Righteous Invasion of Truth

Dr. Abel Damina: (Praying in tongues)

The entrance of His word giveth light. It giveth understanding to the simple.

(Praying in tongues)

Father, we thank You. We bless and praise the name of Jesus. You can loose your hands and begin to give Him praise, begin to bless His name and honor Him this morning. Give thanks unto the Father who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Father, we give You praise and glory in the name of Jesus. Father, we thank You for this another opportunity to come before Your holy, precious, written word. Thank You that the mighty Holy Spirit lives on our inside. So this morning, we come with joy to fellowship with one another and to fellowship in the truth that is in Your word.

Revelation knowledge is gifted everybody under the sound of my voice. Whatever is not planted by God is rooted out. We rebuke sickness and disease. Satan, get your hands off of God's property in the name of Jesus. Sick bodies be healed. He sent His word; His word healed them. His word delivered them from all their destruction.

So this morning, we declare that healing is made available in the name of Jesus. Father, we thank You that Your people are built up, Your people are equipped, and Your people are edified. By the end of this service, Jesus is glorified. Thank You for the blessing upon this service today. In Jesus' name we pray, and every believer says a powerful amen.

Glory! Lift your right hands to heaven. Let's release our faith together as we say these words: I am born of God. I am born of the word. The word of God is my nature. I do not struggle to do the word. I do the word naturally. Therefore today, I will understand the word of His grace. I will be built up. By the end of this service, I will never be the same, never ever be the same again, in Jesus' name. And every believer says a powerful amen.

Glory! Are we excited to fellowship with one another and study God's word? Can we celebrate our fellowship with a shout? A celebration this morning! Glory! Is that a shout on an Easter Sunday? Oh, glory, glory, glory!

I'd like you to walk around three, four, or five people and tell them, "He's alive in me. He's alive on my inside. Jesus is alive inside me." Greet somebody real good this morning all over the world. Just greet one another. Let's fellowship. He's alive!

I am the proof that Jesus is no more in the grave. Glory! I am the trophy of His resurrection. Hallelujah! When He rose, we rose with Him. Glory to God! Amen. Amen. Grab your pen, your notebook, and your Bible. You can be seated as we get into the word of His grace.

We want to welcome everybody connected to this service by way of Kingdom Life Network and all of our social media community. What a joy and honor to have all of you connected from all the different parts of the world. We are very honored to have you as part of our church family, learning and growing together with us in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

All right, let's get into the word of God this morning. We've been looking at spiritual warfare and the work of ministry. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10 to 12.

Guest (Male): For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

Dr. Abel Damina: We began to see brother Paul admonishing the church on what to do to live in victory, what to do to effectively do ministry and be victorious in the work of ministry. He begins this part of his letter by saying, "Finally, brethren." The word "finally" is used here, translated from the Greek word *loipon*.

Contrary to the English meaning of the word which refers to a conclusion, *loipon* implies "moreover" or "henceforth." You will see the use of that word "finally" as "furthermore" in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 1.

Guest (Male): Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Dr. Abel Damina: The word "furthermore" implies that Paul was going to say something in addition to what he had already said. It was also used in Philippians chapter 3, verse 1.

Guest (Male): Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Dr. Abel Damina: "Finally, my brethren. Furthermore, my brethren." You see it again used in Philippians chapter 4, verse 8.

Guest (Male): Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Dr. Abel Damina: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things..." The word "finally" there shows that it is furthermore, just like brother Paul would use in Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10. So it does not refer to a conclusion, but rather a furtherance of his earlier discussion.

This leads to the next statement: "Be strong in the Lord." The word "strong" was translated from the Greek word *endynamoo*, which implies to strengthen yourself, supply strength, or consolidate. When Paul says, "Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might," he was not referring to two different things because the word "and" there in the Greek was translated from the word *kai*, which could either be conjunctive or explanatory.

In this context, it will be explanatory because being strong in the Lord is being strong in the power of His might. Now notice the word "power" used here, translated from the Greek word *kratos*. The word "power" that is used here, "power of His might," is translated from the Greek word *kratos*, which implies for strength to be concentrated in one place.

Then the word "power" was used several times in the same book, the greatest concentration of its use being in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 19. Look at the concentration of the use of that word "power": "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."

