Destroying The Works Of The Enemy

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

January 24, 2021

in Spritual Growth

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3rd Sunday of Epiphany
Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines
January 24, 2021

Readings: Jeremiah 3:21-4:2
1 Corinthians 7: 17-23
Mark 1: 14-20

When the disciples were called by Christ, they responded immediately. They responded quickly. They did not have to analyze if they are making the right decision. They heeded the call right away. This should challenge us because in our world today, we weigh things first before making any decision for God. Our gospel today in Mark 1:15 says, “The time has come, he said. The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

God created man out of the dust of the ground. But when He breathed life into man, man became a living soul. We have put too much value on the flesh, when we should be taking care of our spiritual lives. We take extra lengths to make sure our flesh feels comfortable or look beautiful.

Galatians 4: 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.
Ephesians 1: 10 Regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

God gave man the responsibility to rule the world and cultivate it. But when man fell, the rulership was given to Satan. God’s love for us would not allow the rulership of Satan to last, which is why He sent Jesus to us. Many times however, we have this notion that it is the things which are happening right now in the world and all the darkness we see which are pulling us down, and causing the hindrances in our lives, not realizing that when Christ came, the world was in darkness. We have allowed the world’s standards to control us. We listen to these things instead and we give them attention. Christ came to destroy the works of the enemy. What are these? Sin. Christ came to destroy the power of sin. The problem is in the hearts of man, and not God.

We should pay attention to the Word. It is the Manual of life. We need to believe in the Gospel in order to know what really belongs to us. The Gospel is hope, truth, peace and salvation. Jesus was not controlled by the systems of the world. He was living according to the standards of God.

Scriptures show us that if we walk in the ways of God, we will not be slaves or in bondage to the things of the world. Sin causes conflict, hatred, greed, lust, oppression, guilt, anxiety. Without sin we would be living in paradise. Sin is the foundation of all evil, and Christ came to destroy this. Therefore we should repent, despise evil, love and live the gospel.

John 4:24 God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in Truth.
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Colossians 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory.

Christ is spirit made flesh to show us the potential of man. He is with us. His spirit quickens us and tells us things. God is love and everyone who is born of God is love. He who does not love does not know God. Christ comes to restore that which was taken away from us, so that we might live through Him.

We should know God’s voice. This is why the disciples followed Christ immediately. Obedience is the key. Obedience and belief in the Gospel. It is God’s Spirit that should control us.1st John 4:13 This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

If we are in the Kingdom, we should not be affected by what’s happening in the world. Our confidence and hope should be in Christ. God will never leave us. We should be proclaiming that God is great. He gives us strength, hope and healing. There is power within us because of Christ.