Highest and Best
Jesus characterised His followers
Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house”. (NLT)
SALT
From the earth and connection to the earth with people, jobs, school, interactions as humans, citizens
Ability to Preservation, Cleansing
Requires Contact - in the world. Not OF it. Dont take them out of it. Keep them
Doesnt expire. It can change chemically if broken down with moisture. Compromised by spiritual ways of darkness. Fear. If it isn’t in contact - fear (clumping)
Ability to Preservation, Cleansing / personal application of life. Topical.
LIGHT
From above. Heaven. Seated in heavenly places Eph 2:6
Doesnt function UNDER. It functions OVER. Regional
Functions by faith. Faith Only works by love.
Compromised by not functioning in the right place thru ignorance that you can be both salt and light or strife
Ability to drive back darkness. Cant be overcome by darkness Jn 1
Influence from above:
Eph 6 we wrestle NOT with flesh and blood
Difference between the army’s boots on the ground and the airforce’s air presence and dominance.
Both are powerful
Potentially devastating to the Kingdom of Darkness
Our enemy works hard to compromise our potential. Our highest and best
Slide of pictures
What do Napoleon, Machiavelli, Julius Caesar and King Louis XI of France have in common?
They all used the divide and conquer strategy at some point to separate and weaken their enemies.
Basically, the divide and conquer strategy means breaking down a larger problem, task, or population into smaller, more manageable pieces.then takes control of those pieces one by one
Furthermore, in order to maintain power and influence, one governments will often work to keep other powers and governments from uniting. In fact, this use of the principles within the divide and conquer strategy is most common. It is much easier to prevent powers from linking forces than to break them apart once they have aligned.
Challenge to powers and people linking forces is diversity
Diversity started with God. God can will use our diversity. People fewed, fight and go to war
Characteristics about the church that Tony saw.
Diversity -
Some churches represent Christians who hold to a certain age, economic group, ethnic Origen, language, political party, convictions
Diversity.
Challenges in that.
Demands seeing people after the Spirit.
Jesus’ follwers were - Rome sympathisers and Rome despisers
1 Cor 12:13
Galatians 3:28 And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ. (TPT)
Differences with convictions - doctrinal. In our church there are differences
Mark 3:25…a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. (NLT)
Devil’s strategy is to draw attention and magnify diversity In a negative way
If we focus where we are different we will break. We wont need the devil to defeat us. We will wound each other. If we focus where we are ONE, we wont break apart
Eph. 4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Eph. 4:2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Eph. 4:3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Eph. 4:4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Eph. 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. (NLT)
USSR/ Cold War / Communism
Threat of nuclear war
Persecution for Christians
No freedoms
These truths inspired people to pray differently
PRAYER
Dear Father in Heaven. I honour you today by acknowledging that I am a part of the Body of Christ who has been raised far above all principality and powers of the kingdom of darkness. Your have redeemed and reconciled us to a place of being right with you. We believe that you have given us the keys of the Kingdom and a directive to use authority in your Name so your will is done on earth as it is in Heaven.
We pray for Australia today and boldly call it “Great Southland of the Holy Spirit”. We are believing for everything that is necessary to bring those words to pass.
We specifically pray for Victoria
Body of Christ - Direction, boldness, revelation of who they are
Wisdom from above for leaders
We are in agreement with believers there who are exercising Kingdom authority over spirits that are driving unrest