"Exceeding greatness." The word "exceeding" there means the power is so much that it goes beyond the limit. If you look at Ephesians chapter 3, verse 20, you will see the use of the word "power" again.

Guest (Male): Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Dr. Abel Damina: "According to the power that worketh in us." Brother Paul in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 19 explains that the power is available to us, to us-ward who believe. Therefore, the believer has to take advantage of the power. The believer in Jesus is not power-deficient. The power is available to the believer who is in Christ Jesus, so the believer has to take advantage of that power that he has within.

He is not to ask for power, but to know the power that has been made available to him. "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." The power is at work in us. The power is not coming from above. The power is not coming from somewhere. The power is at work in the believer.

So the believer is not lacking in power. That's why he gave the instruction, "Be strong in the power of His might." You be strong because the power is already made available in you. To be strong in the power of His might is to strengthen yourself with the power that is available within.

Ephesians chapter 6, verse 11 says, "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Paul says, "Put on the whole armor." The word "put on" was translated from the Greek word *enduo*, which implies to be clothed upon, to wear something like a robe. You will see the use of that word "to put on" in Galatians chapter 3, verse 27.

Guest (Male): For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Dr. Abel Damina: "As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on." "Put on the whole armor." Galatians 3:27, "have put on Christ." So to "put on" in Ephesians 6:11 will be what is worn, to be clothed with. Put on the whole armor of God.

So brother Paul is teaching about armor which is used or worn to the warfront. This is why he calls it a warfare. So to "put on" will refer to that which must be done consistently. To "put on" means it is a consistent action. "Put on the whole armor of God." You don't put on once; you put on consistently.

"Put on the whole armor of God." That means the armor is not automatic; you have to put it on. The power is available, but you have to put the armor on. So brother Paul now refers to that which must be done consistently. We are to put on the whole armor. So the believer must be armed because the believer cannot live as though there is no devil.

You cannot live as though there is no devil. But we know that there is an enemy to our faith. We know that there is an enemy to our faith. So we put on the whole armor; we are fully armed because we are well aware of the enemy of our faith. The devil is our adversary. He is out to devour believers. He's going about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour. 2 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 11.

Guest (Male): Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Dr. Abel Damina: "For we are not ignorant of his devices." 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 8.

Guest (Male): Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Dr. Abel Damina: Your adversary, the devil. He didn't say your adversary your neighbor or your adversary the boss in your office. Your adversary, the devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. So lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.

That's why Ephesians 6:11 now says, "Put on the whole armor to stand against the wiles of the devil." The word "wiles" refers to tricks. The devil is a trickster; he's a deceiver. Something that is arranged against the believer. And this is what the devil uses: tricks and deception.

The believer, therefore, must know that there is a conflict in progress with the devil. There is a conflict. From the day a man accepts the gospel, he has received the fatherhood of God. From the day you receive Jesus, from the day you believe the gospel, God becomes your father. Because men who have not believed the gospel are called children of the devil. In John 8:44, it says, "Ye are of your father the devil."

So a man that is not born again, his father is the devil. A man that is born again, his father is God. So the believer is no longer under the authority of darkness. And what the devil uses against the believer are wiles, tricks, deception. That's all he uses, nothing more: tricks and deception.

So we, therefore, wrestle by taking the whole armor of God. We wrestle by taking the whole armor of God. And the word "wrestle" means we ward off. You ward off the tricks, you ward off the deceptions of the devil by taking on the whole armor of God. And the reason why we wrestle is in order to advance. That means there are influences that stand against the progress of the believer. There are influences that oppose, influences that try to conflict your advancement.

Now, what are the wiles of the devil? It refers to the tricks, deception, lies. Those are the wiles of the devil: tricks, deception, lies, scheming, and persecutions. That's all the devil has: tricks, deception, lies, scheming, and persecutions that he uses against the believer. But glory to God, the devil has been defeated! Glory to God!

The devil is a defeated foe. He's the old slew foot, defeated 2,000 years ago. Glory to God! Satan has no power over the believer. The only power that Satan has had from Genesis chapter 3 over man was sin. That's been the only power that Satan has had. The power of the devil is sin.

