War Starts Within

• Matthew 10:42 [And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.]
  • There is a reward with just giving brothers and sisters a cup of water.
  • There is a reward for helping the prophets and just assisting them.
• We are doing spiritual warfare to tear down lies
• The war begins within our mind first, against our flesh
• Exodus 20:13 [Thou shalt not kill.]
  • Deut 7:2[2-And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:]
  • Deuteronomy 7:3 (KJV)  Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
  • Thou shalt not kill goes into how dealing with our people.
  • Leviticus 19:17 (KJV)  Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
    • This is going into hatred of our brethren. We were told to kill the other nations at times.
    • Deuteronomy 19:4 (KJV)  And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
      • This was not done intentionally
    • Deuteronomy 19:5 (KJV)  As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
    • Deuteronomy 19:6 (KJV)  Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
      • There was a retalliation for killing as it is with gangs today. The cities were set up so those that killed accidently would not be put to death themselves.
  • This commandment is speaking of killing with hatred.
  • Murders start with hatred in your mind first.
• Isaiah 42:21 (KJV)  The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
• Matthew 5:21 (KJV)  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
• Matthew 5:22 (KJV)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
  • Cain was angry with Abel without a cause.
  • If you do have a cause that is what Matthew 18 is for.
• Matthew 5:22 (KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
  • The council is Matthew 18
  • Raca meaning you do not want to listen to any council or fix the problem with your brother or sister.
• Matthew 5:23 (KJV) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
  • Many pray to God while still having hatred in your heart.
• Matthew 5:43 (KJV) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
• Matthew 5:44 (KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
  • Even if it is someone speaking evil of you or doing evil against you, we are still not to carry hatred toward them.
  • The neighbor here and enemy in this scripture is your brothers and sisters, not the other nations.
  • In Israel there are some camps that speak evil against the other out of envy and hatred.
  • Before it was an eye for eye, tooth for tooth
  • Saul became David’s enemy, and kept trying to kill him. Even though David could have killed Saul at anytime.
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 (KJV) And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
  • Romans 11:28 (KJV) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
    • The leaders (Pharisees and Scribers) were our enemies
    • They are beloved because the Father chose them also
    • Our enemies today are the pastors, but some will repent according to the election
• Why we cannot carry hatred, Stephen was a deacon in the church
  • Acts 7:58-60 (KJV) And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
    • Saul was later called Paul, who later repented
    • Stephen was being stoned to death by his brothers, but still asked the Lord to forgive him
      • He was one of the elect/saints
      • This is the type of spirit that we must learn to have
• Acts 9:10-12 (KJV) And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
  • Paul was praying
• Acts 9:13 (KJV) Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
  • Ananias speaking that he have heard about what Paul has done to the Jews that believed on Christ
• Acts 9:14-15 (KJV) And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
  • In all the evil that Paul did, he was still chosen by the Lord.
  • Even if someone is speaking evil of you, or persecuting you at one time, down the line they may repent if they are chosen.
  • If Ananias had not forgave Paul, he may have lost his crown to the kingdom
• Acts 9:16 (KJV) For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
  • Paul suffered and was eventually killed
• Matthew 5:44 (KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
  • We have to train ourselves to not feed into the hatred and their evil spirit jumps on your
  • We have to literally pray for our enemies to take the spirit of hatred from them
  • It would be good to come together against our enemy, but we know that we cannot come together on doctrine until Christ comes and gives us all truth
    • 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 (KJV) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
• Matthew 5:45 (KJV) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
  • We must do this if we are the children of our Father
• Matthew 5:46 (KJV) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
  • It is explaining who the enemy is
  • If we just love those without the body and deal only with ourselves right what is the benefit. Even wicked people love each other and do not care about those outside.
• Matthew 5:47 (KJV) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
  • When see those from other camps, we can salute them and keep it moving, but we must not be in a spirit of hatred to others, even those that speak evil of me.
  • Our job is to set an example to our people.
• 2 Esdras 7:36-41 Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness:
  • To pray for our enemies is not something new. We were just not practicing anymore. Some of them will repent.
  • Even those Israel was trying to overthrow Moses, he still pray for them.
  • Throughout history, our forefathers always prayed for the wicked and ungodly
    • Our job is to save souls, not destroy them
• 2 Esdras 7:42-45
  • Those that speak against another are weak and caught up in their own sins
  • Day of doom (Doomsday)
    •  On this day, we cannot help them

