1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,600 Welcome to Logan City Christian Church podcast where we bring God's Word to you weekly. 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:17,600 We pray that what you hear will bring clarity to your situation and open doors in your life. 3 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:18,600 Enjoy the message. 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:25,280 I knew that there was another step to take and I didn't know what it was. 5 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:30,880 When I went to this conference, God showed me what it is. 6 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:37,520 I say that to say this, I want to thank you both for I'm sure there'd be hard days that 7 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:43,800 you've been through and faced mountains that seemed impossible to pass but Jesus got you 8 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,320 through because you didn't give up. 9 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:56,240 I just see the depth of your ministry, it's something I haven't seen before and I'm very 10 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:01,560 very grateful and I know this church is going to benefit out of it with the missions program 11 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,040 in a very big way. 12 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:09,680 I just can't get into it all now but I want to let you know it was life changing, absolutely 13 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,160 life changing. 14 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,760 And the scripture says to give honor where honor is due and I believe it's a time now 15 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:24,200 to just say Jeff and Betty, we honor you, we thank you and it's just wonderful, just 16 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:25,200 wonderful. 17 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:30,160 Why don't we just appreciate them and acknowledge those who serve the Lord. 18 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:36,480 I mean there are many of you here this morning that have given probably equal sacrifice, 19 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:41,120 if not more maybe I don't know but there's so many of us in the mission fields and in 20 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:48,840 ministry that have paid the price and are still paying the price but the fruit is evident 21 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,960 and it's just so worth it, amen. 22 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,560 Welcome everyone this morning and everyone watching online, good morning. 23 00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:03,320 And we'd just like to acknowledge the deaf community and the interpreters for what they 24 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:11,040 do, it's just an amazing work, amen. 25 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:17,000 And not forgetting the tech crew and everybody else, just a wonderful, wonderful thing that 26 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:23,840 happens that goes on that we don't see every Sunday what goes on during the week. 27 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:24,840 Praise be to God. 28 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:35,280 You know what, Chantelle said that the devil's a loser and she was being polite because you 29 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:41,280 ever been, you know remember at school how many of you guys, maybe girls, used to get 30 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:46,720 into a bit of a, you know what I'm speaking about, you don't have to put your hand up, 31 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,880 I don't need an extra altar call at the end of the meeting. 32 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:56,320 But how many of us notice that there are bullies everywhere you go? 33 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:04,800 Big mouth, very rarely have they got any oomph behind the mouth and they just keep people 34 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,400 intimidated and fear and control them. 35 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,400 You know the devil's exactly the same. 36 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:16,200 But the problem is for the devil is that we serve a big God. 37 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,640 He is huge, he's enormous and there's nothing that our God can't do. 38 00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:23,080 And our God is awesome. 39 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:29,160 It's like God's always steps ahead of the devil, in fact he's always been ahead of the 40 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:34,560 devil and somehow for some reason the devil thinks that he's still going to win in the 41 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,520 end. 42 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:44,680 We got news for him, we've read the last chapter of the book, he does not win but he tries. 43 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:49,980 So I believe part of the message today is to encourage us even though there's a bully, 44 00:03:49,980 --> 00:03:58,760 the devil that tries to intimidate, manipulate, control, I mean he's the father of narcissists 45 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:05,200 but we serve an awesome God and our focus should be on our awesome God not on that puny 46 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:11,560 little bully that tries to influence us in the name of Jesus. 47 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:20,360 So that was a bit of a waiver to introduce the title of the message this morning. 48 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:28,440 And I probably should have had a drink of water to be able to say this but here it goes, 49 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:34,440 many of you know that in Omi a long time I get a little bit tongue twisted with big words. 50 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:40,440 But here they go. 51 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:49,480 Secularization, de-Christianization, leading to domination. 52 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:55,400 I mean somehow the devil thinks he's going to beat this. 53 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,420 He's not. 54 00:04:58,420 --> 00:05:03,520 Secularization, de-Christianization and domination. 55 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:09,840 And so just briefly we see over the years, it's been for centuries, that the devil has 56 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:19,400 tried so hard to remove the very presence and the core of Christ and Christian values 57 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:26,280 throughout society and it seems that no matter what he tries it's like a bush that gets pruned 58 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:31,240 back and it just grows back even more and produces more fruit. 