Man sinned, therefore man made himself a victim of the devil. That's the only power. Romans chapter 5, verse 12: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." So death is a consequence of sin. The real culprit is sin. The real problem of man is sin. Death is the shadow that follows sin. So the power of the devil is sin. That's what the devil has used against all of humanity: sin. Hebrews chapter 2, verses 14 and 15.

Guest (Male): Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Dr. Abel Damina: Through death, He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. But remember: death by sin. So Satan had the power of death because man was in sin. So the sin of man empowered Satan.

And the death there is not even the physical death. The real death there is spiritual separation from God. Man is separated from God; that's death. Because God told Adam in Genesis chapter 3, "The day you eat of it, you shall surely die." Now, man ate, man died, but man was still walking because the death was not physical death; the death was spiritual death.

That's why Ephesians chapter 2, verse 1 says, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Man was dead in sins and trespasses. And even though he was dead in sins and trespasses, the next verse says, "Wherein in time past ye walked." So you were dead, but you were walking according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the *pneuma* spirit, which is air, the spirit that now worketh.

So even though you are dead, there is a spirit at work in the children of disobedience. So this man is dead, but a spirit is at work in him, and this man is still operating under the influence of this world. Look at the next verse, verse 3. "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

So Hebrews chapter 2 tells you, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he likewise himself took part of the same." He took part; it's called identification. He took part of the same. 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 21.

Guest (Male): For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Dr. Abel Damina: He hath made Him to be sin for us. Why? The power of Satan was sin. The power that Satan had in destroying mankind was sin. So God made Jesus sin. Identification. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he likewise himself partook of the same." God made Him sin for us who knew no sin, that we who knew no righteousness might be made the righteousness of God in Christ.

So He identified with us. Why? Romans chapter 6, verse 23. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The wages of sin, not the wages of Satan. The wages of sin is death. Sin brought an effect called death. Satan rides on sin and uses sin as a masquerade or as a mask to inflict man with all sorts and all manner, because man in sin is already a coward. Sin makes cowards of men.

"Adam, where art thou? I am naked." "Who told you?" He's hiding. Why is he hiding? Why didn't he hide before? Something has gone wrong, and he's aware something has gone wrong. And so his consciousness is already aware of his status, so he goes into hiding. Sin.

But God made Him sin for us. Glory to God! Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He likewise himself partook of the same. God made Him sin for us who knew no sin, for the wages of sin is death. So since He has become sin, He will have to die because where there is sin, there will be death.

So through death, He destroyed him that had the power of death. Who had the power of death? So who has been killing throughout the scriptures? Satan, using the mask of death. So you can't see Satan because he's hiding behind death, and death is hiding behind sin.

So Jesus became sin. And when He became sin, He trapped death. Death took Jesus with sin in Him. When He died, He died with sin. And in dying with sin, He paid sin the wages that sin demanded. So Jesus paid the wages of sin to sin by death. Glory to God!

He died according to the scriptures, not according to your public holiday calendar. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but as a member of this church, we are a people of *epignosis*. We are a people of what? *Epignosis*. You must have an accurate, precise understanding of the details of the facts of the gospel.

He rose on the third day triumphantly, defeated death and the grave. Look at Mark chapter 9, verse 31.

Guest (Male): For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Dr. Abel Damina: He shall rise the third day. And Peter knew that's exactly what happened because Peter was there, and Peter was in that class where Jesus, upon resurrection, taught for 40 days. Now, look at how Peter will explain his own understanding of what Jesus taught them upon resurrection for 40 days in Acts chapter 2, verses 25 to 32.

Guest (Male): For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Dr. Abel Damina: This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. Sin, that the grave could not keep him down! On the third day, He rose triumphantly from the dead. That resurrection becomes the guarantee of man's freedom from sin and freedom from death. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 3 and 4.

Guest (Male): For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

Dr. Abel Damina: He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Look at verse 14 now. What did this resurrection make available to us? "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." Your faith is baseless if Christ is not risen. So the basis for our faith is that Christ rose from the dead. Give me verse 17 of the same chapter. "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."

So the resurrection is man's freedom from sin, which is Satan's power over man. If Christ is not risen, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. Romans chapter 4, verse 25. "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification." Who was delivered for our offenses? It is called substitutionary sacrifice. He died my death, He was buried my burial, He rose, and that is my resurrection.