The War Starts Within

• The war is us fighting our sins, and if we keep losing the battle, the enemies will use it against us and try to destroy us.
• Mark 7:21-23 (KJV) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
  • All these things come from within and defile us
  • 2 Esdras 3:21 For the first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was overcome; and so be all they that are born of him.
    • Adam did not correct his wife
    • We all came from Adam, so every last one of us has an evil heart
  • 2 Esdras 16:67 Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your sins, and forget your iniquities, to meddle no more with them for ever: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.
    • Leave off from your sins and do not meddle with them anymore so you are not defiled with them
• 2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
  • We are soldiers in Christ and continually fighting the demons inside of us. We are not going through it by ourselves.
  • If you are not battling, you may not be a bastard.
  • If you are not having a fight within you right now, you must examine yourselves.
• 2 Timothy 2:4 (KJV) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
  • If you are warring, you are not caught up with the things in this life. They are just a distraction and could take us out.
  • We were all chosen to be soldiers in this walk.
• 2 Timothy 2:21 (KJV) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
• 2 Timothy 2:22 (KJV) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
  • We must flee youthful lust, the main thing being money and sex
  • Others include power, preeminence
  • Sirach 33:27
    • Idleness teaches evil. If we overcome our sins, we must not be idle.
  • Sirach 30:13
    • When your child is not busy building up their spirit, their lust will take over
• 1 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
  • We you do not have a woman you can focus on the Lord
    • 1 Corinthians 7:32 (KJV) But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
    • 1 Corinthians 7:33 (KJV) But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
      • The wife will want attention
  • Christ and Paul was not married, why they were able to travel and do the work
  • It takes a lot to be married (you must teach them, and command them so they stay in the spirit)
• 1 Corinthians 7:2 (KJV) Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
  • Fornication – (Masturbating and Watching porn is considered fornication)
• 1 Corinthians 7:3 (KJV) Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
  • When you get married, do not hold back sex because it could create a problem.
• 1 Corinthians 7:4 (KJV) The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
• 1 Corinthians 7:5 (KJV) Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
• 1 Corinthians 7:6 (KJV) But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
• 1 Corinthians 7:7 (KJV) For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
• 1 Timothy 5:3 (KJV) Honour widows that are widows indeed.
• 1 Timothy 5:4 (KJV) But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
• 1 Timothy 5:5 (KJV) Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
  • Widows must put their trust in God and pray to the Lord.
• 1 Timothy 5:6 (KJV) But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
  • Live in pleasure, you mind is not on serving God.
• 1 Timothy 5:7 (KJV) And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
• 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
• 1 Timothy 5:9 (KJV) Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
  • Under 60 years
• 1 Timothy 5:10 (KJV) Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
  • The mindset of the single sisters
• 1 Timothy 5:11 (KJV) But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
  • Those that are lacking and will begin to let their lust takeover.
  • A widow is supposed to dedicate themselves to Christ
• 1 Timothy 5:12 (KJV) Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
  • Instead of being patient and waiting for a husband, they look for their lust in the world.
• 1 Timothy 5:13 (KJV) And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
• 1 Timothy 5:14 (KJV) I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
• 1 Timothy 5:15 (KJV) For some are already turned aside after Satan.
  • At the time this was being written, there were already some committing these sins.
• 2 Corinthians 10:3 (KJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
  • The war that we are fighting is not after the flesh
  • It is a spiritual war that we are fighting.
• 2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
  • If we can control our thoughts, we can control our body. The war begins in our mind.
  • The war starts with our mind and thoughts.
  • How to bring our thoughts into subjection
    • Romans 7:23 (KJV) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
      • The war is in our mind
      • There is something inside him that is bringing him to the captivity of sin
      • The members = different sins we have inside us
    • Romans 7:24 (KJV) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
    • Romans 7:25 (KJV) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
      • Our flesh fights against our mind
    • Mark 9:28 (KJV) And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
    • Mark 9:29 (KJV) And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
      • When you fast and pray, you are strengthening your spirit by forcing your body not to eat.
      • You are training your body to listen to you.
    • 1 Corinthians 9:26 (KJV) I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
      • We must know why we are running, what is our purpose.
    • 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
      • We must be able to control our body and bring it into subjection so we can stop committing sin.
• Colossians 3:1 (KJV) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
• Colossians 3:5 (KJV) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
  • We must kill these members.
• 2 Corinthians 12:1 (KJV) It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 12:2 (KJV) I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
  • Paul is speaking of himself
• 2 Corinthians 12:3 (KJV) And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
• 2 Corinthians 12:4 (KJV) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
• 2 Corinthians 12:5 (KJV) Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
  • We must glory in our weakness/sins.
• 2 Corinthians 12:6 (KJV) For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
  • We should not boast, because we are all fighting something. Even leadership is battling. Paul said that, just in case he happens to fall, those that looked to him would not bug out and fall away.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
  • The thorn was sexual sins so that he could not think higher of himself that he out to.
• 2 Corinthians 12:8 (KJV) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
  • Paul went to God to have the demon taken from him.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
  • The mercy of God is enough. If we fall, repent and get back up. Do not stay down and go back into the world.
  • If you do not have any sins to fight, how would you become stronger.
• Romans 2:16 (KJV) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
  • In the day of judgement, Christ will judge the secrets of men