59 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:32,800 That's the Christian church. 60 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,400 The Christian church is amazing. 61 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:46,480 And so bringing in secular ideologies to influence the world in general, I do believe at times 62 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:54,360 that it's aimed to try and secularize the Christian mindset of Christians but I do not 63 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,160 think it's working. 64 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:03,600 And so the de-Christianization to remove and to cancel out anything Christian, we are seeing 65 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,720 this happening today. 66 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,660 We've been seeing it happening for many years. 67 00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:15,240 But we've noticed that it's accelerating at such a speed now like we've never seen before 68 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,840 and the end game is domination. 69 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:28,320 So as terrible as that may seem, let me read to you what the Word of God says about that 70 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:33,400 from Matthew chapter 16 verse 18 through to 19 and I'm going to explain it a little bit 71 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:34,400 more later. 72 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:41,920 But this is what the Word of God says with the devil's plans, secularization, de-Christianization, 73 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:43,360 leading to domination. 74 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,360 This is what Jesus said. 75 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:51,160 And He said, and I say to you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church 76 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:56,540 and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 77 00:06:56,540 --> 00:07:00,960 Now the scripture doesn't say that the gates of Hades will not try. 78 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:07,520 The gates of Hades have always come against the Christian church but Jesus said that the 79 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:14,280 church that I build, the one that I build, yes the gates of Hades are going to come and 80 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:19,720 try and prevail against this work but He said it will not work. 81 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:20,720 It will not work. 82 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,040 It will not prevail against it. 83 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:28,320 So really there are two things that I take out and that one is the devil's going to try. 84 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,320 Second one is that God wins. 85 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:36,000 So we've always got to maintain that mindset that we are on the winning team and there 86 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,680 may be times that you might be feeling that thinking, I don't feel like I'm on the winning 87 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:41,680 team at the moment. 88 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:47,240 Let me assure you, you are on the winning team but just check where your thoughts are. 89 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:51,800 Check where our mind is, where it's wandering to. 90 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,120 But Jesus didn't say that on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will 91 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:57,840 not prevail against it. 92 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:02,400 He also said not only that but I'm going to give you something. 93 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:06,560 He said I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 94 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:15,640 An authority and whatever you, us, whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven. 95 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,600 Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 96 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:25,880 So you know we're looking at this mission that the devil has had against humanity, against 97 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:34,080 Christianity, secularization, de-Christianization in hope to dominate but the problem is that 98 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:39,320 he never counted on that the church that Jesus built, it says that the gates of Hades won't 99 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:45,720 prevail against it but he also said and gave to the church a power and an authority to 100 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,420 overpower the works of the devil. 101 00:08:49,420 --> 00:08:52,600 He said I'll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 102 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,920 An authority of heaven. 103 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,400 And he says whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. 104 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,080 Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 105 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:06,600 In other words whatever is decreed unlawful in heaven we have authority here on earth 106 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,060 to decree it to be unlawful here on earth. 107 00:09:10,060 --> 00:09:15,460 And whatever things are lawful in heaven we have the authority to decree it to be lawful 108 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:17,980 here on earth. 109 00:09:17,980 --> 00:09:25,400 And so this incredible authority has been given to the church to rule and reign regardless 110 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:32,540 of what the newspaper is telling you today regardless of the latest election results 111 00:09:32,540 --> 00:09:37,880 or whatever it might be that God is always on the throne. 112 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,360 God is always ahead of time and he's on time. 113 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:47,960 God, nothing takes God by surprise and so therefore he is the one that our focus is 114 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:51,240 on that God is in control. 115 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:56,760 The devil didn't count on the church receiving this incredible authority. 