So because He is risen, I am risen together with Him. His victory over sin is my victory over sin. So therefore, sin shall no longer have dominion over you because the power of sin has been broken by the resurrection of Christ. And when you believe the gospel, you become a master over sin. Glory to God!

Ephesians chapter 2, verses 5 and 6.

Guest (Male): Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Dr. Abel Damina: Has raised us up together, made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So if you have risen together with Christ, then you have defeated sin forever. If sin has not been defeated, there will be no resurrection. Because the wages of sin is death. And if that death didn't pay, Jesus would not rise. But He not only paid, He overpaid. Three days, three nights, all of eternity. Your sin past, present, future, all fully paid for in that one death, in that one burial, in that one resurrection.

So the power of Satan is broken. Satan is a defeated foe. He was defeated, he is defeated, he remains defeated. Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. I give you power to trample over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the devil." Why? Because the devil's power has been defeated.

What was the devil's power? Sin. Jesus took from him the armor wherein he trusted. He took from him the armor wherein he trusted. The only way he can rule you today is to deceive you to believe you're a sinner saved by grace. You're a sinner, even though you're saved by grace, you are still a sinner. If he can keep you there, he has a weapon. You are not a sinner; you are the righteous, saved by grace.

Somebody shout very loud, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!" Say it louder, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!" So Satan has no power over the believer. All he has today is wiles, wiles, wiles, deception.

And that's why Paul says, "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Now, what is wrestle? The wrestle is not against flesh and blood. We do not fight human beings. No. But principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness in the high places. Now, this high places has to do with the people of influence, men in authority. These are human authorities that are subject to the devil. Human authorities that are subject to the devil.

For example, you remember when Daniel prayed when he discovered it was time for the deliverance of the people of Israel? After he prayed, the angel finally came and said, "Oh Daniel, greatly beloved, from the first day you set yourself to pray, your prayer was answered and I was sent to bring the answer. But on my way, the prince of Persia..."

There is a prince over the government of Persia. There's a spiritual entity that is influencing the government of Persia. And every nation, anywhere there is a government, there is an evil spirit attached to control that government. So a man in government, like a governor or a president, becomes a victim of that evil spirit. That's why Paul said we pray for those in authority so that that influence of that prince over that place will be reduced on whoever is governing.

But if the person in government, the president or the governor, understands his authority in Christ and is born of God, that prince has no influence on that government. If it's a baby Christian, it's worse. And it's worse because, you know, when you come across people in corridors of power, sometimes how many of you have observed you find that during campaign, they will promise heaven and earth? And they are serious.

They are not promising because they want to lie to you; they really mean to do the things they are saying. If not all, at least 50%. They are serious about doing it. They mean it. Then they are voted, they come into power, and they sit in a seat that demon spirits have been assigned to. Now they are not trained spiritually, and some of them don't have diabolical backings. So they just mess them up.

You see a man, a governor, a commissioner, somebody in power comes to office and sits down looking like a zombie. Things are working on him. Things are just working on him. He stays there, he stands up after work, he goes home, he comes back tomorrow. One year, two years, no achievement. They are working on him.

Then when he leaves office, he says, "Ay! I wish they had left him, now he's normal." That same thing he wanted to do, now he wants to still do it, but his time is up. Some people come from China, some come from India, some come from some village where they have done all kinds of diabolical things. They come and shake them, and when they shake them, they seize their normalcy. He will promise and forget. It's not deliberate; they are doing him.

But there are also some of them that have cooked themselves with demons. When they enter, if you do them, it will just fall down because they came in with something. But then there are those that have the Holy Ghost! They know their authority. When you shake them, it doesn't happen because they came fully equipped!

"We wrestle not against principalities and powers. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places." So what do you do? Put on the whole armor of God.

The devil is called the father of liars in John 8:44. So he's able to work through those who don't have Christ; he's able to work through those who are unsaved. They are also called the children of disobedience. So the wrestle is against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness. Now, how do these principalities and powers stand against the believer?

Now remember, their workings can be seen in scenarios of persecution. They stand against the believer by bringing persecution and they oppose the gospel. For example, Paul and Silas we read in Acts chapter 16, how this girl was going around and crying, "These men be the men of the most high which do show us the way of salvation." And when Paul rebuked the spirit, the spirit left, he was arrested and they were thrown in prison. That's persecution. That's opposition against the gospel.

