Egypt out of the people. In today’s blog, we see that the people were ready to turn away from God’s promise and return to the land from which He delivered them. They were ready to return to slavery, and to the worship of the very gods who failed to save their masters. Continue reading “Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 7”

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Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 6

MurderSCRIPTURE:

“But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb…” Numbers 14:10 (NLT)

MESSAGE:

How quickly things can change. After two years in the wilderness enjoying the miraculous provision of God, God’s people began to talk about murdering their leaders on the very eve of receiving their promise. The spirit of murder does not magically appear in our life. It’s not something that should ever catch us by surprise. The Apostle James instructs us that temptation grows out of our desires which entice us and drag us away from what is right. When we nurture those desires, instead of giving them to Jesus to be crucified on the cross, they give birth to sinful actions. Then, when sin is allowed to run unchecked, it gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15) Another way of looking at it, is that when we allow our emotions to lead us instead of God’s Word, we will eventually give in to temptation – in other words, we will sin. If we still fail to turn it over to God it will bring the spirit of murder. That spirit may position itself against others, or it may put us in a mindset of self-destruction. Continue reading “Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 6”

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Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 5

unbelief

Read: Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 4

SCRIPTURE:

“…‘If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!’ they complained. ‘Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?’”  Numbers 14:1-3 (NLT)

MESSAGE:

How sad, that after the miraculous salvation and royal training of Moses, plagues in Egypt, financial provision, the release by Pharaoh, the parting of the Red Sea, the giving of the Ten Commandments, cloud by day, pillar of fire by night, miraculous manna and wonderful water, the people finally got to their promised land only to be stopped by rumors. These rumors fueled their fear and rebellious spirits. They didn’t trust God’s appointed leaders, and by extension, they didn’t trust God. These folk had an evil spirit of unbelief. Continue reading “Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 5”

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Thank – The Native Americans???

ThanksgivingSCRIPTURE:

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever… Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.” Psalm 107:1,31 (NLT)

MESSAGE:

In his hard-hitting book, “Censorship: Evidence of Bias in Our Children’s Textbooks,” Paul Vitz recounts the story of young mother who was shocked one day when her Son came home from school and shared what he had learned. Apparently, his teacher taught the students that Thanksgiving was when the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Indians. Being a Christian woman who firmly believed in the holy day, she called the Principle to enlighten him. She was even more confused when the Principle told her that the American origin of giving thanks to God was only her opinion and that teachers could only teach what is in the books they are given. So much for scholarship! Continue reading “Thank – The Native Americans???”

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Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 4

RebellionSCRIPTURE:

“Then they plotted among themselves, ‘Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!’”
Numbers 14:4 (NLT)

MESSAGE:

Now that we considered the demonic spirit of fear in part 3, we move to the spirit of rebellion. If we allow the spirits of entitlement and fear to run roughshod in our lives, they will often lead us to full-scale revolt. Rebellion is something that God takes very seriously. The Apostle Paul tells us that no authority rules without permission from God. (Rom 13:1) This can be a tough pill to swallow, especially for those of us in Western civilization where politics are sometimes a full contact sport.  Don’t get me wrong, our system of government, gives us the right and the responsibility to let our voice be heard – especially when our ideals are firmly rooted in the Word of God. What we do not have the right to do, is slander and gossip those that lead us. Continue reading “Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 4”

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Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 3

FearSCRIPTURE:

“Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” Num 14:9 (NLT)

 

MESSAGE:

In Part 2, we looked at how a spirit of entitlement can keep us from doing what is necessary to enjoy God’s promises in our lives. This week, we consider one of the most powerful demonic spirits of all – Fear. Continue reading “Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 3”

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Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 2

SCRIPTURE:

“Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” Numbers 14:3 (NLT)

MESSAGE:

Last week we looked at the atmosphere of complaint and unbelief that allowed demonic spirits to detour the destiny of God’s people for thirty-eight years. An entire generation of people would have to die before Israel would once again have the opportunity to enter their Promised Land. Notice, I didn’t say, “God’s Promised Land,” I said “their” Promised Land. God had already given them the land. The only thing they had to do was cross the river and take possession. Continue reading “Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny – Part 2”

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Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny

Detour Sign

SCRIPTURE:

“Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.” Numbers 14:1

MESSAGE:

After four hundred thirty years of slavery and two scorching and difficult years in the desert, one would think that the children of Israel would be more than a little anxious to cross over into their Promised Land. It was called, “the land flowing with milk and honey,” because of the favorable agriculture conditions. The people had spent day after day, week after week, and month after month eating the same food, carrying the same supplies and viewing, pretty much, the same scenery. “Time to move!” “Time to camp!” “Time to move!” I don’t know about you, but I would be looking forward to a little time in my own man-cave. Instead, the people began to weep and complain about the prospect of going in. The consensus was that it would be better for them to go back to being slaves in Egypt rather than enter into the promise they had left Egypt for in the first place. Continue reading “Debilitating Demons that Detour Your Destiny”

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Preach Something I Want to Hear!

SCRPreacherIPTURE:

“But Jehoshaphat dragged his heels: ‘Is there still another prophet of GOD around here we can consult?’ The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, ‘As a matter of fact, there is still one such man. But I hate him. He never preaches anything good to me, only doom, doom, doom.’”1 Kings 22:7-8 (MSG)

MESSAGE:

In his book “Corporate Anointing,” Author and Minister Kelley Varner wrote, “For the most part, American Christendom is entertainment-based, need-oriented, and man-centered.” It would seem that little has changed in the over two and a half millennia since today’s scripture. King Ahab was looking for someone to bless his plans and convince Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, that God supported the idea to attack the King of Syria and take Ramoth-gilead. With very little effort, he gathered about 400 Prophets who were willing to say exactly what he wanted to hear. When he asked them if he should attack, the Prophets replied with one voice, “Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” (v.6) Continue reading “Preach Something I Want to Hear!”