116 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:04,680 Now I ask a question when is the last time that you or I have used these keys of the 117 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:12,320 kingdom this authority to declare to decree to pray to speak out hang on a minute these 118 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:16,080 things that are going on now that is not lawful in heaven. 119 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:23,720 So as a saint of God a child of the living God I decree I speak it in the name of Jesus 120 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:29,160 that that be disallowed here and build the atmosphere of the spirit of God around your 121 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:35,360 family in your life in your workplace in your ministry wherever it may be. 122 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:40,680 Speak speak allow that authority that's been given to us be be released from their mouth 123 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:46,060 and to speak it out into the atmosphere because it's a powerful thing. 124 00:10:46,060 --> 00:10:50,960 And it's the last time that we've loosed the power of heaven or the authority what is right 125 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:57,280 in heaven to say you know this is what I speak over my family this is what I decree over 126 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:03,960 my family those things that are happening or things that are trying to come in and overtake 127 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:08,840 I declare it not lawful because in heaven that's not how it is. 128 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:15,360 So as a child of the living God we have authority to say hang on a minute hang on a minute I 129 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:21,800 am not allowing that to come into my family into my home I'm not allowing that to whatever 130 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:28,560 your sphere of life in life where you may be struggling in at any given time. 131 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:35,420 Use the authority that Christ has given us it's powerful it's extremely powerful praise 132 00:11:35,420 --> 00:11:41,240 God and if that doesn't bring a smile on your dial I don't think much will because you've 133 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:47,160 been given keys to the kingdom of God let's use them church they're powerful they are 134 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:54,200 very very powerful very powerful so no matter what the plan of the devil is really makes 135 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:59,600 no difference to the economy of God or the vision of God or the direction of God makes 136 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:00,960 no difference. 137 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:05,560 So let's stay focused on the winning team that we are on the winning team now I'm going 138 00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:09,400 to say something here that I'm going to come back to I'm going to go around a different 139 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:17,880 way and come back to this statement the devil's mission involves the upcoming generations 140 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:23,700 our children our grandchildren and we need to pray for them pray for the children pray 141 00:12:23,700 --> 00:12:29,500 for your children pray for your grandchildren lift them up pray that their sweet innocent 142 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:35,880 little souls be connected with Christ and remain with Christ we build an atmosphere 143 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:42,400 of Christ around about them in the home and wherever it may be now I know that it's impossible 144 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:48,040 to wrap them in cotton wool all of their lives and there's a time that they need to experience 145 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:54,440 for themselves and to experience life for themselves but there's a time that we have 146 00:12:54,440 --> 00:13:01,680 now is to train them and equip them isn't it amazing that I heard a preacher speak one 147 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:07,880 day he said it was really incredible he said that he was going on a mission trip and he's 148 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:13,080 packing everything he needed for that mission trip everything and he's got a he goes often 149 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:17,280 he's got a list of everything and he just packs it all and then he goes and as he wheeled 150 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,800 his suitcase to the car he said isn't that amazing you know exactly what you need to 151 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:29,840 do to equip yourself for a mission trip or a journey but he said in this case he said 152 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:36,080 but your children you're not equipping them you're not preparing them for their journey 153 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:42,840 and apparently on the plane where he was going the Lord spoke to him and he said to him he 154 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:54,000 said you know this is your priority 101 you equip your children equip your family invest 155 00:13:54,000 --> 00:14:02,040 into them and I know in ministry one of the easiest things we can do is be busy and busy 156 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:08,640 doing so many things and at times run the risk of neglecting the ones that love us the 157 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:15,040 most and that is our family and we need to be very careful with that and if anyone ever 158 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:21,200 finds a bulletproof method that works every single time can you let me know because it's 159 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:28,080 difficult it's very difficult but I thank God that when you hear stories like this we 160 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:33,000 take it on board and we take it home and think this is something that I need to be aware 161 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:39,040 of because the devil's mission involves the upcoming generations every smart leader every 162 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:47,260 king of a kingdom you know even in any leader you think of every successful leader took 163 00:14:47,260 --> 00:14:53,600 exceptional interest in the young people and the ones that they saw that were in prams 164 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:59,400 or you know little toddlers or whatever they knew that this is their opportunity to train 165 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:05,560 