They were delivered because they prayed. Paul and Silas at midnight prayed and they sang praises unto God. There was a shaking and the prison door was opened. In Acts chapter 4, we read where the chief priest, the Pharisees and the scribes and the elders gathered at Jerusalem, and when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this, the healing of the lame man at the gate beautiful?"

Then in Acts chapter 4, verse 21, when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish him because of the people, for all men glorified God for that which was done. But they threatened them; they intimidated them.

So it went on and on. You see Paul and Barnabas in Acts chapter 13, opposition against the gospel. So every time the gospel is advancing, the devil will stir up in the hearts of men who don't have Christ as to how they can oppose and halt the gospel. So those spirits influencing men to oppose the gospel, those are the spirits we engage in what we call spiritual warfare.

So spiritual warfare is against the work of the ministry. The persecutions, the oppositions are against the word of God so that it will not be preached, so that men will not be saved. So spiritual warfare is against the preaching of the gospel.

How is this war fought? The war is fought by the preaching and teaching of the gospel. That's how we fight. We fight by preaching and teaching. When we preach and teach in spite of challenges, in spite of insult, in spite of opposition, in spite of attack, we keep preaching and teaching, we are not distracted. That is how we fight.

In Mark chapter 16, verse 15, Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned. These signs shall follow those that believe." Why will the signs follow? Because going to preach is warfare. Going to preach is warfare. So signs will follow you. You will heal the sick, you will cast out demons. Why? Because you're engaged in war against spirits of darkness.

These signs shall follow. And they went forth preaching everywhere, the Lord working with them, confirming His word with signs and wonders. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, verse 1 and 2: "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith."

To be delivered from wicked and unreasonable men. That is, human agents that oppose the preaching of the gospel. Human agents that persecute ministers of the gospel so that they want to hinder the spreading of the gospel. So we engage them in war. How do we engage in this war? By preaching and teaching against all odds. Having done all to stand, stand. You persevere. You persevere in ministry.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verse 9, Paul says: "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." There are many adversaries. A great and effectual door is open for me to preach, but there are many adversaries. What kind of adversaries? Adversaries of opposition, adversaries of financial challenges.

Sometimes you're involved in ministry, suddenly money becomes a problem. Yet you persevere. Even without money, you still preach. Your body gets sick, you still preach. All hell breaks loose, you still preach. That's warfare. Because the whole intent is to stop the advancement of the gospel.

Now, if you're not intelligent, because you're sick, you take vacation. If you're not intelligent, because things are not working, you now tell God to wait so that you can pursue and make things work, then later you will come back. No. All of that is what the devil wanted. And if you observe, once you take that vacation, you never come back. Because he's got what he wanted.

He attacks your body, he attacks your finances, even your marriage he will attack it, attack your children, attack everything around you because persecution and affliction will arise for the word's sake. The whole intent is to hinder the word of God. Trials, opposition. That's how we fight. We fight by not allowing any of these things to deter us.

Some of us came with fire, with zeal. We started advancing the kingdom of God and the devil found out that you are going to really be a major destroyer of his operations. He just tangled you with things. He threw things at you. You that used to be on fire, you that used to be fully involved in evangelism, in prayer, in doing all things, now you are loaded with excuses. You are full of excuses. Satan is succeeding. He's succeeding. He's taking advantage of you because you have displayed ignorance.

What exactly he wanted was to get you busy with everything minus ministry. Make you busy with everything minus the word of God. Oh, that's what he wants; that's where the war is. The war is to distract you from pastoring that house church. The war is to distract you from raising those disciples. The war is to distract you from having time to come for prayer cruise. The war is to distract you from having time to do the work of God. That's the war. That's the wrestle.

Or he gives you very good success. Suddenly you're succeeding, now you're too busy to have time for the purpose for which you were created. The devil is at work. Don't forget he uses lies, deception, schemes, distractions. He said a great and effectual door is open, but there are many adversaries. There are many oppositions, there are many distractions. But remember, having done all to stand, stand therefore. Don't do all to stand and then sit down. No. Stand, stay in the fight, stay in the gospel, stay in the ministry, stay in the work of God. That's how we fight.

