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OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGE
OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGE
The impossible is not impossible to God. It is very possible to God. In difficult situations, we can see the mighty work of the hand of God more than anywhere else in the world. Everywhere, there is a challenge. We struggle to demolish strongholds, arguments, and every pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of the Lord. We are to use the mighty weapons of God to demolish these barriers to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, to win people to Christ, and to deliver them from darkness, the kingdom of the evil one to the kingdom of the beloved Son of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
The impossible is not impossible to God. It is very possible to God. In difficult situations, we can see the mighty work of the hand of God more than anywhere else in the world. Everywhere, there is a challenge. We struggle to demolish strongholds, arguments, and every pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of the Lord. We are to use the mighty weapons of God to demolish these barriers to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, to win people to Christ, and to deliver them from darkness, the kingdom of the evil one to the kingdom of the beloved Son of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
The prince of this world blind people through strongholds, arguments, the prideful heart of mankind, to keep them from coming to the knowledge of Christ. The three mighty weapons given to us are love, prayer, and the Truth. The struggles that we are fighting with are not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6). We are struggling against dark evil forces—of Satan and his kingdom in this world. God has given us these weapons to achieve what we have been called to do.
The prince of this world blind people through strongholds, arguments, the prideful heart of mankind, to keep them from coming to the knowledge of Christ. The three mighty weapons given to us are love, prayer, and the Truth. The struggles that we are fighting with are not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6). We are struggling against dark evil forces—of Satan and his kingdom in this world. God has given us these weapons to achieve what we have been called to do.
I. THE POWER OF LOVE
The most important driving force to pray, and to spread the good news of the love of Christ is love (John 3:16). We are here because of the power of His love. We have been captivated by the love of God to be born again into His family and to be a disciple of Christ. The power of love of the Father brought us to life. He is the source of such a wonderful love towards sinners.
God’s greatest commandment is to love Him and to love our neighbor (Luke 10:27). Love is so “soft” but it has the power to penetrate into the heart. People build shields to protect themselves from being touched by the knowledge of God and be convinced to change their lifestyle. Only love can penetrate through their shields. Only love can touch the inner being—feed the soul of mankind, and touch the heart. Genuine love (agape, the unconditional love) can penetrate into the heart of man and open the secret place to hear and embrace the love of God. Love can penetrate and soften the most hardened heart.
Matthew 5:44,46 says to love our enemy and we’ll turn the enemy into a friend, then take them from darkness into light. The power of love is much stronger than hating our enemy. We defeat evil with good (Romans 12:20). We defeat the spirit of hatred and hostility by love and forgiveness. Only we can do that because we have been forgiven by the grace of Christ. We have been loved by God so we can do the same. Jesus has loved and taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The power of love is to build bridges and reconcile people to themselves and to God.
Love will cast out fear from us (1 John 4:18). When we love our enemies, we will not be afraid of them. When we love our enemy genuinely because of God’s love, we will dare to take risks and build bridges. The power of love will drive you not only to bless but also to pray.
II. THE POWER OF PRAYER
Prayer has the power to mobilize God’s hands. Anybody who has faith in Christ will do what Jesus has done (John 14:12) and even greater things because He has gone to the Father (John 14:13-14). He performed miracles, opened eyes and the ears, raised the dead, casted out demons, and proclaimed the love of God through the mighty work of His hands. Whatever we ask in His name to bring glory to the Father, He will do it. Pray for the Spirit of the gospel. He will feed us and take care of our needs.
In ministry, God through the power of the Holy Spirit is using our hands to bless and serve people and our tongue to proclaim the gospel. In prayer, God is using our knees to mobilize His hands to do wonders and miracles and reveal Himself. This is why the power of prayer is much greater than the power of ministry, but we believe in ministry more than prayer. We spend more time doing ministry using our hands than using our knees to bring glory to the Father.
Nothing is impossible if we pray for people. Christ will go before us if we are ready to be sent by Him to serve and embrace people and to take them into the kingdom of God. Isaiah 64:1-2 is a prayer to God to rend the heavens and to come down to make His name known. Nothing is impossible! What Jesus did in the past, He is ready to do and will do even greater things only by the power of prayer. Our God is true and alive!
III. THE POWER OF TRUTH
Love will soften and reach the heart, the inner chamber. Prayer will send Christ before us and will open people’s eyes and ears to make them understand that Jesus is the Son of God.
The mind also should be convinced. The mind should have answers for sincere questions (1 Peter 3:15). In humility, we answer those who ask us. Atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. have questions about what we believe in. A convincing answer is an answer that will satisfy the mind. Give an answer to everyone with honest questions. We have answers to every honest question.
People will be delivered from darkness by knowing the truth— and we have the truth. We have the power of the truth that can convince the mind. It is our responsibility to tell someone about it (Romans 10:14).
Love builds the bridge. Prayer prepares the heart and the soul. We have the answers to their questions. We can demolish every argument that sets itself against the knowledge of the Lord if we are ready with the answers.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Is there someone you find difficult to love? Have you ever prayed for those who hurt you?
Are you ready to give an answer to those who ask you about your faith?
Write down 2 names whom you want to win to Christ with the principles you have learned.
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