them in the kingdom principles so when they are older that they maintain the vision of 166 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:11,360 that kingdom than the principles of that kingdom but unfortunately the enemy knows about that 167 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:18,280 principle as well but it doesn't matter because we are aware of his devices amen so I'm going 168 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:24,560 to come back to this a bit later so how does the enemy accomplish this how does he do this 169 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:30,160 I would be wrong to conclude that the enemy or the devil's strategy is spiritual only 170 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:35,640 that is not the truth I believe it's a lot more than that I believe it's it is spiritual 171 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:42,960 but it's more than a spiritual attack against humanity I believe the spiritual assignment 172 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:50,080 has been accomplished I guess by influencing political structures and we are seeing that 173 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:56,760 happening today very much so political structures the governments there's nothing new under 174 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:04,200 the sun and one John chapter 5 verse 19 it says we know that word says we know that we 175 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:10,560 are of God and the whole world lies under the sway or the influence of the wicked one 176 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:15,480 and so we know that the anti-christ spirit one John speaks a lot about the anti-christ 177 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:21,200 spirit and he said that this anti-christ spirit has been around a long time and we know that 178 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:28,000 today that influence has grown throughout society it's also grown through the structure 179 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:35,440 of governance as well in countries and nations around the world we should not be surprised 180 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:40,440 by this it's been prophesied that this is how it's going to be and so you know we as 181 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:45,460 Christians need to keep our focus on what we are called to do today and to prepare for 182 00:16:45,460 --> 00:16:51,900 tomorrow so that influence the sway of the wicked one the evil one is everywhere no matter 183 00:16:51,900 --> 00:16:56,520 where you go it's like gravity I can go over to China and the gravity is going to be the 184 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:01,960 same there as is here I could go to Africa it's going to be the same go to El Salvador 185 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:07,920 it's going to be the same and it's just like that influence of the wicked one it's everywhere 186 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:17,280 it's global but the good news is so is Jesus so is the church of Jesus Christ it's global 187 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:24,520 it's a global movement and it's changing the world every day every day the world is changing 188 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:31,240 for the better in the in the influences that the Christian church has and so here it is 189 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:40,120 to erase Christianity from society it's not the devil's endgame that's his beginning 190 00:17:40,120 --> 00:17:46,200 so he wants to remove all opposition so he comes to an open door with no security no 191 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:53,680 firewall and just walk straight in and do what he wants to do however as I said before 192 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:59,400 that is not going to happen that is not going to happen so long as Jesus is alive which 193 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:05,160 he's alive forevermore and is the king of kings and lord of lords the head of the church 194 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:11,380 that is never going to happen let me read second Thessalonians these are really encouraging 195 00:18:11,380 --> 00:18:17,640 scriptures that it's reminding me and hopefully reminding us all that we are on the winning 196 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:23,940 team that Christianity is still to this day the fastest growing strongest growing lack 197 00:18:23,940 --> 00:18:30,640 of a better word religion on the face of the earth it still is second Thessalonians chapter 198 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:36,880 2 verse 5 through to 7 I believe this will encourage you this morning the word of God 199 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:43,960 says do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things and now you 200 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:50,440 know what is restraining that he may be revealed in his own time so in other words it's speaking 201 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:56,000 about the antichrist the the the ungodly move that's coming in the end but something's 202 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:01,520 restraining hang on to that word restraining he says and then now you know what is restraining 203 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:07,520 that he may be revealed in his own time verse 7 for the mystery of lawlessness is already 204 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:16,480 at work listen to this only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way 205 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:24,240 now that's been commonly interpreted as the Holy Spirit will be taken away when Jesus 206 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:30,880 comes to take away the church but I do not believe that is what this scripture is meaning 207 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:38,960 here if you carefully study this the this scripture here for the mystery of lawlessness 208 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:47,240 is already at work only he is to he's here he that now restrains will do so till he is 209 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:54,240 taken out the way two different people two different altogether so the first word he 210 00:19:54,240 --> 00:20:06,880 grammatically is masculine meaning a personal figure a person so he the personal figure 211 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:13,640 who now restrains and so somebody is restraining will do so until he and there's a different 212 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:20,560 he grammatically it's speaking about a governmental organization which relates directly to the 213 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:28,760 Christian church so it's