There are adversaries to the work of the ministry. Men that wage war against the preaching and teaching of the gospel. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:32. "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die." Brother Paul said I have fought with the beast of Ephesus after the manner of men. That is, I have fought with men who behave like animals. I have engaged men who wore the mask of animals to fight.

I hope you know that spiritual warfare is not the same with casting out demons. Casting out demons is to expel demons. Spiritual warfare is to stand in ministry and keep advancing the kingdom of God. A community that is in darkness, you move in there and start a lighthouse. You start raising disciples. That's warfare.

Warfare is not done on your knees; warfare is done on your feet. Blessed are the feet of those who bring good tidings. When you are marching to bring the gospel, that is warfare. Because it is through the preaching of the gospel that men are delivered from darkness. It is through the preaching of the gospel that people are liberated. It is through the preaching of the gospel that people are set free from Satan and his cohorts.

So Paul says, "Take on the whole armor." Take on, put on. That "put on" is what you keep doing. You don't put on once; you put on the armor every day. Every day you wake up, you put on the whole armor. Every day you wake up, you remind yourself: I'm a pilgrim in this world, I'm a stranger in this world, I'm here on a mission that I will report to my master one of these days. So today, I must be found at my duty post.

I must be found preaching. I must be found raising disciples. I must be found advancing the kingdom. I can't afford to relax. I'm a pilgrim in this world. Take on the whole armor. Having done all to stand, stand therefore. Glory to God! Put on the whole armor: helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, gird your loins with truth, put on the shoes of peace, take on the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Okay? Put on all of these.

Every day you wake up, remind yourself: I am eternally saved. Remind yourself: I am saved to serve God's purpose. Every day you wake up, remind yourself: I am the righteousness of God in Christ. That's how you put it on. Remind yourself. Remind your consciousness: I am saved (helmet of salvation), I am the righteousness of God (breastplate of righteousness), the loins of truth (the things you have been taught about Jesus as the truth is in Jesus).

You remind yourself: I am in Him, I am complete in Him who is the head of all principalities and powers. You remind yourself: not that I'm sufficient of myself to think anything as of myself, but my sufficiency is of God. Every day you wake up, you remind yourself: I am God-sufficient, I lack nothing, I have the supply of the spirit, I have the workings of the Holy Ghost, I have the leading of the spirit, my steps are ordered by the Lord. You wake up and put yourself to remembrance. You're putting on the whole armor.

You put on the shoes of peace: I have peace with God, I am at peace with God. Therefore, because I am at peace with God, I am on a divine mission. I am a co-laborer with God in the advancement of His kingdom. So this day, my feet will bring good tidings. Wherever I go, I will preach the resurrection. I will preach the gospel. Nobody will pass me without being targeted. Anyone that comes across me today will hear the message.

Then you take on the shield of faith. Where the devil tells you you cannot, you quench his fiery darts. The devil tells you remember your past; you quench it and remind him his future. Then you take on the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. You are praying, you are preaching. Having done all to stand, you stand therefore. You stand therefore as a soldier, a soldier of Jesus, a soldier of His resurrection. You put on the whole armor.

Look at Luke 11:22 as I close. Are you blessed this morning? Luke chapter 11, verse 22. Hallelujah!

Guest (Male): When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

Dr. Abel Damina: When a stronger than he shall come. Jesus came as the stronger. He became sin for us who knew no sin, tempted in all points, yet without sin. So the sinless Son of God took sin—not His own sin, our sin. He swallowed it and became our sin. After swallowing sin and becoming sin, He died with sin. He died with our sins, buried it in the grave, rose on the third day without sin.

So the moment you receive Jesus, He comes in. His coming into you makes you sinless. He comes into you to identify you with His righteousness. That's the power of resurrection. So you are the righteousness of God. You're not trying to be righteous. It's not righteousness by works; it's righteousness by faith. It's righteousness devoid of works. There's nothing you can do to qualify you to be righteous. There's nothing on earth. You are righteous because you believe in what Jesus has done. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

Somebody say with me, "I am in victory." Say with me, "I'm taking my stand. Having done all to stand, I'm standing. Strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I advance His kingdom and I advance my life. Nothing stops me, nothing hinders me. I am fully armed, fully empowered, fully equipped to make a difference in my world." I didn't hear a powerful amen. Having done all to stand, stand.