speaking here that there is somebody that is restraining and 214 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:36,260 I believe what this is clearly indicating here that here is the Holy Spirit working 215 00:20:36,260 --> 00:20:44,760 through the Christian church restraining evil but when the the the Christian church is taken 216 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:54,240 away that's when the floodgate will open to me it is so abundantly clear what this means 217 00:20:54,240 --> 00:21:01,960 so what's the good take out of this it means that the Christian church is doing an incredible 218 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:07,560 job now the problem might may seem is like but we're seeing the world getting darker 219 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:14,040 and things are getting worse and yes that is right but when you line up and put in the 220 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:20,360 scales the balances as to how things are getting darker and how the Christian church is growing 221 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:28,360 I think you would be surprised God still has his hand on people God still loves people 222 00:21:28,360 --> 00:21:35,360 the Christian church is moving in might and in power and moving and it's God-given authority 223 00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:42,480 and making changes in nations around the world this day even as I am speaking it's not taking 224 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:48,640 away from the fact that there is so much injustice in this world there is so much evil in this 225 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:54,320 world we see it you just need to turn on your television or read the newspaper and you will 226 00:21:54,320 --> 00:22:00,760 you'll know what I'm saying is true but why don't we read this book the good book the 227 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:06,800 word of God the word with it that gives us so much enlightenment and hope and strength 228 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:13,640 and direction in our life that there we see that God will never fail God always is in 229 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:19,460 control God doesn't sit down and call the angels together and saying oh man we need 230 00:22:19,460 --> 00:22:26,840 to have a board meeting the the devil's out maneuvered me he his strategies were better 231 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:32,960 than mine and now I've got to play catch-up what can we do there is never a crisis meeting 232 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:41,200 in heaven God's always ahead of anything that happens nothing takes God by surprise amen 233 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:48,760 he is in control he is awesome but the church here is saying that this Antichrist movement 234 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:55,400 is being restrained to this moment it may not look like it but it is the people that 235 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:02,000 are left behind that when the church is gone are going to see oh the church was holding 236 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:07,080 all this back we won't be here we'll be gone but the ones that are left behind are going 237 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:15,040 to notice it so the term secularization can actually refer to two different structures 238 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:24,320 which may or may not coincide the first form of secular secular secular secularization 239 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:31,240 I told you I get a bit of a knot in my tongue is based on the legal and constitutional concept 240 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:40,560 the autonomy of the political sphere leading either to separation of state from religious 241 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:48,720 institutions or to the political takeover of the religious sphere so what that means 242 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:54,120 is is that we're seeing and it's been happening for years nothing new under the sun that there's 243 00:23:54,120 --> 00:24:02,040 been this separation of church and and government where it never used to be but it is now but 244 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:08,600 then now there's the government taking over the church wanting to take take over the church 245 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:14,840 as Jesus said I'm not going to work not the church that I built the gates of Hades are 246 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:18,880 going to come and it's going to push but it won't prevail against it and that's good 247 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:27,400 news that is excellent news and so with an increasing secular society and removal of 248 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:33,760 Christian values the door is would be normally open with the absence of any opposition for 249 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:37,400 the devil just to walk through and to dominate but there's one thing he wasn't counting 250 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:46,440 on that was the church the church of Jesus Christ the second form of secularization is 251 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:53,960 sociological sociological in nature it denotes the decline I've just got these studies things 252 00:24:53,960 --> 00:25:00,280 that I've put together quite some time ago it denotes the decline in religious observance 253 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:08,040 and the disappearance of religion as the focus of social and cultural life this is what is 254 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:15,320 called de-Christianization remove it get it out so people start thinking of other things 255 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:25,640 than Christ amen but it's not working it's not working again Jesus said on this rock 256 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:29,880 I'll build my church the gates of Hades not going to work not going to happen be encouraged 257 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:36,600 church whenever you read bad news or sad news or a bad report of what supposedly is being 258 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:41,960 structured against the church in a in a legal manner or whatever it might be just do what 259 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:50,360 God does just laugh at it and pray and know that God is up to something good you know 260 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:55,360 I remember I caught myself out one day I don't know if it was Bill or someone was around 261 00:25:55,360 --> 00:26:01,600 home we were watching a war movie and this war movie it's a true story about anyway I 262 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:11,200 won't go there and the the soldiers were in their trenches and it's night time and they've 263 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:15,800 got all their their rifles they're laying down and you know over the trench they're 264 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:24,720 waiting and the enemy is coming toward them running and I'm sitting there going shoot 265 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:39,440 them and they're waiting and the guy's saying wait for it wait for it they get closer and 266 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:48,520 closer and I'm like wait for it wait for it wait for it don't you hate that he likes 267 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:55,080 waiting for things I need to pray for you later I think it was the only hand that went 268 00:26:55,080 --> 00:27:01,120 up in the church and so wait for it and you know and then they do they wait for it then 269 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:06,200 he says fire and then boom it was the the maximum effect with the resources that they 270 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:15,440 had and I believe is what God's doing he knows that we see parent injustices that are taking 271 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:20,760 place and it's like surely the church can do more surely the spiritual leaders can surely 272 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:27,520 we can do more but there are times that God and his wisdom he's going wait for it wait 273 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:34,040 for it now there's still plenty going on wait for it just wait for it I believe with all 274 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:41,440 my heart there are going to be when it gets the darkest pockets of fire of revival start 275 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:47,400 out in various places on the earth and I believe God's saying wait for it wait for it wait 276 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:53,120 for it it's coming it's coming we need to be praying for a move of the spirit in this 277 00:27:53,120 --> 00:28:00,360 land like never ever before because in that way no one's injured everybody will experience 278 00:28:00,360 --> 00:28:07,240 the goodness of God everybody it's up to them whether they choose to follow or not they 279 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:15,480 all will experience it praise the Lord you see it's known it doesn't make any difference 280 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:19,640 who is leading our country our nation whether it's a Christian or non-Christian I mean it's 281 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:25,440 better to have a Christian Christian leadership absolutely but regardless who our spiritual 282 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:32,640 leaders are or pastor of a church or of a nation we all bear the same responsibility 283 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:38,920 and that is of maintaining Christian values in our own lives in our own families we can't 284 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:43,920 expect the government to do everything for us like I think a big mistake that happened 285 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:50,760 that I think we can learn from when Scott Morrison was our prime minister that I think 286 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:55,480 in some cases the Christian church leaned back on its recliner thinking it's all good 287 00:28:55,480 --> 00:29:00,280 now our prime ministers are born-again Christians going to do everything that we should be doing 288 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:05,120 and I think that happened a bit and so we can't we can't do that I mean I would not 289 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:11,560 like to have that that position it would be difficult be hard and and so we all have that 290 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:16,960 same responsibility regardless what's going on over the fence across from your yard or 291 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:22,800 whatever is going on primarily we have the responsibility of maintaining godliness godly 292 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:29,760 structure in our family that is our responsibility regardless of how hard things are around and 293 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:34,560 what laws are being passed that working that try to work against Christianity you look 294 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:42,360 at it the early Christian church it was birthed in a time where there was such a cruel government 295 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:48,520 the Roman government they were just so so cruel absolutely cruel and their religious 296 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:55,120 organization that was already established was was not good so they really had no government 297 00:29:55,120 --> 00:30:00,120 to lean on and no established religious order to lean on and so it apparently seemed like 298 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:04,840 they didn't have much but they had more than all the others put together because they had 299 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:10,600 faith in Jesus Christ and him alone and it was through there that through all the persecution 300 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:15,320 they grew through with all the persecution that came against the Christian church the 301 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:21,760 Christian church prospered why was that it was simply because their faith was not in 302 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:27,720 a government institution it wasn't in handouts it wasn't in any of those things primarily 303 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:33,240 their faith was locked in on God they had nothing else but they had more than they probably 304 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:40,480 ever realized Christ their hope of glory and I feel that this is a place where for me personally 305 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:45,800 where I tend to want to keep coming back to it says I hang in a minute I'm going down 306 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:50,660 this path and doing this and that but let's just stop let's get back to the to the reason 307 00:30:50,660 --> 00:31:01,360 why we do what we do the reason why and it's important so so important and so the church 308 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:07,780 prospered under persecution I believe the Christian church today is going to prosper 309 00:31:07,780 --> 00:31:12,360 more the persecution comes and believe me according to scripture I believe it's going 310 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:20,160 to come and it's just God's empowered