Somebody say with me, "I take my stand right now in the finished work of Christ. He finished the work. I am a beneficiary of that finished work by faith in the gospel. I believe, I receive, I have right now. The victory of Jesus is mine."

I didn't hear a powerful amen! When the devil says no, tell him no, no, no! No, no! I have the final say. Satan is defeated. Somebody say, "He's defeated." Say it again. Say it again. You must keep saying it till you know it. Satan is defeated, totally defeated. The stronger than he has collected all his armor wherein he trusted. He has no more armor. So he goes around like a roaring—he's not a lion. He's a copycat. You understand? He's a copycat.

He's not a lion; he just roars. It's those that don't know that run. When you were small, if you see a masquerade, didn't you use to run? When you became wise and you understood, when you see masquerades, do you move? You tell them, "Get out!" If you do too much now, I'll remove that thing; your t-shirt and wrapper will show. I have removed masquerade from masquerade before. I just held the thing and pulled it out. I saw the t-shirt with the wrapper. I said, "Eh, so this is how you kneel down." The guy just kneeled down and I led him to Christ.

Some people don't know what time it is. Glory! Turn to your neighbor, say, "The devil is defeated." Say it again. Say it like you know what you're talking about. Tell your neighbor, "2,000 years ago, Jesus and I defeated the devil. We rose together, we are seated together right now. We reign." Glory to God!

Who is reigning in this building? You reign over sickness, you reign over disease, you reign over death, you reign over failure. If you are reigning, go ahead and celebrate your reign.

Guest (Male 2): (Singing)

Praise the Father, praise the Son

Praise the Spirit, three in one

God of glory, Majesty

Praise forever to the King of Kings

Dr. Abel Damina: Who is reigning with Jesus in this service? Glory to God! Glory to God! On Friday, I heard that some people were walking on the road and they were flogging Jesus. I said, "Why didn't they invite us to do the flogging?" We'd carry rods, proper rods. But I have news for you: that Jesus that was walking on the street on Friday is another Jesus. Jesus is no more walking around the streets. He is seated in my heart. Glory to God! Christ in you, the hope of glory!

Guest (Male 2): (Singing)

In the darkness we were waiting

Without hope, without light

Till from heaven You came running

There was mercy in Your eyes

To fulfill the law and prophets

To a virgin born the Word

From a throne of endless glory

To a cradle in the dirt

Praise the Father, praise the Son

Praise the Spirit, three in one

God of glory, Majesty

Praise forever to the King of Kings

To reveal the kingdom coming

And to reconcile the lost

To redeem the whole creation

You did not despise the cross

For even in Your suffering

You saw to the other side

Knowing this was our salvation

Jesus, for our sake You died

Praise the Father, praise the Son

Praise the Spirit, three in one

God of glory, Majesty

Praise forever to the King of Kings

And the morning that You rose

All of heaven held its breath

Till that stone was moved for good

For the Lamb had conquered death

And the dead rose from their tombs

And the angels stood in awe

For the souls of all who'd come

To the Father are restored

And the Church of Christ was born

Then the Spirit lit the flame

Now this gospel truth of old

Shall not kneel, shall not faint

By His blood and in His name

In His freedom, I am free

For the love of Jesus Christ

Who has resurrected me

Praise the Father, praise the Son

Praise the Spirit, three in one

God of glory, Majesty

Praise forever to the King of Kings

Dr. Abel Damina: Glory! Glory! And so I declare over you this morning, wherever you're hearing the sound of my voice: you continue to live in this victory. Victory over death, victory over Satan, victory over sin, and victory over every calculation of the devil, in the name of Jesus. You preach the gospel, you raise men, you serve God's purpose, you fulfill God's calling upon your life, in the name of Jesus.

You're kept, you're preserved, you're sustained. Everything that is contrary to God's purpose for your life, I command it to expire. I command it to expire, in the name of Jesus. Sick bodies be healed. (Speaking in tongues) I declare this morning, ministry prospers in your hands in the name of Jesus. Thank You, Father, for victory, and thank You for the blessing upon this house. In Jesus' name we pray, and every believer says that amen on a note of finality.