us so there we go I just so now let's get to I mentioned 311 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:26,420 the beginning in the beginning of the message the devil's mission involves the upcoming 312 00:31:26,420 --> 00:31:36,400 generations our children our grandchildren and so evangelism Christianity is not the 313 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:47,080 only organization if you like that is evangelizing the enemy evangelizes he evangelizes through 314 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:54,060 TV social media through various different ways it's just everywhere it's just the 315 00:31:54,060 --> 00:31:58,560 young people that I pray for them pray for the young people pray for the children pray 316 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:05,700 for parents with children it would not be easy today to be raising a family and maintaining 317 00:32:05,700 --> 00:32:11,520 godly Christian morals in the family it wouldn't be easy but it is possible to see the devil 318 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:17,460 has these people in his target in his sights because he knows the children of today are 319 00:32:17,460 --> 00:32:22,180 his leaders tomorrow if he can get hold of them but we're telling him no you're not 320 00:32:22,180 --> 00:32:29,920 getting our kids you're not getting our kids it's not going to happen so if there ever 321 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:34,740 there was a time where secularization is trying to de-Christianize and dominate Australia 322 00:32:34,740 --> 00:32:40,420 it is now but don't be worried about it because greater is he that is in us than he that is 323 00:32:40,420 --> 00:32:45,980 of the world you know the Bible speaks about the signs and times before the return of Christ 324 00:32:45,980 --> 00:32:50,660 and this Antichrist movement is going to get stronger it's going to gain a little bit more 325 00:32:50,660 --> 00:32:55,380 momentum but it doesn't matter because it can never overcome an overwhelm an awesome 326 00:32:55,380 --> 00:33:04,040 mighty God that we serve the church of Jesus Christ is powerful the Bible teaches us this 327 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:08,220 is exactly how the world will be in the end times and it shouldn't be a surprise to us 328 00:33:08,220 --> 00:33:15,140 so what do we do what do we do this is what we do Proverbs 22 6 train up a child in the 329 00:33:15,140 --> 00:33:22,020 way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it these are the things that 330 00:33:22,020 --> 00:33:27,260 if we're not already doing it young families parents train up your child in the way that 331 00:33:27,260 --> 00:33:32,500 they should go and if they happen to wander off they'll come back to it they will come 332 00:33:32,500 --> 00:33:40,100 back to it you see I look at how many school teachers do we have here angels not all Ryan's 333 00:33:40,100 --> 00:33:50,820 a school teacher in Christian teachers need to be prayed for because you guys are on a 334 00:33:50,820 --> 00:33:58,620 front line that's at a whole different level all together pray for them in fact Brian is 335 00:33:58,620 --> 00:34:04,860 in a Christian school and some of what I've heard he's created such a beautiful atmosphere 336 00:34:04,860 --> 00:34:12,020 of God in the classroom and I think back boy I wished I had an environment like that to 337 00:34:12,020 --> 00:34:19,220 start with in school and maybe I wouldn't have lasted long in there I don't know but 338 00:34:19,220 --> 00:34:24,660 it would have been good to try anyway and so here it is to train them it's intentional 339 00:34:24,660 --> 00:34:29,980 to train their children to say hey look we're going to do this husbands and wives come together 340 00:34:29,980 --> 00:34:34,140 in agreement to say we're going to train up their children in the way that they should 341 00:34:34,140 --> 00:34:41,880 go they're going to go out into this world at some stage the time is now like the missionary 342 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:46,060 packing his suitcase for his journey we've got to help them pack their suitcase for their 343 00:34:46,060 --> 00:34:52,820 journey to prepare them for life because when they grow up and they go that's it you're 344 00:34:52,820 --> 00:34:57,780 just relying on what you've invested into them to get them through and I just I know 345 00:34:57,780 --> 00:35:03,420 one thing is for sure I heard it said at the conference the other day that it's it's not 346 00:35:03,420 --> 00:35:11,820 about it's it's more than teaching people about God it's about teaching people how to 347 00:35:11,820 --> 00:35:20,240 know God that's the difference so we can have all the knowledge of God and maybe not make 348 00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:26,420 as great an impact as we would have hoped but when somebody experiences the presence 349 00:35:26,420 --> 00:35:35,220 of God and knows God from experience I think that is a major heads up for any person especially 350 00:35:35,220 --> 00:35:41,420 children another scripture Deuteronomy chapter 11 verse 18 to 21 therefore you shall lay 351 00:35:41,420 --> 00:35:46,540 up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul and bind them as a sign on your 352 00:35:46,540 --> 00:35:52,740 hand that they shall be as frontlets between your eyes this is speaking to parents and 353 00:35:52,740 --> 00:36:00,120 then it says you shall teach them to your children speaking them speaking of them when 354 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:07,400 you sit in your house when you walk by the way when you lie down when you rise up and 355 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:14,260 you shall write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates that your days and 356 00:36:14,260 --> 00:36:19,500 the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your 357 00:36:19,500 --> 00:36:26,300 fathers to give them like the days of the heavens above the earth I don't know if there's 358 00:36:26,300 --> 00:36:33,420 any need to expand on that I think that scripture speaks very clearly for itself Psalm chapter 359 00:36:33,420 --> 00:36:41,880 78 verse 5 to 6 for he established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel which 360 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:49,320 he commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children verse 6 361 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:55,980 that the generation to come might know them the children would be born sorry the children 362 00:36:55,980 --> 00:37:02,220 who would be born that they may arise and declare them to their children so it's speaking 363 00:37:02,220 --> 00:37:09,620 about the generations to come and as I said every great leader understands the importance 364 00:37:09,620 --> 00:37:15,580 of children that they hold the keys to our future everything that we've ever invested 365 00:37:15,580 --> 00:37:22,860 into worked for planted sown built we would hope that our children the next generations 366 00:37:22,860 --> 00:37:28,940 would add to and build upon what we have done see children don't make up a hundred percent 367 00:37:28,940 --> 00:37:36,420 of our population but they are a hundred percent of our future we have today to develop the 368 00:37:36,420 --> 00:37:45,380 people for tomorrow so we can be so focused on this secularization decristianization and 369 00:37:45,380 --> 00:37:51,220 domination which is the devil's plan let's not ignore that it is a devil's plan but so 370 00:37:51,220 --> 00:38:02,900 what big deal we have been given an incredible authority an awesome responsibility to invest 371 00:38:02,900 --> 00:38:12,020 into this generation so they too like us will see what the devil's doing and not dictate 372 00:38:12,020 --> 00:38:20,160 to them to change their way of living but to live for God to live for him you know I 373 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:27,660 am seeing that Christianity just blown away like I said life changing this conference 374 00:38:27,660 --> 00:38:34,860 global development group to see more missionaries I know a lot of missionaries but I met missionaries 375 00:38:34,860 --> 00:38:43,460 I've never met before in my life and had no idea what the mission fields are alive be 376 00:38:43,460 --> 00:38:53,140 encouraged I don't think you're hearing me the mission fields are alive they're buzzing 377 00:38:53,140 --> 00:38:59,060 there are missionaries out all over the world giving of their lives and sacrificing the 378 00:38:59,060 --> 00:39:05,420 creature comforts of the home and going out and making a difference everywhere they go 379 00:39:05,420 --> 00:39:12,380 they're transforming nations communities how good is that so when we think and hear about 380 00:39:12,380 --> 00:39:19,540 the bad news on TV and this you know secularization decristianization and this domination yeah 381 00:39:19,540 --> 00:39:25,620 it's happening but big deal Christ is taking the planet Christ is ruling this world Christ 382 00:39:25,620 --> 00:39:31,340 is using people and missionaries and empowering and placing them and making a difference wherever 383 00:39:31,340 --> 00:39:37,100 they go in the name of Jesus we are seeing a record of well from what I was told 12 months 384 00:39:37,100 --> 00:39:43,300 ago record numbers of church plants across the world that the kingdom of God is growing 385 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:48,300 in each church that is planted is getting converts and so that the kingdom of God is 386 00:39:48,300 --> 00:39:55,460 growing it's exciting so please church don't be bogged down with what is going on yes it's 387 00:39:55,460 --> 00:40:02,460 concerning and we cannot ignore it but know this that the kingdom of God is moving forward 388 00:40:02,460 --> 00:40:09,460 very well thank you very much there's a conference coming up Kathleen can you put up your hand 389 00:40:09,460 --> 00:40:14,380 just over there yeah Kathleen is it alright if I ask them to get you the details there's 390 00:40:14,380 --> 00:40:20,100 a conference coming up that is quite it's in fact it's pertinent to what I'm speaking 391 00:40:20,100 --> 00:40:24,980 about that these guys I've already had a bit of a peek in behind the curtain as to what's 392 00:40:24,980 --> 00:40:32,100 going on and it is going to be amazing great speakers all that sort of thing and it's eye 393 00:40:32,100 --> 00:40:38,140 opening as to what's going on so I really would encourage each and every one of us to 394 00:40:38,140 --> 00:40:44,140 see if we can look down that road but I want to finish by doing this I'd like to pray for 395 00:40:44,140 --> 00:40:49,660 every single person you know with family we most of us I'm sure would have grandchildren 396 00:40:49,660 --> 00:40:57,700 at least or great-grandchildren or children I want to pray for this I don't even know 397 00:40:57,700 --> 00:41:06,180 what to call it I feel it but I can't get a word to it it's like this like a warrior 398 00:41:06,180 --> 00:41:16,780 not worrying like a warrior a fighter sort of thing I'm going to stand in the gap the 399 00:41:16,780 --> 00:41:23,620 young people of this nation and I believe that you know one can put a thousand to fly 400 00:41:23,620 --> 00:41:32,900 to the scripture says to put ten thousand to fly we can really do this and see the value 401 00:41:32,900 --> 00:41:41,740 these young people see that they get that great values of Christ established in their 402 00:41:41,740 --> 00:41:49,820 hearts now would be a big bonus for them and for society so if you can think of your children 403 00:41:49,820 --> 00:41:55,660 or maybe you don't have it and you've got neighbors with them or family extended family 404 00:41:55,660 --> 00:42:04,420 let's pray father in the name of Jesus we thank you Lord that you have given us the 405 00:42:04,420 --> 00:42:12,060 keys of the kingdom and today we intentionally use them and we pray for the young people 406 00:42:12,060 --> 00:42:18,460 of this nation of Australia and in fact from right around the world we pray in the name 407 00:42:18,460 --> 00:42:24,820 of Jesus father that they be covered covered with your precious blood that there would 408 00:42:24,820 --> 00:42:32,140 be your angelic presence round about them and got them rather we pray Lord God that 409 00:42:32,140 --> 00:42:39,580 you would bring or raise godly parents around about them and if they don't have parents 410 00:42:39,580 --> 00:42:48,860 a godly influence to be ministering to them father we pray Lord God for such a knowledge 411 00:42:48,860 --> 00:42:55,860 and an experiential knowledge of you almighty God in their lives father we lift up all the 412 00:42:55,860 --> 00:43:03,140 children of this world to you father we ask that there would be such a move of God a move 413 00:43:03,140 --> 00:43:10,260 of your spirit to touch the hearts of all the young people as well everybody else but 414 00:43:10,260 --> 00:43:19,020 father I pray for the parents Lord to realize the hour we live in and to know that it's 415 00:43:19,020 --> 00:43:29,060 high time to invest invest the values of Christ into my children and so father I pray these 416 00:43:29,060 --> 00:43:39,580 things in the name of Jesus and we all said amen amen God bless you guys God bless you 417 00:43:39,580 --> 00:43:44,820 hallelujah if there's anybody that needs prayer for anything please don't hesitate to come 418 00:43:44,820 --> 00:43:50,620 out love to pray for you and remember tea and coffee in the back room and yeah enjoy 419 00:43:50,620 --> 00:43:55,500 that but just remember I'm not downplaying that there are problems in this world and 420 00:43:55,500 --> 00:44:00,980 this slackness that you know that goes I'm not ignoring that I see it as much as you 421 00:44:00,980 --> 00:44:08,460 do but I'm acknowledging the greater one that lives in us that is doing quite a lot more 422 00:44:08,460 --> 00:44:16,580 than we probably do realize amen thank you for joining us we pray God's richest blessing 423 00:44:16,580 --> 00:44:22,380 on your life if you haven't already make sure to join us on Facebook Instagram and YouTube 424 00:44:22,380 --> 00:44:39,300 you can also find us at Logan City Christian Church dot com see you next week