Glory! Can we go ahead and celebrate the victory that we have in Christ Jesus? Glory, glory, glory, glory, glory! Amen! He's alive in me. Amen. He's not just alive; He's alive in me. I'm the proof. It's not an empty grave; I am the proof that Jesus is alive. It's not the empty tomb; I am the proof that Jesus is alive because He lives in me. Amen.

Grab your honor offerings this morning. Let's give and celebrate and honor Jesus. Everywhere around the world, all the campuses, grab your honor offerings. The online banking details are scrolling. Television, the banking details are on the screen. And everybody in the service, grab your offerings. Let's give and celebrate the victory that we have in Christ Jesus this morning.

Father, we give in faith and we give with joy. Thank You for the privilege to honor Your word and to give and to rejoice in the victory You've provided us. So as we give this morning, our resources are used in the advancement of Your kingdom. And thank You that men are coming to the knowledge of the truth because of our obedience. We give You praise. In Jesus' name we pray, and every believer says a powerful amen.

Glory! All our family and friends that are worshipping with us in Power City Uyo and all the campuses all over the world, we're so glad you came to worship with us today. I believe you've been so blessed in this service. You've had some good word that ensures and guarantees and reassures you of what you have in Christ Jesus.

Our campus coordinators in the various campuses will take care of you before you go. But we want you to know we love you and want to encourage you to keep coming. There's much more for you to learn, to hear, to be equipped with so you can live the victory that is yours in Christ Jesus.

I'll be preaching again this morning at 11 a.m. GMT+1 as we uncover "Satan: The Myth and the Truth." Understanding Satan, myths and the truth. It's going to be very powerful in the second service. But we love you guys. I'll be live at 11 a.m. on all platforms.

Oh my goodness! The word of God is life. The Bible tells us the entrance of God's word giveth light, and it giveth understanding to the simple. As you keep listening, the light of God's word rises out of the rightly divided word of truth, illuminates your mind, illuminates your heart, and brings you face to face with your realities in Christ Jesus.

In Ephesians chapter 3, verse 3, brother Paul, speaking about the mystery, the Old Testament, he said, "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ." So there is a knowledge in the mystery of Christ. The word "mystery" is the word *mysterion* in the Greek; it means that which is concealed. And then he says how that by revelation—the word "revelation" is the word *apokalypsis*, it means that which is revealed.

So the revelation of the scriptures unveils the mysteries. Revelation is the New Testament; mystery is the Old Testament. But it will take reading and learning to come to a place of full understanding, precise and accurate knowledge of Christ. Brother Daniel would say, "I understood by books." So there is a place of books in equipping you soundly with the message of Christ.

Brother Paul would write to Timothy, he says to Timothy, "Till I come, give attendance to reading." Jesus, speaking to those Jews, says, "Ye do err, because ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God." Often times Jesus would say to the Jews, "Have ye not read?" It's the word *anaginosko* in the Greek; it means, "Are you reading and not paying attention?"

I want to quickly recommend for you a plethora of books I have written. They are written with an intent to bring you doctrinal clarity, answer your questions doctrinally, and bring you to a place of accurate understanding, a precise knowledge of Christ and you in Christ. I want you to order for those books today. The number and list of books available will be read to you right now. If you call today, we'll be glad to make sure you get a copy or more copies of the books so you can enrich your spiritual life and enrich your walk with God and build a quality relationship with Jesus Christ, where you are also able to teach others the same truths you have learned to liberate them and bring them to the fullness of God. Glory to God.

Dr. Abel Damina has authored several insightful books that bring clarity to foundational truths of Christianity, including: *Understanding the Spirit, Soul, and Body*, *Winning the War*, *Money with a Mission*, *Understanding Relationships, Marriage, and Family Life*, *Prayer That Works*, *Higher Life: Redeemed to Reign in Life*, and *The Priesthood of Jesus*. To order, call 240-367-6201 or email pciusaregion@gmail.com. We trust you've been blessed by today's message. For prayers, counseling, or to obtain the complete teachings and books, call 404-789-7207, or 404-670-2085, or 404-453-5562, or 240-367-6201. We look forward to having you with us again tomorrow. Remain in His grace and be blessed.